This great public resource is located in Walnut Creek. Here is a link to their site. The following is their e-newsletter to which you may subscribe.
Lindsay Wildlife Museum
It's a Wild Life :: November, 2012
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Where Coyotes Sing and Play
In my "A Final Note" in October's "It's a Wild Life," I asked if anyone else out there gets lulled to sleep by coyote lullabies? Looks like I'm not the only one. I received 16 responses and here they are.** "We enjoy hearing the calls." Primrose Lane by Paso Nogal Park, Pleasant Hill. (J. Lee-Waite)** "Saw a coyote in our backyard, Oct. 23, before dusk." Pine Street and Krisview Court, Martinez. (Dawn Surges)** "We often hear coyotes in the hills and range lands around our house." Pinole Valley Road and Castro Ranch Road, El Sobrante. (David J. Molnar)** "We hear what sounds like a barbershop quartet just after dark on summer eves." Ygnacio between Cowell and Aryes, across from Lime Ridge, Concord. (Scott E. Smith)** "We hear coyotes in hills behind our home and lately we've heard them more frequently. They don't always lull us to sleep, however." San Ramon Valley Blvd., between Morgan and Montevideo, San Ramon. (Julie Brown)** "Coyotes in our neighborhood have been singing with extra vigor this past month." Springhill Road, Lafayette, near Briones Regional Park. (Sandy K.)** "Every night from about 10 p.m. on, I hear what sounds like a new family of pups, along with louder cries from Mom and Pop! They are quite loud on a peaceful night, but still very enjoyable." Macalvey Drive and Alhambra Hills Drive, Martinez. (Jim Millar)** "We don't hear or see them often, but they are here." Lane Drive and San Miguel Road, below Lime Ridge Open Space, Concord. (Chris King)**Coyotes snatched a woman's pet cat at dusk a couple of months ago." Rossmoor, Walnut Creek. (Evalyn D. Segal)** "One starts his howl and is joined by another, and another, then silence. Then off to the other side, a coyote cousin starts, and so it goes, back and forth, each group out-singing the other." Dagnino at May School, north Livermore. (Corrinne Kahler)** "Yes, Gary, we hear coyotes all the time in Clayton." Chardonnay Circle and Easlet Drive, Clayton. (Linda Cruz)** "I fall asleep most nights to the coyotes singing near my house." California Highlands Community, tucked back in a canyon right off Donlon Loop Trail, Dublin. (Nicole McGinnis)** "We hear coyotes frequently." Elm Avenue in East Richmond Heights, a half block from Wildcat Canyon. (Loekie Eilander)** "In past years I've heard coyotes many a summer night, but for some reason I hardly hear them this year." Navaronne and Sunflower, near Lime Ridge, Concord. (J. Fenton)** "We are lulled to sleep at least once to twice each week by a group of coyotes who harmonize quite well." Marsh Creek at Deer Valley Road, near Brentwood. (Rich & Delores Henderson)** "We heard them in the middle of the night about 4-6 weeks ago." Kinney Drive and El Curtola Blvd., Walnut Creek. (Sarah Ortman)** I love living in suburbia! (Gary)Creatures of the Urban Wilderness (your backyard) :: Wild Turkey
I think maybe we should call this the Year of the Turkey in the San Francisco Bay Area. They're everywhere. Flocks of anywhere from 2 to 100+ of these BIG gobblers.Massive flocks roaming the streets and sidewalks and devouring anything green in the backyards of the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek ... aggressive toms all puffed up to challenge cars and block the morning commute traffic on Moraga Road in Moraga ... an aggressive "team" of 4 BIG toms on Ygnacio Valley Road near Oak Grove Road in Walnut Creek, waiting for an opportunity to charge out and "attack" any bikers who dare to stop at local traffic lights ...It's a jungle out there, so watch your step. Hum. Let me rephrase that ... better watch WHERE you step!A FINAL NOTE ...
Been hearing a lot of "hooting" out in your backyard over the last month or so? It's been courting season for our big, beautiful local great horned owls. The male sits in the top of a tree hooting away. "Hello? Anybody out there?"If he's lucky, he'll eventually hear another hoot in the distance, hopefully responding to his call. Yes!All that hooting always reminds me of another great horned owl "who" lived at the museum back in the 1970s when I used to work here. Willard, a non-releasable male, and I (also non-releasable!) took a fancy to each other and became fast friends. That is, until one day Willard suddenly puffed up and spread his wings when I walked into the room and erupted into an explosion of HOOTS that were all obviously directed at me. From that point on, he started hooting at me the moment I walked into the building.My theory, "who" knows if it's correct or not, is that Willard had matured sexually as an adult and considered me to be the other adult male in the room ... intruding in his territory. Whatever the reason, from that point on I had to really watch my step when I was around him. Not that I ever held it against him. Willard was just being his natural great horned owl self. He was still one of the neatest owls, among many, that I've ever known.All that hooting every fall always brings back a lot of warm memories. See you next month. /Gary
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