BIRDLAND EDITORIAL BLOG: 2018

SOLAR PANELS @ PETERSON FIELD -- 16 JUN 2018

Welcome to the latest edition of the Birdland Editorial Blog.

The first thing I wanted to comment on is that I am a bit concerned that Birdland Neighborhood boundaries are perhaps not being represented properly by the map seen below that I found on a Google search. The implications of this could affect local property values; so I will attempt to set the record straight using obvious and readily available public evidence.

PARTIAL BIRDLAND NEIGHBORS MAP FOUND ONLINE

THE ACTUAL SUNNYVALE BIRDLAND NEIGHBORS REGION

The way I see it; Birdland Neighbors essentially consists of everything in between Lawrence Expressway; Wolfe Road; El Camino Real and Homestead Road. But the partial first Birdland map seen above shows a more limited Birdland Neighbors region.

Basically; everywhere that bird-oriented street names exist is Birdland; so the first map is not correct. For instance; Wood Duck Avenue is in an area that actually used to have wood ducks living in trees. Surrounding orchards and wild lands were destroyed for the Lake Terrace Apartments etc; and this all happened before I moved into the neighborhood around the spring of 1967. But just because the wood ducks are long gone does not mean it is not part of the Birdland Neighborhood.

Long ago the Birdland Neighborhood had more song birds and/or birds in general than it does now. For instance; ever since the cherry orchard that used to be behind Laurelwood School was razed and developed; the biological diversity in the Birdland Neighborhood has gone way down.

The Nature Area at Peterson used to be part of the old Citraro Family farm where the Citraro Family house was located. An old man named Mister Smith used to walk his dogs every morning at the Peterson field during almost the entire history of the Peterson parcel going way back; and he told me there used to be a house located where the nature area now sits; likely the original Citraro Family house. Mr. Smith also said there was a very large flock of crows that lived in the trees surrounding the house; and that the crows of Birdland are largely from that original flock of birds.

"Starting in 1969 when Peterson was a High School, Dan Baer and Bryan Osborne started construction on the Peterson Natural Area. It was designed to model eight different biological communities. Their mission was to provide corresponding lab or field experiences for every biological concept taught in the classroom. In addition, they demonstrated that through hard work, we could make a difference with environmental issues. Most importantly, they wanted students to have contact with nature realizing that our students were becoming more isolated from nature. Our mission remains the same. The Natural Area has served many functions over the last 40 plus years. It has primarily served as a local field trip site that could be visited on a regular basis, for Peterson students, and students throughout the district. It has been a place where students could make a positive change to their environment through restoration activities. The natural area provides refuge for students and teachers looking to escape the hustle-bustle of a busy campus to relax and seek inspiration. It also functions as an ecological island attracting and supporting a wide range of biodiversity..."

GO TO: https://pms-scusd-ca.schoolloop.com/naturearea

Note: The natural area is also a place where an ex-Peterson High School student took acid and tripped out for 4 days; totally freaking out his parents...

But! Just because the biological diversity has gone way down in the Birdland Neighborhood region does not mean all is lost; you can create your own backyard wildlife habitat on your own...

BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT LINKS @ https://www.nwf.org/en/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create + https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify + https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/backyard-wildlife-habitat/ + http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/create-ultimate-backyard-wildlife-habitat/ + https://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/nature-lovers/create-a-backyard-wildlife-habitat/

WILD PARROTS OF SUNNYVALE

One day many years ago I heard a commotion going on in the backyard; so I went outside and saw a large flock of loud birds in one of the large trees in our backyard. I believe those birds were the same Parrots who eventually made their way all the way to San Francisco; some of which I theorize stayed in Sunnyvale as well.

Therefore; I can say without a shadow of a doubt that these birds initially made their way to this region as a flock that originated somewhere; perhaps a pet store in Pasadena that burned down many years ago. It is probably a mixture of both theories that brought the Parrots to this region. The alleged pet store was for all intents and purposes a pet owner of sorts; and it is known that birds were released from this store. Similarly; a neighbor of mine found an injured Parrot at a park in Sunnyvale a few years back and he kept it at home until it was healed then released it...

"There are a number of theories. A commonly held belief is that the parrots were released by a woman who was having a psychotic break and subsequently burned down the pet store where they were housed. This is partially true. A pet store did burn down in Pasadena, but the woman was an employee of sound mind simply trying to save the birds. The parrots in San Francisco most likely weren't released from the fire in Pasadena.

More likely, the San Francisco conures escaped or were purposely released by pet owners. The conures can live for decades, and they're loud and demanding pets, so not everyone is suited to caring for them. While some may have escaped, Jamie Yorck, the owner of the now-closed Spectrum Exotic Birds, believes that a few owners may simply have left a window open hoping their birds would join the wild flock..."

https://www.kqed.org/news/11185731/where-did-the-wild-parrots-of-san-francisco-come-from

SEE ALSO: Wild Parrots of Sunnyvale @ https://www.sunnyvalegarden.com/birds/wild-parrots-of-sunnyvale/ and/or search Google for "Wild Parrots of Sunnyvale and/or San Francisco"...

"San Francisco has its famous wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. Just down the road however, about 60 miles, in the Silicon Valley community of Sunnyvale, another flock of parrots also lives and thrives out in the wild. Perhaps they don’t enjoy the same notoriety as their SF cousins, but they are just as regal and an odd and remarkable spectacle enjoyed by all those who see them. Known for some time by local residents, I ran across the parrots about 15 years ago, when I first moved to Sunnyvale. After leaving an Orchard Supply (OSH) store in the neighborhood, I heard some loud unfamiliar-sounding birds squawking above.

When I watched for the birds as I drove away from the store, I found them perched in the trees and on the rooftop of a nearby white stucco apartment building, just next to the OSH store. Bright green with splotches of red, with their distinctive beaks. Yes, these were parrots! Instantly recognizable and such an odd and wonderful sight..."

GO TO: The Wild Parrots of Sunnyvale @
http://ricktrutna.com/

<><><>