Regarding things that you can do to help, WildCare Bay Area has posted an action alert requesting concerned people contact and appeal to the developer directly. As the evictions continue, we hope that the developer will want some good publicity by doing what is right for the owls and our community.

http://www.wildcarebayarea.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TakeAction_Antioch_Burrowing_Owls

I am also asking for everyone to send a letter to the Attorney General and Director of Fish & Game (sample letters/contact details at http://friendsofeastbayowls.org).

Additionally, it is indeed important for us to keep spreading the word as our ultimate goal is to change the CDFG policy that is by no means helping this species.

Thanks for your support.

With that said, I would like to present a few facts and encourage you to check out some more information on journowl.com regarding this particular piece of property. Here are a few points in response to your position/arguments:

-The land is currently and has been in a state of purgatory for a few years because of the economic decline. Kiper homes purchased the ALREADY semi-developed parcel from Shea homes in Dec. 2008.

-There is currently ZERO construction and ZERO workers on the site at this time and building is not set to commence until Spring.

-The EIR was approved way back in 1995 and needs to undergo a supplemental review to take the owls into account. Because of this, zero mitigation has been included into the EIR/CEQA documents.

-The burrowing owls, a species of special concern in California, are also protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

-Burrowing owls have a high site fidelity, require short grasses, ground squirrels, etc. Thus, they cannot just move to any open piece of land. When practices such as eradicating California ground squirrel colonies persist, the whole ecosystem suffers as well as the many species that rely upon them for survival.

-Unbridled development and lack of foresight has caused the decline of this and many species. Forcing all wildlife out without providing or designating suitable habitat is not an answer and does not bode well for society. Realistically there must be a happy medium and as it stands now wildlife is getting the short end of the stick as WE continue to approve more and more development and less and less habitat.

Just a thought:

If you had just built a swimming pool and an endangered croc or bear or whatever decided to move in, would you let it be?

If we can get artificial burrow approval, it might be something a few of us have to pitch in money and time-wise….but well worth it. I’ll definitely keep you posted.