Pomona Valley Audubon -
Chaparral Naturalist Archives

A Step in the Right Direction

By MARY ANNA BARKER

An article from the New York Times News Service tells of the City of San Francisco’s quest to rid Golden Gate Park of its rodent pests. For six years the Recreation and Park Department used more than 10,000 pounds and nearly 800 gallons of pesticides, and now has been required by the city of cut that use in half by 1998 and to eliminate the use of pesticides by the year 2000.

The Department’s solution was to release five barn owls in the 1,017-acre park to eat the gophers and other rodents. Owls were considered a natural solution to the rodent epidemic when exterminators couldn’t keep up by baiting and trapping alone. Since owls were a part of the park’s natural environment in the past, encouraging them in their natural habitat seemed a good way to keep the rodents under control.

Each owl can eat up to five gophers a day. They particularly like California pocket gophers, those prolific creatures that eat plants and burrow holes that can become tripping hazards to park visitors. The owls were acquired from local wildlife rescue groups and are seen regularly in the park, but none has stayed in the roost boxes built for them. The boxes were placed in strategic areas in the gardens and athletic fields. Officials say they want to expand this pilot program to 30 owls, but will raise young owls in boxes before introducing them in the park.

Barn owls are nocturnal predators, but with their white heart-shaped faces and speckled bodies they are visible during the day. Students on field trips to the park can learn about predators’ roles in nature and examine owl pellets, the undigested remains of their prey.

Officials plan to introduce other species such as bats and kestrels to help control certain insect infestations. This integrated pest management is part of a total approach of using nontoxic alternatives and, if successful, will be used in other city parks.

What nontoxic approaches are being used in our Southern California cities? If you know of any, please write an article about it.

Vandenberg Birding Site
Open to Public

For several years now, the wastewater ponds on Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc have been a "must see" stop on PVAS’ annual Lompoc trip. Previously, special permission has been required from the Air Force to enter the base and view the site. Now designated a Waterfowl Natural Resource Area, it is open to the public anytime. To arrange a visit, call the Fish and Wildlife Office at 805-734-8232 Ext. 66804 at least 24 hours in advance. Call between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Access is limited to 25 vehicles per day. There is no entrance fee. When entering the base visitors will be given a map for a self-guided tour.

Members of the La Purisima Audubon Society in Lompoc have worked closely with base officials in converting four unused wastewater treatment ponds into 17 acres of wetlands and 25 acres of willow habitat. According to John Ayres of La Purisima Audubon, this area, located in the Santa Ynez River flood plain, is one of the few remaining riparian willow habitats on the Central Coast.

Since 1994 over 200 species of birds have been seen here including ducks, water birds and woodpeckers. Often seen here are the red-naped sapsucker, American bittern and the rare willow flycatcher.