Around Oakley: East Bay Regional Parks studying raptors in East County

By Roni Gehlke

LOOK UP IN THE sky during the early morning hours over Oakley and you're bound to see some kind of bird searching for its morning meal. There's a good chance that bird will even be a raptor or bird of prey.

"Bird of Prey." Sounds kind of ominous, doesn't it? Like any minute some huge bird out of a sci-fi movie is going to swoop down and grab you by its talons and ... sorry, I got a little carried away there for a minute.

Actually raptors, or birds of prey, in their own little world are pretty fierce creatures. They "prey" on live animals smaller than themselves. Raptors are equipped with strong feet and needle-sharp talons. They have excellent vision, some seeing up to three times as sharp as humans. They also have very powerful hooks on their bills to catch, immobilize and cut into their prey before settling down for their meal.

All that said, though, raptors are some of the most graceful and majestic creatures that we share the earth with. There are many raptor species, but our area is host to hawks, eagles, kestrels, kites, harrier and owls. Interestingly enough, the very common turkey vulture is not considered part of the raptor family.

Over the past few months, the East Bay Regional Park District has been working on a staff study to count the various raptors within the Contra Costa and Alameda County areas. Last Thursday the group was in Oakley counting raptors along the Marsh Creek Trail off Cypress Road that runs down behind the Emerson Farm and the back of the Contra Costa Water District and the Ironhouse Sanitary District properties. The park district is working on determining a total of the various raptor species and their migration, nesting and general living patterns in the area.

Oakley, because of its proximity to the Delta and the winds coming off the waters, is an area with a good amount of raptors. While the District is allocating the last Thursday of each month as a day for counting at different locations throughout the counties, it is hoping that bird-watchers will help keep a running total of raptors they see while out walking.

In my neck of the woods in Oakley, I can easily see what I believe to be four or five hawks each morning doing their morning tour for food around the Kline Vineyard and railroad tracks. I saw "hawks" but after spending last Thursday morning with EBRPD's naturalist Mike Moran I realize that just saying something looks like a hawk doesn't mean it is one.

For instance the common turkey vulture looks very much like a hawk when it sways through the sky above you, but a close-up view will show the very red face of the vulture. They wouldn't be in this particular study. Then there are the various species of hawks. Many of the bird watchers who attended last week's walk could tell right away what the different varieties were.
Moran noted one bird from afar that looked very much like the endangered red-shouldered hawk. Knowing the specific variety of hawk is important to the district's study, but not necessary for those who just want to help out with the study.

Moran said that the district is hoping that anyone who is a bird fan, or even those who like to walk the trails will keep a tally of what they see while walking. The important thing is to note, date, time of day and how many. Simply saying a hawk or harrier or whatever type of raptor you see is enough. It will give them an overall idea of the migration habits of the birds in the area.

The district has a great brochure with information about the "Common Raptors of the East Bay Regional Parks" or check out its Web site at www.ebparks.org for more information.

Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.