If any geographical feature has risen above the flat valley of Novato’s civic and commercial life to achieve a visible prominence in the mental landscape of its citizens, that feature is Mount Burdell. It’s a name that vividly conjures up the idea of a place to thousands of Novato citizens, of a sunlit expanse of green hillsides dotted with wildflowers and vast, benignant oaks. And no time is better to visit than spring, when the mountain fills with the songs of newly arrived migratory songbirds.
How to Use Binoculars
The single greatest tool I know of to enhance nature perception is a pair of binoculars. Today I want to get more of our community’s extant binoculars into active use by explaining how to use these things properly, how to avoid common errors and frustrations, and how to tell if a pair of binoculars needs repair or replacement.
Stafford Lake
Up in the hills to the west of Mount Burdell are the headwaters of Novato Creek, which then tumbles down through the rolling slopes until it runs into the Stafford Dam and forms the placid Stafford Lake. These waters of creek and lake invite myriad birds, both summer and winter.
Olompali State Historic Park
Olompali State Historic Park encompasses a cluster of historical buildings and the wooded slopes that rise above them to the summit of Mount Burdell on the northern border of Novato. A moderately dense mixed oak woodland is the dominant ecosystem here, but the twists and turns of the park’s trails offer a gently varying array of plant and animal life.
Big Year #3: Two Month Update
By the end of February, my Big Year bird count had climbed to 142 species. So where have I been spending my local birding time?
Five Ways to Use eBird to See More Birds
If you want to learn about the natural history of a place, there are several traditional sources of knowledge. But if you are particularly interested in birds and live in the present day, you have the fortunate advantage of an amazing resource called eBird.
Hawks II: Wildland Hawks
In part one of our guide to local hawks, I covered the “neighborhood raptors” – the daytime birds of prey you are most likely to see around your yard and typical residential areas. In this post, I’m covering another handful of local hawks: those which are unlikely to venture in amongst the houses and bustling humans, but which you can find in appropriate habitats within our larger Novato neighborhood.
Hawks I: Neighborhood Hawks
Hawks surround us, sometimes hiding in plain sight. In this post, I’ll introduce 4.5 of our most notable neighborhood raptors, all commonly seen throughout Novato and Marin County.
Indian Valley Open Space Preserve
Indian Valley Open Space Preserve is a modest slice of forested foothills on the north side of Big Rock Ridge. That significant barrier to the south comprises the main topographical influence here, casting its long shadow over Indian Valley’s web of trails and modest hills. The combination of general shadiness, low hills, and intervening creeks creates ideal conditions for broadleaf mixed evergreen forest, whose high level of tree and understory diversity translates into a correspondingly rich community of bird species.