The Castle Rock formations, which overlook Diablo Foothills Regional Park in Walnut Creek, are closed now through July 31 to protect the peregrine falcons that live there during their mating and nesting season.
Peregrine falcons are remarkable birds. They are about the size of crows, although slightly bulkier and with longer wings. They prey mostly on smaller birds and mammals, including rodents and bats. Peregrines are considered the world’s fastest animals, with flight dives that have been recorded at more than 200 miles per hour.
Although peregrines are no longer on the federal endangered species list, they are still fully protected under California’s Fish & Game Code. Please do not venture onto the rocks or otherwise disturb the peregrines between now and July 31. If the birds are approached, they can abandon their nest or fail to mate. Trespassers can be fined.
An all-volunteer group of natural history educators keeps watch on the peregrines at Castle Rock during their mating season. Last year was a very good year for the Castle Rock peregrines. The mating pair raised three healthy chicks, two females and a male. Let’s hope for similar success this time around.
Youth job fair: There are many paid seasonal and year-round jobs available in the East Bay Regional Park District for youth, young adults and students. Opportunities include outdoor activities, working with the community and lifeguarding at swim areas.
You can find out more at a virtual youth job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The job fair is designed for applicants ages 15 to 24, although the minimum age requirement for most jobs is 16 years. Application and interview tips will be provided.
Participants are encouraged to have their cameras on and come dressed like they’re attending a job fair in-person. For information and registration, visit ebparks.org/youth-job-fair or bit.ly/VirtualYouthJobFair online.
Richmond: February is Black History Month, and naturalist Melissa Fowlks will celebrate it with a stroll from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond.
Point Pinole and its environs have a strong connection to the Black community. During the walk, learn the history of Parchester Village and explore the Dotson Family Marsh, named for Black community leaders.
Meet Melissa at the park’s Giant Road Staging Area, which is off Giant Highway, south of Atlas Road. This is a free, drop-in program; no registration is required. Point Pinole has a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended. For information, call 510-544-2233.
Fremont: February also brings Valentine’s Day on Tuesday the 14th. In anticipation, the naturalists at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont are offering a valentine-themed program from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Learn about the Victorian Era, from which modern Valentine’s Day traditions are derived, then make your own valentine.
This is a disabled-accessible drop-in program; registration is not needed. Ardenwood admission fees apply. Ardenwood is 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., just north of Highway 84 (the Dumbarton Bridge approach). For information, call 510-544-2797.
Also in Fremont: Nearby at Coyote Hills Regional Park, a program with stories, songs and movement is on the agenda from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Meet the naturalist at the visitor center to explore the park’s marsh and hear stories from a nature-themed book.
All ages are welcome; parent participation is required. Registration is not necessary. Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road, off Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont. The program is free; there’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For information, call 510-544-3220.
Antioch: “Superpower Snakes” is the theme of a program from 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 12 at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch.
Naturalist Jessica Kauzer will explain how snakes are an important part of the local ecosystem and show a live snake, weather permitting. The program is for ages 2 and older; parent participation is required.
Meet Jessica at Black Diamond Mines’ upper parking lot, which is at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 and a mile past the entrance kiosk. For information, call 510-544-2750.
Online: These are just a few of the programs scheduled in the East Bay regional parks in coming days. For a full listing, visit ebparks.org/things-to-do online.
Also be sure to check for alerts and closures at the top of the home page (ebparks.org/alerts-closures) before heading out to a regional park. Storm damage may have required program cancellations or park and trail closures while repairs are underway.
Ned MacKay writes about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at [email protected]
