Bird and Beavers on Laurel Creek (Fairfield)

Beaver dams are known to double the probability of willow flycatchers and the density of song sparrows compared to areas without beavers. Iin the past, beavers have been regarded by ranchers and city planners as nuisance animals. Beavers do flood areas, which is both beneficial and bothersome, but solutions other than eradication exist, like beaver flow devices and cost-effective POND LEVELERS.. The story of the FAIRFIELD BEAVERS on Laurel Creek involves the city of Fairfield, which can get a permit to kill beavers, and has removed their dams in the past due to their worries about flooding, but is currently leaving the beavers alone due to the presence of a kit. 

We will watch the beavers near sunrise first and then bird the creek (about 1 mile long) that they have dams on. Virginia Holsworth is the admin of the Laurel Creek Beavers Facebook page, and she has led beaver field trips for school kids. She will give the latest updates on these beavers.

We will walk about 2 miles round trip on a mostly level trail. We will be in a residential neighborhood, so there are no bathrooms or water nearby, and no places to sit. (The nearest public bathroom is at the Laurel Creek Park, which opens at 6 AM, but note that the bathroom stalls do not have doors.) 

Participants are asked to be quiet, since we will be meeting very early in a residential neighborhood.

Leader: Elizabeth Winstead, ecwinstead@gmail.com, 510-938-2047 and Virginia Holsworth

This trip is free but advance registration is required. Registration will open two weeks before the trip and close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 21. Directions for registered participants are below.

Please note the public health guidelines for this trip, as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic:

• Walk is limited to 20 participants plus the leaders. There will not be a waiting list.

• Participants must register online and acknowledge acceptance of our liability waiver. Each person must register separately. No “drop ins,” please.

Thank you for your flexibility in helping us ensure that everyone remains healthy! Because we have to limit the size of trips, please do not sign up unless you are committed to attending.

Directions: Meet at the Dickson Hill Dam, on Laurel Creek just south of the intersection of Dickson Hill Rd and Mustang Circle in Fairfield. Please park on Mustang Circle.

Google: https://goo.gl/maps/Ch5wrM19S9474aZq8