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[SBB] Conservation Alert: Controlled burn planned at Monte Bello



This morning at the MB05 entry gate at Monte Bello OSP, I saw that Open Space personnel had placed a new sign giving notice that a large area at the top of the White Oak Trail (17 acres if I remember correctly) will soon be burned for firefighting training purposes. This area extends from Gate 5 along the wide ridgeline for some distance in a narrow wedge toward the main MB parking lot (but I don't think it would be visible from the lot; bad PR otherwise). Problem: the time window given for this burn is June through November, which includes an extremely important portion of the breeding season (and of course, it is illegal to knowingly disrupt the nesting of native birds).
 
Open Space personnel may not be aware of the critical breeding habitat this particular scruffy-looking patch of real estate really is for some of the county's rarest breeders: Chipping Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, and possibly, at least once, Black-chinned Sparrow (back about 1996 we had an excellent BCSP year, as this one is shaping up to be, and at least one singing bird was in the designated area.) Of course, if there should be a slip and the flames were to jump containment lines, a crown jewel of local open space would be at extreme risk as well.
 
An email address was given for public comments, [[email protected]]. For my part, I am generally in support of well-planned controlled burns for habitat improvement and fire danger reduction, but would urge the Open Space District to commit to holding off until August 15 or later when local breeders should be out of the nest, at least. This would be a good time to speak up for the birds!
 
Sincerely,
Garth Harwood
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