Rescuing the Next Generation

Saving Oakland’s Official Bird

“California conservation” conjures images like Yosemite Falls and protected redwoods, but in Oakland, crucial conservation also happens downtown. The city is home to the largest Bay Area rookery for the Black-Crowned Night Heron, a reminder of Oakland’s natural wetlands that predated its paved streets. This makes the Black-Crowned Night Heron perfect as Oakland’s official City bird. Night herons were once common in trees surrounding Lake Merritt and other wetlands. But urbanization has transformed the heron’s native habitat in downtown Oakland. Unfortunately, trees surrounded by concrete sidewalks are an unsafe habitat for newly hatched chicks. As a result, it is common for chicks to fall from nests and suffer injuries or die. Hatchlings that are lucky enough to survive a fall would then certainly perish without the help of the Heron Rescue Team. Returning this past year, Zoo staff and volunteers, with the help of the International Bird Rescue and

Golden Gate Audubon Society teamed up to rescue, treat, and release injured hatchlings. In addition to setting up an emergency “Heron Rescue Hotline” for the public to report birds in need, the Oakland Zoo team conducted daily patrols in downtown Oakland, searching for and collecting fallen chicks to be treated at the Zoo’s Wayne and Gladys Valley Veterinary Hospital. When stable enough, the chicks were transferred to the International Bird Rescue in Fairfield for further treatment, rehabilitation, and release. In 2022, over 140 herons were rescued and eventually released into wetland habitats, such as the Oakland Bay Shoreline. We hope to continue this effort every nesting season, and volunteers are always welcome. To learn more, contact Oakland Zoo’s Education Department at (510) 632-9525 ext. 220 or email ozvolserv@oaklandzoo.org.

Dr. Sadler triaging rescued Heron hatchlings