Monarch Butterflies at Ardenwood s a nd P Activitie in your rograms
Garden Tours at the Botanic Garden
Regional Parks
Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon
VALLEY
The Art of Gyotaku at Crab Cove
THE
SENTINEL always for the community VOl 19, nO 11
Look inside for the latest ... plus more activities for everyone Regional Nature in Your Regionalin Parks! Activity Guide!
Bird Watching & Volunteer Activities
Look inside
Look inside for this Activity Guide to
EXPLORE your Regional Parks
Full Moon Kayak at Big Break December 2014
www.valleysentinel.com
Monarch Butterflies at Ardenwood Garden Tours at the Botanic Garden
SPOTLIGHT
The Art of Gyotaku at Crab Cove Bird Watching & Volunteer Activities ... plus more activities for everyone in Your Regional Parks!
Coats Sweaters Blankets (Clean and in good condition)
Men Women Children Infants Donations for those need to The San Ramon ValleyinRotary Club is sponsoring One Warm Coat Local the East19th Bayannual & Outreach charities drive. This year the business sponsors have January grownNow–Wednesday, to over 34 local locations in 14th Alamo, Danville, and Ramon. The coat drive runs Drop offSan points in Alamo, Danville, Dublin, through January 15 and benefits needy men, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and beyond... women and children in our local communities. Their goal this year to collect over 7,500 Forisdrop-off sites please visit coats, sweaters and blankets for the many www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com charities that they support. Collection boxes will be available for contributions at various local sites. Please see page 7 for a list of sponsoring businesses and locations where donations can On November 28 the Town of Danville celebrated the lighting of the Old Oak Tree after which the huge crowd that had be made. come for this annual event dispersed into downtown for refreshments, shopping and to the Museum of the San Ramon
ECRWSS
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
Valley exhibit, Christmas Memories. Vintage Christmas is on display with trees, trains, storybooks, games and more. The exhibit runs through January 4. The museum is located at Railroad and Prospect in downtown Danville.
Native wildlife report:
Meet The Barn Owl (Tyto alba): The Silent Nocturnal Hunter
Postmaster: Dated Material
By James Hale
Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 390 Diablo Road, Ste. 145 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is found worldwide in most regions, except polar and desert areas, and is the most widely distributed species of owl. The Latin name literally means “white owl”. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that there are at least three major lineages of Barn Owl, five species, and approximately 28 subspecies, that exhibit a wide range of physical characteristics. Barn Owl genetics are currently under detailed study to fully understand their phylogeography. The white face is heart-shaped, forming a parabolic disc that functions to funnel sound to the asymmetrically placed ears at the top of each lobe, which allows for acute hearing. It also gives rise to its sometimes locally common name of monkey-faced owl.
It is also known by a variety of other names including white owl, silver owl, demon owl, ghost owl, death owl, night owl, rat owl, church owl, cave owl, stone owl, hissing owl, hobgoblin or hobby owl, dobby owl, white-breasted owl, golden owl, scritch owl, straw owl, delicate owl and others. Mottled shades of cinnamon brown and grey comprise the plumage of the head and back, while the underparts vary from white to brown, sometimes speckled with darker markings. Darkest birds are always females, with males being the palest or white. These owls do not hoot. A raspy, hissing screech is the most common call, with bill clacking
being common communication between pairs during the breeding season. Barn Owls are medium sized birds, typically about 12 to 16 inches in length, with a wingspan of up to 36 inches. They vary in weight from 9 ounces to about 20 ounces. Island dwelling owls are usually smaller and lighter. The squarish tail, light color, and raspy, screech are a means for identifying this owl. The undulating flight pattern and the dangling, feathered legs are also diagnostic. When captured or cornered, the Barn Owl will sometimes fall on its back and defend itself with flailing talons. Although primarily nocturnal, the Barn Owl often becomes active shortly before dusk and sometimes can be seen foraging during the day.
This month’s Special Sections:
Holiday Giving
pages 7-9
Seniors pages 10-11
Their home range and territory has a radius of about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) or 300 hectares around the nest site where they actively forage for prey. Tree cavities, cliff fissures and caves, hay lofts, warehouses, palm trees, and other protected roosts are used for nesting. They readily take to artificial nest boxes which can be seen throughout local vineyards See OWLS page 5