Osprey with fish by Navy ship. Photo by Erich Hayner

Gary:
I found a great place on the Alameda Navel Air Station (now closed, but turned into a private use area with wildlife refuge status) for checking out birds.

I was following a pair of hawks that I knew and trying to find a nesting spot, when I saw in the distance a bird that looked way different than every other sea bird around. Also, the seagulls were kind of flocking/harassing it, something I look for when I’m searching for hawks and the like. It was completely by accident, then, that I found a pair of ospreys who seem to be attempting to nest at the end of a jetty at Alameda Point.
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Happy 4th of July!

Whatever you do … DO NOT take your pets with you to see the fireworks! They are better off at home.

HELPFUL TIPS:

** Leave your pet at home. Fireworks displays can be disorienting and frightening to pets, even those animals that are used to going places with their humans.
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Squirrel takes cool dip in birdbath on a hot day. Photo by Chris Peeters, Livermore, CA

Gary:
As you know, last Sunday (June 28) was a bit warm, especially here in Livermore. We touched 109 degrees F. and around 4 p.m. found our newest resident young squirrel taking a dip in our bird bath. We figured you and your readers might really enjoy the photos we took.
Chris Peeters, Livermore, CA
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Barn Owl by Brian Murphy, Walnut Creek, Calif.

There are 8 species of local owls that you might encounter in your San Francisco Bay Area backyard. Four of these owl species are pictured here. There are links below for you to click on and take a look at the other four owl species on the Internet. Have fun! /Gary

Barn Owl: Probably our most common local owl in the S.F. Bay Area. These owls have white breasts and underwings and if you look up you may think you are looking at a white or snowy owl. Nope. Just a barn owl. Sometimes at night you will hear a loud hissing-screeching sound in the sky above you. Classic barn owl. They nest in old buildings, tree hollows and in human-made nest boxes. They eat LOTS of gophers, rats and mice. VERY beneficial — especially if they live in your backyard. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_Owl
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Sunrise on a hot day on Mount Diablo, by Brian Murphy, Walnut Creek, CA

IT’S BEEN TOO DARN HOT

Some things to keep in mind for dealing with future hot days:
** Make sure your pets have plenty of cool water.
** Do your pets have a cool place to stay out of the heat? Is there outside shade? How hot is it in the shade? (You may be surprised.)
** Keep pet water dishes out of the sun.
** Freeze water in plastic bottles so pets can lie next to them and stay cool.
** Indoor cats also need cool places to sleep. Bathtub bottoms are cool, so leave the bathroom door open.
** Rabbits are very sensitive to heat, so make sure there’s a frozen bottle of water in the cage.
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Great horned owl at Lindsay Wildlife Museum

FREE WILDLIFE MUSEUM DAY
Saturday, June 27 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lindsay Wildlife Museum
1931 First Avenue. Walnut Creek; 925-935-1978
http://www.Wildlife-Museum.org

Doors open at 10 a.m. and throughout the day, children and adults will get to know the owls, reptiles, fox, hawks, eagles and other wild creatures that live at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Visitors can watch feeding and training demonstrations, and learn about nature in a safe, friendly, family environment.

Adding a picnic in the beautiful, adjacent Larkey Park can make for a perfect day of relaxation and family time together.

Have fun! /Gary

The animals are having a really BIG celebration over at the San Francisco Zoo this weekend, June 27-28, to celebrate the zoo’s 80th Birthday.

Our staff photographer Dan Honda has been documenting the S. F. Zoo and has produced a special anniversary video which you can watch at http://www.contracostatimes.com/video?bctid=27476743001

You can find out more information on the zoo’s 80th birthday party — hours the zoo is open, admission, special 80th anniversary performances, show times, etc. at: http://www.sfzoo.org/registration/calendardetail.asp?orgkey=1431&ActivityKey=601307

Have fun! /Gary

What pets do. Photo by Flickr user pintavelloso used under a Creative Commons License

AP-Petside.com poll reveals that American pets are often treated like humans (as if this is a big surprise /Gary)

June 23, 2009: With the downturn in the economy and people seeking more comfort from their pets than ever, a pet care and news site Petside.com (http://www.petside.com) recently partnered with The Associated Press (http://www.ap.org) to poll Americans on their attitudes towards their furry friends. The survey revealed that half (50%) of American pet owners truly consider their pets to be as much a part of the family as any other person in the household.

Single people of both genders, but especially single women (66%), were more likely to say that their pet is a full member of the family. Only 46 percent of married women shared the same viewpoint. In comparison, 52 percent of single men said so, compared to 43 percent of married men.

Lots more at: http://www.petside.com/the-sidewalk/ap_pets_poll.php

Fetchstix: Nature’s Original Dog Toy

I’ve come across some pretty weird pet products over the years in my line of work as a pet columnist … but I think this one probably takes the cake. Or the dog biscuit. This product brings new meaning to the old Phineas T. Barnum expression, “There’s a (you-know-what) born every minute.”

I’ve decided to give this product my annual “Cleverest Dumb Pet Toy of the Year” award. It takes pure genius to figure out a way to tie up a couple of sticks with some string and then sell them for $12.95 a bundle.

And would you believe it … these guys even got Jay Leno to help them plug this product (sticks!) on his late-night TV show: http://fetchstixvt.com/news-and-links.php

I just received the following press release, which I’d like to share with you:
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Martinez beavers art by Kat Mulkey, Lafayette, CA

I thought you might be interested in seeing how the Martinez beavers are doing. The Worth A Dam folks have an excellent web site at http://www.martinezbeavers.org which will keep you up-to-date.

I particularly enjoyed the Father’s Day photo of “Dad Beaver.”

While we’re on the subject, you should also check out Cheryl Reynolds’ “Clapperail’s Weblog: Daily meanderings in my life and the Martinez beavers” at http://clapperail.wordpress.com/

Enjoy. /Gary