Tag Archives: East Portal
February Board Meeting Minutes
Your Neighborhood Group
East Sacramento Preservation
Monthly Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 8, 2020, 7pm
McClaskey Warren Adult Education Center
Present
Will Green
Martin Palomar
Michael Greene
Janet Maira
Rose Luther
Nancy Dannevik
Bill Dannevik
Ellen Cochrane
Elections
Thank you to outgoing President Janet Maira, Secretary Jennifer Cummings and Treasurer Martin Palomar for their faithful service.
Welcome 2020 Officers
President: Martin Palomar
Vice President: Janet Maira
Treasurer: Will Green
Secretary: Ellen Cochrane
Scholarship Update
The ESP Kit Carson graduating senior scholarship cycle begins in April. Will Green will ask member Amy Sweat to help with student training for the application process. Rose would like to join the scholarship committee.
Print Ad
ESP will run a full-page print add in East Sacramento News that details our values and outlines our activities.
Environment Committee
The Board and members present agreed that acting locally is a powerful way to effect change. ESP will form a committee to pursue speakers, action points and a communication process with council and the mayor to move forward on environmental preservation. Specific comments included concerns about our tree canopy, pollinators, land use, American River habitat destruction, air quality, recycling, partnering with the Tree Foundation, water and other issues. Members expressed frustration about who to contact regarding illegal or dangerous homeless activities.
 Member Appreciation Meeting
ESP will hold a Neighbor Appreciation Get-together on February 29 (Leap Year!) to greet new members and appreciate current. Details about time and place TBA.
POPS
All present agreed that ESP should gather volunteers for East Portal Pops in the Park. We reached out to CM Harris’ office to learn the 2020 POPS date.
Pond Update
Our pond lead, Judy McClaver, was not able to attend. Pond update to follow
Anti-trash Campaign
Martin Palomar and Will Green created and run the campaign, which ESP supports. Trash pickup in McKinley Park is on-going.
Welcome to new members: Nancy and Bill Dannevik
Let’s Keep the Bluebird of Happiness
Cavity-nesting birds in East Portal Park
The drought has killed several trees in East Portal Park and I now see that many of them have been marked with an orange ring, presumably so that they can be taken down. While I recognize the need to remove any which pose a safety risk, it is also important for the city to consider the wildlife value of these very trees.
Our city is home to a wide variety of bird species, many of which breed right in town. Among those birds, some nest only in cavities in trees. For the most part the trees, which provide the best cavities for these birds, are ones which are dead or dying. I walk East Portal Park nearly every morning and have noted that at least three bird species have nested each year in cavities in trees in this park: Nuttall’s Woodpecker (a woodpecker found only along the west coast in California and Oregon), Western Bluebird, and Oak Titmouse. In particular, all three species are using cavities in some of the marked trees. (Zelkova species, I believe.) I am hopeful that the city will consider saving at least one or two of these trees.
I also understand that, besides safety issues, there is an aesthetic reason for taking down dead or dying trees. Few people actually understand that, from a wildlife perspective, these are often the most valuable trees in a forests (urban OR native forests). Many other communities have recognized this and have implemented programs to try to save some of these trees, marking them with “Wildlife Tree” signage so that the public understands why they have been saved. One example is a program in place in Orange County (http://cavityconservation.com/). An example of the type of signage used is shown below.
I have included a few photos showing cavities which have been used by nesting birds in recent years in East Portal Park. One tree in particular has been very productive and I am hopeful that this tree, at least, can be retained. It is along M Street, just where 51st intersects.
Contributed by Ed Pandolfino, Ph.D. (former president of Western Field Ornithologists, co-author of Birds of the Sierra Nevada)
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