San Lorenzo River Bird Call

Last year's five similar Pilot Paddle Events on the river were quite alarming. During the migratory season every bird on the river took to the sky. During the nesting season, birds that remained were the ducks and Mergansers with babies that could not fly away. They showed high levels of stress as they tried to evade the flotilla of paddle boats on the narrow river. One baby Green Heron was killed by a Peregrine Falcon as it tried to escape the kayaks and paddlers. It had been crossing the river and forced over and over from the vegetation into the open, before it finally was caught by the Falcon. Two Coots also died when they flew up from the river and crashed into cars on the bridge.  and injured birds were taken to Native Animal Rescue
 
The projected cost for Pilot Paddle Program would be approximately $32,000.
 
With recreational boating having been banned for decades, the San Lorenzo  River  has acquired enhanced regional importance as a habitat zone for local and migrating birds. This special habitat value should now be protected rather than diminished.