Claremont Canyon Conservancy

04/07/2026

🪶Save your spot!
Sunday, April 26 from 7:30am-11:30am (meet at 7:15am)
If you missed our winter Woodpecker Walk, join Jeff Martin, Conservancy member, wildlife educator, naturalist, videographer, and woodpecker enthusiast, as we look for woodpeckers foraging in the Canyon. Jeff will lead us on a route through the territories of six regularly occurring woodpecker species. We will learn where to look for them, how to identify them, and observe their foraging habits. We will surely see other year-round resident birds.

Visit our website claremontcanyon.org (link in bio) to learn more about woodpeckers and where we will be hiking. Under the "Flora and Fauna" page you will find Jeff Martin's article, "Woodpeckers of Claremont Canyon".

**This event is limited to ten participants (and we only have 5 spots left!)—please contact us at [email protected] to sign up for this walk (or by filling up this form https://forms.gle/AkRGYVRzvRyHbu5k8). Exact location to be determined and emailed to participants several days prior to the event (it will take place in Claremont Canyon). Bring binoculars if you have one. Heavy rain cancels.

03/12/2026

Bird Walk - Let's go Woodpeckering!
Sunday, March 15 from 8am-11am (meet-up at 7:45am)

Join this super fun Woodpecker Walk in Claremont Canyon! Jeff Martin, Conservancy member, wildlife educator, naturalist, videographer, and woodpecker enthusiast, will lead us on a route through the territories of six regularly occurring woodpecker species. We will probably see and hear quite a few woodpeckers, and hopefully at least two or three different species among them. We will learn where to look for them, how to identify them, and observe their unique foraging habits. We will surely see and identify other interesting birds we see along the way, but our special interest is Woodpeckers!
🔗 RSVP to save your spot (link in bio)

🏃‍♀️The Woodpecker walk, round trip, up and down the hill is approximately 2.5 miles, but we will take breaks along the way as we look for woodpeckers.
☘️ Moderate to heavy rain cancels. Light, occasional rain we meet as scheduled.

09/23/2025

Join us this Saturday, September 27 from 10am-12pm in Canyon. We will be tackling the invasive and non-native French broom! This hardy plant has formed dense thickets in the upper canyon, and we've been slowly removing it.

We will be using w**d wrenches to help us continue tackling this removal so that native plants can have a chance to grow underneath the large . Since our start of this removal, we've seen native strawberries growing and spreading, a few snow berries, and smaller oaks! Your efforts have also helped us reduce the fuel loads in this area of the park, which help slow the spread of a potential wildfire.

Spend two hours of your weekend removing broom with us, to help make the park safer for visitors and neighbors. We will be meeting at Signpost 29 and we will provide tools and snacks. Visit our website for more details (link in bio) or send us an email at [email protected]. We also welcome larger groups, student groups, and scouts. Just reach out to us.

08/01/2025

Thank you! Last month, a scout CC from the Temescal Service Unit for Girl Scouts helped replace a trail crossing on a main trail as part of her "Take Action" project. Now, hikers and visitors can enjoy the Loop Trail more safely, and use this trail in case of a wildfire.

Thanks to CC, her dad Dai, and our volunteer/park neighbor Alex Frank for restoring this section of the trail! And, to all the scouts who have worked on projects in the Upper Canyon and in Garber Park.

If you are part of a scout troop and would like to work on a project in Claremont Canyon, send us an email at [email protected]. You can also read about two of our previous scout project on our website at claremontcanyon.org.

📸 Photo 1: Scout CC (bottom right) helping install a trail crossing with her dad Dai (left) and Garber Park's volunteer Alex Frank (top right). | Photo by Wyllie Clayson

07/31/2025

Which bird does this feather belong to?
We found this beautiful feather in Garber Park last month. Kay Loughman says it came from a woodpecker. Who knows which species? Is it a Downy, Hairy, Nuttall's, or other?

Let us know what you think, and why. Send us an email at [email protected]. Visit Kay Loughman's wildlife website https://www.nhwildlife.net/ to see more pictures of other species spotted in and around the Canyon.

Woodpecker feather found in Garber Park during a volunteer event. 📸Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona

03/14/2025

French broom pull!

Our volunteers continue to remove invasive broom from underneath native oaks and bays, which helped uncover native plants like snowberry, woodland strawberry, and California blackberry. Broom tends to overcrowd native plant species, creates a monospecific stand (a forest of a single species), and excludes wildlife.

Volunteers pulled over 1,000 broom plants, many measuring over four feet tall. By doing this work, volunteers decrease the density of invasive, hazardous plants and help lower ladder fuels in the park. To identify this plant, look for its bright yellow flower clusters and small leaves of three.

If you're interested in volunteering in a future event by yourself or with your group/company, send us an email at [email protected].

Our next volunteer day will be March 22 from 10am-12pm. We meet at Signpost 29 in the Upper Canyon. Wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves and pants. We provide tools and gloves.

In the photo: Berkeley High students after pulling many invasive broom plants along the Summit House Trail in the Upper Canyon | Photos by Wyllie Clayson

03/14/2025

French broom pull!

Our volunteers continue to remove invasive broom from underneath native oaks and bays, which helped uncover native plants like snowberry, woodland strawberry, and California blackberry. Broom tends to overcrowd native plant species, creates a monospecific stand (a forest of a single species), and excludes wildlife. Volunteers pulled over 1,000 broom plants, many measuring over four feet tall. By doing this work, volunteers decrease the density of invasive, hazardous plants and help lower ladder fuels in the park. To identify this plant, look for its bright yellow flower clusters and small leaves of three.

If you're interested in volunteering in a future event by yourself or with your group/company, send us an email at [email protected].

Our next volunteer day will be March 22 from 10am-12pm. We meet at Signpost 29 in the Upper Canyon. Wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves and pants. We provide tools and gloves.

In the photo: Berkeley High students after pulling many invasive broom plants along the Summit House Trail in the Upper Canyon | Photo by Wyllie Clayson

03/08/2025

March Happenings 2025

The release of Cal Fire’s 2025 wildfire risk maps this past week has created confusion rather than clarity. Here are a few steps we can take in the meantime. Our volunteers continue their work to decrease the density of invasive, hazardous plants to help lower ladder fuels in the park. Join one of...

02/25/2025

Upper Canyon Stewardship | March 22nd from 10AM-12PM

Join us at Signpost 29 for a day of restoration every fourth Saturday of the month (from 10am-noon) as we work to restore and maintain pathways, remove invasive broom, and collect litter. We welcome groups as well from companies, schools, or scout troops.

02/18/2025

Volunteer with the Garber Park Stewards | March 15th from 9AM-12PM

Visit this 13-acre park and help restore its native wild habitat (we meet year-round 1st and 3rd Saturday from 9AM-Noon).

02/18/2025

Volunteer with the Garber Park Stewards | March 1st from 9AM-12PM

Visit this 13-acre park and help restore its native wild habitat (we meet year-round 1st and 3rd Saturday from 9AM-Noon).