(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Daily Bucket: Silicon Valley Shenanigans - Part I [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-11-22 My work travels have taken me to many parts of the United States. Some of those places are not near the top of my vacation list. But I learned much about each place, especially focusing on the history and the natural world of each of those places. The Bay Area is one place I’ve often traveled to for work. Natural beauty surrounds the Bay Area in what could be considered quintessential California. Steinbeck painted this landscape in words. On this last work trip in early November, a three day trip, I was working in San Jose and Milpitas, i.e. “Silicon Valley.” On my evening off time I explored three natural areas: Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Area — Alviso Unit, Ed R. Levin County Park (Milpitas), and Alviso Marina County Park, which touches Don Edwards NWR. For Part I, I’ll share Don Edwards NWR — Alviso Unit. THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS. WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. On a Sunday afternoon, I flew from Seattle to San Jose on an Alaska flight I’ve heard called “the nerd bird” so named because of the connection between Seattle and Silicon Valley as high tech hubs. Doubtless that most passengers on this route have an affiliation with the high tech industry, except me. The Santa Clara Valley, or as it’s popularly known as “Silicon Valley”, was originally developed with fruit orchards. Well, they’re all gone as you can see from this aerial view. Aerial of the Santa Clara Valley (“Silicon Valley”) looking roughly north, before turning into final approach into SJC. Santa Clara Valley as it was. Santa Clara Valley The valley with its scenic beauty, mild climate, and thousands of acres of blooming fruit trees was known as "The Valley of Heart's Delight". Various fruit cooperatives were formed in the area to deal with economic issues, including the California Fruit Union (founded in 1883) and the Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange (founded in 1892). Prunes were a major crop, with the valley was producing the majority of prunes in California by 1900 and shipped internationally. Water was supplied from an artesian aquifer and when the water table dropped, wells were pumped. Many orchards were small with housing and fruit growing in a dispersed pattern. By the 1920s and 1930s, the agricultural and horticultural industries were doing well in the valley and included 18 canneries, 13 dried-fruit packing houses, and 12 fresh-fruit and vegetable shipping firms, and they were shipping internationally. Del Monte and Sunsweet are two brands which originated in the Santa Clara Valley. As part of my trip pre-planning, once I was off the plane and had my rental car, I made haste for Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Area — Alviso Unit. It was already late afternoon and already an hour of daylight lost from the time change (“fall back”). The map below shows the regional view and the Red Dot locates the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Area — Alviso Unit. Red Dot locates the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Area — Alviso Unit, Environmental Learning Center, where several trails originate. Two views below, map view and satellite view. highlight the trails I traversed. First, I walked the Marsh View Trail that runs south. That trail traverses an upland area covered in scrub vegetation and a few small trees. I spotted a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and also got good looks of other birds out in the salt water marsh areas. Next I traversed the New Chicago Marsh Trail, which is a boardwalk extending out into the salt marsh. Other trails were closed due to construction from the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project. From my walk on the Marsh View Trail. Looking west out over the salt marsh. The little islands were populated with Willets, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, and Northern Shovelers. The big fence by the buildings is a driving range, if you’re into that sort of thing. In the distance are the Santa Cruz Mountains. Northern Shovelers were common and the only duck species I observed with the limited time available to me. Looking northwest across the salt marsh to San Francisco Bay. Looking northwest across the salt marsh to San Francisco Bay. The upland area is on the right. The building is the Environmental Learning Center, closed when I was there. One of the coolest plants on the upland area was this Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), sometimes called California Holly. It is large shrub practically endemic to coastal California within the coastal sage scrub plant community. Closeup of Toyon berries and leaves. Walking the New Chicago Marsh Trail. New Chicago Marsh Trail boardwalk. Pickleweed (Salicornia pacifica). Pickleweed is an important nesting habitat for migrating birds. It is also an important food source for the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse. Northern Shoveler The highlight of this walk was spotting these tiny little shorebirds, which on closer view turned out to be Least Sandpipers. Least Sandpipers working the shore. Least Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Least Sandpiper A flock of Brown Pelicans The sun was setting fast, noticeable at this latitude where the sun drops at a steeper angle than where I live north of Seattle. No long evenings. Darkness comes quick and I was hungry. Part II is in the works. What’s going on in everyone’s worlds? Thanks for reading the Daily Bucket. Phenology is how we take earth’s pulse. We discuss what we see in each Bucket. We value all observations, as we ponder life’s cycles. Now it’s your turn. Please comment about your own natural area, and include photos if possible. We love photos! To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow, and join to write a Bucket of your own observations. 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