Oak Park, Orangevale, California

If you are visiting Oak Park on Oak Street between Hazel and Auburn-Folsom Road, walk the network of dirt paths through the riparian zone rather than the cement path. In the canopy, you will hear a symphony of American robins, the typewriter chatter of Oregon juncos, and European starling whistles. As you walk through the oaks, away from the creek, you'll see woodpeckers. I saw a flock of acorn, downy, and maybe hairy woodpeckers in a single grove. One was chasing another in flight, with a territorial call I hadn't heard before. I had never seen so many woodpeckers in one small area.

Thinking about how wild habitats in outlying suburban areas are getting smaller and farther between, it makes sense that the woodpeckers would need to share the one little postage stamp of oak woodland crammed between horse ranches and residential neighborhoods, soccer greens, and other sports fields. It seems human recreation and development is more important to our parks and recreation districts than preserving open space for the birds. Anyone can help by voting for people who are committed to preserving natural environments and setting more land aside for these parks.