Embedded Files
Sign up to Plant with Us π± Dec 21st, 8am-Noon
π¦π¦π± Volunteer Wednesday: to Weed and to Speak π£οΈ
MondayΒ - October 13th, 2025We have 3 volunteer spaces left for the next volunteer event on:
Wednesday, October 15th, 9-11am
to save the endangered burrowing owl and migratory monarch butterfly in Shoreline Park through habitat enhancement.Β
At this event you'll be weeding invasive nonnative plants that can outcompete our native plants for resources.
If you're interested in RSVPing, email me back!
I am also ramping up our Milkweeds for Monarchs project again, with Kim, Lexie, and Mathew's help.Β
Kim has packaged a LOT of narrowleaf milkweed seeds andΒ
Mathew says we've got plenty of 1-gallon containers,Β
so if you'd like to join this project in growing milkweeds from seedΒ
in these containers in your yard for transplanting at Shoreline when they're big enough,Β
email me and I can help coordinate.Β
Lexie is helping distribute seed packets to schools/libraries,Β
so if you can help with seed packet distribution too, email me!
And now... for this doozy of a topic (for those who are new this "effort" popped up right when Phil Higgins, our biologist, was put on paid administrative leave):
I skimmed The Plan, and noticed some serious issues, so, with ChatGPT's help, I came up with this nifty little table to help you see them too:
On their website, you can submit yet more feedback on THEIR plan. Here's where.Β
Below is what I submitted for your reference (indented and italicized--TLDR: the most important point re:owls is in orange):
1.Β Big Picture Priorities
Which Vision, Goals, or Objectives in the draft Plan do you think are most critical for protecting Mountain Viewβs biodiversity and urban forest?
How is the burrowing owl not one of YOUR chosen "Biodiversity Ambassadors"? On every single opportunity to provide input into this plan, myself, one of my volunteers, or another member of the community has brought up the burrowing owls and their necessity as an "umbrella species" or "Sentinel Species." Instead, you've listed entirely βurban-tolerantβ or common species (frogs, warblers, lizards) and excluded all local species of conservation concern (e.g., burrowing owl, tricolored blackbird, western pond turtle).
2.Β Actions and Performance
Looking at the specific Action items and their priority levels, do they seem clear and achievable?
Many metrics are inputs, not outcomes (e.g., βnumber of volunteer hoursβ instead of βincrease in native bird speciesβ). The Plan says βthe City will monitor progress,β but doesnβt specify who β Public Works, Community Services, consultants? There is no public data portal or annual reporting commitment described. We, as Mountain View residents, have repeatedly asked for data transparency and citizen science inclusion in city environmental programs (notably in the Environmental Planning Commission hearings).
3.Β Practical Implementation
Are there adjustments, partnerships, or resources that could make the Actions more reasonable to implement?
You could require a public biodiversity dashboard and third-party review of progress to maintain accountability. Also, integrate the burrowing owl recovery programs into the citywide monitoring metrics and designate them as a βUmbrella Species/Sentinel Speciesβ for open-habitat biodiversity. Currently, it is already required for the city to be monitoring the burrowing owl population in Shoreline Park, but they've been dropping the ball--not uploading the metrics for 3+ months. I had to file a complaint to get them to email the metrics directly to me. They should be at the top of the city's webpage and not buried several hidden pages deep. It is also unclear how the city is paying contractors to measure how many owls are present, especially without banding them or checking inside their burrows.
Question1:
Your data show that nearly 90% of Mountain Viewβs tree canopy is on private land, primarily in wealthier neighborhoods. What specific mechanisms will the City adopt to ensure new tree planting and maintenance investments reduce this inequity rather than reinforce it?
Question 2:
The Plan references the Shoreline Wildlife Management Plan for the burrowing owls, but does not include them among its Biodiversity Ambassadors or monitoring metrics. When and how will the City integrate the owl conservation programβand its volunteer networkβinto this Planβs measurable biodiversity framework?
Question 3:
The Plan lists 24 metrics and promises five-year evaluations, but thereβs no commitment to public reporting or independent review. How will residents be able to track progress, verify results, and hold the City accountable between those five-year updates?
There is an Environmental Planning Commission on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 7 p.m.
In-Person: Mountain View City Hall | 500 Castro Street
Virtual: https://mountainview.zoom.us/j/85300705240
I'll be attending virtually to speak on behalf of The Guardian Project and our owls. I hope to see you there! Coo coo!
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer NEXT WEEK
ThursdayΒ - October 9th, 2025Wednesday, October 15th, from 9-11am
to save the endangered burrowing owls and migratory monarch butterflies at Burrowing Owl Billows in Shoreline Park!
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Please email me if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions 48 hours before the event.
We currently only have 4/15 RSVPs, but I'll also be posting to Nextdoor and emailing all the Googlers currently on the waitlist for the year's remaining events.
Please email me to cancel if you can no longer make an event so I can let folks in from the waitlist!
Apart from October 15th, the only event with space left is Sunday, December 21st from 8-Noon when I'll be joining you in person!
Here's our group from this week's volunteer event! Thanks, Daniel, for taking the group photo!
No one spotted any owls out (π±) but Daniel (@daniel_dezordo) got absolutely stunning photos of our migratory monarchs on the gorgeous sunflowers you planted previously!
See all the photos the volunteers took here.
I also FINALLY got the latest burrowing owl count from Brady Ruebusch, Shoreline/Phil Higgins's manager:
As you can see from the owl count in September, there has been a stable ~50% drop in our owl population from the time that Phil Higgins was put on administrative leave to now (~14 months).
For those who are new, as of July 2024, Phil Higgins, the full-time employed city biologist who we collaborated with on The Guardian Project for almost 8 years, was put on administrative leave without warning, leading to the immediate death of over half the owls at Shoreline Park who were kept in outdoor aviaries to protect from predation and to provide with supplemental feedings. Volunteers from The Guardian Project went to speak at the City Council and the Parks & Rec Commission, but few answers were provided.
This week I asked Brady about when we're going to get at least 1 full-time biologist back, if not Phil, this is his reply:
The Wildlife Preservation Coordinator position is still in an ongoing personnel situation. Neither the Parks and Recreation Commission nor anyone from the City is able to provide additional information. We continue to actively work with our contract biologists to monitor the owls and properly maintain their habitat. During nesting season, we did not perform any maintenance projects where the owls were observed. We believe that some owls may have been predated by coyotes, skunks, raccoons, or other birds of prey, given the quantity of these predators in the northeast meadowlands. However, CDFW did not provide permission for us to use a borescope on burrows that we believed were active until we get an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) from them. We are in the process of applying for that permit from CDFW. We are also working with LSA and CDFW to obtain a banding permit. Hopefully, CDFW will be able to issue both of those permits in time for the 2026 nesting season.
The lack of urgency and care for what this "ongoing personnel situation" has done to our project, our owls, and our mental health is insulting at best. I really don't have a better reaction or solution at this time than to pass along this update to the rest of you.Β
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± 2025 Volunteer Schedule!
ThursdayΒ - September 18th, 2025Please RSVP for these ASAP, especially if you're "one of the regulars," as my Google PoC just shared them with the Googlers and they're flooding in and filling up spots quick!
Tuesdays 9-11am
9/30
10/28
11/18
12/16
I'll also be scheduling another Wednesday or Thursday in October, as well as a Saturday in December when we'll do another 4-hour event with a mid-break meal provided by me!
Stay tuned for those!
Otherwise,Β
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Please email me back with the dates you're interested in attending and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions the day before the event.
Here are the volunteers and owls from the last event!
π¦π¦π± Volunteer NEXT WEEK
WednesdayΒ - August 20th, 2025Tuesday, August 26th, from 9-11am
to save the endangered burrowing owls and migratory monarch butterflies at Burrowing Owl Billows in Shoreline Park!
That's right, folks! You asked for it and this is our second volunteer event this month again!
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Please email me back and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions the day before the event.
Here's our group from this week's volunteer event! Thanks, Mathew, for taking the group photo.
If you took any other photos/videos at this event, please share them with me! π₯°
Aisha with anΒ ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer TOMORROW
MondayΒ - August 18th, 2025Tuesday, August 19th, from 9-11am
to save the endangered burrowing owls and migratory monarch butterflies at Burrowing Owl Billows in Shoreline Park!
We've got 10 volunteers signed up so far so there's still plenty of space if you'd like to join!
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
 𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Β βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Please email me back and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions the day before the event.
In other news...
Below is the latest email sent by the "Biodiversity & Urban Forest Plan," which is a project that appeared when our biologists Phil Higgins and Ryan Philips disappeared last summer. Some of you have been sporadically attending their meetings and I too have popped in to give feedback to them on getting our biologists back to Shoreline to save the burrowing owls, so I like to keep it on everyone's radar. I'm always suspicious when outside groups "suddenly appear" when inside groups are "suddenly outed," but it's just my personal conspiracy theory that these two events are connected. I'm still waiting to hear back from Mathew about where the burrowing owl count at Shoreline is from June and July... *AHEM*
Draft Biodiversity & Urban Forest Plan Available for Public Review Soon
The draft Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan is moving toward the public review phase!
City staff are completing a thorough internal review to ensure the Plan fosters collaboration across departments and charts a strong course for protecting and enhancing biodiversity and the urban forest.
The draft Plan will be posted on BiodiversityMV.com the week of September 29, 2025. This will be your opportunity to review the Plan and share feedback ahead of two key public meetings:
Parks and Recreation Commission β October 8, 2025
Environmental Planning Commission β October 15, 2025
We appreciate your continued interest in this important work and look forward to hearing your input to help shape the final Plan.
π¦π¦π± Volunteer NEXT WEEK
TuesdayΒ - August 12th, 2025Tuesday, August 19th, from 9-11am
to save the endangered burrowing owls and migratory monarch butterflies at Burrowing Owl Billows in Shoreline Park!
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
 𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Β βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Please email me back and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions the day before the event.
Here is the last group of volunteers! Y'all are looking as stoked as ever and pinker than usual!
All shots courtesy of @daniel_dezordo. Our babies are growing in their adult feathers and losing their fluff!
Looks like a June bug, one of our burrowing owls' favorite snacks, is hanging out in our habitat along with sunflowers and sprouting thistles!
Looks like the "Monthly Reports" website is down again, but I still managed to grab this screenshot of the latest burrowing owl count, done in May.
In May, LSA visually observed eight burrowing owls and mapped 24 burrows with evidence of activity. Burrowing owls and burrows with evidence of activity were observed within the NE Meadowlands and the Back 9 of Golf Course. We believe there are more owls present, but they are located within their burrows nest building and/or incubating eggs. LSA observed there are at least seven burrows with evidence of burrowing owl nesting activity.
Mathew is looking into where June and July's reports are.
Meanwhile in Maui, here are some videos I edited of the 7 endangered African penguins I am now helping care for!
And then I got COVID for the first time, so I've been down for the count since last week. πͺ
Stay safe, everyone!
Aisha with anΒ ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer TOMORROW
MondayΒ - July 28th, 2025Tuesday, July 29th, from 9-11am
to save the burrowing owls and migratory monarch butterflies at Burrowing Owl Billows in Shoreline Park!
We've got 6 volunteers signed up so far--all β¨NEWβ¨ Googlers--so if you've got experience please sign up too to help guide them!
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
 𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Β βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Please email aisha@aishawithaneye.com and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions today.
Here's our crew from the last event this month. They absolutely killed it!
These photos are all taken courtesy of @daniel_dezordo , who also caught our owls with their new baby!!!
He's on the right. Below is just the baby, looking bewildered, which is to be expected, given how crazy our planet is.
Look at this GLORIOUS photo Daniel got of one of our monarchs up close on a milkweed y'all planted!!! This is the kind of π₯ I can appreciate! Great job, everyone!!!
The "Monthly Reports" website has been down every time I've tried looking for the contract biologists' owl counts for May and June, so stay tuned to hear about those vital data points.
In other news, I just got hired by the Hyatt to care for their endangered African penguins as their "Animal Attendant"!!!!
Β π€©π§π§π§π§π§π§π§
As some of you might remember, my obsession with these penguins started in 2021, when I first moved to Maui, because I'd seen them in the wild in South Africa in their native habitat at Boulder Beach (in 2014).
Seeing them for the first time at the Hyatt in a dirty pond shared with dying koi fish shocked me, so I started documenting and sharing their conditions.
This year, the Hyatt shut down their habitat to do construction on it and clean it after 3/6 penguins died, which may or may not be related to how dirty their pond was. They also added 4 more penguins from Virginia. Apparently the Richmond Zoo in Virginia has THE most successful breeding program for this species of penguin in the United States, despite their penguin habitat looking like this:
... like why is there a peacock wandering around in there?
The point is, regardless of their conditions in captivity--of which I can honestly admit I don't know what is acceptable--we know this species is endangered because their native habitat has become too dangerous for them due to overfishing, pollution, the effects of climate change, and other human activities. We need to breed them in captivity, set up programs to enhance/protect their native habitat, and then create a pipeline for transferring the penguins we breed from their nonnative enclosures to their native, protected, and enhanced habitat back in South Africa. This is not a dissimilar strategy from what we've got going on for the burrowing owls right now. They are just less endangered... so far. California is also a wealthier population, compared to South Africa, from my understanding. From what I know so far from reaching out to SANCCOB, the African penguin rescue in South Africa, there is currently no protected/enhanced native habitat available to them there. I suspect disabled penguins are sent to their local zoos.
Here's a short video of my penguins, taken by my manager. She'd just given the penguins a new ball to play with:
I start work this Friday! π€―
If you've already signed up for tomorrow's event, stay tuned for my next email. Otherwise, aloha! πΊ
Aisha with anΒ ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer Next Week Tuesday!
FridayΒ - July 4th, 2025July 8th, from 9-11am
We've only got Daniel, our photographer, signed up so far, officially!
Please reply back if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and instructions the day prior!
GOOGLERS!!!!Β
Thank you so much for helping at this last weeding event and the planting back in May!
I just finished editing a video from our last planting where I interviewed some of you about your experience.Β Check it out!
Please share this video with your fellow Googlers to inspire them to come out to join us!
It's FUNNY, once you get past my huffing and puffing pale face, but I needed to express how much I appreciate your help by showing my circumstance!Β
Heck yeah!!! You look like you had a blast!
Also,
Please log your volunteer hours with Google!
My project gets $10/hour from Google if you log them!
It costs about $15/plant, just to give you an idea of your impact!
@Everyone: Anything you purchase from my Etsy goes to my nonprofit that funds this project!Β
You can also always just donate.
@Googlers: you can donate internally and get matched by Google!
Happy 4th of July! πΊπΈπβ¨
Aisha with anΒ ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer TOMORROW 9-11am in Shoreline Park to Save Our Burrowing Owls and Migratory Monarchs!
MondayΒ - May 26th, 2025We've got 5 volunteers signed up for tomorrow (Daniel, Heidi, Tim, Melissa, Alan)! There are abundant weeds though, so please let me know if you're able to make it as well!
The event is:
TOMORROW, May 27th, from 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
Β The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Β Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Please reply back if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions.
Daniel took this rockin' group photo of us from the planting. I literally look like I'm rockin' with that red solo cup, but it's biodegradable and full of fresh squeezed lemonade! π€ͺ Thank you, everyone who came out! You guys made the event fun and effective, my favorite combo. I'm still editing the video I took of us, so I'll be sharing that with you next. π₯°
Despite the new rule to stay further from the burrowing owls while their endangered status is being reconsidered (we find out the verdict from California Department of Fish & Wildlife in October), check out these incredible close ups Daniel shot of our owls.
The expressions of this pair in this last shot are so funny!Β He's likeΒ and she's like . It's usually the male who guards while the female stays in the burrow with the eggs. You can see in that first shot that the male, with the red and blue bands, is a lighter color, because his feathers get bleached by the sun from staying out of the burrow to guard.
Let's talk more about why those bands are so important:
From the April Parks & Rec Commission's COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT:
In April, LSA visually observed 12 burrowing owls and mapped 24 burrows with evidence of activity. Burrowing owls and burrows with evidence of activity were observed within the Northeast Meadowlands and the back nine of the Golf Course. As breeding season commences, the number of active burrows and owls visibly observed outside of their burrows has decreased. We believe there are more owls present, but they are located within their burrows nest building and/or incubating eggs. LSA has determined there are at least five pairs beginning to nest this month.
As you can see there were 23 owls counted last year in April by Phil, our full-time biologist on administrative leave, while only 12 were counted this year by biologist contractors LSA.
LSA is not permitted to band our owls, so if an unbanded owl flies between burrows, some of which are abandoned, some of which are satellite (only visited), and some of which are lived in, LSA could be double, triple, quadruple counting the same owl. Some owls are polyamorous as well, which adds to the chances they could be overcounted, especially when assuming they're paired. Phil used tracking cameras at their burrow entrances, the ones paired from the juvenile overwintering program were in closed aviaries, making counting even more reliable, and, as you can see from LSA's photos, they're not even using cameras as accurate as Daniel's.
The job LSA is doing is incomparable to the job Phil was doing. We need him back stat. For now, let's fill the void through our habitat enhancement project as best we can until he returns to continue saving our burrowing owls and migratory monarch butterflies in Shoreline Park.
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer TUESDAY 5/27 9-11am in Shoreline Park to save the burrowing owls and migratory monarchs!
ThursdayΒ - May 22nd, 2025Volunteer TUESDAY 5/27 9-11am in Shoreline Park to save the burrowing owls and migratory monarchs!
Check out my new email address! π€© Ugh. It took me FOREVER to set it up, but it was necessary in order to receive Google-matched donations through Paypal. Speaking of which, if you're a Googler, and attended the Saturday planting, please log your hours! Last I checked, every hour you volunteer is $10 donated to my nonprofit that funds these events, so, 3 of you at the last 4 hour event can be $120 that Google gives this effort!
I'll be seeing about setting up Google Serve events for the next couple months, so, if you want to pull your whole team into this endeavor, stay tuned!
In the meantime, we've got another Tuesday, end-of-the-month, weeding event:
Tuesday, May 27th, from 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Please reply back if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions.
I currently don't have ANYONE signed up yet. You may have told me you'd attend, but the last couple weeks have been a bit of a blur for me with my traveling and then subsequent back-recovery, so please let me know, again, if you already did!
A lot of you enjoyed my B.O. Coo's Lettuce Wraps at the planting!
Here's where you can find the recipe!Β
It's easy-peezy-lemon-squeezy! My parents were proud to announce that they FINALLY finished consuming the 5+ gallons of lemonade I made y'all for the planting.Β They definitely won't be getting scurvy!
I haven't gotten the group photos from Daniel yet, so here are a couple I took of y'all at the planting! We planted ~80 plants (70 I bought with the nonprofit's funds and ~10 were homegrown, contributed by volunteers).Β
I mostly took video, so I'm editing a video to share with y'all about the last planting that I'll put Daniel's photos into as well!
I'm also working on a video to show the story of and data collected by my project since its start to introduce new volunteers and donors to it, as well as share with city council, as they need to be made aware of how devastating it is that we still don't have Phil back, how much the community has suffered as a result, and how inadequate these contract biologists have been.
The contract biologists aren't permitted to BAND the owls, thus making an accurate count IMPOSSIBLE, and it was devastating to see how bad the weeds have gotten IN PERSON.Β
Β πΎπΎπΎπΎπ©πΎπΎπΎπ©πΎ<--the coyote turdΒ
You guys have done such a good job, and it'd be so much worse without us, but it's obvious how much Phil's other projects were doing in their absence. Until he's back, we've got to keep on doing our best for the owls' sake! The landfill company would love nothing more than for all of them to be ELIMINATED because it would make their work a lot easier.Β
What we're doing is akin to the famous Julia "Butterfly" Hill's story: she lived in a California redwood tree named Luna for 738 days, ultimately reaching an agreement with the lumber company to save the tree and a surrounding buffer zone. See a short video on her story here.
Her tree still stands to this day!
To get warmed up, I edited together this video of how a couple in LA was attacking ground squirrels displaced by the Palisades Fire with their dog and promoting it on Tiktok a couple days ago. Check it out here.
Don't worry. I'll tone down the sass for City Council. π I don't see why we can't all be on the same team... βΉοΈ
Last but definitely not least: Dr. Lynne Trulio, Phil's mentor, is doing another Biology & Management of the Western Burrowing Owl Online Lecture & In-person Field Session! Please sign up if you're interested to learn more about our owls directly from the horse's mouth.
It costs $350 and you can sign up for sessions on July 9-11 or July 16-18.Β
That's all for now! Coo coo!
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Last call! Help plant 70 California natives at Shoreline Park TOMORROW AM!
FridayΒ - May 9th, 2025We've got 10/15 volunteers signed up for the planting
TOMORROW, May 10th, from 8-NoonΒ
with a plant-based snack!
My mom and I are prepping our legendary B.O. Coo's Lettuce Wraps and mint-crushed, fresh-squeezed lemonade tonight for y'all to consume at halftime tomorrow.
AND you'll get this lovely new monarch butterfly glitter sticker I designed!
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Please reply back if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions.
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Help plant 70 California natives at Shoreline Park this Saturday from 8-Noon!
TuesdayΒ - May 6th, 2025I'm back! Whew! I made it! My back's a little rickety, but I'm pacing myself and taking frequent breaks, so we're good!
So far, I've only got myself, Dan, Tina, and Joan signed up for the full 4 hours this Saturday, Rick for the first 2 hours, and Tracy/Gordon for the last 2 hours.Β
We've got a maximum of 15 spots, so that's 10 more volunteers who can sign up!Β
In between recruiting more volunteers, I'm picking up 70 plants from Watershed nursery in Richmond Thursday, some milkweeds from Barbara tomorrow, and Benny is taking care of some sunflowers that he'll be bringing.
The next volunteer event is:
THIS Saturday, May 10th, from 8-NoonΒ
with a snack made by me and my mom at half time!
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Please reply back if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions.
Thanks for taking the photos again at our last event, Daniel! (@daniel_dezordo) I'm digging these candid shots of our volunteers in action!
We've got Gordon removing some gnarly branches! Hyuh!
These must be the sunflowers and primrose y'all got into the ground!
Tim's pulling up some invasive weeds with all his might!
Mathew with a handful of weeds like a handful of hair... from a giant's head!
Heidi, Tracy, and Tim pausing to pose for a photo!
Almost the whole gang with newcomers Paul and Rick! I'm loving your energy!Β
Even if you can't attend, could you please boost my post on Nextdoor by β€οΈing it and leaving a comment to get more of our neighbors involved? MAHALO!
Here are the next planned Volunteer Events that you can sign up for now if you already know you can attend (by replying back to this email):
5/27/2025, Post-Planting on Tuesday, 9-11am
6/24/2025, Weeding on Tuesday, 9-11am
See you soon! Coo coo! π¦
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer TOMORROW to Prep for Planting on May 10th!
MondayΒ - April 28th, 2025Aloha! πΊ
We've got 6 volunteers signed up for tomorrow's event to prep for our planting on May 10th!
We've got Tracy, Gordon, Heidi, Rick, Paul, and Daniel signed up. Email me if you'd like to join them!
I'm ordering ~70 plants and Benny and Barbara have plants they've grown that they're contributing. Let me know if you've got plants you'd like to contribute too. I can pick them up from you the week leading up to the planting.
Here's a photo of the area we're prepping. Thanks, Mathew, for sharing! Note: The city did mow the area around the owls last week, but the area around the planting site still needs weeding. Mathew reports that there are milkweed popping up everywhere in the area!
Here's the plan for next week's prep event:
Start laying out irrigation
Weed around the planting site
Mathew picked up more cardboard and is hoping to get more woodchips to add a fresh layer to the planting site
Tomorrow's event is:
TUESDAY, April 29th, 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Please reply back if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions.
Here are the next planned Volunteer Events that you can sign up for now if you already know you can attend:
5/10/2025, PLANTING on a Saturday, 8-Noon (break in the middle with a homemade vegan snack by me!)
5/27/2025, Post-Planting on Tuesday, 9-11am
6/24/2025, Weeding on Tuesday, 9-11am
I'm looking forward to seeing y'all and finally joining in beside you again, physically! Coo coo!
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer Tuesday Next Week to Prep for Planting on May 10th!
TuesdayΒ - April 22nd, 2025Howdy! π€
We've got our final routine, end-of-the-month-Tuesday volunteer event to prep before the spring planting next month that I WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO π, but no one has signed up yet! π¨
Here's the plan for next week's prep event:
A decent sized section is already prepped and ready for planting but could use a thicker layer of mulch on top
Start laying out irrigation
Mathew will order more cardboard and get more wood chips because some of the established areas could use a fresh layer
It will be on:
TUESDAY, April 29th, 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
Β βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
Β π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
Β π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Please reply back if you'd like to sign up and I will send you the online waiver link and additional instructions.
Here are the next planned Volunteer Events that you can sign up for now if you already know you can attend:
5/10/2025, PLANTING on a Saturday, 8-Noon (break in the middle with a homemade vegan snack by me!)
5/27/2025, Post-Planting on Tuesday, 9-11am
6/24/2025, Weeding on Tuesday, 9-11am
C'mon and signup! You know you want to hang out with these lovely people in the great outdoors saving burrowing owls and monarch butterflies!
Thanks again to Daniel (@daniel_dezordo) for taking the group photo from last month's event.Β
Last month's owl count was 18. Last year's March count was 19. See where I'm grabbing this data HERE.
I asked Daniel to grab a shot of the area we'll be planting. If this is the full area, it looks only about big enough for 20 1-gallon plants...Β
so could y'all confirm if this is the full area or take a wider shot so I can see how much space we're working with in order to order plants for the planting?
Daniel didn't get any photos of our owls last time, but he did grab this stunning photo of a waxwing from his neighborhood, which is a species I have yet to see in person:
The funny thing I learned about waxwings is that they will eat fermented berries, which means entire flocks become drunk and flop around on the ground until sober - typically about 45 minutes. π€ͺ [source]
Apart from working on Animals News with Aisha (It's coming! π€©), I've been restocking my fundraising Etsy shop. I've reordered monarch butterfly and burrowing owl stickers, but the MVP of the shop has been the glow-in-the-dark burrowing owl patches. After we sold out, I managed to re-order 200 new patches from China ONE DAY before Trump announced the tariffs! WHEW! I've already sent out 3 orders, 1 to South America, so let me know if you're interested in any and I'll bring them back with me and sell them to you for only $10 in person!
Remember that you can also donate through Paypal, check, or Google (if you're a Googler)!
Lastly, an Aisha update!
For those of you who are new: I'm stuck in Maui because I injured my back in July 2023 and haven't been well enough to travel for these events until now. Not only that, but I was injured on the job, so I got stuck in the worker's comp process which led to them delaying/denying me care, which led to me becoming bankrupt paying for care out of pocket, and then the insurance company accused me of fraud based on me "looking well" on social media. Yeah. It's been FUN.
Fortunately, my dad came to Maui at the beginning of this month to represent me to face off against the work comp lawyer in front of the Department of Labor's hearing officer to refute their fraud complaint and re-establish my care. We haven't gotten the verdict from the hearing officer yet, but we feel pretty good about it and I FINALLY have a new doctor's appointment scheduled for this week!
My dad is also our project's biggest donor, and donated $1000 this year, which I used to place the order for patches and the rest I'll spend buying plants for our spring planting! Thanks, Dad!
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer Tuesday NEXT WEEK! + all scheduled volunteer dates + planting
SaturdayΒ - March 22nd, 2025Sorry I'm quite a bit later than usual to notify y'all about the volunteer event next week:
TUESDAY, March 25th, 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
Β The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
Β Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
You'll be weeding Burrowing Owl Billows again.Β
Email me back to sign up! This is how you'll receive more information along with the other volunteers on where to meet everyone and receive a link to sign our virtual waiver.
No one's signed up yet. I know this update is late. I've been grieving over my cat Smash who got hit and killed by a speeding car a couple weeks ago. I've literally never known a pain like this one. I don't know if my heart or my back hurts worse now.Β
RIP Smash. I've kept and organized all his life's data so it will be interesting to share with you his total cost and how many times I did manage to save his life, despite it still ending on the road in the end.
Back to the burrowing owls, here's data I pulled to share with you:
We had a burrowing owl count of 19 last month, February. Last year for the same month there were 20, before that 11, before that 10. This information and more can be found on the City of Mountain View's website under "Monthly Report" in the left navigation. I collected data separately, directly from Phil Higgens up until July 2024, so it will be interesting to see these data sets side by side. It will at least give a more complete picture of how we've affected the burrowing owl population through our habitat enhancement efforts over the years.
Here's our last month's volunteer crew! You guys rock!
I love this "rural family" style of portrait Daniel De Zordo set up and shot of y'all.Β
This may also be the clearest he's gotten of our owls!
Wow. Their camouflage is unmatched for this terrain. Imagine those yellow eyes hunting you.Β
Here are the rest of the dates Mathew and I have scheduled thus far, if you'd like to go ahead and mark your calendars in advance:
4/29/2025, Woodchips & Cardboard rolls on a Tuesday, 9-11am
5/10/2025, PLANTING on a Saturday, 8-Noon (break in the middle)
5/27/2025, Weeding on Tuesday, 9-11am
6/24/2025, Weeding on Tuesday, 9-11am
My back is finally strong enough for flight so I'm planning on coming May 10th and cooking a home-cooked vegan meal to share with y'all. You can sign up for half the day (8-10am or 10-Noon) and still try what I make.Β Email me to let me know!
Anyhoo, coo coo, and stay tuned for Animal News with Aisha! π₯²π₯
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer Next Week Tuesday 9-11amΒ
ThursdayΒ - February 20th, 2025We have 0 volunteers sign up for next week's event!π±Β Β
Aisha Update: I'm almost done with my first video-update for you, but I was hit with another blow regarding my worker's comp case: my lawyer dropped only 2 weeks before he'd rescheduled my hearing. My dad stepped in to help and now we're trying to find another lawyer and reschedule my hearing... again. Sorry if this is TMI but it's also my explanation for why I'm sending out this reminder about next week's event a couple days late. π Sorry! My back is feeling better and I am getting stronger though! πͺπΌπ₯²Β Β
Next week's event is:
TUESDAY, February 25th, 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
Β βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
 𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Email me to RSVP! This is how you'll receive more information along with the other volunteers on where to meet everyone and receive a link to sign our virtual waiver.
PS. I'll share Daniel's photos from the last event in my video update!
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer 9-11am TOMORROW!
MondayΒ - January 27th, 2025We've only got 4 volunteers for tomorrow's event (Heidi, Tracy, Gordon, Daniel) and could use more! Please RSVP by emailing me back to sign up! This is how you'll receive more information along with the other volunteers on where to meet everyone and receive a link to sign our virtual waiver.
It's:
TOMORROW, January 28th, 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
Β βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
 𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
Here are a couple more photos of our volunteers (taken by Daniel) at last year's last event:
Tracy and Gordon!
Heather and Barbara!
TUESDAY, February 25th, 9-11am
My video update "Animal News with Aisha!" has been put on hold because of yet another pressing issue that's come up for me here in Maui: it turns out my rental unit is ILLEGAL so I have to move ASAP. Gah! I hope to resolve it this week and GTFO! I'm speaking tomorrow at a press conference in the state building about how horribly my landlord has screwed me and he STILL had the audacity to try and raise the rent on me. I think it'll be recorded, in which case, I'll share the clip of me speaking at it with you. I'm practicing my 1-min speech tonight at an open mic comedy night. Hey. Whatever gets everyone's attention and motivates change, am I right? π
Aisha with an ποΈ
π¦π¦π± Volunteer 9-11am Tuesday Next Week!
ThursdayΒ - January 23rd, 2025Happy New Year! π₯³
I *ALMOST* had this next update for you done in video format so I can include all of Daniel's awesome photography without getting bounced by your inboxes, but I need a few more days. For now, here's one from last year's last event at Lake View Land of the gang!
Y'all are my heroes. π₯Ή
The next event is NEXT WEEK:
TUESDAY, January 28th, 9-11am
If you'd like to join, below are the requirements:
βοΈ Wear sun protection (sunscreen + hat) and close-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs (to avoid scratching yourself on the prickly weeds)
π§ Bring a water bottle (and eat a hearty breakfast for energy)
π§βπ§ Be at least 12 years old, and accompanied by a guardian if under 18
Β βοΈ The rest of the tools, such as shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, etc. will be provided.Β
 𧀠Gloves will be provided as well but it's highly recommended you bring your own.
If you'd like to sign up, email me back so I can send you the email with the waiver to sign and more instructions on where to meet. We'll be back at Burrowing Owl Billows.
We've only got 2 volunteers signed up so far. I'll also be blasting the event on social media.
So you may better plan, next month's event is:
TUESDAY, February 25th, 9-11am
Stay tuned for my video update. It's called, "Animal News with Aisha!" π€©
Aisha with an ποΈ
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