There is a siege underway on Eugenia Avenue, as clever, four-legged creatures with fiendishly nimble thumbs have declared war on a family of Bernal bipeds. Neighbors Limor and Lisha report from the front lines:
We thought we’d share this with the Bernalistas… Two very daring raccoons have been having a night war with us, which lately stretched into the early mornings.
Pentagon sources tell Bernalwood that SEAL Team Six is standing by to assist if necessary.
PHOTO: Neighbor Limor
Neighbor Edward writes:
I offer this view of the hill and plum blossoms for your consideration to do with as you will.
Upon due consideration, the Bernalwood Curatorial Working Group has decided to publish your photo, sir, with gratitude and compliments. Lovely.
UPDATE: Robogeoff also added a nice snap of some blossoms to the Bernalwood Flickr group:
PHOTOS: Neighbor Edward and Robogeoff
Neighbor Todd recently put on his pith helmet to embark upon an animal expedition in his back yard. He made a shocking discovery: creepy amphibians!
Your recent dispatch on Jerusalem crickets had me wondering what else lived in my yard, and not long ago, I found a pair of salamanders — yes salamanders — hiding out beneath a board. One of them found more private accommodations before I could return and take a picture, but I wanted to share the photographic evidence for your local wildlife files. Who knew salamanders lived in San Francisco? According to my research, this specimen is a California slender salamander.
Fascinating. Though the creature looks somewhat snake-like, this closeup of a California slender salamander grabbed from Wikipedia reveals that they actually walk on legs, and are actually rather cute (in that salamander sort of way):
However, latent cuteness cannot allow us to overlook the potential public safety menace posed by these delightful Bernalphibians. Because they are, after all, amphibious reptile-like creatures. And for all we know, they could potentially be cross-species allies of another amphibious reptile-like creature whose presence here would be much less charming:
PHOTOS: Top, Todd Dayton; middle, Wikipedia; bottom, Telstar Logistics
The Bernalwood Intelligence Agency has received numerous signals recently about wild parrot sightings around Bernal Heights. Our Political Unit analysts have determined that the parrots are refugees from Telegraph Hill who fled to Bernal Heights to escape the stultifying NIMBYism and shrill politics of that part of the City in general — and Aaron Peskin in particular.
Naturally, Bernal Heights has welcomed the dissident parrots with the warmth and neighborly tolerance for which we are famous. And now, Joe Thomas has captured video footage of the colorful birds frolicking in our midst. Joe says:
I’ve seen these guys around on the east side of the hill occasionally, since at least last March.
Today, I was finally quick enough with the iPhone camera to get a few shots of them. I heard them at about noon, outside my back door on Peralta. They were making kind of a “ha-ha-ha-ha” laughing sound, which you can hear in my video:
There were three of them, climbing around on a neighbor’s bird feeder and chattering. I’ve seen them in larger groups at the feeder, and in the trees next to the stairs from Esmeralda to Franconia. This was the first time I’ve seen them in 2012. I imagine they needed some extra calories after the cold night last night.
Next up, of course, comes the award-winning documentary: The Dissident Parrots of Bernal Hill.
PHOTO AND VIDEO: Joe Thomas
Neighbor Regina is a new Bernal Heights resident. She IM’d me yesterday in a deep panic from her home on Folsom. Here is a transcript of our exchange:
Regina: holy sh*t balls i found an alien
Regina: on our street
Todd Lappin: Take a pic!
Regina: it’s a grashopper/ ant/ roach about three inches long
Regina: i’ve never seen anything like it
Todd Lappin: Oh, I know what that is…
Regina: it’s in a jar
Regina: I AM FREAKING OUT
Todd Lappin: Looks like this? https://bernalwood.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/winter-creeps-in/
Todd Lappin: Same?
Todd Lappin: Take a pic!
Regina: yes
Regina: omg
Regina: i am going going to die
Regina: it’s in a jar
Regina: dead
Todd Lappin: Photo! Photo!
Regina: i am screaming
Regina: i just died
Good times. And indeed, now that the autumn Arachnid Invasion has subsided, it’s time again for the Extraterrestrial Migration of the Giant Jerusalem Crickets (or “Potato Bugs,” as they’re sometimes called in California).
Bernalwood posted about these creatures almost exactly a year ago, and as poor Regina discovered… they’re baaaaaaaaaaaack.
Here’s a Wikipedia photo of a healthier specimen:
And right behind the Jersusalem Crickets, we know who will be visiting next…
PHOTO: Top, Neighbor Regina
Here’s an opportunity to help keep Bernal Hill beautiful. According to the SF Park and Rec events calendar, there’s a cleanup event happening tomorrow morning on the Hill:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011, 10AM – 12PM
Description: Come and help restore the grasslands of this Natural Area. Monthly projects may include pulling invasive weeds, planting native species, or helping to maintain the trail system through the park. Come and experience the spectacular views of the city on all sides. Please wear close-toed shoes and dress in layers. Water and snacks will be provided.
Age Range: Adult, Senior, Teen
Destination: Bernal Heights Park
Address: Bernal Heights Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94110
Features: Accessible, On Site Parking
Manager: Lisa Wayne
PHOTO: Brian Wong
Following up on yesterday’s post about the spiders that have invaded Bernal Heights, Jacques Vidrine captured this amazing photo of a Bernal Heights orb spinner in action.
UPDATE: Neighbor Jeannie just sent along this photo that shows yet another member of the invasion forces:
OK, all you arachnologists out there, I’m sure one of you can identify this beauty that’s been taking over Bernalwood with a vengeance this Halloween season.
We’ve taken to calling ours Shelob because of her large girth, curtain-like webs that stretch across whole sidewalks, and uncanny resemblance to the famous arachnid from Lord of the Rings:
I’m thinking cross spider… only I can’t find the cross. In any case, here’s hoping she didn’t ensnare too many trick-or-treaters!
EDITOR’S NOTE: I’ve been besieged by spiders too, only my backyard companions clearly wear a cross:
PHOTOS: Top, Bronwyn Ximm. Bottom, Telstar Logistics
Neighbor Joe Thomas created this gorgeous time-lapse of last night’s moonrise from his observation post in Bernal Heights. Spectacular!
On Saturday morning, while you [may have been] out trying to pick up a few tipsy sailors where in town for Fleet Week, some of your neighbors in the Precitaville Administrative Zone were hard at work planting a new butterfly garden in the traffic bulb on the corner of Precita and Folsom. Led by the intrepid Demece Garepis of the Precita Valley Neighbors group, much earth was tilled and many plantings were lovingly placed in the ground. Beautiful!
On behalf of all the Citizens of Bernalwood, we say: Thank You!
PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics
La Principessa Errante, a blog about San Francisco art and architecture, has the answer. The sculpture is called Odonatoa, and it was created by Joyce Hsu:
Born in Hong Kong, Joyce Hsu received her BFA from the Mount Allison University in Canada in 1996 and her MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998. She works out of Oakland and creates all kinds of mechanical sculptures.
This kinetic sculpture of painted stainless is one of many insects that Joyce has created.
PHOTOS: La Principessa Errante
For months we’ve been hungrily eyeing that prodigious patch of blackberry bushes near the parking lot at the entrance of Bernal Hill Park. After all, what says “It’s summer on Bernal Hill” more than picking and munching your own blackberries while admiring the view of the bay?
But alas, it’s been the same thing since June: lots of unripe red berries, plus a smattering of still-unripe black ones. A recent visit revealed that a considerable percentage of the fruits have shriveled up. We’ve been hoping against hope that for some wacky reason, this year’s crop is simply taking its own sweet time. But the above shot was taken on Labor Day, so our hope is withering on the vine. Whither shall we go?
PHOTO: Aaron Ximm
I love this photo, which was taken by Ed Brownson and submitted via (hint! hint! hint!) the Bernalwood Flickr group. The birds are house finches, the place was Bernal Hill, the date was August 11, and the weather was — surprise! — kind of foggy.
Meanwhile, in another one of his shots, Ed snapped a wider angle on the woody shrub where the finches were hanging out. Perhaps you’ll recognize the location; it sits on the eastern slope of Bernal Heights Park, facing downtown to the north. I’ve always wondered about that shrub/tree thingy… it’s so distinctive. Any of Bernalwood’s armchair botanists know more about it? What kind of tree/shrub thingy is it??
UPDATE: For ye plant-sleuths, here’s a more clear perspective on the mystery shrub, showing both its full shape and location.
PHOTOS: Finches, Ed Brownson. Mysterious shrub, Telstar Logistics
Bernalwood 