As pandemic fears recede and the East Bay Regional Park District resumes more normal operations, one of the unique attractions reopening is the Golden State Model Railroad Museum at Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline in Richmond.
At 900-A Dornan Drive just past the tunnel from Point Richmond, the museum features 10,000 square feet of operating model trains with 200 feet of public walkway on which to watch the action. Setups are elaborate, depicting in miniature a variety of typical California landscapes. For model train hobbyists, the main modeling scales are “O,” “HO” and “N.”
The museum is now open with model trains running on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and older; $3 for ages 4 through 11 or 63 and older; $10 for families; and free for ages 4 or younger. The museum is fully wheelchair-accessible.
Outside the museum, Miller-Knox Shoreline is a great place to spend the day. The park has hiking trails along the shoreline and up the hills with great views of San Francisco Bay and its environs. There are picnic tables, a fishing pier at Ferry Point, a saltwater lagoon, and you can swim in the bay at Keller Beach. It’s at your own risk, though, as there’s no lifeguard service. For more information on the model railroad museum and shoreline park, check out gsmrm.org and ebparks.org online.
Walnut Creek: There’s unfortunate news from Diablo Foothills/Castle Rock Regional Parklands in Walnut Creek, where a pair of nesting peregrine falcons hatched four chicks this spring. All evidence indicates that the four chicks were killed by a predator: a great horned owl that had been seen in the vicinity of the falcon nest. The chicks were too young to fly or defend themselves, and the parent peregrines couldn’t protect them either.
For anyone following the peregrines, it’s tough news. But to bird biologists, it’s a common occurrence. Peregrine falcons and great-horned owls are mortal enemies. Neither species tolerates the other nearby, and peregrines prey on other birds too, just like the owl. While wildlife volunteers and researchers did their best to prevent park visitors from disturbing the birds during mating season, they couldn’t stop nature from taking its course.
“We witnessed another wonder of nature. Just as we watched the peregrines catch woodpeckers, phoebes, bats and more, so we saw a different predator win the day,” said Kendall Oei, one of the park’s wildlife volunteers.
Peregrines are amazing birds. They can dive at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour, which makes them the world’s fastest animal. No longer on the federal endangered species list, peregrines are still fully protected under California’s Fish & Game Code — though not from owls.
The Castle Rock formation is actually in Mount Diablo State Park, overlooking Pine Canyon and Diablo Foothills Regional Park. The rocks are closed to hikers and climbers every year during the mating season, which runs from Feb. 1 to July 31. If disturbed during this time period, the birds can fail to mate or can abandon their nests. Staff of the two park agencies and an all-volunteer natural history education team keep watch on the peregrines during the mating season. In 2020 two pairs of nesting peregrines were seen in the rocks, but neither pair ever settled into incubation.
The peregrine situation does bring up a point. If you encounter wildlife while visiting the regional parks or any other open space, please keep your distance. Do not try to approach or otherwise interact with the animals. It’s best for humans and wild animals if the animals do not lose their wariness of humans or become dependent on us.
And dogs are permissible off-leash in the back country as long as they are under their owners’ voice control, which generally means they will return when called. If a dog begins chasing wildlife, or if there are cattle nearby, the dog must be placed on leash. The regional parks are essentially wildlife sanctuaries, and we can all do our part to keep them that way.
Ned MacKay writes about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.
