The Natural History of Foster City, California
by James K. Sayre
a draft manuscript
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 - The creation of Foster City from marsh baylands 6
Chapter 2 - Estero Municipal Improvement District and the creation of the City of Foster City 8
Chapter 3 - Operation of the Lagoons 10
Chapter 4 - The Bay, Weather, Air Quality, Foster City's very own Weather Station, Tides, The Night Skies, Tsunamis, Noise and Airplanes 14
The Bay 14
Weather 15
Air Quality 16
Foster City's very own Weather Station 17
Tides 17
The Night Skies 18
Tsunamis 18
Noise 19
Airplanes 20
Chapter 5 - Earthquakes 22
Chapter 6 - Radio, Television and Telephones 25
Chapter 7 - The levee system around Foster City 27
Chapter 8 - Ecology of Vacant lots 29
Chapter 9 - Ornamental Trees 30
Chapter 10 - Birds 32
Chapter 11 - Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians 36
Chapter 12
Fish and Invertebrate Life in the Bay waters 43
Chapter 13 - Insects 46
Observations on changes in local beaches 48
Chapter 14 - Plants found in Vacant lots 49
Chapter 15 - Sketches about Plants 56
Chapter 16 - Sketches about Birds 64
Chapter 17
Sketches of Mammals 80
Chapter 18
Sketches of Amphibians and Reptiles 82
Chapter 19
Sketches of Insects and other invertebrates 84
Chapter 20
Indoor things
molds, mildews, insects and others 86
Chapter 21
Collecting and Observing on the shell beaches, mud flats and in vacant lots 87
Chapter 22
Across the San Mateo Bridge to the East Bay 88
Bridges 88
San Mateo - Hayward Bridge 89
East Bay 91
Mt. Eden 91
San Lorenzo 92
Meek Mansion 92
McConaghy House 93
Hayward 94
Chapter 23
Other Nearby Cities on the Peninsula - San Mateo, Burlingame, Belmont, San Carlos and Redwood Shores (part of Redwood City) 96
San Mateo 96
Burlingame 97
Redwood Shores 98
Chapter 24
Places to go for further information 99
Chapter 25
Natural Areas of Foster City 103
Chapter 24
Monthly Nature Calendar for Foster City 108
Chapter 27
Nature Observations by area and date 112
An Almond Tree Grows in Foster City 118
Chapter 27
Salt Production in the South Bay 119
Chapter 28
Proposed Golf Course and Driving Range for City-owned Plot of Land north of Third Avenue 121
Chapter 29
Equipment for Observing Nature 122
Chapter 30
Reading References 123
Appendix A
Author's Personal Observations on Loma Prieta Earthquake 125
References 127
Index 133
End.
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Web page last updated on 12 May 2005.