Fairview Open Space is a 14.88 acre site of unprotected open space adjoining the northern border of El Cerrito’s Hillside Natural Area. It offers panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and supports a wide variety of native wildlife and plants with natural springs and two local creeks.
THE CREEKS
Two natural creeks border the north and south boundaries of the Fairview Open Space. These undisturbed creeks are surrounded by a riparian habitat and are part of the Baxter Creek Watershed providing a source of water year round. Interesting features include several small waterfalls.
GEOLOGY
Fairview Open Space is 1/4 mile from the Hayward Fault and is a high risk landslide area based on the 1973 Tri Cities Geology study.
http://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/463
WILDLIFE
Fairview Open Space is located at the end of Fairview Drive and is part of a wildlife corridor. It borders El Cerrito’s Hillside Natural Area, is located within a mile of Wildcat Canyon and within a few blocks of Canyon Trail Park. Numerous animals are seen year round. Deer will give birth to fawns and remain; coyotes are frequent inhabitants and will also raise their young on this hillside. In addition to the usual collection of mice, moles, raccoon, skunk and opossum, a bobcat was reportedly seen in the area. In wet years, frogs are heard croaking through the night.
Birds of the Air
Numerous feathered friends inhabit the area or fly through seasonally: Black Phoebe; Pacific Flycatcher; Lesser Goldfinch; Stellar Jay; Varied Thrush; Hermit Thrush; Oak Titmouse; Scrub Jay; Chestnut Backed Chickadee; Bushtit; Mockingbird; Oriole; Anna’s Hummingbird; Bewick’s Wren; American Kestrel; Sharp Shinned Hawk; American Robin; Townsend’s Warbler; Golden Crowned Sparrow; White Crowned Sparrow; House Finch; Purple Finch; Ruby Crowned Kinglet; Yellow Rumped Warbler; Brown Creeper; Red Breasted Nuthatch; Red Breasted Sapsucker; Hairy Woodpecker; Red Tailed Hawk; Turkey Vulture; Crow; Northern Red Shafted Flicker; California Towhee; Spotted Towhee; Swainson’s Thrush; Dark Eyed Junco Slate Colored; Dark Eyed Junco Pink Sided; Fox Sparrow; Turkey; Quail; and owls have been heard at night.
Native Plants and Trees
Fairview Open space has not been fully cataloged. A casual walk in the spring will delight the observer with blue eyed grass and Chinese houses. While there is abundant invasive grass, a keen observer will find purple needle grass and deer grass on the hillside. Trees include coast live oak and willows. Watch out for poison oak and blackberries along the creeks.
Fairview Open Space 