SUNDIAL BRIDGE, Architectural Wonder in Redding, California

 52 Places to Go: Week 25

Sundial Bridge, Redding, CA. The pylon is so tall (217 feet) I had to tip my camera sideways to get it all in.

In the spring of 2014, I was in Red Bluff, California, doing presentations to students in the historic renovated State Theater. At the north end of the San Joaquin Valley, Red Bluff is about 100 miles from Sacramento along Route 99.  From the main street of this charming Victorian town I could see across the Sacramento River to the snow-capped top of Mount Lassen to the west.

State Theater, Red Bluff, CA

One afternoon, after my presentations were finished, I drove 30 miles north to Redding to see the famous Sundial Bridge and take a walk along the river.  The Sundial Bridge, opened July 4, 2004, spans the Sacramento River at Turtle Bay. A suspension bridge designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, it is both beautiful and eco-friendly. The huge pylon (the sundial arm) connects to cables that support the bridge, allowing it to avoid interrupting the nearby salmon-spawning habitat since there are no supports in the water.  

The bridge walkway is made of steel, glass and granite.

The translucent glass surface lets light through to the water’s surface, both adding to the bridge's aesthetic qualities and minimizing its impact on river life. The bridge is open only to pedestrian traffic.  The view from the bridge is magnificent. Looking west toward the foothills and coastal range, I watched a fisherman trying his luck and a flock of Canada geese floating in the water.

Sacramento River, Redding, CA, view from the Sundial Bridge

I walked across the bridge from the south side of the river, ending at a large open area ringed with markers showing where the tip of the sundial’s shadow falls at the summer solstice.

At noon on the Summer Solstice, the Sundial's shadow reaches this marker.

From there I took a short walk in the Botanical Garden where a variety of spring flowers were in bloom.

Botanical Garden in the McConnell Arboretum

When I returned to the other side, I visited the Turtle Bay Museum, a small nature museum with exhibits featuring wildlife along the river.  I then walked along part of the extensive trail system that borders the river. It was a beautiful spring day and I was hoping to catch sight of the bald eagles that I was told had a nest along the river.  I didn’t spot any eagles but heard numerous smaller birds and saw plenty of ducks and geese in the water. Someday, I’d like to go back when I have more time and bicycle along this beautiful stretch of California river habitat and enjoy more of its wildlife.

For more about my visit to Red Bluff, see my May 28, 2014 post at Caroline Arnold's Art and Books.

Sacramento River Trail near the Turtle Bay Museum

This article was originally published 9/29/14.

All text and photographs copyright Caroline Arnold

THE CASCADES RAPTOR CENTER, EUGENE, OREGON: Guest Post by Dmitri the Owl, as told to Caroline Hatton

Dimitri the Owl at the Cascades Raptor Center, Eugene, Oregon

My friend and fellow children’s book author Caroline Hatton visited the Cascades Raptor Center outside of Eugene, Oregon, in May 2019. She took the photo in this post. For info about her books, visit www.carolinehattonauthor.com.

WOOO-ooo! My name is Dmitri. I’m a Eurasian Eagle-Owl. I like my English species name, which has an exotic, larger-than-life ring to it. It’s much better than the scientific one in Latin, Bubo bubo, which makes me sound a bit like an unsophisticated slouch (nothing could be further from the truth).

Eurasian Eagle-Owls are the largest of all owls. Just look at me. In the photo above, not one bit of my fine plumage is poofed up. I really am that big.

I live in a tall evergreen forest, at the Cascades Raptor Center, a 13-minute drive from downtown Eugene, Oregon. My neighbors residing at the Center are all raptors, except for the vultures, which are carrion eaters. (A raptor is any bird that catches prey with its feet.) There are other owls, eagles, falcons, harriers, hawks, kites, and an osprey. We live in spacious aviaries and are easy for human visitors to see--even the smaller, shy owls when they sit quietly in their little shelters near the top of their enclosures.

We live here because our human staff determined that, for a variety of reasons, we would not be able to survive in the wild. Some of the others were rescued after getting injured in the wild and treated in the Center’s hospital, but perhaps a broken wing didn’t heal perfectly so they wouldn’t be able to fly well enough to hunt.

As for me, I wouldn’t even want to live in the wild! I was hatched in human care. I rather like being served by nice humans who prepare my meals, clean my room, and assist me with educating all kinds of interesting people. When it’s my turn to teach, a staff member carries me out of my aviary to get up close and personal with my admirers, and gives me extra treats as tips for excellence in education. WOO-oo!

I’m a pretty good teacher. I am cognizant of the fact that my imposing presence (I can’t help but look majestic) can be intimidating, but I assure you that I am quick to put everyone at ease. After all, I am the most senior Education Team member—but I don’t mean the oldest or the one with the most years of experience: simply stated, I am the best. Yet I am humble, and would never even suggest that anyone address me as “Professor.”

My peeps are my booking agents for appearances at photo shoots, corporate events, weddings, and on film sets. I am a reliable performer, adding a touch of spectacularity even when all I do is show up, or eliciting a guaranteed WOW when asked to fly. If you’re not convinced that you’ll be as pleased with me as I am, I can provide references.

I could make a fortune, but instead I donate all my fees to the Center. Fundraising is also done by requiring human visitors to buy a ticket for less than $10 to see us birds. But for us, seeing you humans is free!

Although I am indisputably the shiniest star at the Center, there are other stars of the bird world, who all proudly contribute to our vital mission: connecting people to wildlife. Nike is a gyrfalcon. His species, the largest of all falcons, was the bird of kings in Medieval falconry. (He and I understand one another as fellow celebrities)

Another kind of record-holder is perhaps the most, um… cosmetically challenged: the turkey vultures, named Kali and Lethe. I love them, warts (quite literally) and all. They are remarkably intelligent. Theirs is a dirty job, eating rotten carcasses. They deserve admiration and gratitude for their clean-up services, which protect the rest of the world from disease.

The prettiest, if you ask me, is good old Archimedes, the snowy owl, a fluffy white darling. Please don’t tell him I said that.

Well, it’s almost tea time. I must go now, but I’ll leave you to read about what to do if you find an injured bird of prey, so you can avoid doing the wrong thing, unintentionally killing the bird or ruining its chance to return to the wild.

I hope to have provided irresistible details. If you need anything more, please don’t hesitate to have your people contact my people, or come see me during my office hours (listed at the website). I would love to wow you in person!

For more info

A visit to the website is a veritable virtual visit to the center, with bird photos, bios, species info, and lists of supporters who adopted each bird. But nothing comes close to meeting the live birds!

See and hear a Eurasian Eagle-Owl hooting.

SUNDIAL BRIDGE, Architectural Wonder in Redding, California

The Sundial Bridge pylon is so tall (217 feet) I had to tip my camera sideways to get it all in.

Several months ago I was in Red Bluff, California, doing presentations to students in the historic renovated State Theater. Red Bluff is at the north end of the San Joaquin Valley, about 100 miles from Sacramento.  From the main street of this charming Victorian town along Historic Route 99 I could see across the Sacramento River to the snow capped top of Mount Lassen to the west.

State Theater, Red Bluff, CA

One afternoon after my presentations were finished, I drove 30 miles north to Redding to see the famous Sundial Bridge and to take a walk along the river.  The Sundial Bridge, which opened July 4, 2004, spans the Sacramento River at Turtle Bay.  It is a suspension bridge designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.  It is both beautiful and eco-friendly. Its huge pylon (the sundial arm) connects to cables that support the bridge, allowing it to avoid the nearby salmon-spawning habitat since there are no supports in the water.  

The bridge walkway is made of steel, glass and granite.

The translucent glass surface lets light through to the water’s surface, both adding to the bridge's aesthetic and minimizing its impact on river life. The bridge is open only to pedestrian traffic.  The view from the bridge is magnificent. Looking west toward the foothills and coastal range, I watched a fisherman trying his luck and a flock of Canada geese floating in the water.

Sacramento River, Redding, CA, view from the Sundial Bridge

I walked across the bridge from the south side of the river, ending at a large open area ringed with markers showing where the tip of the sundial’s shadow falls at the summer solstice.

At noon on June 21st, the Sundial's shadow reaches this marker.

From there I took a short walk in the Botanical Garden where a variety of spring flowers were in bloom.

Botanical Garden in the McConnell Arboretum

When I returned to the other side I visited the Turtle Bay Museum, a small nature museum with exhibits featuring wildlife along the river.  I then took a walk along part of the extensive trail system that borders the river. It was a beautiful spring day and I was hoping to catch sight of the bald eagles that I was told had a nest along the river.  I didn’t spot any eagles, but heard a lot of smaller birds and saw plenty of ducks and geese in the water. Someday, I’d like to go back when I have more time and bicycle along this beautiful stretch of California river habitat and enjoy more of its wildlife.

For more about my visit to Red Bluff, see my May 28, 2014 post at Caroline Arnold's Art and Books.

Sacramento River Trail near the Turtle Bay Museum

Eagles in Iowa and Other Birds of Prey, Guest Post by Barbara Siebenschuh

Bald Eagles, along the Iowa River near Iowa City, Iowa

My friend Barbara Siebenschuh, classmate (Grinnell College) and roommate (University of Iowa), who still lives in Iowa City, recently went out on a cold winter day with two friends to look for bald eagles.  In winter, bald eagles gather, often in large groups, along the rivers and lakes of Iowa, where they hunt for fish.  I think you will enjoy reading her report.
 

On Saturday, I went with two friends to look for bald eagles and other birds. We were going to watch from observation areas in Muscatine, Iowa, and from our car, because it was soooo cold out. Our day began with a bang when we stopped in Iowa City near the recycling area and could see a "cluster bomb" of bald eagles in the trees near the Iowa River. Some were flying but most were just hanging out. Al got out and took pictures because we were on the other side of the river from the birds--otherwise the birds can get spooked. We proceeded to an area near the Iowa River in Hills, Iowa, and were still seeing birds. 

 

Barn Owl

Then we took off for Muscatine to a place near the Mississippi River. When we arrived, there was an "Eagle Watch" event. Not only could people be inside or outside, but sheltered, to watch eagle activity on the river; there was also a lecture being given with actual birds of prey. We missed the horned owl talk, but we saw a barn owl, a peregrine falcon, and a bald eagle. These birds were rescued from injuries and most cannot fly. They were magnificent none the less.

Bald Eagle

The handler of the eagle, who was from Wildlife Prairie State Park in Illinois, said all these birds tolerated humans but were not tamed or trained. The eagle was huge. One of his wings was deformed. The handler could never touch him or the eagle would rip at him. His beak can snap chicken bones into three or four parts. It was "mutual trust" that the handler would not touch the bird and the bird had never bitten him. Owls and other birds had bitten the handler though. While the talk was being given, each bird was sitting on the handler's arm, which was covered with a big glove.
The eagles were from a sanctuary in Illinois. We learned that the bald eagles got fish in the a.m. and a rat at night. One day a week they were not fed, as this mimics their life in the wild.  The mostly eat prey four pounds or under; so small cats and dogs are potential prey if the animals are small sized. Eagles soar the highest and have wonderful sight.

Peregrine Falcon

We were mesmerized at this live demonstration. The peregrine falcon was a lot smaller but we learned interesting facts about his coloring, big eyebrows, and speed. (They can dive at speeds up to 200 mph!) After the show, we could get a bit closer. It was awesome.
We then went to Davenport, Iowa, and to Credit Island Park where we saw more birds as we drove out of the park. Staying in the car, we were about twelve feet from bald eagles, who stayed in their trees, probably because we did not get out of the car. In areas where there was a lot of open water we saw eagles swooping to catch fish; where there was more ice but holes in the ice, eagles sat there dragging fish out when they could. Along the way we also saw hawks, gulls and blackbirds - but no wild turkeys.
It was really a neat outing.

Eagles near the Iowa River in Iowa City, Iowa

 We thank Al Persson for the wonderful photos of eagles and the other birds.