Love Them, Leash Them, and Help Save the Birds

As Ojai’s people welcome the new calendar year, Ojai’s birds are anticipating the upcoming nesting/migration season (February through September). In no other place is this more important than at the Ojai Meadows Preserve. This restored wetland preserve has attracted 187 species of birds, and many of them choose the meadows for nesting or as a stop-over on their migration routes. While the Ojai Meadows Preserve is considered a nature preserve, nesting birds still face real threats that are both natural, and unnatural. One of the biggest threats to bird nesting success could also be among the most easily managed. All it takes is a leash.

In an effort to provide safety for people and birds, the OVLC has declared the month of February as Love Them, Leash Them Month. Dogs off-leash are often seen swimming in the pond, chasing birds, flushing them from feeding areas and potential nesting areas, and in some rare cases, killing them. Some of these birds travel a long way to get here for wintering habitat as well, and the stress of avoiding dogs consumes valuable energy. Some of the birds are also ground-nesting birds, so their nests and eggs are directly vulnerable to loss from roaming dogs. Off-leash dogs may crush or eat bird eggs, and threatened birds may abandon the nests altogether. We know our preserve visitors do not want to see birds disturbed in this way.

"One of the biggest threats to bird nesting success could also be among the most easily managed. All it takes is a leash."

We are asking preserve users with dogs to please adhere to posted leash rules. We know most dogs are not troublemakers, but there isn’t a practical way of choosing which dogs can and cannot be left off-leash while ensuring protection of birds and other preserve users. This is why we ask that all preserve users comply with leash rules to ensure the safety of birds, people, and other dogs.

We believe the coming bird nesting season is a good opportunity to try out leashing your dog at Ojai Meadows Preserve. You might find that the experience you share with your dog will be equally as enjoyable with a leash. Other dog owners will appreciate your mindfulness, and our birds can raise their young safely. If your dog really needs to run, there are other appropriate locations where there are fewer people, less-concentrated habitats, and where dogs are permitted to be off-leash. We thank you, and the birds thank you.