Featured Videos
The Owls Came Back
Filmed during the 2018-2019 season, this 24-minute video shows the beloved owls in their wintering habitat here in the park. You'll be charmed, educated, and amazed.
The Meadow Owl Movie
There was only one Burrowing Owl (or was it two?) during the 2019-2020 season. In this 6-minute video you'll follow it from day to day.
Barn Babies
Barn Owls sometimes take advantage of the wooden boxes built for them on steel poles. This six-minute video captures scenes from two such occasions, showing the mother owl and her chicks, some just out of the egg, others almost ready to fly.
Pelicans Flying in Slow Motion
This four minute video shows the giant birds taking off and flying in slow motion
North Basin - The Video
This 14-minute video introduces the cove that lies between the park and the Berkeley mainland: the North Basin, and introduces many of the birds that show up there.
I'm a Coot and I'm Misunderstood
Coots are not ducks, and they resent it when they're misidentified. This spokes-coot sets things straight.
Invisible Birds
Black Turnstones at Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley California. Video by James Kusz.
Unless they are moving, the birds are all but invisible
Gopher snakes mating, video by Elizabeth Sharf
A pair of Gopher Snakes mating in Cesar Chavez Park Berkeley CA. If you thought snakes were cold-blooded, watch this and learn otherwise.
Sea Lion v. Leopard Shark
Sea Lion whips Leopard Shark in Cesar Chavez Park Berkeley California
RIVOTT 20190319
First time seen: River Otter just below Open Circle Viewpoint in North Basin, Cesar Chavez Park
Windy afternoon
The strong west wind drives a sailboat and it bends and shakes these trees, bushes, and grasses in the park. One minute.
Supermoon at Equinox
The conjunction of a supermoon with the vernal equinox happened on March 20, 2019. It last happened in 1905 and won't happen again until 2044. See the event in one minute.
Solstice Drama Below
The winter solstice in 2018 put on a dramatic show both in the sky and on earth. See it all in 3:47.
2018 Kite Fest
The annual Kite Festival (not held during COVID) brings smiles to the faces of young and old.
The Off Leash Movie Pt 1
Most dog owners obey the law and keep their pets on leash except in the off-leash area. But there are some that don't know or don't care, and what their scofflaw behavior does to the park isn't pretty.
The Porta-Pottie Movie (1)
Every other East Bay city has permanent bathrooms. Berkeley alone still has porta-potties. Here some park visitors tell how they feel about that.
Working session of Berkeley City Council on Parks 3-24-15-excerpts
On March 24 2015, Park activist and current Chavez Park Conservancy CEO Martin Nicolaus went to City Council to argue for permanent bathrooms.
Rip rap Rehab 2019 Video
In the summer of 2019, contractors shored up a portion of the east side of the park with new insulation and rip-rap (rocks). Multiple days of construction condensed into 9 minutes.
Flare station demolition Day 1
In August 2016, the big old flare station was demolished because there was no longer enough gas being generated to drive it. A new, smaller flare station was installed in its place. This video shows highlights of Day 1 in 17:44.
Demolition of the Flare Station at Berkeley's Cesar Chavez Park (Day 2)
Highlights of second day of flare station replacement at regular speed, mostly, in 28:29.
Flare station demolition Day 2 Time Lapse Only
In August 2016 the old flare station was replaced. This time-lapse video shows the second day's work in 2:32.
Coast Guard Helicopter Hauled Away
On May 210 2017, a Coast Guard helicopter had electrical problems and made a forced landing in the park. This 2-minute video shows the crew's work in partially dismantling the bird and hauling it away by road.