Oakland - Parks & Nature

From little-known treasures to popular hot spots, Hoodline is creating curated lists of some of our favorite day-trip destinations within reach of San Francisco, San Jose, and the rest of the Bay. This week, we're sharing a few worthwhile jaunts in Alameda County.

They've been called "Oakland's cutest couple" and "Ebony and Ivory" and various other things, but a pair of domesticated ducks that were evidently dropped off at Lake Merritt last year to fend for themselves have officially settled into new digs at a rescue sanctuary for injured or neglected farm animals in Marin County.

The bonded, black and white duck couple have become rock stars on Twitter and Reddit, but they’ve been enduring some serious pain and suffering behind the feathers.

At least a dozen feral cats have been shot and killed by park authorities at Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline, and animal lovers are up in arms over the aggressive tactics.

East Bay Regional Parks’ newest park opened this week, spanning 45 acres of Oakland’s historic shoreline and reusing some of the old Bay Bridge’s foundation for public space.

Socially distanced hiking is a release valve for Oaklanders sheltered in place, but local trails aren't as open as officials claim they should be.

Three years in the making, the Zoo's state wildlife exhibit is now open to the public.

Caltrans is moving forward with plans to create a recreation area on converted piers of the old Bay Bridge.

The interactive exhibit gathers stories from local farmers and gardeners.

Once constructed, the park will connect to the Bay Bridge's pedestrian and bike paths.

At her urban farm, Kathryn Porter keeps bees, chickens and raises fresh vegetables.

Tiki reached 95 in equivalent human years and helped zookeepers create new medical treatments for giraffes.

The North Bay fires will continue to bring "unprecedented levels of air pollution."

Despite the fog, skywatchers across the Bay Area did their best to get a glimpse of today's celestial event.

The black crowned night heron is seen all over the city and nests in large groups downtown.

The algae can lead to skin rashes in humans and can kill dogs and small animals.

Around the Bay Area, people reacted as they felt the earth move beneath them.

The garden's oldest specimen is more than 1600 years old.

Some animals have been adopted, but others may never be healthy enough to leave rescue centers.

The first portion of the zoo's California Trail expansion opens with an electric gondola and hilltop restaurant.

The center has been closed since March as an investigation tries to determine how 13 animals came to be neglected.

Si'ahl, Imnaha and Talulah are just beginning to eat fish and meat.

Thanks to pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects, the little park will expand its footprint.

These highly adaptable birds often eat near Lake Merritt, but they live Downtown.

Since the fire, city officials erected a locked gate around the site, restricting access for gardeners and volunteers.