Union Cemetery, Redwood City

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Union Cemetery State Historical Landmark Plaque, Union Cemetery, June 13, 2011 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Description

Area Habitats
Cemetery, Mixed Oak Woodland, Suburban/Urban, Garden

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This small cemetery is more noted for its history than its bird life. Established in 1859, along with Redwood City itself, it became one of the many cemeteries with resting places for members of the Civil War's Union Army, known as the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Many pioneers of Redwood City and San Mateo county are also buried here, from the wealthy with elaborate family stones to the unmarked pauper's graves.

The longevity of the cemetery means, though, that there are mature trees within its confines. Consisting of mostly mixed oak habitat, the cemetery provides a quick introduction to expected birds of northern California, like California Towhee, Bewick's Wren, Black Phoebe, Lesser Goldfinch, Nuttall's Woodpecker, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee. This site provides the quickest, most accessible site for White-breasted Nuthatch in the county. There is a nursery just to the west of the cemetery, and another a block away, providing more habitat variety for the birds. Near the pedestrian entrance, there is a stand of palm trees; they should be examined for nesting Hooded Orioles, and, regrettably, European Starlings.

Constant traffic noise from Woodside Road forms a major detraction in this area; of course, the cemetery's position as an urban oasis forms its major attraction for the birds. A minor but amusing irritant: near the G.A.R. section of the cemetery (east end), there are some caged parakeets whose calls can be disorienting!

Even though this cemetery has not been an active burial site since the early 1960s, birders should still use proper cemetery etiquette. A guide to birding in cemeteries can be found on this site. Because of the historic importance of this cemetery, it is especially important to report instances of vandalism to the Redwood City Parks Department.

Look For These Birds

Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk (unusual here), Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee (migrant), Black Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher (migration), Hutton's Vireo, California Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Northern Rough-winged Swallow (migrant), Violet-green Swallow (migrant), Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush (irruptive winter years), California Thrasher (rare at this location), Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Tanager, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

Rarities Seen Here

In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.

Evening Grosbeak (2013)

Directions

Union Cemetery is located on the north side of Woodside Road (SR 84), just west of El Camino Real. As you travel west on Woodside Road (you cannot reach the area from the eastbound lanes), there will be a lane for pulling over and parking on the western side of the cemetery.

Interactive Map

Fees

Use of the park is free.

Hours

Sunrise to sunset.

Hazards

This park is entirely safe assuming you are unafraid of ghosts. Since you are on the boundary of an urban area, it is best to remain attentive to issues of personal safety.

Facilities

There are no facilities here. You are in the middle of a commercial district, with access to stores, restaurants, gas stations, and all the expected amenities that the contemporary world can lay at your feet.

Accessibility

  Accessibility information is currently not available for this location.

Contact

The site is maintained by the Redwood City Parks Department. They can be reached at 650-780-7250. The Historic Union Cemetery Association can be contacted at http://pastlinks.com/huca/history.html

Links

• Historic Union Cemetery Association home page. This group helped restore the cemetery's Union soldier statue, and maintains this website with copious information on the history of the cemetery.
• Redwood City's Parks, Recreation and Community Services contact page. They maintain a Facebook page, too.

Avian Research Status

Union Cemetery's hotspot in eBird entitled "Union Cemetery (SM Co.)" now has data in 45 of 48 quadrants. Sixty-four species have been recorded from this tiny urban oasis. You could add the next one!

The eBird hotspot information page for Redwood City's Union Cemetery can be accessed here.

The iNaturalist 'place' page is here.

Union Cemetery has had two scheduled field trips as part of Sequoia Audubon's Great Backyard Bird Count 'small trips' initiative in the 2010s.

Additional Photos

White-breasted Nuthatch, one of the specialty birds of this small park, February 2019 (Donna Pomeroy)

Oak Titmouse, looking jaunty as always, February 2019 (Donna Pomeroy)

Western Tanager, Union Cemetery, April 14, 2012 (John Bradley)

Black Phoebe, Union Cemetery, June 13, 2011 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Union Cemetery, June 13, 2011 (Jennifer Rycenga)

There are some places to sit and rest in the Union Cemetery, June 13, 2011 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) section, Union Cemetery, June 13, 2011 (Jennifer Rycenga)