Brad Breithaupt from the Marin IJ (complete article)
Posted: 12/04/2006 09:38:48 AM PST

JOHN PARULIS spent much of his day off Tuesday watching birds with a video camera.

The videographer stood on the dock at McInnis Park hoping to catch sight of a California clapper rail - and strengthen his case in his fight against plans to build an indoor soccer complex across Gallinas Creek.

The Santa Venetia resident, whose resume includes three years of filming Greenpeace raids, already has filmed the federally protected, chicken-sized bird foraging through the reeds along the creek. His video is posted on his Web site - brightpathvideo.com - and he has burned discs and sent them to San Rafael City Hall and the Marin Audubon Society. His bird footage already on his site has been viewed more than 600 times.

His Web coverage of Marin issues is a new factor in local politics.

Parulis is hoping the shy shorebird will stand in the way of the proposed soccer complex.

"I stayed with that bird for maybe three hours," Parulis said, retracing its path down the creek's muddy bank.

"I wanted to show that the birds really are using this area. There is no proof like video proof," he said. "I think this is going down," he said of the soccer complex. "It's going to be a big fight, but I don't think it's going to fly."

Parulis also is hoping that the landowner, Joe Shekou, will decide to donate the land for a refuge.

"He would make a name for himself if he just donated the land - or set it aside for conservation," he said.

But the development has strong support.

Save Water & Money
Backers say Marin needs an indoor soccer complex where local kids can play. City Hall hired a consultant to delve into environmental questions.

"To me the issue here is the sacredness of life," Parulis said. "There is something profound when a species is on the verge of extinction."