Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts

Downy woodpecker

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Downy woodpecker
Photo by Kenneth Berkun

Downy doobie doobie down downy

(Channeling Neil Sedaka)

--Kenneth Berkun


Read more...

Ducklings are topheavy

Friday, June 28, 2024

Photo by Kristine Tsujikawa

Kristine Tsujikawa was watching a mama duck and her ducklings at Green Lake when one of the baby ducks tipped over and was floating feet up in the water.

Photo by Kristine Tsujikawa

The mama duck immediately raced over and righted her baby - more or less as it is now floating on its side!


Read more...

Crows love to mess with eagles

Monday, June 24, 2024

Photo by Kristine Tsujikawa

Martin DeGrazia has mentioned more than once how flocks of crows harass the eagles that try to nest at Ronald Bog.

Local photographer Kristine Tsujikawa captured this close up of a crow in action.


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Pine Siskins favor ol' Will

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler


Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

(Shakespeare's witches in Macbeth)



Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Darn GPS messed up again!, said the junco

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

 
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Gotta hightail it to the next block...

(Dark-eyed Junco late for his appointment:)

--Gloria Z. Nagler



Read more...

For the Birds: Bugs Beware – Nuthatches on Duty

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Nuthatch on fountain. Photo by Christine Southwick

By Christine Southwick

If you see an energetic small bluish bird with a black eyestripe zig-zagging headfirst down your trees, your trees are being gleaned of bugs and protected by Red-breasted Nuthatches.

Red-breasted Nuthatches eat beetles, spiders, ants, caterpillars, earwigs, and other tasties and feed these to their nestlings. They actively devour spruce budworm. These delightful birds readily come to feeders for peanuts, sunflower seeds and suet. In the winter they also eat conifer seeds, and any of those seeds/peanuts that they cached earlier.

Note: The theme for this year’s International Migratory Day is “Protect Insects - Protect Birds”.

Photo by Christine Southwick
These nuthatches build their nests in softer wood, especially in dead or dying trees, trees with dead tops or even just a softer space under a dying branch. They prefer conifer forests. They especially like cottonwood and alder that are near pines, firs, or cedars.

It is unusual for a non-woodpecker to excavate a nest hole, but both the female and male Red-breasted Nuthatches do this excavating. After they have lined the nest, they smear pine resin around their entrance hole, a unique practice to deter predators. The parents fly directly into the hole to avoid that goo.

Both feed their young 18-21 days in the nest, and then for two weeks after they fledge. She may have up to eight eggs and stays silent while on the eggs. The male feeds her while she is on the nest.

When these nestlings fledge you can track where they are by their loud tin-horn sounding “Yank, Yank.” Red-Breasted Nuthatches don’t have a song per se, their contact calls resemble something like a tin horn, which makes them easy to locate.

Nuthatch photo by Christine Southwick

They prefer to make their own nest holes, but they occasionally use nest boxes. They are fussy about sizing and aging (a preferred nest box mimics their deep, often 8-inch cavity) so it is better to put a nestbox up over the winter, which also offers shelter for local birds.

Save snag trees for the birds. Loss of habitat includes suitable trees for all kinds of cavity nesters.

When you hear their “Yank, yank” calls, especially if a brood has fledged, look for these delightful birds learning to use your suet.


Read more...

Gloria Nagler: The Steller's Jay (you can see her to the left of Ruby) and I were amazed to see Ruby at such an altitude

Sunday, June 2, 2024

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

So I grabbed a different lens and took a closer look…

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(I guess I knew raccoons climbed trees, but somehow was shocked at how very high she had gone! Seems like mammals should be closer to ground level:):)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Rebecca liked to practice her zen meditation on the shores of Lake Washington...

Monday, May 20, 2024

 
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(Rebecca the Rock Pigeon's ancestors came to North America with the early European settlers.)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Attention fishermen: Three nearby lakes stocked with fish

Friday, May 10, 2024

Osprey and salmon photo by Jan Hansen

Perhaps I should say Attention: Fishing birds. All three of these lakes are shallow with many bird nests in the vicinity.

Echo Lake is in Shoreline. Bitter Lake and Haller Lake are just south of us in north Seattle. All three lakes are surrounded by housing, so this could be a boon for lakeside residents with fishing poles.

Each has a small public access area but no boat launch.

Bitter Lake (King County) May 7, 2024 - 1500 Rainbow @ 0.4lbs


Echo Lake (King County) May 7, 2024 - 1000 Rainbow @ 0.4lbs


Haller Lake (King County) May 7, 2024 - 1300 Rainbow @ 0.4lbs


Read more...

For the Birds: Yellow Birds - Oh So Pretty!

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Orange-crowned Warbler
Phoro by Dan Streiffert

By Christine Southwick

How many local insect-eating yellow birds can you identify?

Townsend's Warbler
Photo by Craig Kerns
Townsend's Warbler can be found here all year. They prefer evergreen forests, but in winter will use deciduous forests as well. Birdbaths and suet will draw them into your yard.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler can be found all year long, though less common here in the summer since they go north to breed. They love to eat bugs in flowering trees.

Orange-crowned Warbler—olive yellowish green above with yellow below, with a small erectable orange crown on males. Found here from late March thru usually September.

Wilson’s Warbler usually arrive here about April and leave September-ish. They prefer willow and alder stands in dense moist areas. Fountains and bird baths will likely lure them into your yard.

Wilson's Warbler
Photo by Elaine Chuang
Western Tanager
fly through our area during migration in late April-May. The breeding males have bright red heads, and brilliant yellow with back wings. 

They usually perch in trees with yellow tints (like willows) during migration which makes them hard to see. 

They can be found locally in high forested areas of Washington, especially in Ponderosa-pine and Douglas-fir forests (like Roslyn). 

The sound of fountains often attracts them to yards while migrating.

American Goldfinch are mainly in our area from May through Oct, with some wintering flocks staying and searching for local food. Basically seed-eaters, these finches prefer open areas, and will not come to feeders under branches. They use thistle down to line their nests so nest later than all our other local birds,

Yellow Warbler, male,
Photo by Tony Varela
Yellow Warbler
arrive here in May and are usually gone by September. They are most often found in deciduous habitat near streams. Running water could attract them to your yard.

Pine Siskin intermittently can be here all year long, often in numbers. They are finches with narrow bills, and yellow streaks on flanks and tails.

Evening Grosbeak can be seen intermittently all year. They arrive at feeders in numbers, with the males being a bright yellow and black, the females being brownish gray with a dark head and yellow underwing coloring. They love spruce budworm. Their large bills are indeed gross beaks.

Golden-crowned Kinglet a small yellow-tinged, fluttering insect-eating bird frequently near human habitat. Usually high in the canopies during the summer they come down lower during the winter when they may join mixed flocks.

Common Yellowthroat can be heard (witchity, witchity), and maybe seen, in wet marshy areas from early April through September.

Save birds by saving insects!

Previous columns by Christine Southwick can be viewed here.



Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Oh, no...where's my beak?!

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(Chestnut-backed Chickadee loads up for her nest...)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Back from Central America - osprey return to Hamlin Park

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Osprey return to nest in Hamlin Park.
Photo by David Walton

David Walton reports that the osprey have returned to their nest in Hamlin Park atop the poles in the upper ball fields. 

Nesting pair at Hamlin Park
Photo by David Walton

Must have been a long way back from Central America, as they arrived a little later than normal, this year in mid April or so. Normally they leave in September and return to our neighborhood @ March each year. 


Read more...

Favorite Tree: "Eagle tree" falls at Ronald Bog

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The "Eagle Tree" standing tall in 2008

Story and photos by Martin DeGrazie

It seems everyone in their life has a favorite tree. As a kid our family had a beautiful large Rainier cherry tree that adorned our front yard.

The tree was visibly leaning. 

As an adult my favorite tree lived across Ronald Bog from us. I learned to look at the tree as soon as I came out of our back door, sometimes missing the eagle right above my head in my own yard. 

I frequently took pictures of the tree, especially when I could capture its reflection in the still waters. 

Eagles built a nest but didn't stay

Birds would always flock to this tree. In 2023 I had mixed emotions when the Eagles started to build a nest in it. I considered purchasing a better camera to take pictures of baby eaglets but I was concerned for the other wildlife on Ronald Bog. I love all the critters in the water and did not want to see them disappear. 

Alas, my concerns were unfounded, as the eagles abandoned the nest. Canadian geese would enter the nest every now and then. This spring they were up there so much, I was afraid they would sit on eggs up there themselves. 

The tree is now lying in the water

This past weekend while I was out of town this beautiful tree fell into the water. 

I can't tell you how many times I looked over there and wondered if it was leaning more. We've had three trees fall into the water from our lot on the other side of Ronald Bog.

The stump was shattered

The silver lining is the tree in the water is a nice landing spot for other critters in the bog. Eagles, otters, turtles and other animals will all use it. But, I will miss it. 

I haven't been to that side of the bog in a long time and I am really impressed at all the new growth trees. They have really shot up. I expect we will see much more wildlife at Ronald Bog in the coming years. The end of an era, but a new one is on the way.


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Fence-y Finch!

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

 
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(Male House Finch peered at photog from between two fence slats...what a handsome bird!)

--Gloria Z. Nagler



Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Might that be lunch scraps on the beach there, photog,

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

or just more of your darn photo equipment?!?

(Vigilant American Crow cruising Lake Washington)

 --Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: "Sorry to eat and run, photog", said Ruby.

Monday, April 8, 2024

 
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(Not really. The Red-breasted Nuthatch's professional career is ALL about eating and running...well, OK, flying:)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

For the Birds: Happy Morning Chorus

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Communal bathing

Story and photos by Christine Southwick

American Robins start singing their lovely cheery songs just before dawn and can be seen running across lawns and curbs, suddenly stopping and tilting their heads looking for their tasty worm meals.

When you really look at robins, you’ll see that they are pretty birds, with black stripes on a white throat, and white feathers around the eyes. Females are paler than males, and juveniles have spots on their buff breasts.

Juvie learning that leaves aren't food

Robins are one of the first birds most people learn to recognize, and their size is often used as a reference, as in, “Larger than a chickadee, smaller than a robin.”

Even though we see robins all the time, chances are they aren’t the same ones. Most here in the winter go further north to breed, and the ones who breed here probably came from Oregon or California. Even its name, Turdus Migratorius, recognizes this songbird’s short-distance movements. American Robins are members of the Thrush family.

Robins are social and feed in small flocks, with larger flocks at night, and when migrating. In addition to worms, they eat volumes of beetle grubs and caterpillars. Robins watch vigilantly for predators like cats or hawks, and you can often see a robin on guard duty while others are bathing.

Female gathering mud for nest building

The female makes the nest, coating it with mud and grass before laying three to five blue eggs in a tree or under an eave. Jays, crows, squirrels, and in some places, snakes, like their eggs. Both parents loudly and boldly protect their eggs and their fledglings until they can forage on their own. Even so, less than 25 % of each year’s broods survive to see their first November.

The worm that didn't get away

Cats, crows, hawks, window strikes and the pesticides that poison the worms and berries Robins eat, take their tolls. The average lifespan of American Robins is two years, but some have lived to 10-13 years.

Stop using insecticides and harsh fertilizers, provide a shallow birdbath and plant a crabapple or serviceberry tree, and your will be rewarded with these lovely American Robins.

When you hear cheery morning singing, take a minute to watch the early bird running across your lawn, grabbing that early worm. It will bring a smile to your face.


Read more...

Washington Department of Ecology and Coast Guard respond to sunken vessel in Lake Union

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Sunken tugboat in Lake Union
Photo courtesy Dept Ecology
SEATTLE, WA – The Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology continue their response Monday to a sunken tugboat in Lake Union in Seattle, Washington.

The vessel, a tugboat converted into a residence, partially sank Saturday afternoon.

Red-dyed diesel escaped from the vessel into Lake Union. There were reportedly no people aboard the vessel at the time of the sinking.

Responders from the City of Seattle and the Washington Department of Ecology placed boom around the vessel to contain the spill. A response contractor was hired to clean up the spill and salvage the vessel. 

Contractors have pumped off 400 gallons of oily water from the vessel’s tanks and cabin and removed fuel from inside the boom surrounding the vessel as well.

Professional wildlife response efforts are underway. Responders with Focus Wildlife have found several oiled birds and are taking steps to recover those animals for treatment. 

Responders are on scene assessing further risk to animals in the area. If you see oiled wildlife, report it at 1-800-22BIRDS. Do not to attempt to rescue oiled birds or other wildlife on your own.

Oil spill responders are investigating sheens reported in other parts of Lake Union. Anyone may report a spill or potential spilled material to 1-800-OILS-911.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.


Read more...

The Predator

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Photo by Jo Simmons

This Cooper’s hawk frequents our snack bar with regularity. We know he’s around when all the little birds make themselves scarce.

--Jo Simmons


Read more...

Travels with Charlie: Hummingbird Torpor

Monday, March 11, 2024

Hummingbird in torpor on the feeder
This was a unique experience I never expected to see….

When Charlie and I were outside in the yard, I spotted this Hummingbird on one of my feeders after the cold night.

It was motionless for several minutes. Its eyes were closed…

It didn’t move. It wasn’t dead, but in a state of Hummingbird Torpor.

(Torpor is the hummingbird version of hibernation. Hummingbirds are on the verge of starvation at every moment in cold temperatures. 

So they reduce heartbeats and body temperature to save energy. Especially on cold nights and days.)

Hummingbird in torpor, sitting
on the ground unable to move
As I watched this little guy sitting motionless on the feeder, a second territorial Boss Hummingbird attacked.

He knocked the Torpor Hummer off the feeder and it crashed on the ground.

"Stay Charlie. Leave it alone. Good Boy."

It was still in Torpor and couldn’t move. Plus hummingbirds can’t walk!

The little bird was defenseless as it sat there basically frozen.

Carefully, I picked it up and placed it in a small box with a towel. 

Partially closed the lid so it could warm up safely.

Signs of movement and recovery
Less than 10 minutes later, I hear rustling. 

Opened the box and we lifted the towel with the bird on it.

It glanced at me. Gathered itself and hummered off in a blur.

What a treat to experience this,

--Story and photos by Gordon Snyder

Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP