Showing posts sorted by relevance for query for the birds. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query for the birds. Sort by date Show all posts

Notes from Shoreline Council meeting July 26, 2021

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Pam Cross, reporter
Shoreline City Council Meeting
July 26, 2021

Notes by Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the remote meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Councilmember Robertson was excused for personal reasons.

Approval of the Agenda
Agenda adopted by unanimous consent.

Report of the City Manager Debbie Tarry

COVID-19


For adults over 30 in North Seattle and Shoreline, the fully vaccinated rate is over 80% so Thank You!
  • Ages 20-29 61% are fully vaccinated, and ages 12-19 the number is 62%.
  • Vaccinations are open to everyone 12+.
  • Vaccination locator 
  • Or call 1.800.525.0127. Language assistance available

Help us fight hunger by signing up for the Can Castle Contest.


This week’s Shoreline Walks is a walk around Twin Ponds Park. For details go to shorelinewa.gov/shorelinewalks

A reminder that Primary Election ballots are due August 3.

Council Reports

Councilmember McGlashan again testified at the Sound Transit Board meeting in support of 522/523 bus rapid transit (BRT). There might be a modified plan under consideration. Whether there will be parking garages is still unknown.

Public Comment

Speaking for the protection of established trees
  • Bill Turner, Shoreline
  • Nancy Morris, Shoreline
  • Kathleen Russell, Shoreline, Save Shoreline Trees
Jackie Kurle, Shoreline
  • Encourages ongoing oversight as the enhanced shelter nears capacity.
Approval of the Consent Calendar
Consent Calendar approved unanimously by a vote of 6-0.

Action Item 8(a) QUASI-JUDICIAL: Closed-Record Appeal Hearing - Shoreline Preservation Society, Regarding Naval Hospital Chapel Landmark Designation

City Attorney Margaret King

Because the Council will be acting as a quasi-judicial body, the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine applies to their decision tonight. Councilmembers must show that they can act in a fair and impartial manner, free from improper influence.

The City Attorney previously questioned the Councilmembers.

Two Councilmembers advised they had had contact with some of the parties involved. Attorney King asks for additional information.

Councilmember Robertson reported she had had some contact. However, since she is absent from this meeting for personal unrelated reasons, there is no need to pursue.

Deputy Mayor Scully reported he was contacted by Janet Way who asked him a couple of procedural questions. He did not respond to Ms. Way except to say he didn’t know the answers. He contacted the City Manager and staff responded to Ms. Way. He did not receive any additional information. He states he can act in a fair and impartial manner.

Ms. King does not see a need to ask anyone to recuse themselves.

Does DSHS or the Shoreline Landmark Commission have any questions or concerns?
No concerns or objections.

We can proceed.

This is a Closed-Record Hearing which means that the City Council’s decision is to be based solely on the Record before the City Council and on the arguments and supporting exhibits of the parties. Under the rules of appeal, the Council does not have the authority to request additional information from others, including DSHS.

The decision being appealed is the Shoreline Landmarks Commission’s revised designation of the Naval Hospital Chapel, located within the Fircrest Campus at 1902 NE 150th St. 

More specifically, the appeal is of the Commission’s decision to revise its original designation of the Chapel by reducing the 2.7-acre area surrounding the Chapel to 2.6 acres by revising the eastern boundary to include a section south of the contributing lower parking lot and to exclude a 60-foot by 260-foot section north of the lower parking lot. The revised designation was based on a Request for Reconsideration filed by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Because of the nature of this action item, this will be a more structured presentation than normally seen at Council meetings. While the Appeal Hearing will be open to the public, only SPS, DSHS/DNR, and a representative for the Shoreline Commission may participate. The City Attorney will be present to assist the Council in the appeal proceedings.

The participants:

1. SPS (Shoreline Preservation Society) seeking Historical Landmark status

2. DSHS/DNR (Dept. of Social and Health Services / Dept. of Natural Resources) owners of the property

3. Commission (Shoreline Landmarks Commission) whose purpose is to designate, preserve, protect, enhance, and perpetuate historic landmarks

The process:

The schedule for oral argument of the appeal proceeding is as follows:
  1. SPS’s (Shoreline Preservation Society) Opening Argument 45 minutes
  2. DSHS/DNR’s Response Argument 40 minutes (Dept. of Social and Health Services/ Dept. of Natural Resources).
  3. Commission’s (Shoreline Landmark’s Commission) Response 15 minutes
  4. SPS’s Rebuttal 10 minutes
After each oral argument, Councilmembers have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions, but will not discuss the topic until the conclusion. At that time they will meet in a Closed Session. At the end of that session, Council will return with their findings.

Burden of proof:

The burden of proof to show the Shoreline Landmark Commission’s (Commission) decision was in error is on the Shoreline Preservation Society (SPS).

SPS’s opening argument included a detailed description of the Navy Chapel’s importance as an historical landmark presented by Janet Way.

NOTE: This is an appeal of the Commission’s decision to alter the boundary of the original designation as a result of DSHS’s Request for Reconsideration. It is not an appeal of the Shoreline Commission’s decision to designate the Fircrest Naval Chapel as a Shoreline Landmark. As a result I am including only those remarks relative to the boundary. For details about the Chapel, please go to the staff report at www.shorelinewa.gov




DSHS requested change


This sketch is an amateur attempt to superimpose SAS “after reconsideration map” over the original designation map. The parking lot (the U-shape on the right or southeast side of the property) is wanted by both SPS and DHSH/DNR.

The issues:

Did the Shoreline Landmark Commission err
  1. in granting the Motion for Reconsideration filed by DSHS because it did not apply the proper legal standard for a motion for reconsideration?
  2. when it concluded that revising the eastern boundary to exclude the proposed 60 feet by 240 feet section would not have a significant adverse impact on the integrity and character of the Chapel setting?
  3. because it failed to give due consideration to the findings set forth in the February 2, 2021, Findings and Fact and Decision of the Shoreline Landmark Commission?
  4. when it did not accept testimony and arguments on protecting the existing landmark from environmental harm?
  5. to the extent it considered evidence of DSHS’s intent to use and develop the Fircrest property in the future?
  6. to the extent its decision to revise the boundary was a response to a threat of litigation by DSHS
  7. Was the Appeal Action the result of an unfair and improper public process due to a lack of reasonable public notice and unfair timeline causing substantial harm to Appellant?
  8. Was the Appeal Action the result of an unlawful and unfair hearing process because Appellants were not given the opportunity to rebut DSHS arguments recently presented to Appellant?
  9. Was DSHS required to notify the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation or tribal groups of its motion for reconsideration?

Following arguments by all parties, Councilmembers may ask clarifying questions about rules and procedures.

Motion and second to extend the meeting to 11:00pm is agreed by unanimous consent.

Council meets with the City Attorney at a Closed Session in a different Zoom meeting.


Council returns to open session.

The Mayor conducted the following discussion as is normally done during a Council meeting.

Mayor Hall: Does anyone object to asking for staff documents that were most recently sent? We want to make sure we have all the information we need to make the decision.
  • No objection.
  • Documents are emailed to Council.
  • Councilmembers appear to be reading the documents.
Mayor Hall: Do we need more time to review?
No.

Are we voting on each issue as we go? Or at the end?
Both. We will have to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that remands, revises or upholds the Commission’s decision. Because there are so many issues, if we seem to reach consensus on each individual one we don’t need the formality of voting on each one. If we get to one where we’re divided, then I think we need to ask for a motion and then put it to a vote. And at the end, we will be voting on the totality of what we’re directing staff to put in the Ordinance.

1. Did the Shoreline Landmark Commission err
in granting the Motion for Reconsideration filed by DSHS because it did not apply the proper legal standard for a motion for reconsideration?

The original decision had to be based on an error or omission of fact, or new information that was not readily available. I urge Council to vote that the Commission did properly consider the motion for Reconsideration, regardless of the result. I believe they properly considered it. DSHS’s argument was founded in an argument there were errors or omissions of fact: that the Commission erroneously designated the entirety of the parcel rather than a section of it that DSHS thought they should exclude.

I thought SAS proposed a map, DSHS proposed a different map, and the Commission came up with their own map. I don’t see the underlying error.

This doesn’t fit cleanly into parameters. If one party proposed a map, the other party proposed a different map, and a decision was reached, then it shouldn’t be called a Reconsideration but just a continuation of the hearing. Procedurally, it doesn’t make a difference. They are still entitled to review here.

Because the map was mischaracterized?

Yes, so they are entitled to argue either that it was an error of fact how it was characterized, or it was an error of fact how it was presented on the map.

We heard that the Commission felt they did it properly. Their rules state that any party can petition the decision based on the grounds that it was based on error of fact. DSHS did submit a petition. The Commission reconsidered it and rendered a revised map. That map, then, had the parties looking differently at the northern and southern parts. It appears the Commission did it correctly.

I came to the same conclusion. After reading the minutes carefully to determine what map/boundaries they were talking about, I noticed there were some that didn’t appear to be 100% sure of the boundaries they were discussing. There was confusion and I felt that was enough, but then there was the new information of whether there would be a material effect on the landmark designation. I think Reconsideration was appropriate.

Council reaches general consensus.

2.  Did the Shoreline Landmark Commission err
when it concluded that revising the eastern boundary to exclude the proposed 60 feet by 240 feet section would not have a significant adverse impact on the integrity and character of the Chapel setting?

Note: the section being discussed is the parking lot (refer to maps).

I don’t believe they did. It was never clear to me how the exact boundaries were selected. They seemed to be based on the roads. I believe asking for Reconsideration on any of the boundaries would be appropriate.

I came to a different conclusion. I don’t see how you can reach any conclusion, using any standard, that the character of the forest isn’t important to the integrity of the structure. The photographs and historical description show that the forest is integral to the importance of the site. If the boundaries are not retained, who knows what could be built on the property that could adversely affect the Chapel setting of peace and tranquility.

I don’t think we’re tasked to make a decision on what could possibly be built there.

I agree. We can’t make decisions on what might possibly be built there. Owners change; circumstances change. Something can be built next to any landmark at any time and anywhere. I think it’s important in this case that there’s a buffer.

But we do have to think about that. All kinds of uses could go in there. Also, the new boundary doesn’t make sense - it’s not a uniform shape, it doesn’t follow the road, it doesn’t follow the contour lines, it doesn’t follow a path - it’s just kind of there.

I agree. There are several references that there are pathways to the Chapel that are important to the site. To exclude the path (from the parking lot) does not seem logical.

You need to have a topographic map to see how the changes could affect the feel of the Chapel. Based on the topography, I agree with the map after the Reconsideration. There is a slope down to the (parking lot) and the feel of the Chapel is based on what you can see.

I have no problem with the map. Area to the west of the Chapel is flat so there is a lot of visibility. To the east, there’s the hill sloping away.

The Commission stated they agree that the forest is significant but disagree on the scope based on photos and visits. Based on the deliberations that the Commission went through are evidence enough to me that there is no single perfect boundary. I don’t see that they made an error. Reasonable people can disagree. I’m ok with the boundaries and don’t see a need to second-guess that decision.

Do we have a consensus?
4 people think it is not an error.

MOTION to extend the meeting to midnight. Agreed by unanimous consent.

3. Did the Shoreline Landmark Commission err
because it failed to give due consideration to the findings set forth in the February 2, 2021, Findings and Fact and Decision of the Shoreline Landmark Commission?
 
Council does not see an error.

4. Did the Shoreline Landmark Commission err
when it did not accept testimony and arguments on protecting the existing landmark from environmental harm?

I’m torn on this one. Testimony was in the record. They didn’t say you may not provide this testimony. But the health of the forest had not been considered. It is not appropriate to discuss the forest as a habitat for birds or animals, but the health of the forest is integral to protecting the landmark. If there is a problem what would be the solution? I’m not sure.

Agree the health of the forest is important as part of the landmark, but one of the things we have to recognize is that Shoreline, King County and Washington State codes do not grant the Commission the ability to consider environmental issues. Their focus is on buildings/structures.

I think they accepted all of the testimony and arguments that they got. I don’t see an error here. Did they adequately consider whether the environmental harm to the forest would impact the Chapel? I don’t see that they did. But there’s no evidence that a different boundary would have a different impact.

5. Did the Shoreline Landmark Commission err
to the extent it considered evidence of DSHS’s intent to use and develop the Fircrest property in the future?

I don’t see that their decision to revise the boundary was based on any specific plan to develop or not develop in the area.

No disagreement.

6. Did the Shoreline Landmark Commission err
to the extent its decision to revise the boundary was a response to a threat of litigation by DSHS?

The attorney clearly tried to intimidate, to negotiate a resolution instead of arguing the facts of the law which should have been done. These are volunteers - no different from a jury. Some people are clearly intimidated by this. This generated a lot of anger and a loss of decorum.

I’m not convinced this didn’t have an impact on the decision. I don’t think we should let this one go.

Not everyone is intimated. This is bad lawyering but I don’t think it changed the outcome.

I’m undecided. He was just stating the facts: if things go one way, then this will be our next step.

The reaction of one of the Commissioners to recuse himself because of how he felt he was being treated, cannot be seen as harmless. We don’t know what would have happened had he stayed.

It doesn’t bother me enough to send it back.

7. Was the Appeal Action the result of an unfair and improper public process due to a lack of reasonable public notice and unfair timeline causing substantial harm to Appellant?

Having a hearing was optional. The Commission could have chosen to review the record and revise or reverse their decision without holding a hearing. They elected to hold a public hearing. They provided notice 6 days in advance instead of the correct notice of 10 days in advance.

They should have followed the public process (of 10 days notice). The people of the State through the Legislature, have spoken loud and clear that with violations of the public process we need to stop and redo. 6 days just wasn’t enough time and this is something fairly major. I think the proper decision is a remand for another hearing.

Did it cause substantial damage? Not sure it would have made a difference.

I agree an extra 3.5 days probably would not have affected the outcome, but rules are rules and a notice is a notice. It should have been rescheduled.

We face the same thing in what we do. We delay and re-notice. What is a harmless error? 6 days to prepare instead of 10? Definitely less time but no way to know what would have changed. Although it’s going to involve a lot of work by a lot of parties, and the outcome may be the same, we need to play by the rules and remand.

8. Was the Appeal Action the result of an unlawful and unfair hearing process because Appellants were not given the opportunity to rebut DSHS arguments recently presented to Appellant?

Council doesn’t have a problem with this one.

9. Was DSHS required to notify the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation or tribal groups of its motion for reconsideration?

Based on the record and the testimony we’ve heard, it seems pretty clear that this action requesting reconsiderations is not subject to this notification law.

Motion and second to direct staff to prepare findings and conclusions that tracks the majority of the Council’s comments tonight
  • in favor of the appellant SPS (Shoreline Preservation Society) on issue #7, and 
  • in favor of the respondent DSHS/DNR (Dept. of Social and Health Services/ Dept. of Natural Resources) on the remaining issues, and 
  • present that to Council at the next available meeting, and 
  • remand to the Landmark Commission on issue #7.

Attorney King offers guidance in the wording of the motion.

City Manager, Debbie Tarry advises the next available meeting is August 9th

VOTE

Passes unanimously by a vote of 6-0.

City Attorney King confirms that Councilmembers are still bound by the appearance of fairness as outline at the beginning of this discussion.

MEETING ADJOURNED



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For the Birds: Baby birds are emerging

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Bewick's Wren fledgling. Photo by Elaine Chuang
By Christine Southwick

Baby birds are hatching — Spotted Towhees and Anna’s Hummingbird young have been spotted in my yard, which means Dark-eyed Juncos and Bewick’s Wrens are close behind. 

These are the first breeders, others will follow; Song Sparrows, chickadees, Flickers, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers, White-crowned Sparrows, finches, and American Robins to name a few.

Nestlings and fledglings need our help — don’t poison them with herbicides such as Round-up which get on their parents’ feet and get brought into the nests and cause them to die.

Bushtit looking for bugs to feed nestlings.
Photo by Elaine Chuang
American Robins are in sharp decline
, and one major cause is the poisoning of their lawns and the worms they eat.

Spraying bugs also kills birds. Parent birds feed their hatchlings a solid diet of bugs. 

Caterpillars, gnats, aphids, spiders, mosquitos, and bugs in leaf litter are the babies’ food. 

There aren’t any fruits to eat until later in the season, so if the bugs are poisoned, then birds perish.

Rufous Hummingbird on nest.
Photo by Doug Parrott
Native plants and trees help provide the bugs birds need and recognize
. More shrubs and less lawn provide cover for the safety of birds, especially fledglings. 

As you start cleaning up your yard, look for ground nests before whacking and mowing weedy areas.

If you find a baby bird on the ground, and it has feathers, it is a fledgling, and doesn’t need your help – its parents are nearby ready to nurture it. 

Keep dogs and cats away from it, and it will survive. 

Many ground birds leave the nest before they can fly — they scurry in different directions to enhance their chances of survival — nests can provide a quick and tasty meal for raccoons and other hungry creatures.

Dark-eyed Junco nest in fuschia.
Photo by Christine Southwick
Here is a yes/no link to determine if the baby bird you found needs your help.

https://www.pugetsoundbirds.org/baby-bird-advice 

Let our local birds take care of the bugs. Smile as a new generation of birds prospers with your help.

---
Note: I carefully watered around the nest in the fuschia. Three juncos. 

Locally if you see a bird flying into your hanging basket, a junco probably has a nest inside. They usually hatch in two weeks, and leave the nest two weeks later.


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For the Birds: Cold Is Here - Will You Help Our Birds?

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Black-capped Chickadee keeping warm by
creating an insulating air barrier. Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

Cold and snow are hard on birds, especially since much of their native dense habitats have been destroyed by development, making it hard for them to find shelter, food, and water.

Trees, especially tall evergreens, give them places to hunker down during cold and windy weather. 

Trees are usually the first to feel the cut of progress, followed by diversion of water.

Over three billion birds have vanished in North America, mostly due to habitat loss. 

Habitat can mean the difference between life and death.

If you see a bird all fluffed up, it is trying to stay warm by creating warm air pockets around its body with its feathers.

We need to help birds (and other pollinators and wildlife) by providing food, shelter, and usable water, especially during cold weather.

Varied Thrush getting fast energy from suet.
Photo by Christine Southwick
Suet provides the fastest calories for needed warmth.

Suet and good quality seeds can provide that margin between survival and death.

Feeders offer quick, certain sources of calories, allowing birds to conserve their calories for warmth, not expending energy searching for their next meal.

Watch your feeders for clumping of seeds during damp weather.

If seeds clump, throw the seed out and wash the feeders with 10% bleach, rinse well, and dry before filling (a second feeder would be helpful); during times of fog and heavy moisture only filling feeders half full will help keep the seeds from molding. 

Yes, it’s more work, but the birds are worth it.

Spotted Towhee and Song Sparrow eating seed
below feeder. Photo by Christine Southwick
If you feed hummingbirds, winter is an important time to feed them. 

Anna’s Hummingbirds eat more bugs than any other North American hummingbird, but freezing temperatures kill the bugs, so nectar is very important. 

They need lots of quick energy early in the morning, and late into the evening. 

A feeder heater or an incandescent light near a feeder will allow them to come whenever they want to, especially for a much-needed early visit.

Fox Sparrow using much needed liquid water
maintained by bird bath heater.
 Photo by Christine Southwick
Water is hard to find since so many creeks and rivulets have been buried or diverted into drainpipes.

For liquid water, invest in a birdbath warmer.

Give our birds a fighting chance. 

Create shelter, with evergreen shrubs and trees, and safe places for them to nestle down (Don’t poison their habitat with pesticides).

Provide liquid water and food especially during the winter, and they will reward you with bubbly songs and bug elimination the rest of the year.

Bonus article: A simple 7 ways to help birds www.3billionbirds.org 


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What’s Happening this Week in Shoreline? September 11 - 17, 2024

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

By Kate Ledbetter, Destination Shoreline

What’s Happening this Week in Shoreline?
September 11 - 17


Get ready for an exciting lineup of events in Shoreline this week! From the Recology Store Pop-up at City Hall and a class on reuse and sharing at the Tool Library, to the grand opening of the Kruckeberg Boardwalk and the ever-fun Rainbow Bingo, there's something for everyone. 

Plus, don't miss the Shoreline Farmers Market, a birdwatching workshop, and a business development session for artists. Whether you're looking to learn, connect, or just have fun, Shoreline has you covered!

For more details visit https://www.destinationshoreline.com/calendar.
 
Recology Store Pop-up @ City Hall
Thursday, September 12, 2024
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Shoreline City Hall
Due to the temporary closure of the Shoreline Recology Store, Recology is hosting small pop-ups for Shoreline residents at City Hall. Check. Visit Recology's website for full details. They will also be offering the option to pay your Recology bill in person.
 
Free Reuse & Sharing in the PNW Class @ Shoreline Tool Library
Thursday, September 12, 2024
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Shoreline Tool Library
Join Seattle REconomy Executive Director, Josh Epstein as he presents his TEDx presentation on how new economies of reuse, sharing, and circularity are creating more resilient communities. The presentation will be followed by an inclusive open discussion onthe topic.
 
Talk Time Class
Friday, September 13, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Richmond Beach Library
Practice speaking with other English language learners. Learn about American culture and meet people from around the world. Registration not required.
 
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Kruckeberg Boardwalk
Friday, September 13, 2024
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
Come one, come all! It’s time to celebrate this massive achievement of increasing accessibility at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden. Join us for the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, boardwalk views, and refreshments! We will recognize the City of Shoreline, Shoreline voters (Parks Bond 2022), Forma Construction & Mithun, and our many supporters and community advocates.
 
Rainbow Bingo
Friday, September 13, 2024
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center
It's Talk Like A Pirate Day! Join hostess Sylvia O’Stayformore for ten rousing rounds of bingo, complete with prizes and a few musical numbers! Rainbow jello shots, beer, wine for 21+.  $20 Rainbow Entry – includes nachos and entertainment.  $10 Bingo packet at the door.  Purchase tickets online or call 206-365-1536.
 
Shoreline Farmers Market
Saturday, September 14, 2024
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
BikeLink Park & Ride
Shoreline's community hub for farm fresh & local foods, flowers, baked goods, local honey, live music, food trucks, kids programming, and so much more. Join us every Saturday through October 5th, located at the BikeLink Park & Ride (corner of 192nd & Aurora, across from Sky Nursery). 
 
Attracting Birds with Native Plants and Garden Habitat with Julie O’Donald
Saturday, September 14, 2024
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
Did you know that approximately 50 species of birds live at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden throughout the year? In this workshop, join Julie O’Donald in opening your eyes and ears for the autumn migration birds. Outdoor time will include Birding by Ear and landscape examples of Garden Habitat. We will discuss the habitat layers that are preferred by different species of birds and learn which native plants are favored by different species. Classroom time will feature a photo filled visit to garden habitats and examples of native plants that bring gardens to life in each season. Many of these plants will be available for sale after the workshop, in the MsK Nursery. Fee course; registration required.
 
Making a Community Truly Welcoming and Inclusive
Saturday, September 14, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Shoreline Library
Our communities include people of different ages, abilities, gender/sexualities, and backgrounds. Join a discussion on how we can make our neighborhoods genuinely welcoming and inclusive. This event will include Q&A time and share action steps that you can take. Presented by Kevin P. Henry, who has been working in the fields of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, community building and media for over 30 years, in both private and public sectors. Registration not required.
 
Business Development Workshop for Visual Artists
Sunday, September 15, 2024
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Shoreline City Hall
“Creative Confidence: Selling Your Vision” is designed for visual artists who are ready to boost their sales and impact. If you're dealing with slow sales or struggling to move the needle, this workshop will give you a roadmap to increasing sales, securing public art projects, and building a sustainable, impactful career. Whether you're an emerging artist or aiming to leave a legacy, this program provides the skills and knowledge to succeed in the art world. Avoid common mistakes, effectively scale your business, and sharpen your business acumen. Discover modern marketing techniques to expand your collector base and strategies to stand out in the competitive public art realm. Learn from a panel of experts to gain confidence, sell your vision, and build a sustainable, impactful career.
 
Senior Home Repair Fair
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
1:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center
Join representatives from Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and Sound Generations to learn how to connect to low-cost and no-cost home repair resources in Shoreline. Programs are set up to support low-income to moderate-income homeowners staying in their homes. Please bring your questions and we’ll work together to match you with the best program for your needs. We look forward to meeting you! Please call the Reception Desk to Register for this free event: 206-365-1536.
 
Reading Buddies at Shoreline Library
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
4:00 PM  6:00 PM
Shoreline Library
Volunteers help students practice reading out loud. Two students are paired by reading level with each volunteer. Book selection focuses on readers in grades K-8 and English language learners in grades K-12. Reading Buddies share eBooks on an iPad. Books selection changes every two weeks. Students may bring a book to share. Look for volunteers wearing the green Reading Buddies t-shirt. Add your name to the sign-up sheet for a 30-minute spot at your reading level.
 
Free Basic Bike Maintenance Class @ Shoreline Tool Library
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Shoreline Tool Library
Spend an evening at the Shoreline Tool Library learning the basics of maintaining your bike – adjusting gears and brakes, fixing a flat, cleaning, and being sure it (and your helmet) fit. Register online here.
 
Menopause 101: Navigating Change with Confidence
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Shoreline Library
Empower yourself with knowledge! Learn about common symptoms, self-care practices and evidence-based interventions to make your journey through perimenopause and menopause smoother. Presented by Vanessa Weiland, Board-Certified Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. Registration not required.
 
For more information and more upcoming events, visit the Shoreline events calendar on https://www.destinationshoreline.com/calendar
To have your event included please email DestinationShoreline@gmail.com.

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For the Birds: Bird Migration is a happening thing

Monday, September 7, 2015

Black-headed Grosbeak male eating black-oil seed

Photos and Text by Christine Southwick

Gone are the Willow and the Olive-sided Flycatchers. Gone are the Orange-crowned and the Yellow-rumped Warblers. Most all of the warblers except for our hardy Townsend’s Warblers have also left for their wintering grounds further south.

Did you know that most songbirds migrate during the night, and find perches in the mornings? If you are an early-riser, like I am, you may hear bird calls, different from the calls of our backyard birds.

Swainson's Thrush

Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Swainson’s Thrushes are some of the migrating birds that I heard just this morning. I know that Wilson’s Warblers are on their way south though I didn’t hear them. There were probably others, and certainly there were others that flew earlier in darkness.

Why fly in the dark? Flocks of songbirds would be great targets for all sorts of raptors—Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Merlin and Peregrine Falcons. Even Red-tailed Hawks might find flocks too tempting to ignore. By flying at night, birds eliminate that danger. By flying high at night, they don’t have to worry about owls either. Sun and heat raising from the ground taxes their energy faster than cold, so flying at night saves energy. If it is too cold, birds will wait, rest, and feed at stops along their migration route.

Wilson's Warbler near rock in dripping bird bath

This month is the changing of the guard — Dark-eyed Juncos will increase in numbers, and stay in our yards through the winter until about April or May. Varied Thrushes and Fox Sparrows will start appearing in yards with leaves on the ground and in brushy areas. Himalayan blackberries are a favorite with these two species, both for protection from the elements and predators, and for food sources—spiders and other delectables.

Yellow-rumped Warbler at bird bath

The longer the migration, the more fat (fat equals energy and stamina) they need. Just before a long migration, some birds will double their weight, and then fly straight through the whole night. Amazing feats of distance have been logged now that there are newer ways of measuring individual bird flight.

You can help these migrants, and our wintering birds, by keeping food in your feeders. Water is just as important, and will bring many travelers down into your yard. Several of my pictures show migrants as they bathed, drank, and probably partook for the smorgasbord offered by my feeders.



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For the birds: Missing birds—usually a temporary situation

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Yellow Warbler, Photo by Tony Varela


By Christine Southwick

Several people have asked “Where have their birds gone?”

Evening Grosbeak,
Photo by Christine Southwick
The last week of Aug thru the first couple of weeks of September adult birds that had successful broods are finally replacing their feathers -- a process called molting.

The energy to replace each-and-every feather each year is high; too high to take place while a bird is actively feeding four to six babies.

Right now many resident adults are currently missing important flight feathers.

Purple Finch, male by Christine Southwick

Therefore, many of these birds will stay under cover in bushes and trees to save energy and keep safe. 

These adults are mainly eating bugs and fruits in place.

So they are not being seen at most feeders.

This includes our local Anna’s Hummingbird. The juveniles, this year's new birds, will come to the feeders, but there will still be fewer birds at your feeders.

Additionally, some of the birds that are at your feeders are migrants -- like Evening Grosbeaks and Purple Finches. Some of them have already left, and most will soon.

Black headed Grosbeak
Photo by Christine Southwick

Consistently keeping your feeders stocked with good quality food will give long-distance migrants like Black-headed Grosbeaks going to Mexico and warblers, like Yellow Warblers going as far as South America a good start by supplying the protein-loading needed to survive their long-distance migration. 

Especially this year with all the forest fires, many rest stops and roosts may have been eliminated, making a strong start imperative.

So yes, there are less birds at your feeders right now, but the resident adults will be back in another week or two.

Additionally, the smoke made even more birds to hunker down, and our rain will help them return.

Keep food in your feeders, your resident adult birds will return.

[For the visually impaired: the Yellow Warbler at the top is a fat little yellow bird, firmly attached to a small branch. His head is thrown back and his beak is wide open. He is in full song. The Evening Grosbeak and the Black-headed Grosbeak are very similar. They have sturdy looking bodies with orange throat and chest shading to vanilla on their lower body. Seen from the front, the Black-Headed Grosbeak has a mostly black head with shades of orange and white. His wings and tail are black with splotches of white. The beak is light colored, very thick and bends down. The Evening Grosbeak has more distinct markings which we can see in profile. His long feathers are black and the feathers in the middle of his back are brilliant white. The Purple Finch is a mottled red-purple color. He has the same strong beak.]



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For the Birds: Black-capped Chickadees—The Up-side Down feisty Ones

Wednesday, October 23, 2013



By Christine Southwick
Photos by Christine Southwick

Ask anyone to list their favorite birds, and Black-capped Chickadee will be included.

These acrobatic, feisty little birds with their pleasant calls and dee-dee-dee alarms, have distinct black and white faces, and often seem to look at you with intelligence, weighing whether it is necessary, or not, to fly away before finding the heaviest seed available. 

Black-capped Chickadees have the most complex social order of all our local feeder birds. The dominant bird eats first, making it fun to watch as flock members dart out singly from a branch, snatch the best seed, and then fly back to the cover of a nearby branch to open it. While they are pounding on their prizes, others dart, one after another. If you are lucky enough to watch a feeder where color-banded chickadees feed, you can see that they take turns in order.

Inquisitive and friendly, chickadees will be the first to find your new feeder, and announce their find to the other neighborhood birds. In the winter, nuthatches, kinglets, and Downy Woodpeckers often tag along with chickadees because they know these non-migrating bundles of energy will find all the winter specials.

Chickadees are the local watch birds. They are the first to sound the alarm "Predator!" The more loud "dee-dee-dees" there are at the end of their call, the more danger. Humans nearby rate an extra dee-dee. A Sharp-shinned Hawk gets four or five extra dee-dees, and every bird around hits the bushes, no questions asked.

Want these up-side-down bug seekers in your yard? Serve black oil sunflower seeds—shelled or unshelled. Have another feeder of high quality seeds, and/or suet, and you will have chickadee visitors. If you add flowering current shrubs, trees like serviceberries, dogwood, or small crabapples, and some evergreen trees, plus year-round water, and you will have resident black-capped chickadees.

Chickadees will readily use nest boxes with 1 1/8 inch holes and some wood chips within. The male feeds the female while she sits on her four to five eggs, and he helps feed the fledglings. While the young will fly away, the bonded pair will stay in your yard, and usually will raise a brood year after year.

Welcome birds, like these cute Black-capped Chickadees to control your bugs. You will be pleased and entertained at the same time, while helping to make the earth healthier by not using manufactured pesticides.

For previous For the Birds columns, click the link under the Features section on the main webpage.


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For the Birds: What Birds Need

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Spotted Towhee taking grub to nestling
Photo by Christine Southwick
By Christine Southwick

Birds have four basic needs to survive:
  • Food;
  • Water;
  • Safe spaces to hang out; and
  • Places to successfully raise their young.

Food is fairly easy to provide. Plant, or keep, native trees, especially evergreens—the bigger the better. Plant native fruiting trees and bushes. Dogwood, Crabapple, Hawthorne, Serviceberry, Snowberry, Twinberry, Elderberry, Nine Bark, Quince, berry crops, and even many of the maples are good sources of food. 

Many birds eat the bugs that come to the flowers, some even nibble the flower buds; eat the fruit once it is ripe; and find bugs in the leaf litter in the winter. 

Juvenile Hairy Woodpecker on dripper
Photo by Christine Southwick
Don’t use pesticides: you will kill or starve the bug-eating wildlife. Bird feeders with black-oil sunflower seeds, and suet feeders will make your yard even more inviting.

Water can be hard for birds to find during our dry August’s and our cold spells. Free running water is a great magnet, and can be as simple as a dripper into a garbage can lid, or as complex as a recycling stream. As long as standing water is changed once a week, there is no danger from mosquitoes. In the winter, invest in a birdbath heater to keep the water liquid and drinkable during freezing spells

Safe spaces to hang out can be provided by trees, bushes and shrubs of varying sizes and densities, and minimum amounts of grass. Birds have evolved by being able to locate food: some find it on branches, others on trunks. Some find it using trees and shrubs as launching posts-others find their food in the leaves and bark beneath trees and bushes.

Dead snag in park
Photo by Christine Southwick
Places to successfully raise their young can require a little more planning. 

Dead trees can provide more places for birds to raise their young than live trees. If you have a dead or dying tree, make it into a snag. Leaving logs and branches on the ground will provide hiding places for ground nesters. 

Placing nest boxes, with the correct sized holes for native species will benefit local birds, and bring you the wonder of watching babies grow and thrive. Leave a small, controlled area of blackberries, or add a brush pile in a back corner. Leave some tall grass or weeds from March until Labor Day.

And build an indoor-outdoor run for your cats — belling them isn’t enough — they hunt by stealth.

Give birds what they need, and they will come.


Christine Southwick will be a speaker at the upcoming Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds on September 10, 2011. Her topic is "20 Birds You Wish Were in Your Yard," The entire event covers September 9-11, with more speakers, guided walks and field trips, exhibits, and kids activities. See the detailed schedule on the website.



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For the Birds: The Birds and the Trees

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Barred Owl
Photo by John Riegsecker

By Christine Southwick

As early as December, Barred Owls and Anna’s Hummingbirds start making their nests. Owls use large holes in trees, first created by a Pileated or Hairy Woodpecker; Anna’s may find a small forked branch under a weather-protecting cedar or fir branch.

Brown Creepers spiral up, and Red-breasted Nuthatches climb downward on pines searching out little hidden bugs and spiders, while Red-breasted Sapsuckers tap shallow holes in nearby large Douglas Firs to access sap.

Deciduous trees supply perches for both resident and migrating birds. These trees offer bugs, fruits, nesting sites and shelter from summer rains and strong sunlight for migrating warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Red-tailed Hawks, and Cedar Waxwings to name a few.

Brown Creeper (5 inch bird)
Photo by Doug Parrott

Coniferous trees offer food, nesting opportunities, and year-round protection from the elements. Evergreens, even more than deciduous trees, provide protection from predators. Western Screech Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls are particularly fond of local cedars.

Conifers attract a different set of birds— fewer migrating birds and more resident birds such as Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Merlins, and our local woodpeckers— Downy, Hairy, Pileated, and Northern Flickers.

There are birds found in forests and yards with mixed types: Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, American Robins, and flycatchers for example. Alders and black cottonwoods are great trees for cavity nesters.

Female Pileated Woodpecker creating nest
Photo by Doug Parrott

Some birds use barren tree-tops on tall trees— Olive-sided Flycatchers, Merlins, Bald Eagles  use these trees as hunting perches to locate and capture flying prey— bugs, or other birds. Band-tailed Pigeons need tall trees for easy take-offs and landings.

Did you know that 71% of Shoreline’s canopy is located on private property (per 2011 Shoreline canopy assessment)? Trees enhance people’s yards and give character to local neighborhoods.

Female Merlin on top leader of tall tree
Photo by Barbara Deihl

Have you noticed that most of Shoreline’s streets have less than five feet of planting space between sidewalk and streets? That means that the evergreens that so many of us take for granted have to be grown on private property, not on city street right-of-ways (ROW).  Even the smaller Shore Pine grows to ten feet wide, and would obscure line-of-sight needed by drivers.

It really is up to each homeowner to keep our city green and healthy for ourselves, the birds and the other wildlife that depend on trees for roosting, eating, nesting, and shelter.

Be green, plant a tree, keep the tall ones, and help many species of birds.


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For the Birds: Wanted - 99-year Leases for Rest Stops

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Trees provide food and shelter to raise young Western Wood-Peewee
Photo by Elaine Chuang


By Christine Southwick

You are driving from your “snowbird” condo, to your summer abode. Your gas tank is almost empty. The station you always use is out of gas. You have enough to get to the next station, but when you get there, the land has changed, and development fills that space. Now what?

If you were a bird with this scenario, you would probably fall to the ground, too exhausted and too hungry to travel on.

Black-necked Stilts stopping at the Potholes in Eastern WA
Photo by Elaine Chuang


If you were lucky, you might find enough water, food, and shelter to recover and travel to your breeding or wintering grounds. If not, you, and possibly your whole flock, would die, never to fly again.

This is frequently happening throughout the US. Many migrating birds are finding familiar rest stops and watering holes on their bi-yearly flyways being poisoned by pesticides and fertilizers, drained and plowed for crops, or made into half-filled strip malls.

Habitat loss is the number one cause of bird deaths.

There are fewer and fewer places for birds to rest, feed, raise their young, and find good water.

Distances between resting and refueling stops are often becoming so great that many birds traveling thousand-year-old migration routes will die from exhaustion, not being able to reach the next safe stop-over.

Snags, used first by woodpeckers, provide places for nesting, resting, storing food
Photo by Elaine Chuang


How can you help?

Have a sick tree, or one you fear in your yard?

Make a snag out of the bottom fifteen-twenty feet. Snags are safe, and dead trees shelter local birds from winter storms, offer nesting sites, and provide food. Besides, snags make excellent backdrops to watch the birds that use them.

Trees are the lungs of the earth, so plant a tree or fruiting bush to replace any you take away. (Note: 71% of Shoreline’s tree canopy is in private yards)

Weeds, including dandelions are eaten by many birds Am. Goldfinches
Phoro by Terry Dunning


Don’t make your gardens so clean that they become sterile for wildlife.

Gardens that don’t have bugs, can’t feed birds, salamanders, frogs, or any other wildlife. Make a small brush pile for birds to hide, escape, and find shelter from winter cold. Leaves and weeds are loved by many birds.

If you clear a wild area, don’t do it between March and August. Wait until Labor Day, by then the young have left their ground nests.

If you must cover a ditch, offer water and shelter to replace that which you have eliminated.

When you change the landscape to suit your tastes, ask yourself who and what you are depriving of water, food, and the shelter needed to raise their young.



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