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

Rob Oxford: At the last game of the season, the Rotary Cup stays in Highlander hands

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Shorecrest Senior Football Players, Cheerleaders and Flags


Story and photos by Rob Oxford

They went from not knowing if they would have a season, to winning 4 out of 5 and keeping the Rotary Cup in Highlander hands.

Thursday night the 2021 Shorecrest Scots ended what was arguably their best season in years with a 50 – 6 win over their crosstown rival Shorewood Thunderbirds.

Normally the most attended game of the season, the Rotary Cup brings alumni from both schools back to town for a weekend of beer drinking, storytelling and chest-thumping. Hopefully next season will return to normal with the stands packed full of fans and the smell of Otis Burgers again permeating the night air.

This season, outscoring their opponents 189 to 32 in just 5 games, the Scots demonstrated that the Shorecrest football program is right where it needs to be. A roster full of talented underclassmen returning in just a few short months, Coach Brandon Christensen and his staff should have a legitimate shot at that elusive Wesco title in 2022.

But before we start raising banners, let's pay homage to the 14 Seniors and their teammates who completely dismantled the Shorewood Thunderbirds last Thursday Night.

The Home team Scots are traditionally escorted into battle by a pack of Pipers. But on this night, led by Seniors Robbie Oxford and Gabe Nelson, the team made their entrance to the sound of “Scotland The Brave” being played on a boombox. Take it from me…(sniff)…still quite effective.

Shorecrest Freshman Logan Yao presented a beautiful rendition of the Star Bangled Banner and before the SC band had finished the school's fight song, the referee was signaling “Touchback” as Gavin Dalziel yet again blasted an opening kick into and out of the end zone.

Starting from their own 20-yard line the T-Birds would immediately get a taste of what the night had in store as the Scots Outside Linebackers Jaxon Taylor and Robbie Oxford were in the backfield almost before the snap, corralling the Shorewood QB for a 2-yard sack.

But a nice option play by T-Bird signal-caller Rahmatullah Salim provided a fresh set of downs and tough running from Jack Dereche moved the ball across midfield into Scots territory. Facing 4th down and 5, the T-Birds opted to throw a deep pass that was broken up by Safety Des Fox. A turnover on downs, the Scots took possession with the ball on their own 42-yard line.

Two plays later the Scots drew first blood. First a quick hitch pass to Des Fox for a gain of 15 yards, followed by a 54-yard sprint to the end zone by “Lightning McQueen”… excuse me, I meant QB Carson Christensen. A delay of game penalty would push the extra point attempt back 5 yards and Kicker Gavin Dalziel would add a little excitement by banging it off the uprights, but through for the first 7 points of the 2020-21 Shoreline Rotary Cup.

After Dalziel’s ensuing kickoff pinned the Thunderbirds inside their own 10-yard line, the Scots Senior Defensive Line of Jacob Halvorsen, Maksim Takhtarev and Jordan Glesener set up camp and started making Smores.

Soon facing 4th and 6 the T-Birds got off a great punt, then the Scots were called for “roughing the kicker,” affording Shorewood 4 more downs on Offense.

Still unable to generate any positive yardage and facing 3rd and 12, an untouched Jaxon Taylor had the T-Birds QB wrapped up 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Fortunately for the T-Birds, Salim was able to mimic enough of a pass to signal an incompletion and the Scots would take over after a short punt by Shorewood Sophomore Isaac Van Horn.

Raising the cup

With the ball at midfield, Shorecrest Offensive Coordinator Dillon Baker called #34’s number and 21 yards later, Marcus Tidwell had the Scots sitting at the Thunderbirds 30-yard line. With a minute left in the first quarter, Christensen would find Des Fox (who made a spectacular catch) in the back of the end zone for the Scots second score of the game.

Despite great effort from Sophomore RB Eduardo Eulogio, Shorewood was still unable to move the ball on the Scots Defense. Faced with another 4th and long, the T-Birds opted for a little trickery. Faking the punt and attempting to convert the first down on a pass to 6’5 Senior Zach Herndon. What happened next was a little confusing.

Signaled as a “turnover on downs” the Highlanders took possession on the T-Birds 31 and two plays later had their 3rd score of the night. With excellent protection from Daryl Scott, Carson Christensen was able to find his backup, Andre Lasconia in the end zone for his first touchdown reception of the year.

The PAT attempt was a thing of beauty as Gavin Dalziel lined up the kick and, on the snap, took an over-the-shoulder lob from Holder Des Fox and scurried into the end zone for a 2-point conversion.

Scots 22 – Shorewood 0

Great pass coverage from Zane Morga-Baisac and Ramy Abdalla kept the T-Birds from converting a first down on their next series and the Scots Offense quickly trotted back onto the field.

Moving into Shorewood territory on a 10-yard run by Gabe Nelson, Christensen hooked up with Des Fox for a 38-yard reception and a first down on the ‘Birds 11-yard line. From there it was back to Lucky #7 (Nelson) for another Scots score. With 7:08 left in the first half and up 29 - 0, the Scots were making a statement and it could be heard from every corner of Shoreline.

With halftime rapidly approaching and Shorewood desperately needing a score, the Thunderbird Defense forced a Shorecrest punt. Back for the return Junior Jackson Chou mishandled the reception and the Scots Abdi Gabobe pounced on the loose ball.

Moments later, following Glesener, Halvorsen, Wyatt Patneaude and the rest of the Scots Offensive Line, Ben Seather-Brady slipped 20 yards downfield for the Scots 5th unanswered touchdown. Linfield College Recruit Gavin Dalziel would tack on another extra point and the Scots would have a commanding 36 – 0 lead over the Thunderbirds with 2 full quarters of football left to play.

With :06 left in the first half, Shorewood attempted a Hail Mary pass only to have it intercepted by Des Fox, adding even more stats to his already impressive season totals and taking both teams to intermission.

Thanks to both the Shorecrest and Shorewood Cheer Squad, Hip Hop and Flag Teams performances, the halftime entertainment was a welcome attempt at normalcy. Although both schools’ drumlines were in attendance, Fight Songs just don’t sound the same without horns.

Shorewood would kick off to start the 3rd Quarter and the chances of their attempting an onside kick were high. The chances of their recovering even higher, but a well-placed kick by Sophomore Alberto Solano achieved the desired effect and Shorewood had the ball in Scots territory. Continuing to apply pressure however, the Scots Defense would not relent and soon handed possession of the ball back to its Offense.

What took place next can only be described as heartbreaking for a Senior Wide Receiver playing in his final game. In the span of 3 plays, The Scot’s Des Fox caught not 1 but 2, 55-yard touchdown passes only to have both called back. One for holding and the other for what appeared to this reporter as a phantom “block in the back”. Ever the team player, Fox just shrugged it off and continued to make big plays.

Scots defense

As the evening progressed, stout defense from the Scots continued to prevent the Thunderbirds from building any type of momentum.

With 2nd and 3rd string players seeing a lot of action, Shorecrest showed how deep they are on the defensive side of the ball.

A 56-yard touchdown run by SC Junior Daryl Scott with 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter would activate the “point differential” rule and require the clock to continue running, except for officials’ timeouts.

Try as they might the Thunderbirds were simply unable to get anything going offensively. The final touchdown for the Scots would find Backup QB Andre Lasconia following the likes of Freshman Elijah Glesener, Sophomore Matthew Ma and Juniors LJ Baxter and Grant Bailey 45 yards downfield to the Shorewood 2-yard line. From there, Daryl Scott would add to his touchdown totals with a 2-yard dive.

On the final play of the night Shorewood would avoid the shutout when QB Sontri Jorkhang found their tallest receiver Zack Herndon in the end zone for 6 pts. A rough night for the Thunderbirds, they’ll surely look to exact their revenge next season.

Saying goodbye
For the past 7 years as both my sons made their way through the program it has been my pleasure to watch and report on the Shorecrest Highlanders for the Shoreline Area News, sharing in the excitement that comes from winning and the stinging disappointment that follows a loss.

I’d like to thank Coach Brandon Christensen and his staff for allowing me the privilege of running the Highlander Football Gridiron Group and Shoreline Athletic Director Don Dalziel for hardly ever saying “no”.

Time to pass the torch.

Hoot Mon!
#66 Always a Scot


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Scots top T-Birds, 14-12, to reclaim Rotary Cup

Saturday, September 26, 2015

What's football without cheerleaders?
Shorewood cheer in blue and Shorecrest in green

Ian Prieve scored all Shorecrest's points, Jack Koss passed with pinpoint accuracy, and Will Brennan made an impact in his season debut by rushing for over 100 yards, but it was Marvin Yong's interception in the back of the end zone on Shorewood's 2-point attempt that would have tied the game with 2:02 to play that preserved Shorecrest's 14-12 win over Shorewood in the 37th annual Rotary Cup Game at Shoreline Stadium Friday night.

With the win, the Scots extend their lead in the series to 24-13.

Shorewood's Isaac Whitaker makes a catch
for a long completion in the fourth quarter.

Shorewood started strong, forcing turnovers on Shorecrest's first two possessions, the first one on the third play from scrimmage following a fumble. But SC's defense stiffened and SW settled for a 26-yard Isaac Whitaker field goal to open the scoring.

Shorewood's Ronnie Gary goes down the sideline
after making an interception in the first quarter.

On their ensuing possession, Scots' QB Koss' long pass was intercepted by the talented Ronnie Gary, who wove his way down the far sideline forty-one yards to the Scots' 19. Again, the Scots' defense stiffened and Whitaker kicked his second field goal to make it 6-0 T-Birds, with 4:41 to play in the first quarter.

In the second quarter Shorecrest's Ian Prieve
returns an interception for a touchdown.

Shorecrest took a lead they would never relinquish when Prieve, a slender senior, hauled in a short pass from junior QB Koss. For the game, Koss completed 14 of 17 passes for 164 yards. Prieve's PAT made it 7-6 Scots with :33 to play in the quarter.

The T-Birds responded with a drive of their own on passes from Aaron Okamura to Gary for 31 and 20 yards. For the third time, the Scots' bend-don't-break defense forced another field goal try, but this one missed to preserve the Scots' slim 7-6 lead.

When SW got the ball back, Prieve stepped in front of an Okamura pass on the T-Bird 36 yard line and took it to the house for a touchdown. The PAT gave the Scots a 14-6 lead which they took to the halftime locker room.

Shorecrest drums at half-time

At halftime, in a move that perfectly depicts the friendliness and mutual respect that typifies this rivalry, both schools' bands took the field and fans were treated to the playing of both fight songs performed by the multitude of musicians.

Rod Mar gets ready to take the annual family portrait

Then Rod Mar, the official photographer of the Seattle Seahawks and a graduate of Shorecrest High School, got in position for his annual "Family Photo" of the colorful and spirited masses assembled for this, the biggest annual gathering in Shoreline.

Rod Mar and Shoreline Athletic Director Don Dalziel on fork lift
getting ready for the annual photo of all the students in the stadium

In the middle of the third period, the Scots threatened to extend their lead. Yong took a short pass and ducked and darted his way twenty-nine yards down to the T-Birds' 1-yard line. But the next two plays lost yards, and Koss' third down pass was picked off by the T-Birds on their own one yard line.

The teams traded possessions near midfield until SW got the ball back on their own 37 with just 2:20 to play in the game. The determined T-Birds wasted no time as Whitaker made a circus catch of an Okamura pass for eighteen yards on their first play, then SW's senior signal-caller found the 6' 2" Gary streaking down the middle of the field, a step ahead of the nearest Scot defender, for a touchdown with 2:02 to play. SW lined up for the two-point conversion that would tie the game.

T-bird back Kaimana Aki runs behind Jack Holmes block

But the 5' 8" senior Yong, who missed all of last season recuperating from an injury, would have nothing to do with a tie game.

"We were in man coverage and I was guarding Ronnie Gary, easily the best receiver I've ever had to cover," he explained. "I saw a slant and jumped it, but he ran a delete route (changed directions) and I was able to recover and get in front of him. The quarterback, one of my good friends Aaron Okamura, threw it up knowing it was a mismatch size-wise, but I jumped as high as I could, only meaning to bat it down, but I was able to get two hands on it and bring it down."

Shorecrest running back, Will Brennan,
sweeps left for a good gain.

Shorewood's ensuing onside kick was covered by the Scots. Senior running back (and highly recruited rugby player) Will Brennan, returning to action for the first time this season, bolted for 58 yards on second down, enabling SC to run out the clock on the T-Birds' hopes of winning the Cup for the third straight year.

The Shoreline Rotary Cup is presented to
Shorecrest head coach Brandon Christensen
After the game, a hoarse but happy SC coach Brandon Christensen croaked "The boys found out how to become men tonight. I've been waiting for this team to come together into a single heartbeat. They fed off each other, counted on each other, and the results on the board were perfect. What happened tonight was priceless."

The Rotary Club of Shoreline is the game sponsor

For a game that saw good, clean, competitive football played under cool, dry skies, in front of a well-behaved overflow crowd, 'priceless' seems a pretty apt description of the whole night.

--Text by Frank Workman
--Photos by Wayne Pridemore




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For the Birds: Birds need bugs

Sunday, July 29, 2012


Common Yellow-throat with caterpillar
Photo by Maggie Bond

By Christine Southwick

Birds Need Bugs:

Bugs are high in protein—just what migrating birds and developing nestlings need.

An Anna’s Hummingbird mother flies to her miniature nest and gently places her long bill into her nestling’s throat and delivers a meal of aphids, white flies, gnats, even tiny spiders.

Violet-green Swallow nestling with fresh bug
Photo by John Riegsecker
Nighthawks and Violet –green Swallow parents catch mosquitoes on the wing which their nestling eagerly snatch.

Blue Bird mothers bring tent caterpillars to their nestlings.

Local chickadees, nuthatches, and Brown Creepers are always on search and destroy missions, finding bug eggs and larvae on stems, leaves and evergreen needles, and devouring them before they harm our plants.

Yellow Warbler with caterpillar
Photo by Doug Parrott
White-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Bewick’s Wrens, and Oregon Juncos feed their babies insects, grubs, caterpillars, and spiders.

Our local Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, and Red-breasted Sapsuckers feed their nestlings bugs found within tree trunks and braches. Flickers add ants to their menu.

New research on the cause of declines of city birds, especially Nighthawks and most sparrows, points to the lack of enough insects in cities due to pesticide usage, forcing breeding birds to nest elsewhere in order to feed their young.
bug meal for fledgling Oregon Junco
Photo by Mick Thompson

So how can you help the birds?

First, stop using pesticides.  Pesticides kill bugs we don’t like, but they also poison birds that eat the bugs, pollinating bees and butterflies that land on the sprayed plants, and family pets.  In our rainy climate, pesticides get washed into our local creeks, streams, lakes and finally into the Sound, disabling and killing fish and aquatic life all along the way.                                              

If you are having trouble with bugs, spray them off with water.  Caterpillars won’t kill deciduous trees—the trees just grow more leaves. Migrating birds thrive on the extra boost of protein in caterpillars.

Plant native shrubs and trees with berries.  Birds love native berries and will eat them before eating your berry crops. Native plants support more native birds, helping to make up for some of the birds’ lost habitat; the number one cause of bird deaths.

Add nest boxes. Wild Birds Unlimited, or Audubon can help you find ones properly made for the birds you want.

Add feeders and clean water (change weekly), and you can register your backyard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Birds, and all our necessary pollinators will thank you, and you will have the joy of hearing birds in your yard, and watching their next generation grow.

Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she is sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.

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



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For the Birds: Water - Serve It and They Will Come

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Black-throated Gray Warbler (female)
Photo by Christine Southwick

By Christine Southwick

As more trees, grasses, and native habitats are cut down, plowed under, paved over, and built upon, finding  much needed water becomes harder and harder  for birds and other wildlife.

You can literally save the lives of many migrating and native birds by supplying moving water.  The sound of dripping water will bring tanagers, warblers, thrushes, even flycatchers down from their travels.

Western Tanager (female/juvie)
Photo by Christine Southwick
With native trees and fruiting shrubs, migrants may spend up to a week of welcome respite and refueling before flying on.

In my yard, I have two different set-ups: one is a day-light recirculating fountain on a timer, which the hummingbirds seem to prefer. The second set-up I have developed over the years through trial and observation.  

Yellow Warbler enjoying bath
Photo by Christine Southwick
I have a three foot tall, shallow birdbath with a dripper attachment. I have it positioned at a slight incline so that it will drip into the half-inch deep leaf that you see in the pictures. That in turn drips into the two other bird baths. The reddish one is set up so that birds can walk into the water. The shiny one is a garbage can lid, with a flat rock in the middle.  

This way I have shallow enough water for the small birds, and slightly deeper water, like one would find in a mud puddle, for the larger birds like Spotted Towhees, Robins, Flickers, etc. The dripper is on a ¼ inch line, and I turn it on in the morning of hot days to just drip a little throughout the day, and turn it off about 6:30 pm. Since I have moving water I don’t worry about mosquitoes. 

Northern Flicker and dripping water
Photo by Christine Southwick
I have shrubs nearby for cover, which encourages more birds to partake, than a birdbath out in the middle of a lawn. I have fencing on two sides, and native plants with thorns on the third side to discourage roaming cats.

Since I work during the day, I have set up a motion-activated camera positioned on the lower baths.  I often wonder who is using the top birdbath while I am gone…

Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Photo by Christine Southwick
If you offer moving water, you will attract a wide variety of migrating and resident birds to stop to drink, and clean their flight feathers.  You will be helping wild birds survive, and the birds will brighten your day with their bathing antics.

Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she is sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.

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


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Wishes for the local high school sports scene for 2012

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Veteran sports observer Frank Workman shares his thoughts for the local sports scene for the coming year.

By Frank Workman

While Mariner fans can wish for Prince Fielder (wish for him in one hand and spit in the other --- see which hand fills up first), and Husky fans can hope for an improvement in Defensive Coordinators (Baylor just scored again), I choose to keep my sports wishes for the new year of a more local variety.

This ardent observer of the local high school sports scene hopes for the following:

  • For Shorewood Football Coach Rob Petschl, continued participation and commitment from even more boys, and the sort of steady and sustainable improvement that will find the T-Birds challenging for the top spot in Wesco year after year.
  • For Shorecrest Football Coach Brandon Christensen, the chance to develop another quarterback as gifted as Ted Hammond has been for the Scots. And for both coaches, it is hoped that their families’ fast friendship thrives and survives the fractious festivities that occur one Friday night each fall.
  • For venerable Shorewood Boys Basketball Coach Marv Morris, good health that will enable him to stay on the sidelines as long as he wishes, and the kind of receptive and respectful boys that make coaching his own personal Fountain of Youth.
  • For Basketball Coach Brian Fischer, a chance to take his Scots to State for the first time, with the elegant and graceful Junior Chibuogwu leading the way.
  • For Shorewood Soccer Coach Nathan Davis, a season (soon!) of injury-free play for his boys and girls.
  • For Mindy Dalziel, an extra goal here and there for her Shorecrest girls, so they don’t have to suffer through the shoot-outs that have bedeviled her team the last few years.
  • For Nina Lowe, T-Birds Girls Basketball Coach, the opportunity, just one time, to coach a player as talented and driven as she was when she was winning State Championships for Shorewood.
  • For Shorecrest Girls Coach Dori Monson, as brilliant an ending to the Basketball season as the beginning has been for his talented veteran team.
  • For Shorewood Baseball Coach Wyatt Tonkin, another 2-run lead in the bottom of the last inning of the State Championship Game. And a sense of welcome to the T-Birds’ new home at Meridian Park – the new ballpark there, with lights, should prove to be a valuable community asset.
  • For Shorewood Track Coach Lance Neubauer, a way to manufacture and bottle his infectious enthusiasm that has attracted more and more kids to participate in the spring for the T-Birds.
In a non-sports-related vein, I have two other wishes.

  • That our elected officials, local and national, from Dogcatcher to President, wake up every day and remember who is the Master and who is the Servant.
  • And I hope the people in charge of the Shoreline Area News exercise better judgment in 2012 than to again depict the essence of our unique American holiday, Thanksgiving, with a picture of a ‘tofurky’.  (See offending article here)



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For the Birds: A different type of bird seed

Monday, October 15, 2012


Goldfinch getting seeds
Photo by John Riegsecker
By Christine Southwick

Many of you have bird feeders, and know how important it is to keep clean, dry seed in the feeders during the fall and winter.

But did you know that many of your flowering trees and shrubs, and cutting flowers, have seeds that birds love, and will eat during the winter-time?

Golden-crowned Sparrow eating snowberries
Photo by Scott Ramos in Magnuson Park

Lots of wintering birds and our resident birds, such as sparrows, Spotted  Towhees,  goldfinches, nuthatches, chickadees, and bushtits, forage on garden and weed seeds, especially in the  winter  when  bugs can be hard to find.

Cone flowers, Bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Coreopsis, Asters, Zinneas, Columbines,  Millet,  snowberries, salmonberries, raspberries, and yes, even blackberries all provide seeds, and/or attract small bugs that wintering birds need.

Fox Sparrow eating blackberries in Magnuson Park
Photo by Scott Ramos
If you leave tall grass in a back corner or along a fence line, and delay pruning your bushes until about February, when most of us get itchy to be out in the gardens, then you will be helping your local wildlife by supplying warmer and out-of-the-wind habitat during winter. Doing this also provides seed delicacies for the birds, and the birds clinging to plant stems while stretching for those seeds will reward you with hours of fun-to-watch antics.

Prune your fruit and flowering trees about the end of January, early February and you will be leaving habitat for birds during the winter, and priming the trees for strong growth in the spring, thus giving birds lots of blossoms to munch, or to help get rid of blossom bugs.

Golden-crowned Sparrow eating vegetation in the snow
Photo by Scott Ramos in Magnuson Park

Sure, the easiest way to attract birds is to put up bird feeders, and offer water. But it is lots of fun to watch birds forage for their own seeds that you have kindly left for them through the fall, and early winter. 


Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she is sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.

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


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After electrifying start, Shorewood game ends in 31-26 loss to Blaine

Saturday, October 21, 2017

#13 Josh Lee breaks up the play


Shorewood Thunderbirds 26 Blaine Borderites 31
Shoreline Stadium, Friday, October 20, 2017, 8pm

T-birds Overall Record 3-4

By Aaron Bert
Photos by Lisa Hirohata

Excitement buzzed in the air, as the rain clouds held their payload and a chill settled over Shoreline Stadium Friday night, as Shorewood took on Blaine in a non-league match-up for Shorewood’s Homecoming. With a convincing win last week over Sultan, Shorewood was looking to extend their winning streak and establish a new tradition - winning back to back games - alas, the Thunderbirds would come up short.

Shorewood struck first. The first-half kick-off was a deep ball down to the Shorewood 15 fielded by #10 Mathew Bangsberg (Jr, WR/DB) - Bangsberg began to run right, but on a reverse, gave the ball to #21 DeShawn Alexander (So, RB/DB) who streaked to the sideline, kicked in the afterburners and was gone for a 85 yard kickoff return - the first such play of the year for Shorewood and the crowd jumped to its feet in adulation and joy. The ensuing extra point was blocked, a harbinger of things to come in the kicking game, and Shorewood was up 6-0 with ten seconds off the clock.

Blaine, led by #5 Julian Gonzalez (Sr, RB/DB), answered immediately on the next drive starting on the Shorewood 33 and marching 67 yards in 2 minutes to take the lead 7-6. Gonzalez, listed at 5’8” and 160 pounds proved to be a punishing runner - hardly ever coming down on first contact and often it would take a host of T-birds to stop his momentum. He ran with a purpose - old school, smash mouth football - and seemed to relish in taking hits and dishing out punishment to the defense. Gonzalez would prove to be the key to the Blaine win.

#3 Robert Banks runs the ball with #20 Noah Keys blocking

The next drive had Shorewood starting on their own 29. #3 Robert Banks (Sr, RB/DB) had a solid game at running back - demonstrating brilliant flashes of speed when he would find a crease in the Borderite defense. The first play from scrimmage found Banks bursting for a 27 yard gain and Shorewood was off. Two plays later, #4 David Snell (Jr, QB) connected with #21 DeShawn Alexander for a 45-yard touchdown pass and the T-birds took the lead 12-7 as #54 Phil Ball, the starting right guard on the offensive line and placekicker having his second extra point of the night blocked. Snell got the start at QB for Shorewood as #7 Skylar Hammer (Jr, QB/DB) was out due to a non-football injury sustained earlier in the day.

Shorewood’s defense would step up on the next two series, forcing the Borderites out on downs, to include a stop at the Shorewood 3 when it looked like a touchdown was imminent. Lead by tough-nosed and passionate linebacker #34 Levi ‘Rocky’ Williams (So, OL/LB) and #22 Kaden Graves (Jr, OL/LB) - the T-birds stuffed Blaine’s Gonzalez on a dive over the left side and the Green and Blue of Shorewood was back in business.

#4 David Snell throws a pass
 

On the next drive, Shorewood faced 3 and 13 and Snell dropped back to pass and lofted a lazy toss over the middle which was intercepted by Blaine’s free safety and the Borderites were down to the Shorewood 4 with first and goal. After two unsuccessful gives to Gonzalez, Blaine faked the dive to Gonzales and #82 Cruz Rodriquez, (Sr, TE/LB) released to the left flat and was uncovered for an easy touchdown. With the extra point, Blaine took the lead 14-12 and held it the rest of the game.

As has often been the case with Shorewood all year, failure to execute basic fundamentals have killed promising drives and given the opposing team opportunities to capitalize and score points. Shorewood fumbled the snap on the first play of their drive after receiving the ensuing kickoff and Blaine took the ball down for a field goal, taking the lead 17-12.

#3 Robert Banks got the next drive started with two back to back runs of 21 yards each, but Shorewood stalled by committing two offensive holds and a giving up a sack - denying the T-birds the momentum on a promising drive. Blaine in turn stalled on their next drive and had to punt at the 2:16 mark remaining in the 2nd quarter. The punt fielded by Shorewood's Alexander, danced and cut, causing Borderite defenders to dive for him when he had already swiveled and spun out of the space they thought he was at - and he was off down the left sideline for a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown. With the crowd going wild, a hush soon settled over the ecstatic fans, as once again, a yellow flag rested on the 40-yard line marking the spot where Shorewoods lack of fundamentals - a block in the back - negated the go-ahead touchdown.

#84 Logan Freitas kicks off
 

Blaine opened the 2nd half, starting on their own 35-yard line and behind the power running of Gonzales, and poor tackling by Shorewood took the ball down the field and scored a touchdown. The clocked showed 9:15 remaining in the 3rd quarter and Blaine up 24-12. The succeeding kick-off had #21 Alexander and #10 Bangsberg ready to showcase their return skills once again. Not learning how dangerous this duo was proving to be, Blaine’s #14 Bryce Kamrath (Jr, K) booted the ball deep to Alexander. This time, faking the reverse, Alexander once again hit turbo boost and was off like a rocket and the improbable looked possible as he streaked for another kickoff return for a touchdown. And yet, disappointment would rule out this spectacular effort - with Shorewood getting called for another block in the back, taking the ball back to their own 11 to start the drive.

All was not lost - #3 Banks took the deep handoff from Snell, and like last week, found a crease over the right side for an 89-yard rushing touchdown - Shorewoods longest play from scrimmage all year. With the two-point conversion good, Shorewood pulled within 4 and the scoreboard read Blaine 24 - Shorewood 20.

Blaine immediately answered on their next play - seemingly punching the whole Shorewood defense in the solar plexus - stunning the T-birds and the Homecoming crowd by ripping off a 76-yard touchdown run from scrimmage by who else, but #5 Gonzalez. From the stands, you could see the whole Shorewood sideline deflate and Blaine was up 31-20 with 8:30 remaining in the 3rd.

#20 Noah Keys blocks the punt
 

Shorewood's next three drives resulted in: turning the ball over on downs; a fumble and Snell throwing his second interception of the night after Shorewood started on their own 46. Blaine had three series in a row where they were forced to punt. The defense on those three drives found a more aggressive, ball-swarming mentality and showed glimpses of what they could do when pressure was applied up front and hits on the opposing running back were low - rather than trying to tackle at the shoulder pad level.

Shorewood did make it interesting at the end. Taking the ball over at their own 34 with 5:43 remaining in the 4th, the T-birds took it in for a score on a 10-yard fly sweep to Banks for his second rushing touchdown of the night. The drive was helped by a Blaine pass interference call and a Shorewood botched play which found two T-bird receivers executing a tip drill surrounded by three Borderite defenders and #10 Bangsberg coming up with a huge 45-yard pass catch, which eventually set up Banks for the score. The two-point conversion failed, and the scoreboard read Blaine 31 - Shorewood 26.

Even with various setbacks, Shorewood showed some tremendous spark and talent during the course of the game and have begun to develop building blocks of success. With two games remaining in the season, the question still exists - can Shorewood play four quarters of consistent football?

Next up for Shorewood (3-4), is Sehome High School from Bellingham. Sehome (2-6), who had a 23 game losing streak entering the 2017 season, is now on a 2 game winning streak, beating Granite Falls, 46-28 last night. The Mariners of Sehome will surely be looking to take that momentum into their matchup with the T-birds - Friday, October 27, 2017, 5 PM at Shoreline Stadium.





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For the Birds: Birds of Prey have gotten a bum rap

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Sharp-shinned hawk. Photo by Ron Green
By Christine Southwick
Birds of prey, also called raptors, have it hard. Nobody wants them in their neighborhood. Smaller birds mob them to make them leave, and many people scare them away when they see them at their feeders.

Hawks, falcons and eagle s are all day hunters, which is called diurnal. It is common to see any raptor, except Osprey, being mobbed by crows, red-winged blackbirds, or almost any breeding bird. Most all birds ignore Osprey since they only eat fish and don’t have baby birds on their menus.

Owls are also birds of prey, but since they hunt at night, the only time they are mobbed by smaller birds is early morning before an owl goes to its roost, or when crows or chickadees discover an owl on an exposed roost.

In this area, we have Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Peregrines, Bald- Eagles, Osprey, Barred Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls, and in some places Barn Owls, and an occasional Short-eared Owl. Many raptors breed in this area, including a pair of Merlin who have set up housekeeping in a tall tree in Shoreline for the second year.

Cooper's Hawk. Photo by John Tubbs.
Mortality is high for raptor youngsters. Many raptor species have up to a 75% mortality rate for the first year. Fledglings only have a few weeks before their parents migrate South, often as far a South America. They need to learn how to hunt well enough to feed themselves, without crashing into windows, telephone lines, or moving cars or trains.

Then they have to travel South by themselves, and hunt food as they fly hundreds of miles each day. Fledglings need to find an unclaimed–productive-enough habitat to feed themselves until it is time to fly back here for the summer breeding.

After they are grown, another danger is eating poisoned vermin. Did you know that grinding up a couple of vitamin D tablets into some peanut butter and putting the peanut butter in a rat run will kill the rats, but not harm raptors, cats or other predators? Tis true. I’ve used it successfully.

Because they are at the top of the food chain, raptors can die from eating prey with lead shots, or other human caused contaminations, like pesticides.

Photo by Wendy Duncan
Raptors help keep flocks healthy and smart. Birds that are ill are slower, and easier to catch. Birds that are less intelligent are more easily tricked and caught. Birds that have learned to adapt to being hunted, are more adaptable in general, and more likely to survive.

Raptors are birds of speed, grace and intelligence. Where you see birds of prey means that the area is reasonably healthy, and that you are doing things right for the birds. Remember that the smart birds hide, and wait until the hunter is gone, before venturing out again. Birds of prey are an important balance in the bird world, maybe even in your own yard.

Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she's sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards. 

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For the Birds: Eighty Yard Birds and Counting…

Friday, September 28, 2012




Purple Finch, male at back feeder
Photo by Christine Southwick


Eighty Yard Birds and Counting...
By Christine Southwick

What you may ask, defines a yard bird?  And how do you entice birds to your yard?

Any bird I can see (or positively ID by call) from my yard I consider a yard bird. The Osprey, Bald Eagle, Common Raven, and Great Blue Heron that fly over my yard are considered yard birds. The Mallard which lands in my next door neighbor’s grass, that I see and hear from my yard, is a yard bird. All the migrants that stop for water, food, and rest, and all the residents that live and raise their young in my yard are yard birds.

Fox Sparrow at heated bird bath
Photo by Christine Southwick

My yard was a blank slate when we moved in twelve years ago—dandelions, grass, and a corner bush.  We started filling it with rhododendrons, native trees, native bushes with fruit for wildlife, and cutting flowers for hummingbirds (and inside flower arrangements).  That first year, I had about ten species of yard birds, mostly due to the greenbelt behind the yard.

Rufus Hummingbird
Photo by Christine Southwick

I added feeders, and bird baths. I installed bird houses for young, which I clean out every September (mid-spring too, if the house was used for an early, or failed brood). I have two brush piles that cannot be seen from the house. I’ve planted ferns for additional cover. I have dragged fallen snags from neighborhood sidewalks, and beg people repeatedly for wood chips, and maple leaves. Within twelve years, I have returned a scorched-earth area to a mostly wild area in the far back of my yard.

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon
Photo by Christine Southwick

I have selected native plants, shrubs, and trees that serially provide berries/fruits for birds, and trees that host the kinds of micro bugs that warblers prefer. But the real draw has been the dripping, moving water set-up of bird baths that I described in my last article. They come down to drink, where I can see them.

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Photo by Christine Southwick

Most delightful yard birds: American Goldfinches, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bushtits, Anna’s & Rufus Hummingbirds, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets;

Best skulkers: (needing wild leaf-litter areas) Spotted Towhees, Fox Sparrows, Varied Thrushes ;

Five woodpecker yard: Pileated, Hairy, and Downy Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsucker, N. Flicker;

Snag-hole nesters: those five woodpeckers, chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches,  Brown Creepers;

Most unusual yard birds: Black-throated Gray Warblers, MacGillevray’s Warblers, Barred Owls

So put out the welcome mat—water, food, space for birds to thrive and to raise their young.

                                                   How many birds can you attract?


Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she is sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.

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



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For the Birds: Help Your Local Birds

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Black-capped Chickadee really into its cooling bath.
Photo by Craig Kerns

By Christine Southwick

Water is probably the most important item you can provide - clean and cool in the summer, liquid in the winter. Water can be as simple as a large dish, or it can become a dramatic yard feature. Running water, like a fountain or mini stream will draw in more resident birds and even migrants flying over, needing a refreshing stop.

Black-headed Grosbeak, male
Photo by Craig Kerns
Plant trees and native bushes for food, roosting, and hiding places for most of our local birds. 

Keep large trees (dead trees made-into-snags are vital for larger cavity birds) for nesting sites, and plant native serviceberry trees and/or crabapple trees, or other fruiting native trees like Indian Plum and bushes like Snowberries. 

By planting native vegetation, local insects, which birds need to survive, will be found and controlled by our native birds. Birds are great pollinators which help fruits and even flowers.

Think about creating your yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat to help compensate for major habitat loss—the most dangerous cause of loss of birds—both in numbers and in species.

Golden-crowned Kinglet juvie note the gape coloring
Photo by Craig Kerns

If you have insects that are eating some of your plants too fast, spray them off with water, hand pick, or buy beneficial insects, and attract more insect-eating birds into your yard with water and habitat. That will make both you and local birds happy.

Pesticides kill an estimated 72 million birds each year! So don’t use pesticides. They aren’t good for birds, kids, dogs, cats, or the environment.

Western Tanager, breeding male just passing through, stopping for a much needed drink
Photo by Craig Kerns
And please, watch for cats. Spray them with water if they come into your yard. They will learn to go elsewhere, at least when they see you.

Cats are an invasive species which kill approximately 2.4 billion birds EACH year!

As a cat owner, I love my cat(s). Most cats will easily adjust to watching birds through windows, and chatter away and swish their tails. I had one cat that really wanted outside. I built a successful small enclosed outside area with a cat door access so it could go in and out of the house unassisted. 

My cats and I are happy and the birds are safe. So, for the few cats that insist on going outside, that is a do-able solution that also keeps cats safe from our neighborhood coyotes, cat fights, and being hit by cars. (There are fancy catios available if you prefer.)

Seed and suet also help birds and make bird watching a delight. Suet can be used all year around and helps provide protein when the bugs are sparse—especially welcome while hungry fledglings are learning to hunt bugs.

Previous For the Birds columns here


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For the Birds: Red-breasted Nuthatch - Our local tin-horn player

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Red-breasted Nuthatch belting out its
tin-horn sound. Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

There’s a small blue-slate colored bird with a striped head moving quickly along the trunk of my cedar tree - sometimes headfirst, then zig-zagging sideways then downward again. 

It repeatedly stops and energetically pokes into crevasses looking for bugs. The tree and the bird like each other - the bird finds its meals while helping to keep the tree healthy.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch is sort of a noisy bird - its contact calls sound like a tiny tin-horn. It doesn’t really have a song as most people think of bird songs. When it gets excited it makes a series of yank-yank calls.

Female feeding nestling. Note the resin around
 the nest hole. Photo by Craig Kerns
Their nest is exceptional. They peck their own eight-inch-deep nest holes - one of the few non-woodpecker birds to do so and the only local non-woodpecker bird. 

They try to find softer or dead parts of trees for their excavations (you can help by creating a wildlife tree from a dying tree). 

After lining the nest with grass, pine needles, fur and feathers, for some reason the pair will smear tree pitch around the opening.

These birds have been known to use a piece of bark to spread this resin - crows aren’t the only birds that can use tools. The adults fly directly into the nest during brooding to avoid contact with their applied nest protection.

The male feeds the female while she sits on the eggs
Photo by Craig Kerns
The pair are usually monogamous, with the male feeding the female while she sits on the 5-8 eggs for about 2 weeks. 

Both feed their young for the 18-21 days in the nest, and then for the first two weeks after they fledge.

When the female is on her nest she is mostly silent. When the nestlings fledge, those tiny tin- horn sounds abound. A person can locate the newly hatched brood by following their calls.

In the wintertime these short-distance flyers join chickadees and other small birds for successful winter foraging. These nuthatches eat seeds and insects (like spiders and earwigs) and will store winter supplies in bark crevices.

Male eating suet. This is a typical pose.
Photo by Craig Kerns
They readily come to seed feeders and suet. They love black oil seeds and mealworms.

They will use nest boxes but are fussy about size and aging. It is better to put out a nest box in the fall so that it will age over the winter (and local birds can use it for winter shelter). 

A preferred nest box mimics a cavity like the nuthatch would excavate.

See previous For the Birds columns by Christine Southwick HERE



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