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

For the Birds: Seasonal Changes a Happening Thing

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Dark-eyed Junco female feeding juvie
Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

The Merlins nesting in Shoreline are now flying about and making lots of noise. 

The Kenmore Heronry is empty until next spring. 

The Osprey nests in Shoreline will soon be abandoned until next April, with the adults leaving for Central or South America. 

The juveniles will follow soon thereafter, finding their own way and meals.

And right now, environmentally-friendly yards have lots of hard-to-identify juvenile birds. Most juvenile birds look different from adults due to camouflage to help ensure their survival.

Here are three birds that I can offer tips to help you identify them.

Dark-eyed Junco showing white tail feathers
Photo by Craig Kerns
Many people had Dark-eyed Juncos nesting in their flower pots, or hiding underneath ferns and in tall weeds (their nests are very well made, pretty even). 

The youngsters of these Oregon Juncos, our local subspecies, are striped brown and don’t have their distinctive head-coloring yet. 

The best way to tell these flittering ground birds is to look for their outer white tail feathers. 

When you see one of these confusing brown-jobbies watch for a flash of white in their tail as they fly away.

It is usually obvious, and is what birders call a “diagnostic clue”. 

If you see that flash of white, then it is a junco.

Juncos usually have two-three broods a year, and our local birds should be on their last brood. Both parents feed their offspring. I have found that males usually are feeding the youngsters from the first brood or two while the female is on the next clutch of eggs.

Spotted Towhee - first stage

Spotted Towhee second stage
Photo by Craig Kerns

Spotted Towhees
are hard to identify their first six months. When Spotted Towhees first leave the nest, they look like over-sized Song Sparrows with tail feathers and wings that are too dark, with some spots instead of varying shades of brown on their backs. 

About three-four weeks after they have fledged, their breast and lower body feathers start molting into that distinctive orange-red color of adult Spotted Towhees, but their dark-brownish flight feathers will not change until they do their first full-feather-replacing molt next spring.

Juvie Song Sparrow
Photo by Craig Kerns
That brings me to the next confusing brown ground bird—the Song Sparrow

Juvenile Song Sparrows don’t have distinctive streaking on their heads, nor do they have their distinctive breast spot. 

They are mostly just variations of brown with shading. If you have ruled out the other two juveniles, and a bird scurries on the ground through bushes, it is probably a Song Sparrow.

Offer food and water. Both the parents and the youngsters can use that extra protein and hydration.

Previous For the Birds columns can be seen here.


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City of Shoreline: Don't feed ducks and geese

Friday, August 4, 2023

Feeding ducks and geese can lead to larger than normal population sizes, overfed animals, and animals waiting near the beach for humans to feed them - in short it leads to more ducks and geese pooping at the beach! 

This makes beach waters unsafe for people, pets, and wildlife. It also makes for gross beaches. Let the birds be wild - please don't feed the ducks and geese!

--City of Shoreline


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Climate Action Shoreline: Water Use Wednesdays (Freshwater)

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

By Diane Lobaugh

When our small group of Shoreline neighbors developed a brochure of daily actions to address the climate crisis, we included a day to think about how we use water.

Freshwater is vital for all life and ecosystems. We use freshwater in many aspects of daily life including health, food production, power generation, manufacturing, and sanitation. The source of freshwater is precipitation from the atmosphere.

Although the earth's surface is two thirds water, less than 3% is freshwater, and much of that is ice, glaciers, permafrost, and polar ice caps. Most of accessible fresh water is used for agriculture (70%), then industrial (19%) and domestic uses (11%), including for drinking.

We are very lucky in our area to have access to an abundance of clean water, and an infrastructure that brings it into our homes, ready to use. Billions of people (29%) around the world lack this access to clean water, either due to ecological conditions, worsening because of climate change, or inadequate water infrastructure. Even more lack access to safely managed sanitation services, which causes illness and death.

Water pollution can happen on our streets and of course globally. It occurs when harmful chemicals or microorganisms contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, making it toxic to humans, wildlife, and the environment.

Agriculture is one of the biggest polluters from fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste, washed into bodies of water as it rains. Water is polluted by sewage and wastewater, oil from roads and from oil spills in or near bodies of water, and industrial waste. Another polluter that can stay in our water for thousands of years is radioactive waste generated by uranium mining, nuclear power plants, the production and testing of military weapons, and from research and medicine.

Most of us in this corner of the world can turn on the faucet in our homes and there is clean, fresh water that comes out. It runs and runs if we let it.

Washington’s drinking water comes from three sources: groundwater (wells and springs), surface water (lakes and rivers) and snowpack/snowmelt (supply for rivers, lakes and aquifers). Managed and protected by Seattle Public Utilities, drinking water in Shoreline usually comes from the protected watershed of the South Fork Tolt River in the Cascade Mountains.

Rain not absorbed into the earth flows into storm drains. Since it is not filtered or treated, everything on the street that washes into the storm drains goes directly to streams, lakes, and the Puget Sound. From my Echo Lake neighborhood the stormwater goes to Ballinger Lake, then to Lake Washington via McAleer Creek, then to Puget Sound.

Wastewater from flushing the toilet and drains in the house are piped to a wastewater treatment plant before going into Puget Sound. Only human waste and toilet paper go into toilets, and no grease, oil or food, medicines or chemicals should go into the drains.

Great blue heron on Lake Washington
What we can do locally about water seems pretty simple: don't pollute it and don't waste it. But many of our actions, although unintentional, do pollute, and most of us use more than we need.

I love to tell a story about carving a pumpkin with my then two-year-old daughter. I was using a little pumpkin carving knife which my daughter clearly wanted to try her hand at it. I hesitated, and she firmly said: "Mama, SHARE!"

Every morning I want to keep hearing her voice, reminding me to share. Water is a precious resource. The water we have access to must be shared, with all of life, with neighbors, between cities, and countries.

What can we do daily?

Talk to friends, neighbors, family about water. Where does it come from? How can you keep it clean? There is always something new to learn about conservation and pollution.

  • Take time to read the wonderful brochures from our utilities, cities, and water districts. Learn about what happens to the water on your street. And how neighbors can and must protect this resource.
  • Do notice how much water you use and need. In the Shoreline Climate Action plan residents are being asked in Shoreline to decrease our consumption by 27%. Do turn off the faucet, wash full loads of dishes/clothes, take short showers. Find and repair leaks.
  • Don’t use pesticides, or let oil, chemicals, or soap wash into the storm drains. Anything but rain that goes into the storm drains pollutes and hurts fish and wildlife. In Shoreline there is an adopt a storm drain program, where neighbors help drains stay clear of vegetation and everything except rainwater.

Do you buy cases of bottled water? Why? It is expensive, and comes in single use plastic bottles, covered with plastic. Marketing suggests it is better than our local tap water, failing to mention chemicals from the plastic possibly getting into the water, or how much fossil fuel was used to make the plastic, produce, fill, and transport the bottles to stores. Most plastic is not recycled, and ends up in landfills, in the ocean or transported then dumped in other countries.

Rain gardens and native landscaping help water soak into the earth. There is lots to learn about using plants, trees, and permeable surfaces in our yards. There are many ways to collect and use rainwater for watering. My mom’s family used old whiskey barrels back in the 30’s!

Many clothes are made with plastic, and when washed these fibers get into the water system and eventually the bodies of the fish, other birds, animals, and us. Microplastic pollution and ingestion in our water is a huge health and environmental problem.

Tell a neighbor you love their brown grass… and not encourage more watering and fertilizing! And never pesticides.

What would it mean to decrease freshwater use in agriculture and industry? And pollution? Where can you have impact or influence?

Ducks on Lake Washington
admiring their reflections
There is so much to learn about water, and many issues to further explore. We can listen and learn from each other. 

Thank you to the many workers in our communities that think about surface water, wastewater and of course our drinking water. And keep us educated about preserving this incredible resource.

Thanks to folks from City of Shoreline Surface and Wastewater, North City Water District, Seattle Public Utilities, Julie (environmental educator) and my husband, Sid (civil engineer) for sharing what they know and answering many questions.

Next month’s climate article will focus on saltwater and life in and near the ocean.

I hope to see you in the neighborhood… and don’t forget, “Share!”

--Diane Lobaugh

Past Shoreline Area News articles based on the pamphlet from Climate Action Shoreline: 

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Dunn Gardens class: Native Plants for Pollinators and Birds

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Native plants at Dunn Gardens. Photo courtesy DG

"Native Plants for Pollinators and Birds"
Members: $15 | Not-Yet-Members: $20
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 1pm

"What’s with the buzz about native plants?
  • Native plants sequester, or remove, carbon from the air.
  • Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.
  • Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
  • Native plants are beautiful and increase scenic values!

Join our horticulture team to learn about native plants and how to use them in your garden. 

Sample some treats made from plants native to our area while we talk about why native plants are so important for the birds and the bees. Then we’ll head out to the garden to see examples. 

Class fee includes a native plant to take home.

Dunn Gardens 13533 Northshire Rd NW, Seattle WA 98177

Register here


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For the Birds: Our State Bird — the American Goldfinch

Saturday, July 8, 2023

 

Male feeding adult female note plumage difference - probable mating bonding.
Photo by Doug Parrott

By Christine Southwick

The American Goldfinch with its vibrant yellow plumage, black cap worn jauntily low over its forehead, black tail, and wings edged with white, is always a welcome sight at local feeders.

Goldfinches arrive in small flocks, first heard calling while flying in an up-down rollercoaster fashion.

Winter use of birdbath. Note bird in middle is a Pine Siskin flanked by two goldfinches.
Photo by Christine Southwick

The American Goldfinch is the only finch that molts its body feathers twice a year: in early spring the male changes into the lemon-yellow breeding plumage that so many of us expect when we think of goldfinches; in late fall their body feathers are exchanged for yellow olive-brown ones, minus the cap. 

The females stay a dullish olive-yellow with yellow highlights that are bright yellow in the summer, and pale in the winter. Females have two light wing bars on their black wings, versus the single white wing bar that the male displays. Both have pink conical bills in the summer which turn dark in the winter.

Two males eating sunflower seeds at my feeder. There
were eight plus goldfinches including females-delightful!
Photo by Christine Southwick
Most goldfinches arrive in our area mid-April and leave mid-October, but there are always a few hardy flocks that stay and grace our presence, roaming from weed-patch to open fields, staying for a while in yards with seed-heads and seed feeders, and then nomadically moving on to the next source of seeds.

American Goldfinches are happiest in abandoned fields and roadsides where they consume vast amounts of thistle¸ dandelion, tree (especially maple), and other wild seeds.

By using their feet extensively while feeding, American Goldfinches are able to pluck seeds that other birds can’t access. 

They are classified as “granivores”, meaning that they are almost totally vegetation, eating only seeds, or maybe a few aphids. 

They even feed their four-to six nestlings regurgitated seeds, not insects.

Their breeding season starts in July, later than any other finch, timed to use seed fibers, especially thistle down, for their nests, and to have ripe weed and flower seeds for eating.

Close up of male.
Photo by Christine Southwick
Bring American Goldfinches into your yard with nyjer thistle seed, black-oil sunflower seeds, and bird baths. 

Place your feeders in an open area away from overhanging tree branches. (Note if you use black-oil sunflower seeds with shells, starlings can’t eat those seeds.)

Do not use any pesticides or weed killers.

Plant zinnias, cosmos, bee balm and perennial flowering plants, and leave the flower heads until spring for winter feeding. 

You may be rewarded with a fly-in by these cheerful Wild Canaries.

Previous For the Birds columns can be viewed here.



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For the Birds: Nestling crows leave home before they can fly

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Maaaaaaa!
Carl the Crow calls for his mother

By Christine Southwick
Photos by Peggy Bartleson

Do you have a crow on the ground, making a loud noise? Unless you see blood, or a hanging wing, it is probably not injured. It is most likely a nestling crow which has left its nest before it can fly. Most crows leave the nest early for safety reasons. Nests, with their “feed ME” sounds, are lures for predators — raccoons, hawks, owls, eagles. The sooner nestlings are strong enough to leave their nests and hide, the more likely that they will survive.

Feed me!
Carl the crow begging parent for food

And do not fear; the parents are watching, dive-bombing cats and other dangers, and feeding their youngsters on a regular basis. Sometimes a couple of youngsters will hang together, but more often they will go their separate ways, thus increasing their probability of survival. The parents know where each is, and are feeding them appropriately.

Don’t let the nestlings’ size fool you. When they leave the nest, they are 80% or more of their adult weight. Their legs are already adult size, and their wing feathers are nearly full grown. But they are still babies. They will often tip side to side as they walk, making them look a trifle drunken. Part of the problem is that they don’t have their tail feathers yet to act as their rudders.

Carl being fed by his parent

The pictures are of a neighborhood nestling. I first saw it five afternoons ago. The first neighbor didn’t know what to do, but had put out some tuna fish. Baby crows have to have the food stuffed down their throats—so putting out food won’t help nestlings.

The next morning that baby had moved across the street, near a house with a known hunter cat. The parents dive-bombed that cat until it started lying elsewhere. Now the little crow is staying at a house where the owner watches daily, but doesn’t crowd it. The parents feel comfortable in the yard, and Carl the crow (that’s what the neighbor calls it), struts around more steadily every day, and hides in the flowers at night.

Still no tail feathers - Carl is grounded

It still doesn’t have tail feathers yet, but will soon.

Remember, most birds found walking about on the ground are not abandoned, and don’t need human “help”. Keep your pet away from the area that the bird is staying, and wait about a week. It will fly away then.

More info about baby crows and what/what not to do, here.

Find more For the Birds columns HERE

Reprinted from 2014 and 2019


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Garden Guy: The Garden Guy Appreciates His Plants for Dry Summer Days

Monday, June 19, 2023

Top the list: the Rock Rose
takaonursery.com
By Bruce Bennett

Even for a garden designer, there's no such thing as a ‘maintenance-free’ yard and the beginning of the summer season will find this Garden Guy watering his west-facing front yard. 

I enjoy this early morning task because the air is cool, the birds provide a joyful chorus and, even during the later ‘Dog Days of Summer’ I usually only need to irrigate once a month. 

“How’s that possible? you ask. It’s simple; choose the right plants. Look for beauty as well as toughness, drought-tolerance and little-to- no-pruning. 

Let’s take a look at a few of the choice summer candidates that can hold their own and will brighten-up my yard this summer……

On the top of my list this year is the simple rockrose. This particular one, Cistus ‘Mickie, has the added interest of large, white crepe-paper-like flowers in spring. But, it’s the golden variegated foliage that provides the colorful punch throughout the year. Back it with a purple barberry for a great color combination. 

Don’t believe the 2’ x 3’ size noted on the plant tags. Mine have been in for six years and are about 4’ x 5’ and gorgeous for the four seasons of the year. Other great cistus include ‘Purpurea,’ ‘Sunset’, the dwarf Skanbergii and ‘Snow Fire.’

Barberries
https-//landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu
There's a reason you see Barberries in many corporate landscaping vignettes. 

They are extremely low maintenance, yet can still stun with seasonal colors ranging from purple to orange to gold. 

It’s ideal for foundation plantings or hedges. 

Depending on the cultivar, these deciduous plants can grow from one- to seven-feet tall. 

They may need the occasional pruning, but not much. 

My favorites include ‘Rose Glow’ (shown), ‘Crimson Pygmy’ (a dwarf) ‘Orange Rocket’ (columnar), and ‘Sunjoy’ (golden).

Nandina ‘Fire Power.’
extension.msstate.edu
For a smaller-than-usual evergreen shrub, I’d vote for Nandina ‘Fire Power.’ 

At about 2’ x 2’, this is among the smallest varieties in this family of shrubs. 

Yes, its common name is ‘Heavenly Bamboo,’ but, it is not a bamboo (the reason it is so heavenly). 

The new bamboo-shaped leaves emerge a nice chartreuse shade and, as the weather cools in autumn, they can turn a full-on fire engine red and remain that way throughout the winter months. 

It’s a great spot of color in the midst of our gray winter blahs.

Fescue 'Elijah Blue'
missouribotanicalgarden.org
I particularly like Fescue ‘Elijah Blue.’ 

The color of this perennial tells you right up front that it is accustomed to heat and sunshine. 

Its gray leaves evolved to handle harsh sun. 

Depending on the fescue cultivar, the blades of this grass can range from gray to a powder-blue and you can rely on the color holding throughout the year.

Plant heights can range from 9” to 18” tall, with the seed heads floating at up to three-feet tall. 

Similar favorites include ‘Boulder Blue’ and the larger ‘Blue Oat Grass.’

Coreopsis aka 'Tickseed'
greatplantpicks.org
Coreopsis. Also known as ‘Tickseed,’ this native of the Great Plains is a perennial bloomer (although there are some annual varieties) which will provide you with a nice color spot from early summer through autumn. 

In tones like yellow, orange, pink, purple and red, Coreopsis make nice cut flowers that can be enjoyed in home flower arrangements.

It’s an easy grower, tolerates most any soil condition and pollinators love it. 

Favorites include ‘Moonbeam’ (shown), ‘Zagreb’ and ‘Blushing Pink.’

To me, at least, it makes sense that I should treat myself as well as I treat my landscape and that includes simply enjoying the warm, sunny days of summer. 

Garden Guy Bruce Bennett
By doing some initial research prior to purchasing and planting, I can ensure that the right plants have been added to the garden and I’m spending more time enjoying the beauty of the landscape and less time maintaining it. Happy gardening all!

Gardening columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a WSU Master Gardener, lecturer and Seattle-area garden designer. 

If you have questions concerning this article, have a gardening question or two to ask concerning your home landscape or want to suggest a topic for a future column, contact Bruce at gardenguy4u@gmail.com.



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Gloria's Birds: Pigeon Guillemot after a successful dive

Friday, June 16, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

They swim underwater using their wings! Yes, I do have compassion for the prey, but a seabird's gotta eat, and there were no vegan cafes in sight.

--Gloria Z. Nagler



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For the Birds: Baby Bird Season

Monday, June 5, 2023

American Robin fledgling by Elaine Chuang
note stubby tail and gape at base of bill
By Christine Southwick

Do you have a young, helpless-looking bird hopping or flitting in your yard? 

Great! That means your yard is habitat-friendly enough that birds are nesting in your domain.

If the youngster is basically featherless, it probably fell out of a nest, and needs to be put back, if you can. 

It is probably not a ground nester, so look up. You could make a fake nest where a parent can find it if you can’t reach the nest.

Oregon Junco fledgling being feed by father
(mother is probably on second brood)
photo by Chris Southwick
Does a baby bird really need your help?

If it is already feathered, but can’t really fly, it is called a fledgling, and its parents are nearby. It doesn’t need human interference, unless it is bleeding, or has an obviously injured wing or foot.

Because nests can be a death trap from predators, ground nesting babies have evolved to leave the nest soon after they grow their feathers, and scatter in different directions. The parents bring food to each and every one of their offspring. No wonder the parents look so frazzled.

I was following a White-crowned Sparrow nest for an article and four days after they hatched – one day after they grew their feathers, they were out scurrying through the garden aisles to disappear into the adjacent empty lot, with the parents monitoring from above.

Bewick's Wren nestlings by Peggy Bartleson
They became fledglings later that day
Fledglings may have stubby tails that haven’t grown in yet which makes them flit rather than fly, and their mouths are still brightly colored, a temporary condition called gapes. Fledgling crows also fit this description.

Some of our most common ground nesters are Oregon Juncos, Song, White-crowned, and Orange-crowned Sparrows, and Spotted Towhees. Bewick’s Wrens, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed chickadees, and American Robins, and American Crows are our other most common nesters.

Keep dogs and cats away from the areas. As much as I love my cat, once I found out that cats are the second leading cause of bird deaths in the US (habitat loss being number one), I started keeping mine from roaming. I even built a small indoor-outdoor area for them.

Oregon Junco nest hidden in raised
flower bed photo by Craig Kerns
Most local birds have two or more broods each year, so expect to see fledglings into late July/August. So, leave some tall ground-nesting areas when you are weeding.

You can help nourish birds by planting native fruiting plants, offering good quality food, keeping your yard pesticides free, and keeping pets away from these delightful bundles of fluff.

See previous For the Birds columns here



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Get Ready for the LFP Garden Tour on June 17, 2023

Friday, June 2, 2023

Sequoias in the Secret Garden Tour June 17

By Beth Weir

Now the calendar is featuring June, be sure to check you have the 17th marked for the Secret Garden Tour of Lake Forest Park. The six gardens on the tour are testament to the Pacific Northwest’s ability to host to a variety of landscapes, not to mention towering trees. For those we can thank Ole Hanson who platted the first lots around 1910 and so established the town of Lake Forest Park and its culture of trees.

Some of these now giant sequoias and sequoiadendrons border one of the ‘tour’ gardens. They envelope you in a warm Pacific Northwest welcome as you walk the long drive and appear to be protecting the plants, the landscape within and you as a visitor.

Its owners have taken upon themselves the care and further development of a classic Northwest Garden with a significant history. It was becoming overgrown when they took it over from folks who had lovingly invested themselves in the property over an extended period. If the enthusiasm of the gardeners for their self-assigned task could be bottled the world would cease to need power plants.

The garden is natural, large and moves effortlessly around a stream and lawn from small rooms and vignettes to larger views. It has touches of the personal, as in little art pieces left by children, new plantings to enhance the existing and areas of wilderness that have their own charm.

The trout will probably be hiding in the stream and the birds will have ceased their dawn chorus when the average visitor will be there. Rest assured, neither will be hard to imagine in such a peaceful and contemplative space.

Discount tickets are available on line at LfpGardenTour.com and in person at Wild Birds LFP, Third Place Books LFP and Sky Nursery Shoreline.


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June 2023 Events Calendar at Third Place Books - Ken Jennings on June 18

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Third Place Books photo by
Steven H. Robinson
Third Place Books - Lake Forest Park

June 2023 EVENTS

Please note: all times below are Pacific Time.
 
Both virtual and in-person events require registration in advance. Unless ticketed, events are free and open to the public. See thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
() – denotes ticketed event
() – denotes event for children or middle grade readers
  
Monday, June 5 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Ann Putnam with Beverly Conner
I Will Leave You Never
Putnam’s new novel is set in our community of Lake Forest Park. In the middle of a perilous drought in the Northwest, an arsonist begins setting fires all around. “An often moving story of uncertainty and loss.” (Kirkus Reviews)
 
Tuesday, June 6 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
[SOLD OUT] Ocean Vuong with Angela Garbes // introduction by Sah Pham
Time is A Mother
The beloved MacArthur "Genius," poet, and novelist celebrates the paperback release of his deeply intimate second collection. Vuong searches for life among the aftershocks of his mother’s death, embodying the paradox of sitting within grief while being determined to survive beyond it. Angela Garbes, author of Essential Labor, joins in conversation.
   
Thursday, June 8 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Elizabeth Clark-Stern with Nisi Shawl
The Language of Water
Science-fiction writer and TV screenwriter Clark-Stern presents her new book from local Aqueduct Press. The dawn of the twenty-second century finds women in a new world where water—the lack of it, or the over-abundance of it—shapes their inner and outer lives.
    
Thursday, June 15 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Steve Turner with Jonathan Evison
Mud Ride: A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion
A down-and-dirty chronicle of the birth and evolution of the Seattle grunge scene—from backyard skateboard ramps and underground hardcore clubs to worldwide phenomenon—as told by one of its founding fathers and lead guitarist of the legendary alternative rock band, Mudhoney.
  
Sunday, June 18 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Ken Jennings with Tom Nissley
100 Places to See After You Die : A Travel Guide to the Afterlife
Celebrate Father's Day with the legendary Jeopardy! champion and host. Jennings will be discussing his new book, a hilarious travel guide to the afterlife, exploring destinations to die for from literature, mythology, and pop culture ranging from Dante’s Inferno to Hadestown to NBC’s The Good Place. Tom Nissley, owner of Phinney and Madison Books, joins in conversation. Tickets required. See thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Local Author Open Mic
Due to a scheduling conflict, this month’s Open Mic will take place on a Tuesday in place of its normal Monday slot. Come share your work and develop your craft with other local authors. For consignment requests, see thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
Wednesday, June 21 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Jennifer Ackerman
What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific investigation into owls—the most elusive of birds—and why they exert such a hold on human imagination. Tickets required. See thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
Thursday, June 22 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Susan Mallery
The Happiness Plan
Susan Mallery’s first in-person appearance at Lake Forest Park! Three women search for joy in the #1 New York Times bestselling author’s new novel of hope, heartache, and the power of friendship.
  
Monday, June 26 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Martha Holmberg
Simply Tomato: 100 Recipes for Enjoying Your Favorite Ingredient All Year Long
Take your love for tomatoes to the next level with this delectable collection of 100 incredible recipes from the coauthor of the bestselling, staff-favorite cookbooks Six Seasons and Grains for Every Season.
 
Tuesday, June 27 at 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT (Virtual)
Maureen Freely, Aysegül Savas, and Merve Emre
discuss Cold Nights of Childhood by Tezer Özlü, tr. Maureen Freely
in partnership with Community Bookstore and the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith
This phenomenal panel discusses a newly translated classic that deserves to stand alongside The Bell Jar and Jean Rhys's Good Morning, Midnight. Özlü’s novel is a powerfully vivid, disorienting, and bittersweet novel about the determined embrace of life in all its complexity and confusion.
  
Tuesday, June 27 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Lily Meade with Kendare Blake
The Shadow Sister
A gripping, speculative thriller from a dazzling new voice about a teen who disappears... and returns, changed in ways that trauma alone can’t explain.
 
Thursday, June 29 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Samantha Ferraro
One-Pot Mediterranean: 70+ Simple Recipes for Healthy and Flavorful Weeknight Cooking 
From the author of The Weeknight Mediterranean Kitchen, a new book on how to eat healthy every night with simple and delicious Mediterranean meals that come together effortlessly using just one pot, pan or skillet.
 
Third Place Books is located on the upper level of Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE.



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Gloria's Birds: Wow, signed Capri the Black-capped Chickadee,

Sunday, May 14, 2023

photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

 if I'm not out hunting for food stuffs, I'm out hunting for nesting stuff!
 
(I'm always impressed by the hard-working lives of our fellow creatures.)

--Gloria Z. Nagler



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Washington now has a state dinosaur - the Suciasaurus rex

Saturday, May 6, 2023

Gov. Jay Inslee signs a bill proclaiming Suciasaurus rex as Washington’s official state dinosaur.

A large, two-legged, meat-eating therapod once roamed Washington state, as paleontologists discovered in 2012.

Paleontologists at the Burke with dinosaur bone found in Washington state
Photo courtesy Burke Museum

They found a partial thigh bone for a dinosaur similar to but smaller than a Tyrannosaurus on the shores of Sucia Island State Park.

The Burke Museum reported that "The fossil is a partial left thigh bone of a theropod dinosaur, the group of two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs that includes Velociraptor, Tyrannosaurus rex and modern birds. It was found along the shores of Sucia Island State Park in the San Juan Islands.

"The fossil is approximately 80 million years old and is from the Late Cretaceous period. During that time, the rocks that today form Sucia Island were likely further south. How much further south is a topic of scientific debate, with locations ranging between present day Baja California, Mexico, and northern California. Earthquakes and other geologic forces that constantly reshape our planet moved the rocks north to their present-day location."

A decade later, a class project to teach kids how a bill becomes a law led to Gov. Jay Inslee signing a bill to proclaim the Suciasaurus rex as Washington’s official state dinosaur

Students from Elmhurst Elementary in Tacoma engaged their legislator Rep. Melanie Morgan to introduce the bill - both the students and Rep. Morgan were present for the signing.


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Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park

By Beth Weir

The title of the annual tour around the gardens in Lake Forest Park includes a word that intrigues: secret. 

Tucked inside the dictionary definition is the austere notion that something is to be kept hidden.

Of course, keeping anything secret is almost impossible. Buddha recognized this when he stated that three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth. 

The organizers of the Garden Tour would add gardens to Buddha’s list.

The gardens on the Lake Forest Park Tour are secret, only in the sense they are in private hands and not completely visible from the street. 

The people who have loved and tended them have done so largely hidden, in ‘secrecy’ perhaps. 

But, as proven by the generosity of the gardeners in opening up their yards for the public to enjoy, they are not of a mind to keep them secret. 

Those of us who cannot think of life without plants, soil, flowers, and trees are grateful. We have a rare chance to peek at wonders the sun, rain and someone with dirty nails can create.

June 17, 2023 visitors will have a chance to see six ‘Secret’ gardens on the Lake Forest Park Tour. 

As is always the case they vary so everyone can find a garden, a plant vignette, a placement of flowers and art, a particular tree that make the heart beat faster. Here and there, someone looking about may find a little garden secret revealed that will simply delight.

Some examples of what is in store will help. This year a big, beautiful yard is sheltered by arborvitae and junipers that give the area privacy. Within are a variety of maples and vegetables, not to mention a cutting garden. 

Yet other gardens are eclectic with planting islands that host perennials and repurposed art. An English country garden will surely bring forth some sighs, particularly when viewed from the bottom of the driveway.

These are the kind of secrets, once revealed, that make a person, even one who does not like to garden, feel that body and soul are one.

We invite you to visit the 2023 Secret Garden Tour in Lake Forest Park, June 17, 9am - 3pm, to view our ‘secret’ delights. 

Discount tickets online at LfpGardenTour.com and in person at Wild Birds LFP, Third Place Books LFP and Sky Nursery Shoreline.


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Tips for living with coyotes

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

This coyote ate the nuts that Gloria Z. Nagler put out for birds. 
She reports that the coyote liked them so much it is considering going vegan!
In Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, you can expect that every wooded hillside or green space will have a coyote den. 

The only incident I am aware of was a coyote family which attacked and killed a domestic sheep in LFP. 

It came after a different LFP resident was feeding dog food to the coyotes - teaching them not to fear humans.

The universal reaction from residents spotting a coyote is to grab a camera and get a picture.

Following is information from the Department of Fish and Wildlife

--Diane Hettrick

Tips for living with coyotes

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are present across nearly all of Washington state, from the shrubsteppe to the alpine, as well as many urban and suburban areas. 

They are common in many larger, wooded green spaces and parks within cities including Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.

You may hear coyotes more frequently than you see them, especially when they have pups. Juvenile coyotes are often heard in summer, trying out their voices. Coyote sightings often increase in winter when they are more active, or in late-winter and spring when they may have dens and pups to care for.

Coyotes are most active at night and during the early-morning and evening hours. 

Their diet is diverse and adaptable to what’s around, including everything from rabbits and small rodents to garbage, birdseed, and fruit from trees.

Coyotes can also benefit humans and ecosystems by helping control populations of mice, rats, voles, moles, and rabbits.

Urban coyotes are a good reminder to keep a close eye on children, chickens and other domestic animals, and small pets or to keep them inside or in an outbuilding if unsupervised. Visit our coyote webpage or keep reading for tips to avoid conflicts with coyotes.

To minimize the risk, keep cats inside, keep dogs leashed, avoid early morning and late evening walks with your pet in areas where coyotes are known to be, and generally keep an eye on children and pets.

Never run away from a coyote! Make loud noises, wave sticks, squirt it with a hose, or otherwise “haze” the coyote if it approaches. Stand tall, stare into the eyes of the coyote and shout at it. You also can throw something at it.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) asks not to receive reports of coyotes going about their normal business, as this is a common species and we prioritize reports of species of greatest conservation need.

If residents witness a coyote attack on supervised pets (such as leashed dogs) or backyard chickens and other fowl, or other aggressive behavior, they are encouraged to report it to WDFW biologists and enforcement officers at: wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations

In the event of an immediate public safety issue, wildlife violation, or an injured or dangerous animal, call the WDFW Enforcement office at 360–902–2936 or email enforcement-web@dfw.wa.gov

Due to WDFW’s need to focus on fish and wildlife species of conservation concern, in most cases when coyote management is required in urban or suburban areas that management is contracted by the city, town or private landowners to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services.

More information on living with coyotes is available at: wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/canis-latrans#conflict

--Information from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife


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Contest: submit artwork representative of Puget Sound birds - the harassers, the dive-bombers, the beggars and stealers

Monday, April 17, 2023

Puget Sound area artists are invited to submit original artwork representative of Puget Sound bird life to be used on the 2023 Puget Sound Bird Fest poster for promotion of the event taking place Sept. 9-10 in Edmonds.

A $350 prize sponsored by Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation will be awarded to the winner.

The theme is Bold, Brash, and Loud Birds – birds that command our attention not necessarily by their appearance, but by their behavior. These are the harassers, the dive-bombers, the beggars and stealers, bullies and squawkers — boisterous birds that cause a ruckus.

The poster format is 11 inches by 17 inches, portrait orientation and entries must be received by June 23, 2023. No photography or digital art will be accepted. Entrants must be 18 years or older and are limited to one entry per person. More information and entry form available at www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org or email jennifer.leach@edmondswa.gov


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Graphite Arts Center Workshops and Classes April, May and June 2023

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Graphite Arts Center in Edmonds announces upcoming workshops and classes.

For more information and to register visit graphite-edmonds.org

Kids Classes

Put a Bird on It!
Instructor: Sarah Crumb | sarahcrumbart.com
1 session | Friday, April 14 | 10am-12pm
1 session | Friday, May 5 | 10am-12pm
$55 | All supplies provided 
For students grades 3rd-12th

Learn simple techniques and tips to improve your bird drawing skills. 

We will follow John Muir Laws sketching methods and work from bird photos provided by Sarah. 

Adding color to your birds is optional, but encouraged!

All Age Classes

Play with Clay
Instructor: Julie Perrine | facebook.com/JuliePerrinePottery
2 sessions | Fridays, April 28 & May 12 | 1:30pm-3:30pm
$105 + $10 supply fee payable to instructor | For ages 10 and up

Unleash your imagination and abilities as an artist and be amazed at what you can create! Different handbuilding techniques will be taught including rolling, pinching and coiling. Session one we will make our clay art. Session two we will glaze & decorate our pieces.

Adult Classes

Collage Open Studio
Hosted by Julie, Sarah and Lisa
1 session | Friday, May 5 | 5:00pm-8:00pm
$40 | All supplies provided | Adults: All levels

Celebrate World Collage Day with us by spending a fun, creative evening experimenting with collage and learning from each other. This is an open studio with minimal instruction. No experience required!

Painting with the Masters
Van Gogh | Instructor: Johanne Friedrichs | johannefriedrichsart.com
4 sessions | Thursdays June 22, 29, July 6 and 13 | 6:30pm-9:00pm
$298 | Student provides their own supplies | Adults: Beginning & Intermediate levels

Students will work from a master painting by Van Gogh to learn techniques including drawing, composition, color theory and brush stroke methods. Supply list provided by instructor. Includes an optional Wednesday, July 19th make-up session.

All classes are held at Graphite Arts Center located at 202 Main Street in Edmonds. Graphite is the home of Art Start Northwest, a non-for-profit organization founded in 2015 with the mission to make art more accessible to people of all ages.


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Sword ferns off to a beautiful start at Darnell Park

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Photo by Rusty McTaggert
Kaleidoscope Lead/Darnell Park Lead
Beautiful, and also a tenacious slope stabilizer that provides cover for birds and mammals. 

Consult the Washington Native Plant Society or The Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast for the ethnobotany of sword ferns.

Darnell Park borders the Interurban Trail at 1125 N 165th St, Shoreline, WA 98133



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