Depending on their numbers, the popularity of geese can wax and wane. It’s the Canada geese that produce these mixed feelings. Brant geese, their much smaller cousin, is looked at in an entirely different way. Some even think of this goose as “cute.” At close range, the dark, shining eyes of the brant have a […]
Joan Carson
A founding member of Kitsap Audubon, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society, Joan Carson is a columnist whose primary subjects are birds, birdwatchers and birding. For more than four decades, her columns have appeared regularly in the Kitsap Sun, Tacoma News Tribune, The Olympian and the Peninsula Daily News. Joan is past president of the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association and has traveled throughout North America and the world while enjoying and writing about outdoor subjects. The granddaughter of Kitsap County pioneers, she lives with her husband in Poulsbo in their own Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary that was established with the National Wildlife Federation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1976.
Posted inThe Outdoors
Interesting Winter Bird Flocks
Pine siskins, American goldfinches and common redpolls are cousins, members of the large finch family. During the winter months, they frequently flock together in the search for food. Flocks of pine siskins can grow into the hundreds at this time. You have to look at them carefully if you want to find a species other […]
Posted inThe Garden
Time to Count Birds
Counting birds in the middle of winter may not make sense but this is a tradition that goes back over a hundred years. It is a tradition that replaced another one known as the Christmas “Side Hunt.” Before the turn of the century, hunters on the East Coast took part in a competitive hunt as […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Song Sleuth with Sibley
Wildlife Acoustics, maker of the Song Sleuth bird-identifying app, has announced the launch of a birding sweepstakes. It is presented by L.L. Bean Co., maker of outdoor wear and gear. David Sibley, renowned artist and author of “Sibley’s Guide to Birds,” is the prize. The winner of the sweepstakes will have the opportunity to enjoy […]
Posted inThe Garden
Small Birds with Big Voices
As summer slips into fall, bird activity in West Sound gardens and yards begins to change. Both insect-eating birds and those with a taste for ripening fruit move throughout this region. The wild and domestic fruit crops tempt birds like the robins, cedar waxwings, band-tailed doves and other fruit-eating species to gorge themselves on nature’s […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
September Is the Month for Migrants
Two bird-related events make September one of the most exciting and interesting months for bird watching. Bird population numbers are the highest they will be for an entire year due to all of the young birds raised this year. The other reason for the month’s excitement is that migrating bird numbers reach their peak in […]
Posted inThe Garden
A Walk in the Woods
Once summer settles in, bird activity throughout the West Sound region changes. The young of most species have left the nest and are exploring their world. The adults that worked to feed and raise their families are no longer guarding territories. The bird population becomes more fluid as it moves throughout the area following the […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Enjoying Birdwatching from Aboard the Local Ferries
A ferry ride is an inexpensive way to do some birdwatching on the water. You don’t pay for an expensive guided tour. You don’t need to own or care for your own boat. Birding surprises often occur on many of the available ferry crossings throughout Western Washington’s “Inland Sea.” All ferry runs can produce good […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Spotting Yellow Birds is a Treat in the Pacific Northwest
Yellow birds, or those that are almost all yellow, are rare in the Pacific Northwest but there is more than one species. The American goldfinch, state bird for Washington, is the best known and the easiest to recognize. Small numbers visit feeding stations during the winter months but are easy to miss. Their less-colorful winter […]