Poulsbo’s Fourth of July fireworks light up the sky over Liberty Bay on July 3. Thousands of watchers come to town. But not everyone enjoys the noisy and colorful display. Dozens of purple martins occupying their nesting gourds at Oyster Plant Park find themselves surrounded by crowds of excited onlookers. What these birds think of […]
bird watching
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
Watch for Eurasian Collared-Doves Around West Sound
Eurasian collared-doves are setting some kind of a record when it comes to colonizing North America. They aren’t native to this continent but their numbers stretch from coast to coast. This bird is a native of Europe and parts of Asia. After being introduced to this continent in recent years, their numbers exploded. They are […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Spring Surprises — Shorebirds on West Sound’s Beaches
Every spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds moving up the West Coast make coastal birdwatching exciting. Some of these migrants will spill onto shorelines throughout the West Sound region. The headline-making numbers flood coastal beaches and estuaries, but there will also be interesting birds found throughout the “Inland Sea.” Even a handful of shorebirds can […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, Gardeners Corner
Dueling Hummingbirds
Even before March arrived hummingbird enthusiasts were keeping an eye out for the first returning Rufous hummingbird. March is the month when these tiny bits of feather and bone return to the Pacific Northwest. They have spent the winter in the Southwest United States and Mexico. Rufous hummingbirds are the most adventurous members of this […]
Posted inFeatured, The Garden
Backyard Bird Feeding Makes A Difference
Bird feeding provides many benefits for winter birds in the Puget Sound area yards. The key to the conservation of bird populations is in providing the habitats needed for their natural reproduction and sustained survival. Interaction and education are the ultimate keys, because we must know something before we can love it — and we […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Decorating a Bird’s Christmas Tree
If decorating a Christmas tree for the birds sounds like fun, there are a few important things to remember. The most important element as far as the birds are concerned is that it be decorated with food. Variety isn’t important but quality is. Use the best birdseed mix you can find. This cuts down on […]
Posted inFeatured, The Garden
Outdoor Activities to Connect Children With Nature
Early fall is a great opportunity to introduce children to new activities. Children are naturally curious and they love to explore and learn about the natural world. Parents will be amazed at the fun and adventure children can experience in their own backyard, at their local park or on a camping trip. Here are some […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
The Wild Turkey: Our Real National Bird
According to Benjamin Franklin, the wild turkey would have been a more fitting symbol for our young country than the bald eagle. Franklin thought the eagle a “good-for-nothing” scavenger. The wild turkey, on the other hand, was intelligent, a formidable opponent and able to survive on its own labors. The rest of Congress didn’t see […]