Songbirds come in many varieties. Some, like bushtits, are tiny, while others, like meadowlarks, are large. Some have distinctive sounds, like the onomatopoeia call of the black-capped chickadee. And others have unmistakable plumage, like the male western tanager. But not all songbirds make such a lasting impression. Numerous subtle species are often overlooked by everyone […]
birds
Posted inGarden
A Dazzling Duck and a Triumph for Conservation
As is typical with many things in life, when it comes to birds, people gravitate toward the ones with visual beauty. While birders are thrilled to see a drab-looking rarity, nonbirders get excited about birds that look the best. Not surprising, colorful birds are the ones that turn the most heads. The most visually stunning […]
Posted inGarden
The Double Life of the Imperiled Forest Seabird
It’s a beautiful summer afternoon at Point No Point County Park in Hansville. Scores of people are relaxing on the beach. Suddenly, everyone springs up and runs to the water’s edge, excitedly pointing at something offshore. A trio of orcas are swimming by. Everyone is thrilled to see the stunning, endangered sea creatures. But the […]
Posted inGarden
Swooping Swallows Signal Springtime
Nothing signals the advent of spring like the arrival of swallows. Among the first migrants to return from a warm winter in the south, swallows are endearing songbirds, many of which live in proximity to humans and nest on man-made structures. Swallows live virtually anywhere in the world that isn’t covered in ice. Built for […]
Posted inGarden
A Hummingbird for All Seasons
Everyone loves hummingbirds. Even people with little interest in other species are captivated by tiny birds that run on sugar and fly forward, backward, up and down and from side to side, and can hover like a helicopter — the only birds with such aerial abilities. Despite their diminutive size, hummingbirds are fiercely aggressive, attacking […]
Posted inGarden
A Speedy Sandpiper and a High-Mileage Flyer
Shorebirds are a family of birds that live up to their name. They inhabit the shore. Some live on rocky shores, while others prefer sandy beaches. A late-fall trip to virtually any Western Washington beach provides an excellent opportunity for finding a variety of wintering shorebirds, most of which breed in the Arctic. In West […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
The Restoration of Bloedel Reserve’s Bird Marsh into Wildlife Haven
Bloedel Reserve, a botanical garden on Bainbridge Island, has been open to the public since 1988. Over its approximately 140 acres are several varied garden types, including a moss garden and a nationally recognized Japanese garden. One featured area visitors encounter soon after starting out on Bloedel Reserve’s nearly 2 miles of trails is the […]
Posted inGarden
A Small Gull That Puts on a Big Show
Gulls. Often erroneously calling them “seagulls,” people either despise or delight in them. As scavengers, gulls keep our beaches clean. As social birds, they can be hilarious to watch, thanks to their antics, especially when fighting over the delectable flesh of dead, smelly sea creatures that have washed ashore. Nearly a quarter of the world’s […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Birdhouse Boys of Kitsap
Three young entrepreneurs — Kezek, age 9; Ryser, age 7; and Maccabee, age 5 — are brothers with a passion for animals and power tools. And with a little help from their mom, Keldy Spainhour, they create custom birdhouses out of reclaimed lumber. Their idea was born in the midst of COVID boredom in hope […]