For many, a West Sound winter is a dreary time of year. Trees are devoid of leaves and flowers aren’t blooming. It’s cold, cloudy and often rainy. There is no perceived reason to venture outdoors. Just get cozy with a hot beverage and wait until spring to go outside. Unless you’re a birder. Winter brings […]
wildlife
Posted inGardeners Corner
Prevent Rabbit Damage in Your Landscape
Rabbits are year-round and frequent visitors to gardens and landscapes. As children, we read about and adored these furry critters. This love of rabbits often fades as we grow older and experience damage to our gardens and landscapes. Employing various management strategies allows us to coexist with these cute yet voracious members of our community. […]
Posted inGarden
Watching for Wandering Wigeons
Birders love a good chase. Not in the literal sense, but in going to a selected spot with the optics and waiting patiently for a particular bird to appear. Birds that have wandered out of their typical range are known as rare birds or rarities. Sometimes they fly in from across the country. Others have […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
How to Attract Birds and Other Creatures to Your Backyard
Imagine peering out your window and spotting an array of colorful birds nesting and bathing in your yard. Not only do birds provide natural insect control, but they also bring joy and melody to your space. Observing them can turn into a fun and rewarding hobby. So, how can you attract them to your backyard? […]
Posted inGarden
This Blackbird Is a Beauty, Not a Black Sheep
Like people, birds are sometimes unappreciated and misunderstood. While every species has its place in the ecosystem, some are bigger stars than others. Beach lovers would gladly trade a flock of “seagulls” for hummingbirds. Yet gulls, not hummingbirds, scavenge smelly carcasses from the beach. Some dislike barn swallows for leaving messy droppings under their nests. […]
Posted inPeople & Places
For the Love of Dogs
From Gig Harbor to Kingston, the residents of our area love their dogs. All you have to do is take a walk along one of the lovely sidewalks along the water or trails in the woods. Within seconds, you’ll discover that dogs — with their wagging tails, sniffing right to left and left to right […]
Posted inGarden
Searching for These Secretive Birds is off the Rails
There is no shortage of variety in the world of birds. There are remarkable differences between a heron and a hummingbird or a swan and a swallow. Also, there are places where humans would never dwell, but birds consider appealing. Freshwater marsh habitat can host a surprising diversity of birds. Herons and raptors hunt for […]
Posted inGarden
Bringing in Spring with a Vibrant, Versatile Warbler
Springtime means birdsong. As frosty mornings give way to budding leaves, singing songbirds are a harbinger of winter’s departure and the arrival of spring. Year-round species such as American robins, Pacific wrens and song sparrows are among the first to belt out their melodic songs. From March to May, migratory songbirds arrive in West Sound […]
Posted inGarden
This Poorly Named Shorebird is an Attention Catcher
Birds are amazing creatures with a variety of adaptations. A hummingbird is quite different from an ostrich and a kiwi has little in common with a swan. While some species may seem drab and uninteresting, others are a collection of unique features that even a nonbirder would notice. Here in West Sound, resident birds may […]