She tiptoed across my yard on slender legs. Pausing demurely, she batted her big, doe eyes at me. Such a pretty thing. Such grace. I wanted to be her friend. “Have an apple,” I said, and shook the tree until apples rained down. She chose the nearest fruit and as I walked away, I heard […]
wildlife
Posted inAround West Sound
Volunteers Needed to Plant 5,000 Trees at Belfair Wildlife Preserve
The Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) is seeking 200 volunteers to plant 5,000 native trees in Belfair through the end of January. GPC, the nonprofit land trust operating in Kitsap, north Mason and west Pierce counties, is restoring a native, climate-resilient plant community in vital salmon habitat by planting native shrubs and trees at the end […]
Posted inCommunity News
Public Campaign Raises Funds for Hansville Greenway Expansion
On the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula lies the Hansville Greenway, a 250-acre nature preserve and natural recreation area that is home to native plants and wildlife. Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) — the regional land trust serving Kitsap, north Mason and west Pierce counties — has partnered with the Hansville Greenway Association (HGA) and […]
Posted inThe Garden
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 inThe Garden
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, The 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 inPeople & Places
Iceland
It’s likely you imagine cold and ice in Iceland. It’s called Iceland, after all. But what would you say when you learn it’s green, so many shades of green. It’s also blue — an astonishing blue in the sky and in the sea. You might be surprised to learn it can be warm (and windy), […]
Posted inThe Garden
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 inAround West Sound
Volunteers Wanted to Help Endangered Orcas and Salmon Recover
Kitsap County Parks, the Kitsap Conservation District and partner organizations will host eight COVID-safe events as part of Orca Recovery Day, aimed at improving conditions for critically endangered southern resident orca whales and their main food source, salmon. Volunteers are invited to participate in stewardship action events on Oct. 9, 16 and 23 throughout the county. […]
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