Yelm Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Yelm - Its for the birds

2011-12-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

View Yelm Backyard Birds in a larger map
Here are a few bird sightings noted in and around Yelm, Washington.

Pesticide Free Zone

2011-12-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

To help protect the environment, my heath, and the health of others, I pledge to avoid using pesticides in my home, yard and garden.

The Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides recommends taking this Pesticide Free Pledge.

Read more about creating and maintaining a Pesticide Free Zone in your backyard and community from the Washington Toxics Coalition.

The sign comes with three fact sheets: "What's Wrong with Pesticides?" (64kb PDF file), "Talking to your Neighbors about Pesticides," (80kb PDF file) and the "Pesticide Free Zone Sign Owners Manual" (112kb PDF file).

Yelm Shoreline Work Parties 2012

2011-12-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

Yelm Backyard Wildlife Project

2011-12-06T12:26:00.000-08:00

View Yelm Community Backyard Wildlife Habitat Project in a larger map

Acorn hunting

2011-10-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Acorn hunting this year has been difficult for a second year in a row here in Yelm. This is not good news. A few mature oak stands had acorns ready at the end of August. Others - are just not producing acorns this year as they had in 2008 and 2009. According to USFW and others some of the best times for acorn picking are August through October. Thurston county has produced a map where a few oaks may be located in the county. (Not all oaks are identified by this map.)

Brush footed butterflies Nymphalidae & Arctiidae

2011-07-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Two Lorquin's Admiral butterflies were seen around Thurston county this week, flying towards the East in the direction of the Nisqually River. You may see more butterflies of Thurston county here.

Also spotted flitting through was a beautiful Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae. Arctiidae Family of moths. Thurston county moths.

"Unfortunately, many of the uncommon and rare species in the Pacific Northwest have not been photographed. In fact, the caterpillar and its foodplant are not known for some of the species." BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTS AND WOODLANDS: RARE, ENDANGERED, AND MANAGEMENT-SENSITIVE SPECIES, by Jeffrey C. Miller
Department of Rangeland Ecology and Mangement, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon; Paul C. Hammond, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon; Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, September 2007 USDA USFS

No birds just bugs

2011-06-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Swarming Crows vs Hawk

2011-06-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Just saw 15 to 20 Crows dive bombing, more like swarming actually, a hawk near a Crows nest. Crows are a family :) and often have older siblings helping at the nest. This Hawk was outnumbered totally!

Acorn woodpeckers

2011-06-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

I have a response to my dirty blue egg question! (Stellar Jay)

Acorn Woodpeckers came back two days ago and this time there were two! No. I don't believe the pair to be Hairy or Red Breasted Sapsuckers. The Acorn Woodpecker's markings *have perplexed me b/c they are unusually marked to the rear of their heads. I have decided upon Acorn due to its primary back color of black and top red head spot that does not cover its entire head. They have black backs with red on the very top of their heads. The perplexing marking was a small white vertical line dash on the rear of their head combined with the white ring around its beak that does not extend to the rear of his black neck. No other white markings on the back leads me to exclude Downy, Red Breasted Sapsucker and a Hairy.

If my Petersons Guide would identify juveniles....and inter breeds that would be great! Acorn was the best visual match. I have seen Red Breasted Sapsuckers here. I have also seen a juvenile Downy Woodpecker here. Hairy Woodpeckers? No. b/c, they did not have white stripe on the back. IDK strangest pair of Acorn woodpeckers I've tried to id b/c of white dash in the lower part of back of their heads! B/c of that marking I am wondering if they were juvs or if this pair have been cross bred with another type of woodpecker to produce the different white dash mark. Variations in plumage - I'd love a guide with juv photos.

There is an oak stand less than a mile from where I live and a larger more established well known oak stand within 2 miles. I have found old stashed acorns in the soil at the tree line and fenceline and under evergreens. Squirrels? Do you think Acorn Woodpeckers steal from squirrels and vice versa?http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

"Field studies have shown that breeding groups range from monogamous pairs to breeding collectives of seven males and three females, plus up to 10 nonbreeding helpers. Young have been found with multiple paternity.[1]"

There are Red-naped or Red-breasted Sapsuckers heard in the area, but I have not seen them. These two Acorn woodpeckers were seen at 15 to 25 feet distance, pecking in evergreen about 15 to 18 feet up the tree. Evidently, there are only a dozen sightings in Western Washington of Acorn Woodpeckers.

I'll have to listen for them in the future.

Oh pitiful me! (Pityopus californica)

2011-05-27T17:53:00.001-07:00

Even rarer plants:

Because I did not know what a Pine Foot or Pityopus californica was... it has surely died.

Now, I fear that the rare plant police will come and take me away!

This strange looking plant was growing near a Glad that I was babying in my plant nursery near an old stump. In fact, I thought that it was some strange fungus. When I first noticed it, I said, "Slimey thing. Ew!" It was so much uglier than this picture. Its roots were rather shallow, pointy and short. It's base flat and white. It was so near the Glad that it was dug up along with the bulb. I am certain that it is now dead. Well, live and learn. I should take better care to identify these types of things in the future.

Yardbirds in the Rain

2011-05-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

Spotted in between the rain and then sun.... and then rain.... in my backyard.

Acorn woodpecker stopping briefly among the evergreens
Bullocks Oreole stopping in at the rose bramble
Oregon Junco ground feeding
and a regular Rufous hummingbird at the feeder.

I found a partial blue eggshell. It may have been at least 1" in length when in tact with black spots.
The spots looked like much dirt or the spots that a fly leaves when it poops.
(sorry for a lack of sophisticated fly poop terminology here.)

Rare Plants in Thurston County

2011-05-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

Washington Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program Thurston County Rare Plants

Everyone enjoyed last weeks sunny weather outdoors. Mowing, raking, planting and weeding our backyards and gardens we should keep in mind the differences between weeds and rare plants. Sometimes it pays to look twice before you pull up what you think is a weed. I have found that there are a few plants in my yard that were listed as rare plants according to the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program. One plant was so small, you would barely notice it, except most of us consider moss as a problem in our yards.

Moss is something we must put up with here in the Pacific Northwest, but bogg club moss is listed as a rare plant. It is really small and if you are not looking for it --- you will miss it! Its formal name, Lycopodiella inundata.

Here is my list of noxious weeds in Thurston County. It is from 2009-2010 and may need to be updated. It's my cheat sheet to weed identification.

Noxious Weeds in Thurston County (Link )

Hawks Oaks Pigeons and Doves

2011-05-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

The Washington P. ramorum-positive soil confirmation in December 2010 (reported on in Dec. COMTF newsletter) in a Gig Harbor, Pierce County landscape (adjacent to a previously positive repeat nursery) has been identified as the NA2 lineage. This is the first time this strain has been found outside of a nursery in soil. The confirmed site is along a drainage that had been found positive with infected salal plants in the summer of 2009.-- COMTF May 2011 The May 2011 newsletter from the California Oak Mortality Task Force http://www.suddenoakdeath.org

Near the large oak grove on Canal Rd. SE in Yelm - blue back, white
breast, brown neck collar or ring, long tail.
Appeared to be the size of a Scrub jay, or Stellar jay but its neck
ring was brown. Can Western Scrub Jays have brown neck rings?

Also spotted a hawk circling on the opposite side of the oak grove
further down the road chasing the
smaller birds out of the treeline to land in the evergreens.

The pigeons are back at the silo on Ordway/Wilkenson. There was a
pure white dove or pigeon flying over the canal last week.

Birding

2011-04-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

Two ducks at Yelm Creek were sitting at the edge of the field where an Eagle and a two pheasant were potted recently. I enjoyed watching a hawk hunt and fly through Mountain Shadow subdivision near an area where the swallows have returned on the canal at Wilkenson Rd. outside of Yelm. I have not seen the pidgeons since last summer near the silo. At the pond I counted 5 ducks and 5 red winged black birds. A couple of rufous hummingbirds are enjoying the freshly filled feeders at my home. I noticed that after eating, one hummer will bulge its neck and turn its head side to side just before another hummer frequents the feeder. They never feed at the same time, but will take turns.

Merlin

2011-03-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Sitting in the local park I heard a hawk or what I thought to be a hawk. Hawks do not sound like Crows, but Crows can mimic hawks. After listening to the BirdWeb.org bird sounds. It was a Merlin!

I've said that there was a Merlin flying around here and actually saw one in my yard a few years ago - swooping down from a treetop and picking up a Junco for lunch. He flew right in front of me and then turned and flew up between the trees. Watching him was an awesome sight because it appeared that the bird was going to plummet straight into the ground before he picked up the unsuspecting Junco.

The Merlin was sitting in the tree top above the nearby ravine. I could not see his coloring as the sun did not light him from my position on the ground. He was sitting on the top of the tree calling and calling for several minutes before he flew back into trees around the ravine.

Recent visitors

2011-02-27T16:38:00.001-08:00

Varied Thrush are visiting along with Chickadees and Oregon Junco's. Nearly one week before the snow came there were flocks and flocks of Gulls moving West of North Yelm. The Gull flock held about 50+ in each days passing West where one flock a day were spotted for 4 days.

Pending Questions Ignored

2011-02-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

I just found out today that Mr. Klein blogged me back in December 2010. Thank you, Mr. Klein.

The front page of the newspaper this morning highlights the 2010 Washington Census, which declares Yelm's growth since the 2000 Census.

"Thurston County’s fastest-growing city was Yelm, which saw its population jump 108 percent, to 6,848 from 3,289 in 2000."

Read more at the Tacoma News Tribune, February 24, 2011, 2010 Census: 252,264 in Thurston County, MATT BATCHELDOR; Staff writer. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/24/1557366/252264-in-thurston.html#ixzz1EtSmIFUM

For those of us who have been familiar with Yelm before the year 2000, we knew that the Census figures for 2010 would reflect growth. Back in December, I posted a pending question that was emailed twice to the City of Yelm. One email went out directly after the post. Another email went out about two weeks after that date. Still no answer. I think the City of Yelm is ignoring its Urban Growth Area and its residents.

Pending Question:
What mapping information is being used by your GIS Dept. to identify
Critical Areas of Oak Prairie's in the City of Yelm and its Urban
Growth areas?

I still don't know the answer.

Thurston County Rate of Urbanization and Forest Harvest c. 2002 vs. Rate of Urbanization and Prairie Oaks 2010 Yelm

I have viewed documents since that time, however, that pertain to Yelm and the surveys conducted which included oaks on the Yellem Prairie. No that isn't a typo I spelled Yellem correctly. You can view a few of those historical accounts here. These are handwritten documents from the 1800's that can be found at the BLM. Once you get to the site, be sure to right click the documents to view the larger image.

Update: See Recommendations of Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Exerpt below:
PDF

Specific recommendations include the following:

Do not cut Oregon white oak woodlands except for habitat enhancement.
Allow only early spring, low-impact cattle grazing.
Allow low-impact recreation (hunting, fishing, hiking, mushroom and acorn collecting).
Selectively harvest individual oaks to improve stand age-class and structural diversity.
Thin encroaching conifers in oak woodlands west of the Cascades and along the Columbia Gorge; do not remove conifers from mixed stands east of the Cascades.
Retain large, dominant oaks and standing dead and dying trees.
Create snags when thinning oaks or conifers instead of removing trees.
Leave fallen trees, limbs, and leaf litter for foraging, nesting, and denning sites.
Retain contiguous aerial pathways.
Conduct prescribed burns where appropriate.

Other oak enhancement activities include the following:

Planting Oregon white oak acorns and seedlings.
Using alternatives to oak fuelwood.
Selling or donating oak woodlands to conservation and land trust organizations.
Purchasing contiguous or notable stands of oaks by local, state, and federal agencies.
Moving toward the elimination of grazing on state-owned oak woodlands.
Designating large, contiguous oak and oak/conifer stands as critical areas.
Encouraging aggressive oak enhancement/regeneration measures by local, state, and federal agencies.
Suggested Citation:
Larsen, E. M., and J. T. Morgan. 1998. Management recommendations for Washington’s priority habitats: Oregon white oak woodlands. Wash. Dept. Fish and Wildl., Olympia. 37pp.

Since when is a highway considered low impact recreation?
Why would local authorities choose to ignore state recommendations or better yet why would state authorities choose to ignore its OWN recommendations?

See also: Thurston County Rate of Urbanization

Critical Area Ordinace FAQ's March 2, 2011

2010 Report Prairie Oak Burns

2011-01-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

Mason McKinley
South Puget Sound Prairie/Oak Program Manager
(360) 584-2538 (Phone)
(360) 965-9445 (Fax)

2010 Report on Prairie Oak Burns

RENEWAL Thurston County

What is the Cascadia Prairie-Oak Partnership?

CPOP is a nascent umbrella group, which would provide a formalized framework for what is now a loose association of working groups (Oregon Oak Communities, South Sound Prairies (WA), North South Prairies (WA), Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT, Canada). The focus of these groups is to work together to share expertise, develop resources, coordinate planning, and implement effective conservation actions. All groups are interested in seeing CPOP provide initial coordination and information-sharing services at the ecoregional scale (e.g. listserv, website, conferences, workshops). Combining these groups while also maintaining the local focus of subgroups, allows us to improve efficiency (e.g., conservation planning and research) and coordinate prairie-oak conservation at larger landscape scale.

Hannah Anderson
Cooperative Conservation

Program Manager

handerson@tnc.org
360-701-8803 (phone)

360-956-9445 (fax)

Western Screech Owl

2011-01-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

Flying from Yelm Creek deciduous treed area in Yelm over the roadway NW what I thought to be a Western Screech Owl.

BirdWeb

Nesting

Monogamous pairs form long-term bonds. Western Screech-Owls are secondary cavity nesters, making use of natural cavities, old Pileated Woodpecker or Northern Flicker holes, and nest boxes. They nest at heights from 5 to 30 feet from the ground. They do not add material to the nest. Pairs typically hatch one brood per year. The female incubates 3-5 eggs for 33-34 days while the male brings her food. Once the young hatch, the female broods for about three weeks while the male brings food to her and the owlets. The young leave the cavity and venture onto nearby branches 7-10 days later. They stay close to the nest for a few nights while they develop their ability to fly, and they continue to remain near the adults for about five weeks after their first flights.

Migration Status

Western Screech-Owls do not migrate, and pairs are resident on their territories year round.

Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Osprey

2010-12-23T16:30:00.000-08:00

Kettle of 30 raptors - Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures or Osprey were soaring and circling above Ordway and then flew West 4PM.

Thurston County Rate of Urbanization and Forest Harvest c. 2002 vs. Rate of Urbanization and Prairie Oaks 2010 Yelm

2010-12-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

Link to Google Doc, "Rate of Urbanization and Forest Harvest in Thurston County 1985-2001 (final report Jan. 2002)"

Yelm Loop Stage II Plan

Critical Areas Map - This map upon loading will indicate the large gray area that is labeled YELM. Under the gray area are locations of Prairie Oaks which are obscured on this map from the Thurston County Planning Office. They've been sent an email and this is the Thurston County response:

"... the choice to make cities opaque is very deliberate. Thurston County has no jurisdiction over anything inside city limits, so to avoid misleading citizens we do not show information for the cities in any county maps..."

The Thurston County Critical Areas map used this reference for Oak Prairies

OAK-DOMINANT FOREST OR WOODLAND CANOPY
Description: Greater than 25% crown cover of Oregon white oaks in the main and upper canopy layers and <25%>50% relative cover of natives) and located on glacial outwash, rock outcrop or coastal bluff landforms; verified in the field. Minimum map unit approximately 5 acres for prairies on glacial outwash landforms, 1 acre for balds on rock outcrop landforms or grasslands on coastal bluff landforms. May be smaller if contiguous with other grassland cover types.

SEMI-NATIVE GRASSLAND

Description: Herbaceous vegetation (<25%>

I do not see where it has been determined that the economic impact of this loop would be beneficial vs. ??? (we are in a recession currently and this project is unfunded and seemingly ?)

See also "TRPC 510 Yelm Loop
Yelm Community Blog
Determination of non-significance - "As this is a non-project action, environmental impacts to specific sites will be evaluated at the time the improvement is initiated." (*notes Garry Oaks *no note of impact to prairie *no note of impact to surrounding communities outside of the Urban Growth Area.) See Plants 4.c. & Animals 5. b.

New Pride of the Prairie Opens - no photos of landscaped area.

The mapping provided for Critical Areas that included Oak Prairies in
Thurston County is insufficient. The area identified as YELM obscures
the data the map intended to represent and display. It is a simple
map symbol choice error that can be fixed through choosing a map
symbol for the area of YELM that is not opaque and would allow for the
yellow/green areas of Oak Prairie to be properly identified as the WA
DNR map intended. I requested this yesterday via email to the
Thurston county GIS and planning as well as sending the request to the
WA DNR. (This was intentional per Thurston County mapping see above answer.)
This does not solve the Yelm Loop Stage II issue, however,
that will pass through areas of oaks in Yelm's Urban Growth Area. One
would think, considering that Yelm's motto "Pride of the Prairie" that
they would properly identify Oaks and Prairies within Yelm and its
Urban Growth Area.

* if you are quick.....
you can hit print screen to identify (only briefly) the areas obscured
under the gray area of YELM as the pdf loads. The green and yellow
areas will load first before being oscured by YELM. :)

(1) http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/planning/critical_areas/maps-2010/Prairies.pdf

The Biological Assessment for the Yelm Loop Stage II project was
indicated by the WADOT as complete in December 2007.
I cannot find it online either through City of Yelm, or WADOT website.
It would be an interesting read if found.

This document from City of Yelm indicates that the Draft BA was
completed by WADOT in May 2007.City of Yelm indicated that Garry Oaks
were present in their Environmental Checklist for the Updated
Transportation Plan URL (2) Item 4.c List threatened and endangered
species known to be on or near the site - Garry Oaks. City of Yelm
recognized the Garry Oak as threatened or endangered, but leaves it
obscured in their mapping of Updated Transportation Plans. Oh well,
maybe its just a mapping error.......

(2) https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B5dWTSbMv7AYY2VkZjQ4MTEtZWI2ZS00ZjY0LWIwYzYtNWU4NmJjZWY4NGEy&hl=en

I have not noticed anything on the WADOT website with regards to
Biological Assessment content or BA references that include
information about Garry Oaks. And could not find the Yelm Loop Stage
II BA or Draft BA at WADOT.

(3) http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/Biology/BA/BAcontent.htm#ProjectInfo

I wanted to know if the WADNR mapping included information from the
database below.

University of Washington Herbarium

Search Results
Exported from http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/collections/vascular/search.php
May 8th, 2009 at 8:34am PST
Your search query was: Genus = Quercus, Species = garryana
93 records.

Was this information from the herbarium used in the map?

"The historical specimen data from the Burke Museum was not used in the creation of the oak-prairie maps..." WA DNR

One of 93 records included an oak in Yelm and was cited in the year
1891. Is it dead or alive? UNKNOWN

When will the Oak Prairie map be updated?

"We will up-date the oak layer as funding and time allows." WA DNR

City of Yelm does not utilize Thurston County Critical Areas Oaks and Prairie's map originating from WA STATE DNR. City of Yelm informed me that they build customized maps based on city needs.

The City of Yelm does not produce or utilize the critical areas maps you reference, which are produced by Thurston County. I can only speculate that the reason they do not clearly show protected oak stands within the City limits or urban growth area is because the purpose of these maps is to show such areas within the County. The City maintains its own GIS system that we utilize to review development applications and to help in long range planning activities. The City does not publish separate critical area maps, but rather produces custom maps as required for such activities. The data the City utilizes is the best available from Thurston County and Washington State.

Pending Question:
What mapping information is being used by your GIS Dept. to identify
Critical Areas of Oak Prairie's in the City of Yelm and its Urban
Growth areas?

See also: Pending question ignored

Varied Thrush and Robins

2010-12-18T07:02:00.000-08:00

Varied Thrush shared the backyard with a Robin yesterday evening. In the last week I have noticed more Gulls flying Northwest. The Juncos and Chickadees are enjoying the ground seed.

Christmas Bird Count December 14 - January 5, 2011

2010-12-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

The 111th annual CBC is coming up. You can read more about it here.

I noticed that there were a few oaks planted in the Yelm roundabout, but no one posted a photo of the final landscaping. I suppose they are waiting for spring when the oaks are in bloom.

Oaks and Prairies in Thurston County

Western Scrub Jays not a simple bird

2010-11-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

I have been attempting to read a paper on Mast producing trees and
geographical ecology of Western Scrub Jays. The technical analysis is
quite frustrating to interpret given the amount of reference to
numerical analysis of which I am so unfamiliar! In general, it was
said that acorn production benefitted scrub jay population by
increasing reproductive success.

Does this also mean in a year that provides for poor acorn production
that the population of Western Scrub Jay may decline in the year that
follows?

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5dWTSbMv7AYY2MyMjAyMDMtOGM5Ny00NTg1LWE1MjAtMWM0MWVkZDVkYWE0&hl=en

Another title by Mary K. Coldren (ca. 1997)
http://txtbba.tamu.edu/accounts/scja/scjaacc.html puzzled me in that
it appeared to be questionable if Western Scrub Jays had the habit of
assisting with feeding at the nest. No one knows this? That seemed
odd to me especially since the mapping of the Western Scrub Jay
appears south in Mexico to the North in Western Washington.
Evidently, Western Scrub Jay species differ given recent genetic
findings (2003?). (Surprise to me again, there...) It was said that
the only species known to help at the nest were the Mexican species,
A. c. sumichrasti.

Now I have to find pictures of a Mexican Western scrub jay - A. c.
sumichrasti - and find pics of the other variety of sub-species of
Western Scrub jay. I don't think my Peterson's makes the difference on
p. 284, c. 2008.

The wiki was helpful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Scrub_Jay ___and this
description___ http://www.avianweb.com/westernscrubjays.html __of
differences in sub-species was good reading.

Genetics is so confusing!

"Judging from mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequence data, it
appears there are two clades, namely a Pacific one west and one east
of the Rocky Mountains; the relationships of populations in the latter
are not resolvable to satisfaction. Thus, it is fairly likely the
Western Scrub-Jay is actually another two distinct species, one
belonging to the Pacific and another one to the eastern lineage(s);
the latter's ancestors apparently gave rise to the Florida Scrub-Jay
as well. Paleogeography of the Rocky Mountains range supports this
scenario.

Inland birds (Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, woodhouseii group and
Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay, sumichrasti group) differ in plumage (paler
blue above, with an indistinct and usually incomplete breast band)
from the coastal birds (California Scrub-Jay, californica group) which
are darker blue above with a strongly defined - but not necessarily
complete - blue breast band. The three groups also differ in ecology
and behavior. The beaks of the California and Sumichrast's groups are
strong and hooked at the tip, as they feed on acorns, whereas the
pinyon-nut feeding Woodhouse's group has a longer, slimmer and
straighter bill with little or no hook.

Each group contains a number of subspecies..."
--http://www.avianweb.com/westernscrubjays.html

It is so much fun to learn something new.

(Notes: "Helping at the nest has been well documented for a closely related species, the Florida Scrub-Jay (A. coerulescens). However, among Western Scrub-Jays, this behavior has only been documented for a population in southern Mexico (A. c. sumichrasti) (Peterson & Burt 1992)."

"Pitelka (1951) and Oberholser (1974) classified the earlier nonbreeding wanderers found in the Panhandle as A. c. woodhouseii, which breed as close as northeast New Mexico and southeast Colorado. However, vocal analysis suggests that the Scrub-Jays that breed in the Panhandle may be more closely allied with A. c. texana of the Edwards Plateau (Coldren 1996). One possible explanation is that birds from the Edwards Plateau traveled north along the Caprock Escarpment to become the breeding year-round residents, while young birds from New Mexico and Colorado sporadically wander altitudinally to become the winter birds reported by Pitelka (1951), Oberholser (1974), and various checklists. Until more research is done, this question remains unanswered."

Text by Mary K. Coldren (ca. 1997)
http://txtbba.tamu.edu/accounts/scja/scjaacc.html November 10, 2010 Accessed, Western Scrub-Jay
* Peterson, A. T. and D. B. Burt. 1992. Pylogenetic history of social evolution and habitat use in the Aphelocoma jays. Anim. Behav. 44:859-866.

"Judging from mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequence data, it appears there are two clades, namely a Pacific one west and one east of the Rocky Mountains; the relationships of populations in the latter are not resolvable to satisfaction. Thus, it is fairly likely the Western Scrub-Jay is actually another two distinct species, one belonging to the Pacific and another one to the eastern lineage(s); the latter's ancestors apparently gave rise to the Florida Scrub-Jay as well. Paleogeography of the Rocky Mountains range supports this scenario."

"Inland birds (Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, woodhouseii group and Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay, sumichrasti group) differ in plumage (paler blue above, with an indistinct and usually incomplete breast band) from the coastal birds (California Scrub-Jay, californica group) which are darker blue above with a strongly defined - but not necessarily complete - blue breast band. The three groups also differ in ecology and behavior. The beaks of the California and Sumichrast's groups are strong and hooked at the tip, as they feed on acorns, whereas the pinyon-nut feeding Woodhouse's group has a longer, slimmer and straighter bill with little or no hook.

Each group contains a number of subspecies. "Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay" stands apart from the others in its altruistic breeding behavior, unlike the others) stand apart; its remaining races are generally not quite as pale but have washed-out colors with indistincly marked borders. Certainly, some gene flow among these populations occurs, but while the hybrid zone between the californica and woodhouseii groups is very limited." --http://www.avianweb.com/westernscrubjays.html Accessed November 10, 2010.

"Birds along the Pacific Coast are sharply marked, with a bold blue necklace against white underparts and a distinct brown back. Great Basin birds (called "Woodhouse’s" scrub-jay and sometimes considered to be a different species) are grayer overall, the necklace is less contrasting, and the back patch is grayish blue." --http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Scrub-Jay/id

Hooked bill study in Pac NW includes a flyer from USGS from Andrew C. Revkin November 9, 2010.
More Crow beak deformities Pacific Northwest and Alaskan beak deformities
How USGS can determine that there is an issue with Crow beaks is my question as various authors have indicated that there are slight curves in crow beaks anyway. I suppose they may be attributing this to other species current issues. However, "On the basis of 186 Northwestern Crows captured at six sites in
Alaska during 2007 and 2008, we estimated the prevalence of beak deformities in adults to be 16.9 ± 5.3%, the highest rate of gross deformities ever recorded in a wild bird population." - October 2010, The Auk 127(4):882−898, 2010.

Yearly totals in Washington from Matt Bartels:

At this point last year, Acorn Woodpecker had been reported only in Klickitat 
County. This year it has been reported in 9 counties [10 if you include this 
week's report from Pacific Co.] 


As for Lewis's Woodpecker & Western Scrub-Jays -- the county level year list 
perspective doesn't seem to reveal anything unusual -- only one more county 
reporting each compared with last year (with a couple more counties like to be 
added in the final update at the end of the year).

Western Scrub Jays, Lewis and Acorn Woodpecker and acorn crops

2010-11-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

Updated: Acorn Crop Survey Contacts

Recent Tweet about Western Scrub Jay and Acorn crop proves interesting along with Tweet from October 5th, 2010 Vol. 74 Issue 5 Tweet and this one and this one.

"I would strongly encourage anyone seeing Western Scrub-Jays IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE NOT USUALLY FOUND to report them.."

and

"...although it would explain the invasion of Western Scrub-Jays into areas north of King County, I still believe it has little or nothing to do with this year's Lewis's Woodpecker reports in western WA, as that species breeds almost entirely in areas which don't have any native oaks."

and

"It is much less common (appearance of Western Scrub Jay) in Thurston and Pierce Counties."

Prairie Oak List has indicated that this year was the worst since 1999 for acorn crops in Canada, Washington and Oregon.

It is quite interesting that there *is* OR *is NOT* a relationship between acorn crops and bird residency/migration/breeding habits. An Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service who has been monitoring Acorn crops in Canada, Washington and Oregon has indicated on the Prairie Oak list that:

"I have been conducting an annual acorn survey for Oregon white oak from British Columbia to southern Oregon since 1999. This is the worst production year in the history of the survey almost everywhere."

I wonder further about the relationship between birds and acorns and find it all quite interesting.

(note to self upon a recollection: I will have to search further for a study conducted recently about the distribution of acorns by Jays possibly written by someone in Canada.)

Canal Road Oaks

2010-10-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

I began searching for acorns a bit late this year. Canal Rd. last year around August produced a few acorns. This year, with the addition of two homes near the oak stand, I found that the landscaper or housing developer tossed additional dead sod into the understory of the oak stand. Garbage or compost? I suppose the difference would be the fact that compost usually is cured and spread evenly. This was a clump of unused dead sod carelessly tossed into the oak stand understory at the end of the new home on the 8600 block of Canal Rd. Here is the Facebook page. I hope it gets cleaned up.

Anyway, I didn't find ANY acorns this late in the season and I really wonder about this years acorn crop production.

Also this link from the Prairie Oak list:
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/domestic/western_bluebird.html

Fort Lewis has been assisting in the repopulation and relocation, if you will, of Western Blue Birds on San Juan Island. The project has entered into a contest http://www.zooboise.org/zbcfprojects.aspx

More on Blue Bird Projects in the South Puget Sound

Acorn crops and increased Lewis/Acorn woodpecker sightings

2010-10-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

TWEET mailing list
A few people are discussing the possible reasons for a spike or dispersal patterns in Lewis/Acorn woodpecker sightings in Western Washington. One theory includes the shortage of acorns this fall. I admit that there were fewer wild rose blooms and rose hips this year than last year. I have not assessed local acorn production in comparison to years previous but hope to in the coming weeks.

Lewis/Acorn woodpecker numbers

Hummingbirds in Fall

2010-10-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

A hummingbird flew through my yard today and stopped in to feed NEAR the hummingbird feeder. He actually hovered over the red plastic covered dog run wire thinking that this was food. Earlier this summer I watched a hummingbird hover at a large spider web and dart into the center of the web to peck at the spider. This hummer appeared to have a yellowish breast and sat inside a liliac bush, then darted off into the fenceline brush. Next year I hope to have red hot poker planted near the fenceline to attract more hummingbirds.

European starlings

2010-10-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

A flock of European starlings flew into an evergreen near the railroad. At least the number of starlings in the smallish evergreen did not disturb the tree enough to bend its branches. I have noticed more European starling flocks in the past few weeks.

Violet Green Swallow Nest and Eggs

2010-06-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Violet Green Swallow and three eggs in a new nest built on top of the Chestnut Backed Chickadee nest. Long dried grasses from my freshly cut lawn were taken into the swallow house one piece at a time. The Chestnut Backed Chickadee nest is on the bottom and is composed of moss and smaller grasses.

Chestnut Backed Chickadee

2010-06-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have seen the evicted Chestnut Backed Chickadee a few times since the Violet Green Swallows took over their nest and young. The chickadee has flown in near his former nesting site, fed at the feeder and quickly flew away. I am not certain what happened to the baby chickadees. This article cites Chestnut Backed Chickadee nests have been raided or predated by squirrels, House Sparrows, House Wrens, and Bewick's Wrens (observed). The nest box itself was built to exclude predators of Violet Green Swallows NOT predators of Chestnut Backed Chickadees. I suppose then that Violet Green Swallows are higher on the food chain than Chickadees. Smaller chickadee nests have the least chance of survival. I heard only 3 or 4 young in the Chickadee nest.

This site seems to have a little information on predators.

"# Chickadee: pretty much everybody kicks them out, including bumblebees, although occasionally they win against bluebirds. Mountain Chickadees may lose out to House Wrens and Violet-green Swallows. Eastern bluebirds have been known to remove chickadee nestlings from a box. (BNA). Other birds will lay their own eggs on top of or alongside chickadee eggs (see photo above.) Note: A 1 1/8" hole restrictor can be placed on a box that has at least one chickadee egg in it to protect their nest from being overtaken by larger competitors. If their nest is taken over, try moving it to a paired box (5-20 feet away) with the entrance hole facing the opposite direction (but away from prevailing winds.) Will not returned to a failed nest site to try again."

There is also a page on Violet Green Swallows.

One day the chickadees were feeding their young and the next day a couple of Violet Green Swallows were flying in nesting material. Did not see the chickadees leaving the nest nor did I see the Violet Green Swallows removing the old chickadee nest.

Oaks and birds

2010-06-08T05:19:00.000-07:00

This oak is on county property and is now in bloom. The photo was taken last month.
There are six or seven small sized oaks in this area surrounded by tall grass and mostly conifers.

I have attempted to re-check the area where I thought the Mountain Bluebird(s) were living, near an oak stand, and have not been able to see them lately. These birds may very well be mis-identified.

I had an unusual visit to the feeders last month. I haven't been able to identify. It's back was black with white, breast color was orange with white.

A Chestnut Backed Chickadee has taken up residence and begun a family in my swallow bird house. They are quite actively feeding their young and flying back and forth from the nest. I can hear two or three little babies chirping loudly when they are fed.

At the canal there are many swallows including Violet Green. I love to watch the swallows swarm and flit just above the water. Here I added another unidentified bird to my list. I now have two un-id'd for the year. This bird had an white circular collar around his neck on an orange breast with brown back. This doesn't include the 2 hawks/merlins/nightjars that were seen flying around the canal. The swallows avoided these two birds after they flew above the canal and the whole group of swallows swarmed to the opposite side. The usual tricolored black bird and his mate are living near the canal. They are loud, but pleasant to hear.

I have added two more bird feeders to the yard and have noticed that the brambles are overcoming the bath now. I think that I'll leave the bath covered.

Northern Flicker
American Crow
European Starling
Stellar Jay
Chestnut Backed Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
?
Spotted Towhee
Common Yellowthroat
White Crowned Sparrow
Violet Green Swallow
Barn Swallow
??Hawk
?Doves
?Pigeon
2 Bald Eagle on American Lake

Mountain Bluebirds

2010-04-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

Took a drive down Canal Rd and saw the resident Mountain Bluebird near
the oak stand. And I was surprised to see another Mountain Bluebird
1/4 mile past the oaks. There is alot of new construction going up on
Canal, very near this oak stand. I was happy to see two Mountain
Bluebirds though both male. I have yet to see a female Mountain
Bluebird. I know that there must be at least one female nearby.

Watched a Red Winged Blackbird that lives near the canal bridge on
Wilkenson along with a Raven and several swallows flying over the
canal. It is a wonder that these swallows can fly just above the
water. One swallow had a rusty brown back and two very long pin shaped
tail feathers ... so I suspect it may be a Barn Swallow.

Two Oregon Juncos appeared today at the leftover millet feeders. I
have had no visits since the Pine Siskins have emptied most all of the
millet feed in less than two days. It seems that the Pine Siskins do
not like to feed at a less than FULL feeder......I may have an idea
here and just not fill the feeders completely in order to see my
Chickadees and Juncos again. I have not seen the two pair of Pine
Siskins in about two days now. The Chickadees happily peck at the
millet that still remains at the feeder.

In the past week I have had a visit from a European Starling. He will
light on the suet to feed briefly. He has since moved on. European
Starlings are not frequent visitors to my yard.

I watched the Merlin fly over at about 5PM the other night. A local
Chickadee sent out a sharp set of alerts just before he flew into my
line of vision and then North. He was a very very light grey, Merlin.
Likely the same Merlin that I have seen here in and around my yard
before that most have attempted to convince me was a hawk. (I have
seen both here.) It is so neat to hear everything around you in the
yard go so silent and then....wait....and look around after the alert
call. I get a surprise nearly everytime!

Another dog hair nest and a moaning clicking Crow

2010-04-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

While gardening this morning before noon I watched a Rufous
hummingbird buzz in twice for a quick drink at my window feeder.

2 European Starlings* (normally do not frequent my yard)
2 Crow (one Crow was making a moaning sound with a "click" in between
moans) perched in a tree.

I have two visiting Crows that in-frequently fly into and feed in my
yard. Usually, when I am spotted, they fly away. One Crow doesn't
mind that I am near, however, and perches in a tree to watch me ...
watch him. This Crow makes a strange sound, a clicking noise and
moans, unlike the other Crows that "caw". During the moan, he will
raise his head and then lower it. I watched him as he was fished
around in the yard debris for nesting material and flew off with a
beak full of Australian Shepard hair. (Maybe he swallowed it! Do Crows
get hair balls, too? It sounded like something was wrong.) Pine
Siskins are NOT the only birds to like dog hair for nesting material,
evidently. Still learning....

4 Pine Siskins
3 Oregon Juncos
1 Robin
2 Stellar Jay
4 Swallow* (straight ended tail feathers - not notched)

The majority of the Junco's seem to have moved on.....?

[*First yard appearance in 2010.]

Yardbird appetites

2010-04-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

A Towhee that hides along the brushline and hops in and out of leaf clutter was seen bathing last week in my birdbath. This Towhee is quite shy and will flutter down from the bath and away into the brush to hide if you even attempt to get within 20 feet of him.

I have to refill my sunflower seeds daily for the three bird feeders in my yard. It seems that the pair of Pine Siskin, Chestnut-back Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Junco's are feasting more regularly then I first thought. The decreased Junco population this spring (down from the winter count of 12 to 14) has not really affected the rate at which I have to replace seed. I have been replacing seed more NOW than during the winter. The appearance of a pair of Pine Siskin, who regularly sit for great lengths of time, may be the culprits.

Do two Pine Siskin eat more than twelve Junco? My unscientific study indicates, YES. I would like more information on bird appetites during the Spring to either confirm or dispel my newfound theory..... lol

Mr. Ed Newbold kindly sent me a free birdhouse for having entered into his Yard Bird Race in 2009. I was very excited to pick this up from the Post Office this weekend. A treat!

I have had a few woodpecker visits to the 1/2 eaten suet feeder. I've set out a new suet feeder that the Chickadees seem to enjoy. The suet seems more enjoyable on colder mornings and afternoons.

Hawk downtown Yelm

2010-04-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Spotted a Hawk flying above McDonald's in downtown Yelm this past weekend. He was enjoying the wind.

100 meat eaters and Sandhill Cranes

2010-03-23T04:25:00.000-07:00

There is a Sandhill Crane Festival in Othello, Washington in the next few days. If the flock of over "100 meat eaters" that I witnessed on abt. February 27, 2010 at 5:30PM were attempting to get to Othello, Washington in time for the festival, they were headed in the WRONG direction:

For those of you who enjoy watching very large flocks of meat eating
birds.....this would've been a treat for you. Over 100 vultures? or
Eagles? flew Southwest of North Yelm at 5:30 PM today.
They formed two circles and flew at a high altitude enjoying the air
currents, just before it starting raining at 5:40PM.

[I am oftentimes directionally challenged - Northwest
NOT Southwest.]

Noted not likely to be vultures (was told by tweet vulture exp. would be unusual)
Eagles do not flock, either.
No outstretched necks or trailing legs noted w/re: Sandhill Cranes

Very large bird much like an Eagle/Ospry/Vulture.
Flap, flap, glide, soar.
Wingtips with fingerlike projection of feathers like Eagles/Ospry/Vultures.

Rufous Hummingbird

2010-03-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

March 22, 2010

After having my head buzzed with the "engine like" noise of a hummer's wings the day before yesterday (21 March 2010) , I have finally seen the first hummingbird of the year: Rufous. He flew out of the trees and paused at the fronds of an Ocean Spray and Evergreen tree, then flew back into the treeline. Many of the Junco's (12-15) that are usually at my feeders are now absent and for a day were replaced by Stellar's Jay and about seven Crow. Driving, I noticed an adult Bald Eagle circling near the JBLM-McChord Roy gate. It appears that many predators(Hawks and Eagles) have been enjoying the warmer weather, lately. Towards Puyallup and 1/2 way to the South Hill mall exit this weekend I spotted a Hawk, too, circling to the right of the freeway. There were many Robins (6 or 7) ground feeding with Towhee's and a Rock Pigeon yesterday afternoon.

Eagles dominate Crows infiltrate

2010-03-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

For the past two sunny afternoons, an Eagle has been circling just above tree top level. Three Canada Geese flew over the tree tops yesterday evening at dusk in the direction of the pond. My normal bunch of 12-15 Juncos have been absent. Visits to the feeder are primarily from a pair of Pine Siskin and a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatch and a Chestnut backed chickadee or two. I have heard Towhees and Stellar Jay in the back brush and have seen at least one of the pair of Varied Thrush. Junco's are largely absent at the feeders and have taken to flitting in the lower branches of evergreen trees. The Stellar Jay annoy my puppy as do the squirrels here in the green belt. Puppy would love to chase them away! I wonder if the absence of Junco's has anything to do with the increased number of crows in the area? Are the Junco's nesting now? Or have they moved? I have noticed quite a few more bugs in the afternoon.

We have had quite a bit of heli traffic in the past month, too. This week I noticed that a group of 6 or 7 crows perched in various tree top locations across approx. 2 acres, call to each other using three caws each and in turn each will respond with three caws. Once, a crow called six or seven caws in quick succession where all seven simultaneously flew away from the direction of an approaching helicopter. I believe that crows are very intelligent. Some say that they can even recognize human faces.

One night, just at dark, there was a bird that flew right by me. It was small in size with pointed wing tips. I wonder if it was a nighthawk.

First Mountain Bluebird - Thurston County Yelm

2010-03-08T09:26:00.001-08:00

Along Canal Rd. there is a small stand of Oaks where I watched a
Mountain Bluebird fly across the road earlier this week. I imagine it
is the same Mountain Bluebird that was in this location last year.

See TWEETERS ARCHIVE

Western Bluebird from BirdWeb

Western Bluebirds can be found in eastern Washington at the edges where the forest meets the steppe. They are also found in open coniferous forest, especially Ponderosa pine. They are especially common in areas where nest box projects have provided them with adequate cavities. Nest boxes are in place in Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat, Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield Counties. In western Washington, Mountain Bluebirds are now regular, but uncommon, in the Fort Lewis area, and rare in forest clearings in King, Pierce, Thurston, and Mason Counties, and in prairie areas near Port Townsend (Jefferson County), at the mouth of the Naselle River (Pacific County), Forks (Clallam County), and other sites on the eastern Olympic Peninsula. They can also be found year round in Skamania County.

[Yelm habitat is mostly, prairie]

Mountain Bluebird from Birdweb

Mountain Bluebirds can be found in alpine parklands in the Cascades, the Blue Mountains, and the northeast corner of Washington. They are absent as breeders from the Olympic Mountains. In western Washington, they can be found locally near Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. In eastern Washington they can be found along Umtanum Ridge (Yakima County), Elk Heights (Kittitas County), in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, and at mid-elevations on the east slope of the Cascades in meadows and logged areas. There is a significant population in Klickitat County around Bickleton where an intensive nest box program has provided many nesting opportunities. The Mountain Bluebird is the only bluebird that nests in alpine parkland and high elevation open areas. In the winter they can be found in flocks in similar habitat and more open, treeless terrain, but they are very uncommon.

Description:
Blue back, wings, and head. White breast.
Earlier notes [2009] indicate, white eyering, white breast, blue wings w/small patch of black overall color blue which suggests a Western Bluebird.

Noted in S. Thurston County, Tenino: 2 - 9 Feb. 2010 on Tweet

Tweets, Monday around noon I spotted a female Mountain Bluebird near 16700
Gibson Rd in s. Thurston Co. This location is about 5 minutes from I-5 via
exit 88 (Grand Mound/Hwy 12 exit), then east on Old Hwy 99 toward Tenino.
Gibson runs north from just past the racetrack, and the bird was located
beyond the jog then north past the 3 chicken barns along the east-west
fenceline on the right that borders the tree farm. I was out searching for
kites and shrikes but also thinking it might be a good day for bluebirds to
be about. (I encountered 4 male Western Bluebirds along Gibson Rd on Feb 9
2009, evidently passing through.) This bird was well off the road but
happened to make a foray to the ground and caught my eye just as I was
driving slowly by. The last time a Mountain Bluebird was reported in
Thurston County it stuck around for several days. Good birding!
-- P. H. / Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace DOT org

Yardbirds

2010-03-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

Two pine siskin have been feeding regularly at the feeder full of
black oil sunflower and millet. They will sit togather one on each
side, balancing the feeder and have lunch.

One of five local squirrels attacked that feeder yesterday and snipped
the string holding it in the tree. The string was replaced promptly
with a metal coat hanger. *Gotcha*

Three red-winged black birds sang at the canal in and above the thorny
brush. There are about 15 Juncos that feed regularly here, along with
a pair of red-breasted nuthatches, and the occassional downy
woodpecker.

Watched *something* (Merlin?) dive from a moderate altitude above the
treetop several times. Pointed wing tips. Medium sized bird, about
the size of a large Raven or Crow. This bird dives straight down
really fast. Just before the dive he will flutter in place in
mid-air. Watched him/her dive three or four times. Really neat to
watch.

Oftentimes the crows here will alert us here of soaring Eagles.

There were over 190 ducks and at least 10 Canadian Geese on American
Lake - Lakewood, Pierce County, Saturday. Didn't see any Eagles
Saturday.

Over 100 meat-eaters

2010-02-27T18:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who enjoy watching very large flocks of meat eating
birds.....this would've been a treat for you. Over 100 vultures? or
Eagles? flew Southwest of North Yelm at 5:30 PM today.
They formed two circles and flew at a high altitude enjoying the air
currents, just before it starting raining at 5:40PM.

[I am oftentimes directionally challenged - Northwest
NOT Southwest.]

Noted not likely to be vultures (was told by tweet vulture exp. would be unusual)
Eagles do not flock, either.
No outstretched necks or trailing legs noted w/re: Sandhill Cranes

Very large bird much like an Eagle/Ospry/Vulture.
Flap, flap, glide, soar.
Wingtips with fingerlike projection of feathers like Eagles/Ospry/Vultures.

Great Backyard Bird Count

2010-02-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

Weather: excellent

Habitat(s):
coniferous woods
rural
suburban

Number of species: 19

All Reported: yes
Species Count
Great Blue Heron 1
Bald Eagle 2
Accipiter sp. 1
Merlin 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
Steller's Jay 3
Common Raven 7
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 2
Varied Thrush 2
Spotted Towhee 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 14
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 7
Pine Siskin 1

Comments:
Coopers Hawk or Sharp Shinned Hawk noted to be inside Yelm City Limits on the right near the survey building. Heron noted lighting in deciduous Oak habitat in North Yelm.

Birds: Merlin or Hawk and migration

2010-02-09T07:16:00.000-08:00

Birds: Merlin or Hawk and migration

Three large flocks

2010-01-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

Three very VERY large flocks of geese or ducks flew over yesterday evening towards the East in North Yelm. Another small flock of about 10 were flying at a much lower altitude. A TWEET from Everette also mentioned seeing a flock of 60 SNOW GEESE headed towards the Snohomish Valley on Jan 19th. I've always thought that these large flocks are being driven by the weather, usually bad weather, and are headed towards a better location. Most of the larger flocks that I have witnessed were flying or flew over at dusk. I wonder why?

A few simple answers:

1) FAQ Birdwatchers Digest:
"...Still others, like geese and swans, make their migrations in family groups, led always by an older bird that has made the flight before. There is still much to learn, however, about how birds make such long flights and find precisely the right spot."

2) The Bird Lady
"..The Bird Lady:
Geese are among the few groups of birds that can migrate by day or by night."

3)BWB-ASF Library: Bird Migration Facts

4) PNNL: Science & Engineering - Shurb-Steppe Series: What About Canada Geese?

5)Geese Are Carb-Loading: Green Meditations Blog

FYI - Not everyday can be a good birding day

2010-01-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

For those of you who need it ~ today or yesterday or the day before.

Just another sighn.

(typo and pun intended for _____ insert your name here - you know who you are:)-

Cormorants are not woodpeckers

2010-01-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

Cliff (Ledge) Nesting Species

Northern Fulmar, Northern Gannet, Brandt’s Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Red-faced Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Herring Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Iceland Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Red-legged Kittiwake, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Razorbill, - "Breeding Season Survey Techniques for Seabirds and Colonial Waterbirds throughout North America, Steinkamp, M., B. Peterjohn, V. Byrd, H. Carter, and R. Lowe", p. 18 of 81.

The Nisqually River does have a cliff like area that possibly may house Cormorants. Pelagic Cormorants, according to Petersons' maps are primary residents of the Coastal areas of Washington.

Double Crested Cormorants are noted to be common in the Puget Sound area throughout the year and nest colonially on rocky islands, sea cliffs, or in the trees at lakes.

See also:

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3536609

Changes in....nesting 2002

http://www.birdresearchnw.org/Project-Info/Project-Background/Double-Crested-Cormorants/Columbia-River-Estuary-Corms/default.aspx

Columbia River Estuary

http://yelmbackyard.blogspot.com/2009/07/woodpeckers.html

Woodpeckers

http://yelmbackyard.blogspot.com/2009/11/possibilities-or-not-of-juv-ivory.html

Fun!

A strange band and two Bald Eagles

2010-01-07T07:08:00.000-08:00

I have been watching a flock of Oregon Juncos mixed in with a few Slate and Dark Eyed Juncos feed daily here. I have mentioned earlier that I attempted to take a photograph of a Variegated/Varied Thrush, who is quite skiddish. Well, the Thrush flew INTO the flock of Junco's feeding yesterday. Normally, the Thrush feeds OUTSIDE of the flock. This was different behavior from this Thrush in the last week or so! ALSO there is one more Black capped chickadee now for a full set. The chickadee and the Red Breasted Nuthatch have been eating my millet and making quite the mess for the Junco's to eat below and the 4 squirrels to pick up afterwards. I have had much activity here with this flock of 30 or so Juncos all day!

*One note on the Varied Thrush. He has a second dark black band, the same width of his neck band, near his lower breast or tail area.*

There were two Bald Eagles to fly at a low altitude here yesterday. They were playing and calling out to one another - flying very near one another - darting in and out of one another at close range. They both flew Southwest of here.

Cross posted TWEETERS
NOTE: January 6, 2010

Gulls in V formation

2010-01-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

Saw a flock of ? what looked like white (Galucous gulls) flying North of Yelm yesterday afternoon, Jan. 5, 2010 AT 4:00 pm. Rarely do I see gulls around or near Yelm. I have never seen gulls inside of the city of Yelm, unlike many larger cities. This flock of about 25 birds was flying in V formation very quietly. The nearest (w/in 10 miles) waterbodies are N=LEWIS LAKE and the N=NISQUALLY RIVER. I have not seen a flock of gulls fly in V formation before.

Cross Posted TWEETERS

Flock of Junco's

2010-01-04T04:13:00.000-08:00

Since my December 29th post, the various Junco's have been re-appearing. The usual flock of Oregon Junco's has grown from 12 to 30 + with a larger number of Slate colored and Dark Eyed Juncos in the
mix. The earlier and smaller flock had only two Slate colored Junco's feeding with them. The flock has grown to include 5 or 6 more Dark Eyed Juncos and several Slate colored Juncos. There is a lone Black-capped chickadee that feeds with them and will dart in to feed and fly up into the trees to peck at his seeds - once. I noticed yesterday that the Red-breasted Nuthatch was with them. He is also an infrequent visitor and will dart into the feeders in a rush to grab food and leave to break open seeds high into the trees. A pair of Varied Thrush has re-appeared at least 3 times this week, too. The flock of 20+ Junco's will feed on the North side and then they fly over to the East side of the yard. Their feeding patterns have changed position a little and are moving towards the feeders again. Normally, the Junco's will light on the feeders during the summer or lawn feed further away into the understory of my front yard (lately) and then move to the back, but since their numbers have increased substantially, they are feeding closer to my windows and away from the understory. I've noticed that they will alert one another, have most of the flock fly away, and leave at least 5 or 6 other Junco's to fend for themselves. The 5 or 6 Juncos remain feeding. Then the flock will slowly fly back, one by one and filter into feeding positions. They repeat this pattern several times even while the squirrels are feeding.

Cross Posted TWEETERS

Good Birding Today!

2009-12-29T19:13:00.000-08:00

My backyard became a feast for no less than 20 - 30 Juncos, 3 Towhees, and 3 Varied Thrush this afternoon. It was a treat to watch the Junco's flit back and forth among themselves pecking at whatever they thought was good to eat on the ground about 2:30pm. Grey clouds were moving in by 3PM and it seemed so much later in the evening. I hope it doesn't snow, but it just might.

Yesterday evening there was a small flock of geese that flew over quite low and were heading East. I wonder where they were headed. I'll have to check my pond and lake maps for the nearest water body. I imagine a few have iced over in the past few days.

The Varied Thrush are uncommon visitors here and as soon as I attempted to snap a photo... I was spotted and they flew off!

[AND Thank you, C. Southwick for the wonderful idea. Wrapping a hummingbird feeder in Christmas lights just might be the trick to keeping the ice away! ]

Cross Posted to TWEETERS

Yelm's New Record in the Yard Bird Race

2009-12-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

Yelm participated in the 6th annual Yard Bird Race. Yard Bird Race put Yelm on the birding map this year for the first time ever and created a new record. :)

"Hi, just wanted to thank you for YardBirdRacing this year. (Check out the tweeters report of today that includes as highlights the new Yelm record, btw).

Hope you have a great holiday season and another great next year!

Cheers,

Ed Newbold"

Thanks, Mr. Newbold, for sponsoring the race ~ that was alot of fun. :)

Sunny Day Wednesday

2009-12-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

Two very large flocks of geese flew East on Wednesday, December 23, 2009. There were three "V" formations and one small line. Each "V" consisted of about 30 geese and they flew side by side in two V patterns, the smallest line flew in the middle.

Does this mean that these two flocks have different "leaders"?

The Merlin/Hawk was spotted today sitting atop an electric line, in an open area, 1/8 of mile from where he/she was spotted several weeks ago. Still pale grey breast (fluffy today), flat tucked head, long thin tail, very small in stature.

Flying just two blocks North of where I live there were also two Bald Eagles circling less than 1/4 mile away from the Merlin/Hawk.

A robin visited my yard Wednesday, too along with the usual Junco's, Towhee's, Black capped chickadees, and Jays.

There was also a visit from a woodpecker, but he was too high into the trees for me to identify his profile/shadow.

It was great to see the Merlin/Hawk back, especially with the Bald Eagles flying within a very short distance from his perch.

Burien, WA had an episode on the news last night where two Bald Eagles were fighting in someone's residential backyard. I have never heard of Bald Eagles fighting before - so I found that interesting to say the least. The poor homeowner heard the ruckus from inside his home and definitely said that that THUMP wasn't a squirrel! The Bald Eagles were actually duking it out within 2 feet of the homeowners house in his backyard and may have rolled off of the roof fighting!

Silo Birds

2009-12-10T04:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, in the late afternoon about 30 minutes before dark, I noticed 2 pigeons or doves flying into a Silo on Ordway. Grey with black wing markings.

Yelm Yard Bird Race winding down

2009-12-06T09:59:00.000-08:00

December 31st will be here before I know it and with the end of the year comes the end of the first Thurston County Yelm Yard Bird Race. This year has certainly passed quickly for me.

Yard Bird Race Counties 2009

Whatcom
Thurston
San Juan
Snohomish
Skagit
Pierce
Mason
King
Jefferson
Island
Gray's Harbor
Clark

Sunning predators

2009-12-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

Unidentified bird with a black head, clinging to a tree drumming for
sap or bugs, drumming pattern of 5 or 6 stopping momentarily looking
around, back to drumming with 5 or 6 beats, black wings with a solid
white bar down its wing edges, long pointy beak, black tail - wasn't
able to see underside tail area or breast. Very small bird, but not
as small as a brown tree creeper. The only drummer this week!

A black capped chickadee does frequent a side yard feeder, while the
Junco's prefer to ground feed and flit among the evergreen branches.
Some hover. The Towhee's enjoy the bath when the ice is replaced with
water and will feed at a plate placed in the bath of millet seed.
Once it appeared that the Towhee's AND the Junco's were at the bath
togather. These Towhee's have more brown across their breast than the
illustrations in Peterson's. Usually the Towhee's will come after the
Junco's. There is one small bird, smaller than a Warbler, that has
three yellow stripes across its crown sided by black stripes who is
friendly. He hopped right up to a branch within a foot or less of me
as I replaced the bath water. There were so many birds enjoying this
bath I couldn't count them all this week! Most were a flock of
Junco's.

There were several predatory birds flying around yesterday afternoon
in the sun at an altitude of 1,500 ft. and 500 ft. and less. One Bald
Eagle flying with two other Bald Eagles. They circled for several
minutes high over the tree tops. There was a commotion of Crows that
distracted my viewing and harrassing what appeared to be the light
grey Merlin who frequented two or three weeks ago. The Merlin appears
to be in the same general location as he was the first time I spotted
him. He must be nesting nearby. It's flight pattern, much different
from that of a hawk and its wings taking a more angular shape. The
crow was able to get within two feet or less of the Merlin and was
flying in a straight line towards him when the Merlin changed
direction. It (The Merlin) darted sharply up and swiftly turned as
the Crow attempted to chase the Merlin away just above the tree tops.
After this commotion the juvenille Bald Eagle flew North just above
the tree tops and one Bald Eagle flew East. The Bald Eagles appear to
be circling over the nearby man-made lake. Looking hungry perhaps and
sunning. There were no clouds yesterday afternoon.

Repost TWET

Yelm TWEETS near and far

2009-12-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to find other Yelm birders or posts from TWEETERS that relate to the Yelm area, I searched the TWEETERS Archive from 1999 to 2009. There were 55 posts or articles on six pages. The recent posts from Yelm (yours truely).

[Tweeters] At the feeders on a cool afternoon

[Tweeters] Female Northern red shafted Flicker

[Tweeters] Cool morning made feeder a hit with added water

[Tweeters] Are there variations in Pileated woodpecker?

[Tweeters] A pair of unknown woodpeckers taking a drink

[Tweeters] What have the swallows disappeared to in Thurston County?

[Tweeters] What have the swallows disappeared to in Thurston County?

[Tweeters] Crows, windows, and puppy chow Thurston County

[Tweeters] Oregon Junco Thurston County

[Tweeters] Six Stellar Jay's 19June Thurston County

[Tweeters] Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Flock of geese heard, Oct. 22, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] A Mourning Dove Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] 25 Geese, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Townsend's Warbler, Dark Eyed Junco, and Chickadees, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Bald Eagle, Nisqually River, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Flock of 20 geese, Thurston County, Yelm, October 18

[Tweeters] Identified and unidentified birds and bills or beaks?

[Tweeters] Thursday, September 24th 5PM - Large flock in a straight line heads south of Yelm

[Tweeters] Help with bird ID please

The majority made references to areas near Yelm and NOT the specific location of Yelm. Here are the links in no particular order.

[Tweeters] Whidbey birding?

[Tweeters] RACING NEWS: will any records fall?

[Tweeters] Cooper's Hawks in Olympia

[Tweeters] What have the swallows disappeared to in Thurston County?

[Tweeters] What have the swallows disappeared to in Thurston County?

[Tweeters] Thurston County, Yelm Backyard , 7/9/09

[Tweeters] Crows, windows, and puppy chow Thurston County

[Tweeters] Pileated photo op

[Tweeters] Reprise: Pileated photo op (hopefully not ooops)

[Tweeters] RE: hybrid? - Robin feeding mother or baby or ?

[Tweeters] Re: Hummers gone

[Tweeters] RACING NEWS, cougar shot

[Tweeters] Hummingbird and shrike, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Lightpole birdnest tangle

[Tweeters] Bald Eagle Thurston County Yelm

[Tweeters] Bohemian Waxwing Thurston County Yelm

[Tweeters] Can you identify this Thurston County bird?

[Tweeters] Notes from Roy -- 3-12-2008 -- Shrike, Bluebirds, RTHA early incubation, and more

[Tweeters] My lost Peregrine

[Tweeters] "red" Fox Sparrow returns to Tenino 12/1

[Tweeters] Re: Mountain Bluebird records in Thurston Co.

[Tweeters] hooded mergansers

[Tweeters] grtr white fronted geese/eagles tri-cities

[Tweeters] update on Tenino redpoll

[Tweeters] Dec 4: Redpoll in Tenino

Yellow-br Chat makes for 9-warbler morning

Townsend's Solitaire, Olympia

RFI: Northern Bobwhite and White-tailed Kite

July 2003 turkey vulture report

Cascadia Hummingbird Report - 04/07/2003

Spring is here...or so it seems

Birding by bicycle

Collared Cackler, White Fronts, Mtn Blubrd

October 2001 turkey vulture report

Fishin' Crows

Mandarin/Wood Duck differentiation

South Sound Signs of Spring

Wood Ducks, swans, shrike

N. shrike & S. goose

Scrub Jay in SE Lacey

Washington Birdbox June 18 to June 26, 1999

Washington Birdbox June 18 to June 26, 1999

Fw: LACEY CLEAR--CUT direction:

LACEY CLEAR-CUT DIRECTION:

A few grassland birds, pied robin

Tweeters] Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Flock of geese heard, Oct. 22, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] A Mourning Dove Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] 25 Geese, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Townsend's Warbler, Dark Eyed Junco, and Chickadees, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Bald Eagle, Nisqually River, Yelm, Thurston County

[Tweeters] Flock of 20 geese, Thurston County, Yelm, October 18

[Tweeters] Identified and unidentified birds and bills or beaks?

[Tweeters] Thursday, September 24th 5PM - Large flock in a straight line heads south of Yelm

[Tweeters] 2 Marbled Murrelets

Red breasted Nuthatch

2009-11-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

The bird feeders here are strangely quiet as the Junco's prefer to ground feed now back in the area where the Merlin or Hawk flew in last week or so. A change of position from last week under brushy cover.

A Red-breasted Nuthatch visited a little known feeder here. One of this feeders first visitors since summer.

The Stellar Jays will hit the feeder near the bath so that he can eat the seed that falls - they have gobbled up 3 feeders full of seed in just a couple of days. I've since stopped using the feeder and broadcast some seed, instead. The order of the "bath": Junco's bathe, Stellar Jays (mainly to feed and do not bathe) and then the Towhee's.

There are a few different colored Junco's within the flock. Some have dark eyes and slate colored heads, others have dark black heads.

A flock of European Starlings were feeding in a field down the road and a flock of Crows feed less than a 1/4 mile from them.

I noticed one day while visiting Puyallup that there are flocks and flocks of birds roosting between the commercial signage on the roadside. I suppose that makes a good wind break and roosting between the opposing signs keeps them warmer at night.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Left

Black capped Chickadee - Right

The Nutchatch that visited the feeder, had a more prominant black stripe across his eyes. Did I mis-identify him?

Possibilities or Not ? of a Juv. Ivory Billed Woodpecker

2009-11-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, these birds will remain unidentified.

Posted today on TWET

Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:25:14 -0800

This drawing of a Ivory billed woodpecker...
http://www.birdlife.org/images/sized/200/ivory-billed_woodpecker.jpg.jpg


is the same overall shape of my unidentified woodpeckers that flew in this
summer in July.  The colors are off and I cannot gauge a size comparison to
my birds from the drawing. It would be exciting to see one or two - but I
cannot determine.

Previous post on un-identified woodpeckers:
A pair of unknown woodpeckers taking a drink
*Tue Jul 28 15:56:25 PDT 2009*
https://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/htdig/tweeters/2009-July/072131.html

Not a pair of Kingfishers.
Not a pair of Green Herons.

The overall shape=matches, shape and size of beak or bill=matches, head
crest=matches, neck size and shape=matches, and tail feathers size and
shape=matches.

*The colors are totally wrong.*

I'm going to keep exploring until I can find a match.  This one is the
closest I've come so far and it is just too incredible, but exciting to see
a close match. Learning all the while..... :)

Cornell has listed these "Cool Facts"

Cool Facts

The Cuban form of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was considered a separate species at one time. It closely resembled the bird from the United States, but it had a slightly smaller bill and the white neck stripes extended farther onto the face. It suffered the same fate as the mainland form, disappearing as the mature forests were destroyed. The last confirmed sighting was made in 1986. Some may still persist in southeastern Cuba, but it may be extinct.
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is very similar to the larger and very closely related Imperial Woodpecker of Mexico. The Imperial Woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in the world, lacked the white neck stripes and had a longer, thinner crest. It was a bird of mature pine forests, and also is likely extinct.
Bills of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker were used as decorations by native Americans and a thriving trade in them existed across much of North America. The presence of Ivory-billed Woodpecker skulls in excavations of archaeological sites outside of the known range of the woodpecker show the extent of the trade and not an ancient range for the species.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology was involved in an attempt to relocate the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Louisiana in 2002. Go here for details of that search and more information on Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. No ivory-bills were found, and a potential double-knock was determined to be gunshots. Read a report of the expedition published in BirdScope The story of the successful hunt for the species in Arkansas in 2004 and 2005 can be found here.

Measurements

Both Sexes

Length: 18.1–20.1 in 46–51 cm
Wingspan: 29.9–31.5 in 76–80 cm
Weight: 15.9–20.1 oz 450–570 g

Other Names

Le pic noir a bec blanc (French)
El carpintero real (Spanish)

Still reading further at Cornell I have found that the juvenille Ivory billed Woodpecker:

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to adult, but has shorter crest, browner plumage, and brown eyes. [THAT FITS !]

Cornell even indicates that the Pileated closely matches the description of the Ivory Billed. I am dumbfounded at the possibility. And will certainly have to investigate further....knowing that the Ivory billed is out of range, of course.

Previous post - Are there variations in Pileated woodpecker? Tue Jul 28 18:49:16 PDT 2009

Cornell also states that the historical range of the Ivory billed woodpecker DOES NOT include Washington.

Approximate boundary of the early historical range of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the United States and Cuba. Adapted from Tanner 1942 and Jackson 2004. Source: The Birds of North America Online.

If your sighting is not within one of these states, you probably saw a Pileated Woodpecker. For more information about the Pileated Woodpecker, please visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Online Bird Guide

Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas

I have a question about the historical range of a bird that was once labeled as "extinct" and "endangered"? I'm missing much information here on what the Ivory billed woodpeckers historical range entails, how this birds historical range was determined, and what methods or thought processes are formed in maintaining this "historical range" from 1942 and 2004 or throughout (1942 to 2004?) for an extinct or rarely sighted bird?. The USFW and Cornell website does not have enough information for me. The idea that there was an Ivory billed woodpecker seen in Arkansas has been viewed as "sketchy", "incredulous", etc.

What I witnessed did not fit a color description of an adult Pileated Woodpecker or a juvenile. The dark red/orange breast coloring (all the way up the neck front), does not fit a Pileated Woodpecker's description juvenile or adult. Their neck was longer, their crest not as pointed, their crest were grey/black, and the birds were LARGER than that of a Pileated. Unfortunately, these birds will remain unidentified.

USFW descriptions

 See also Cormorants! Double Crested and Pelagic!

And "Cormarants are not woodpeckers".

Fox Sparrow

2009-11-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

A Fox Sparrow hopped into the bird bath this week. He didn't mind that I stood 6' away while he was bathing, and wrestling about in the water. [Sooty]

The Merlin or Hawk has not re-appeared in the past few days. There are at least two squirrel nests that I should watch, too, just in case squirrels are not living in them!

The Junco's have taken to feeding in a thicker brush cover, than earlier this week.

I did happen to notice a lone gull flying north and east over the canal, which I thought odd. I have never noticed a gull in the City of Yelm and to see a gull flying over small tree tops and a field North of Yelm, just felt out of place.

There are several water bodies within 10 miles or more of Yelm:

YELM OUTSKIRT AREA LAKES

N=LEWIS LAKE
NNE=MUCK LAKE CHAMBERS LAKE DOLLMAN LAKE SHAVER LAKE 

S=GOODWIN LAKE LAWRENCE LAKE
SE=HARTS LAKE  LITTLE LAKE TULE LAKE
SW=GERHKE LAKE INMAN LAKE McINTOSH LAKE

E=(IN ROY=LAKE S. or C.)STIDHAM LAKE TANWAX LAKE CLEAR LAKE KAPOWSIN LAKE TWIN LAKE BYRON LAKE 


W=FAGAN LAKE FT LEWIS FIANDER LAKE

More info on Fox Sparrow:

Kingdom Animalia  -- Animal, animals, animaux   
     Phylum Chordata  -- chordates, cordado, cordés   
        Subphylum Vertebrata  -- vertebrado, vertebrates, vertébrés   
           Class Aves  -- Birds, oiseaux   
              Order Passeriformes  -- passereaux, Perching Birds   
                 Family Emberizidae  -- American Sparrows, Buntings, Emberizid Finches, New World Sparrows, Towhees   
                    Genus Passerella Swainson, 1837 -- Fox Sparrows   
                       Species Passerella iliaca (Merrem, 1786) -- bruant fauve, Fox Sparrow, Gorrión rascador



http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5850id.html

http://thebirdguide.com/fox/fox.htm

Merlin or Hawk and migration

2009-11-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

BirdWeb's classification system for abundance when left BLANK - "Has occurred less than annually (if at all) in very small numbers or at great intervals." Determinations of abundance or frequency are not solely reflected by a singular birding guide and, in fact, abundance and frequency in general may not be addressed for each of the subspecies of Merlin excepting migration and breeding.

Merlins are commonly found throughout western Washington, including urban areas, in winter and during migration. -BirdWeb

Upon searching the Archives, a post from December 13, 2007, [URL ref: FRG] indicated that Richardson's Merlin in Western Washington is "pretty rare". The Richardson's Merlin was also referenced as the "Prairie Parkland" in this post. [ Boreal ref. Tiaga URL.]

Most posts searched in the Archives reference the Taiga Merlin, a brown colored Merlin, which is decidedly the most common, as is the black in Western Washington. A post from British Columbia ref. "Merlin Prairie Falcon"? I believed the Prairie Falcon to be different from that of a Merlin of three varieties: [ typonymic, subspecific, color description] Prairie - richardsonii, a very light grey; Pacific or Black- suckleyii, and Taiga - columbaris, brown. The Archives and have found 27 references to the Richardson's variety, 76 references to the Taiga variety. The only Archive post for term Merlin suckleyii URL. Merlin Pacific 517 or Merlin Black 1242.

At 12 feet from the bird, my visualization of its wing shape and flight pattern indicated strongly that this bird was not a hawk. But, I could be wrong. I did not get to see his head, eyes or full breast, as his head was tucked and facing away from me and he was quick! He swooped in from either the top of a nearby tree or from above the tree. I did not see him until he was 1/2 of the way down the side of the trunk, 10 feet above the ground. He flew nearly parallel and vertically to the tree trunk where he flew forward 6ft and likely scooped up a Junco 2 ft off of the ground. A small group of 15-20 Junco's were feeding in this lightly treed area. Another group of 10 or so Juncos were feeding 30ft away in another lightly treed, brushy spot. An alert was called that sounded like a Steller's Jay. I thought the alert was due to the squirrel that had wandered inside the group's feeding area. I saw a flash of his underside after he gained my attention, which was fluffy and white on his undertail as he picked up a Junco or ? tip toed and stretched out his legs mid-air for nothing? He then flew sharply to his right 6ft. which was directly in front of me by much less than 12 feet and was 3ft off of the ground. He had smooth feathers on his backside which were a very very light shade of grey. He sharply turned left again for 8ft or so where he finally turned again right picking up altitude all the while from 3ft off of the ground to 5' to 8ft where he flew outside of my vision. I will have to study Sharp-shinned hawks much further, obviously.

"To get a positive ID, you'd need to see all five tails bands (all five bordered by dark), the presence of anterior barring on the outermost primary and complete barring on the second most distal spot on the posterior vane of the outermost primary."

"Wheeler and Clark's Photographic Guide lists male sharp-shinned's as being 9-11 inches long, and weighing 3-4 ounces. They show a nice picture of the back view on page 34, photo SS05."

"Kate Davis, Falcons of North America (2008) lists a male Merlin as 9 to 11 inches long as well, and weighs 5.6 to 6 ounces. So if one were looking for the smaller of the two, the sharp-shinned actually weighs a good bit less."

There was this recent post from the Archives which held a link for photographs of Merlin's. There are others that were sent to me in emails that I will have to dig out and place links to here, as well as book references for hawks and raptors.

"Hawks in Flight" URL
Raptors of western North America by Brian K Wheeler, Princeton University Press
Kate Davis, Falcons of North America (2008)

The mapped area presented as a guide on BirdWeb suggest that the migration of (Tiaga) Merlin more closely matches the central area of Washington along the western most portion of the mountain range and does not include a migratory range of Thurston County for the Richardson's variety, but the brown Tiaga migration into "the US, Central America, and northern South America." [Prairie Merlins occur in the state, passing through in migration. -BirdWeb] The Patuxent Center indicates that the Prairie Merlin, "Breeder and resident in prairies of south-central Canada and the upper Midwest of the United States with some moving south to New Mexico." What is 50 miles to a bird that travels from Canada to Central America or Mexico during migration?

Given the little guide information that I have absorbed through 5 birding guides and BirdWeb I can say that the migratory pattern's of the Tiaga Merlin have been studied, somewhat?, whereas the Prairie Richardson's variety has not much information on migration in the birding guides. I will have to keep studying to determine. It it also good to note that the varieties interbreed in Canada. [ref. Canada, Merlin, TWET].

[*Contrary to BirdWeb, the Merlin is not Uncommon West of the Cascades per Tweeters Alerts Admin. Nov. 14, 2009 http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?value=search&id=112
UNCOMMON meaning=" Found in small numbers, and usually—but not always—found with some effort in appropriate habitat at the right time of year".]

Merlin

2009-11-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

As I was watching an assortment of Junco's feed, a Merlin swooped in flying low to the ground with arched wings. He was grey with four white stripes on his very long square tail. - November 12, 2009 near dusk.

It was quite exciting to see a Merlin considering the number of Junco's that were around just before dark. One Junco had just chirped out in alarm that was somewhat ignored. A resident squirrel, who also frequents that particular feeding area, had just wandered in looking for food and may have been used as part of a distraction so that the Merlin could feed on a tasty Junco. I am not aware if Merlin's hunt using distractions? The Merlin was quite low to the ground at less than two feet - so the likelihood is great that he snatched a Junco. Not much else around that he would enjoy - I imagine that it appeared a feast with the number of Junco's available at over 15 Junco's with in 3ft-10ft of his "swoop" and another 10 Junco's 20ft-30ft away opposite.

I don't believe that it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk due to the overall grey coloring of the back of the bird, the smoothness of its wing feather tips/shape, the four white stripes across its tail feathers and its tail feather shape, its overall size was quite small - considering most predators. I was within 30 feet and quite shocked that something other than a crow would swoop around me and a few 4ft trees/bushes so agilely and with much speed!

This Merlin was very light grey, unlike most of the examples in two different book titles. I have issue with both titles in their descriptions of the light grey form of Merlin (F. c. suckleyi) - as described by : 1) Birds of Washington State by Bell and Kennedy and 2) Western Birds by Roger Peterson.

Unfortunately, I did not view the underside of this bird or its tucked head.

Peterson describes the prairie form as "paler, lacking mustaches." and the Coastal NW form as "dusky, lacking light eyebrow stripe." However, the identification photos list a brown "columbarius", a dark grey/black "richordsonii" and two forms of "suckleyi" one grey the other very light grey.

Bell and Kennedy in the title, Birds of Washington State, has a coloring description that confuses me further by indicating that the [quote] "Black Merlin" (F. C. suckleyi) is most often seen along the coast and inland in western regions. The less dark "Taiga Merlin" (F. C. columbarius) is seen mostly east of the Cascades. The paler "Prairie Merlin" (F. C. richardsonii) may occur rarely in eastern Washington." [endquote].

Birds of Washington State indiciates "columbarius" as the "Tiaga Merlin" which is less dark than that of the "suckleyi" or "Black Merlin". Peterson's title, Western Birds, offers a clearer example of "suckleyi" as being the lightest grey of all Merlin's.

The two descriptions of "richardsonii" and "suckleyii" rival one another.

I had ruled out an accipitor due to this birds tightly formed, smoothly lying wing tip feathers that formed a sharp angle. The bird was witnessed while swooping and tightly turning with its wings held in a very specific arch whereby its wing tip feathers formed a tight downward angle leaving no spaces between its wing tip or wing edge feathers. Am I wrong to say that it wasn't an accipitor due to its wing feather tips forming a tight mass, but not held to its breast? I believed accipitors to have spaces between their wing tip feathers and have a more rounded appearance.

The Junco's were not at a bird feeder, but in a patch of lightly treed ground (ie "feeding area") There is a field a short distance from
this feeding area, where I have also found predated dead birds, and have seen falcons flying overhead (wing tips in flight differ from an
accipitor) . This is in close proximity to a densely wooded area with many felled and cavity filled deadwood trees. All with a modest range of the Nisqually River and Walden Creek.

Merlin Photo - how beautiful! The bird I witnessed was a much lighter shade of grey and had a very very long square tail with four bars of white, where the end of its tail feathers was also barred white. This photo depicts a short tail in comparison, but its feather composition seems to match (very fine - compact feathers).

http://www.tubbsphoto.com/-/tubbsphoto/detail.asp?photoID=6949450&cat=38975

Sharp Shinned Hawk - the tail does match the length of my bird, but its feather composition appears too large and not as finely composed as my bird.

http://www.tubbsphoto.com/-/tubbsphoto/detail.asp?photoID=5731172&cat=38975

Contrary to BirdWeb, the Merlin is not Uncommon West of the Cascades per Tweeters Alerts Admin. Nov. 14, 2009
http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?value=search&id=112

New watercolours after 21yrs, 1st 2 hour bird study

2009-11-07T11:54:00.000-08:00

Orange Crowned Warbler, Black Capped Chickadee, Townsend's Warbler, Juv. Brown Creeper, Stellar's Jay

This is a quick 2hr watercolour that was painted this weekend. The last time I used this medium was 21 years ago. lol

Cats Indoors

2009-10-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

FROM FILE URL
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(PSAs), an Educator's Guide for Grades K-6, and two Power Point presentations. Most materials can be downloaded from the Web site:
www.abcbirds.org/cats/catsindoors

Thousands of groups and individuals are conducting Cats Indoors! Campaigns in their area or state. This activist guide highlights a few initiatives, and offers tips on how to conduct a Cats Indoors! Campaign in your area.

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SUCCESS STORIES
Local Education Campaigns
The Humane Society for Seattle/King Co., Progressive Animal Welfare Society, Seattle Audubon Society, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle Animal Control, King County Wildlife Program, and ABC formed the Puget Sound Cats Indoors Coalition. A new brochure was produced using local information and resources. The brochures are being distributed to the public through festivals, veterinarians, and animal shelters.

Local media has covered the issue. Action: Find local partners and conduct an education campaign in your area.

State-wide Campaigns
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Nongame Wildlife Program (MNDNR) are conducting state-wide Cats Indoors! Campaigns. Part-time coordinators have distributed
thousands of brochures and posters to veterinarians, humane societies, animal control agencies, wildlife rehabilitators, and nature centers throughout their state. The FFWCC also produced their own brochure, Impacts of Feral and Free-Ranging Domestic Cats on Wildlife in Florida. The MNDNR issued a state-wide press
release and distributed the TV PSA to major TV stations. Both agencies have Web pages on cats and a link to ABC's Cats Indoors! Web page.

Action: Encourage your state wildlife agency to adopt the
campaign, distribute materials, publish articles in their
publications, and create Web pages on the issue.

Page 3
SUCCESS STORIES
Media Campaigns
Each year, ABC and Wild Bird Centers of America co-sponsor National Keep Your Cat Indoors Day on the second Saturday in May in conjunction with International Migratory Bird Day. A children's poster competition is held to help publicize the event, and to teach kids that it is better for cats and wildlife when cats are kept indoors. ABC issues national press releases announcing the event and the winners. The releases and posters can be viewed and downloaded from our Web site. To celebrate the day in Los Alamos, NM, campaign supporters produced a display for their local library, and got their county commissioners to pass a resolution
endorsing the day.

Action: Use these press releases to advertise the event and the issue in your area. Ask your county commissioners to pass a resolution endorsing Cats Indoors!
County Park Campaigns Populations of stray and feral cats can be a problem in parks and other natural areas because people abandon their pets there. If park managers
do not remove the cats immediately, the cat population can quickly explode, as happened in some Miami-Dade County parks in Florida. To deal with a growing problem, the Board of Commissioners strengthened the laws against abandoning and feeding animals, and authorized staff to humanely remove nuisance animals. Cat advocates, who fed cats in the parks for years, strongly objected. ABC, Tropical Audubon Society and others formed the Natural Areas Coalition of South Florida to support the new legislation. Cats from the park have been humanely trapped and are being kept in an outdoor cat sanctuary pending adoption. Cats are no longer fed in the parks.

Action: If stray and feral cats are a problem in your local parks, ask park staff and commissioners to pass and enforce ordinances that prohibit feeding and abandoning animals, and to enforce anti-litter laws. Volunteer to trap the cats and take them to a shelter. Educate the public on the cruelty of abandoning pets and the need to remove the cats from the park. Support the park's efforts in the media.

Page 4
SUCCESS STORIES
National Park Campaigns
Stray and feral cats were killing endangered Piping Plover, Least Tern, Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher and other shorebirds that nest on the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The National Park Service (NPS) hired a biologist to humanely trap the cats and take them to a local shelter. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, they also hired a coordinator to conduct a Cats Indoors! Campaign for residents and tourists. Education materials were developed highlighting
local information on cats and birds, and were distributed with campaign brochures and posters to veterinarians, animal shelters, and public officials in communities along the shoreline. Staff visited area schools, and published articles on
the issue.

Action: If cats are a problem in a national park near you, encourage the park to conduct a similar campaign, and publicly support their efforts.
Local Ordinance Campaigns Complaints about cats getting into garbage, and spraying
prompted a campaign supporter in Viroqua, WI to bring up the need for a cat leash law at a city council meeting. The activist made copies of Cats Indoors! materials from ABC's Web site and gave them to every council member. She also circulated a
petition for signature. The public safety committee drafted the legislation, which was approved by the council.

Action: If there is a cat overpopulation problem in your community, ask your city or county commissioners to pass cat control ordinances. For more information, please see the fact sheets: Cat Licensing; Get the Facts About Cat Law; and The Importance of Local Cat Ordinances.

Page 5
Coalitions: The Sum is Greater Than the Parts
As you can see, whether you are working at the local or state level, establishing a Cats Indoors! coalition may be your first and most important step. Partnerships enable sharing the work, and help give your campaign more clout. Give your coalition a name to show backing, stability, and continuity.

Identify, inform, and ask for the involvement of groups and individuals with a natural interest in the campaign, such as conservation groups, bird and garden clubs, veterinarians, humane societies, animal control agencies, wildlife rehabilitators, nature centers, and state or local wildlife agencies. College students and faculty members, especially those in wildlife resources or environmental studies, may provide an excellent source for leaders and volunteers.
Humane societies may join your coalition because free-roaming cats are at greater risk of suffering and premature death. If your objective includes animal control legislation, the active involvement of humane societies is essential. However, if you are addressing the problem of people feeding stray cats, these groups may or may not help, or may be your primary opposition. However, you may be able to agree to
disagree on the issue of feral cats, but work together on the issue of cat owners
keeping their cats indoors, spayed or neutered, and never abandoned.

Coalition Ground Rules
Once your coalition is formed:
Establish and articulate goals, objectives, strategies, time lines, and budgets.
Agree on procedures for clearing public statements and communicating among partners.

Define and assign tasks.
Meet regularly and communicate through other means such as e-mail.
Acknowledge and thank coalition partners for their efforts during and after the
campaign.

Communicate with ABC to find out what’s going on elsewhere, but also to share your
good ideas with others.

Page 6
Develop Your Case - The Very First Step
Presenting solid and compelling data is the first step in altering entrenched beliefs and behaviors. ABC's Cats Indoors! education materials will support your effort. However, addressing this issue at local and state levels also requires
information specific to your situation. The following are some suggestions:
Identify the natural attributes of your community or state, such as species of resident and migratory birds, or threatened or endangered animals vulnerable to cat predation. Define specific problems in parks or beach areas; and document incidents of cat predation on wildlife. Many parks have an inventory of wildlife occurring there. Factor the economics of birding in your community or state into your local case for support.

Analyze cat overpopulation and related problems in your area. Become familiar with existing laws and regulations affecting cats and wildlife and how well they are working. Find out how many cats: enter local shelter(s) each year; are stray; are
reclaimed by owners; are adopted or euthanized; and how many nuisance calls are generated about cats. Build a catalogue of local stories, problems and case studies
that support your position.

Page 7
Campaign Components
Issue campaigns usually have four components:
Campaign Agenda: with education, policy, research, and action goals Communications: getting the word out Mobilizing the grassroots: letter writing, telephone calls, rallies.

Fundraising: covering the costs
Campaign Agenda
Campaign plans have to be realistic and reflect the resources activists can muster and their capacities overall to conduct local campaigns. Objectives may include elements of any of the previously mentioned campaigns. Keep in mind that you may need to respond to an initiative from another source, e.g. an animal control agency proposal to regulate free-roaming cats.

Whether appearing before a local parks authority or testifying before the state legislature, knowledge of how the public authority operates and the advocacy skills needed are vital. Coalition partners and grassroots manuals such as those listed here can be very helpful. Information from organizations who have experience in working with the decision making body also can be very useful.

Communications
The capacity to do public relations and media work to create public support is crucial. If a coalition partner cannot supply this essential expertise, grassroots organizing manuals including those referenced in this fact sheet provide good guidance. Media can include major news stories, opinion pieces, radio or television interviews, articles in group newsletters, or letters to the editor of local papers. Make use of the campaign print, radio, and TV PSAs available from ABC, and please share your press.

A word of caution: media coverage on this issue can be problematic. This issue can be emotional, and reporters may use it to pit cats vs. birds or else incorrectly reflect the conservation or cruelty issue. This is why it’s important to have compelling documentation about cat predation, hazards to cats who roam free (see Cats Indoors! materials), and to seek out reporters interested in conservation.

Page 8
Mobilizing the Grassroots
Decision makers can be swayed by the number of people they hear from and who
these people are. In addition to core support from coalition members, visits to
individual decision makers, and testifying at hearings, it may be useful to
organize letter-writing campaigns, phone call blitzes, and even rallies. The
bibliography includes guides for grassroots organizing techniques.

Fundraising
Many effective grassroots campaigns are run on very small budgets. Costs may
be incidental, e.g., postage. Fundraising can be labor-intensive. Seek out in-kind
and cash contributions and fundraising help from organizational partners. Many
grassroots organizing manuals offer excellent suggestions for small fundraising
activities, and fundraising events can also help build awareness of the issue.

Sources of Information for Organizing:
Following are resources on how to organize for change in your community which
can be found in libraries, book stores, the INTERNET, or from the organizations
listed.

Alinsky, S.D. 1971. Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals.
Vintage Books. New York. 196 pp.
Bobo, K., J. Kendall, S. Max. 1991. Organizing for Social Change: A Manual for
Activists in the 1990s. Seven Locks Press, Cabin John, MD. 271 pp.
Also, please see the following web sites:
“The Virtual Activist”: www.netaction.org/training/
“The Foundation Center”: www.foundationcenter.org
“The National Database of Non-profit Organizations." www.guidestar.org

For more information, contact:
AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY
CATS INDOORS! THE CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER BIRDS AND CATS
1731 Connecticut Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202/234-7181; Fax: 202/234-7182; E-mail: abc@abcbirds.org; Web si

Cats indoors and feral cats

2009-10-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

Felines fatales
Cats indoors!

Christmas Bird Count

2009-10-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

2009 / 2010 Washington State Christmas Bird Counts
Monday, December 14, 2009, through Tuesday, January 5, 2010
information@wos.org

Spotted Towhee and Steller's Jay

2009-10-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

My suet, and bird feeders are taking a beating from the local Steller Jays. I did manage to sneak a peek at a Towhee yesterday. The Jays, I believe are chasing away other birds at my feeders. They have really dominated my feeders in the past few days.
I noticed a few ducks at the pond that looked like Canadian Geese.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

2009-10-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

This bird flew in and landed right beside me on this tree trunk. He then flew to the backside of the tree line and was followed by another sapsucker. I was really lucky to get a photo.

Bird Books

2009-10-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

The New York Times Book of Birds, Edited by Nicolas Wade, The Lyons
Press, c. 2001- Originally published title: The Science Times Book of
Birds.

Birding Washington, by Rob and Natalie McNair-Huff, A FalconGuide, The
Globe Pequot Press, c. 2005.

Backyard Birds of Washington, How to Identify and Attract the Top 25
Birds, by Bill Fenimore, Gibbs Smith, c. 2009.

A Birder’s Guide to Washington, by Hall Opperman with contributions
from WOS, American Birding Association, c. 2003.

Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, National
Geographic, Ed. by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer, c. 2008.

Birds of Washington State, by Brian Bell, Lone Pine Publishing, c. 2006.

The Photographic Guide to Birds of the World, Ed. Dr. Andrew Gosler,
Mallard Press, c. 1991.

Sibley Field Guide to the Birds of western North America, by David
Allen Sibley, Alfred A. Knopf, c. 2003.

Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America, by Ted Floyd,
Scott & Nix - Harper Collins Publishers, c. 2008.

Western Birds, by Roger Tory Peterson, The Peterson Field Guide
Series, Houghton Mifflin, Co., c. 1990.

Birds of the Puget Sound, by Bob Morse Tom Aversa Hall Opperman, R. W.
Morse Co., c. 2003.

Thistle Feeder

2009-10-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

I put out a thistle feeder, which was snubbed by my chickadees. I am hoping to see a finch or two but it seems rather late The chickadees have ravaged the back feeder twice in one weeks time and infrequently enjoy the side feeders.

Yelm’s Tree Board, Tree Program and Greenhouse

2009-10-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Why wasn’t the OAK planted in Yelm? The Yelm City Plan should NOW include Thurston County’s Conservation Ordinance.

YELM TREE ADVISORY BOARD
The City of Yelm is dedicated to protecting and enhancing its urban forest. In 1996 the City of Yelm created the Yelm Tree Advisory Board (YTAB). The Board performed a street tree inventory and evaluation, and created an ordinance for the protection of trees and vegetation in the City, and conservation during development. The City of Yelm has been a Tree City USA since 1996, and has been awarded the Arbor Day Growth Award for the years 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005. The Tree Board also created the City of Yelm 5-Year Urban Forestry Strategic Plan, for 1998 – 2002. The plan was updated for another 5 years, resulting in the 5-Year Urban Forestry Strategic Plan for 2004-2008. The plan has been an invaluable tool for the City and the YTAB, insuring the care and maintenance of City trees, keeping the Tree Board active in the community, raising awareness of the importance of an urban forest, and seeking monetary support.
The Yelm Tree Advisory Board meets the last monday of every other month at 4:00 P.M. at the Yelm City Hall.

City of Yelm Tree Advisory Board Mission Statement

The Yelm Tree Board is empowered to:

Contribute to and maintain a comprehensive community tree management program for the care and establishment of trees on public property;
Promote proper tree maintenance;
Advocate no net loss of the community’s urban forestry canopy;
Make recommendations to the City Council concerning ordinances, rules, and regulations that pertain to trees on public and private property that best serve the interest of the community;
Obtain public testimony and/or input as deemed necessary;
Promote public education about trees;
Develop innovative and joint funding for an urban forestry program from a variety of sources.
Current Yelm Tree Advisory Board members are:
Shawn Batstone
Kristin Blalack
Glen Cunningham
John Graver
Ashley Hetzel
Tim Peterson
Rick Roberts

Kevin McFarland, City Forester
Nisha Box, Assistant Planner
TREE PROGRAM
ADOPT-A-TREE
Adopt-A-Tree is the Yelm Tree Advisory Board’s (YTAB) fund raising campaign. The YTAB is working closely with the City of Yelm to raise funds to help maintain and improve Yelm’s urban forest.

What is an Urban Forest?

The land in and around a community, occupied or potentially occupied by trees, is an urban forest. This land includes parks, public planting strips, and trees on private property. In general, the urban forest is made up of all the trees in a community.

A Separate Fund

All the money raised through the Adopt-A-Tree program goes into a special fund, dedicated solely to urban forestry programs in Yelm. 100% of all donations will go to such activities as the purchase of trees, plantings, corrective pruning, and public education on the proper care and maintenance of trees.

Recognizing Your Contribution

The City of Yelm and the YTAB know the importance of Citizen and Business Community support in making Yelm a livable community. To thank you for your support, Adopt-A-Tree donors will be invited to the annual Arbor Day Celebration, hosted by the City and the YTAB, where donors will be recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation.

A list of donors will also be published in the Nisqually Valley News (approx. 4,000 circulation.)

How to Donate

For more information on donating to the Yelm Adopt-A-Tree / Memorial Tree program, contact Yelm City Hall, 105 Yelm Avenue West/PO Box 479, Yelm WA 98597, 360-458-3835. Your donation is tax deductible and you will be given a receipt.

Note: Checks and money orders can be mailed or submitted at City Hall. Cash donations may only be accepted at City Hall.

MEMORIAL TREE PROGRAM
Trees provide community benefits, and are a source of beauty as we go about our daily lives. They also provide a living link to our past.

Special People or Occasions

The Memorial Tree Program encourages tree donations to honor, memorialize, or celebrate a special person, place, or event. Examples include:

Births
Celebrate a special day
Weddings
Anniversaries
Memorials
New Buildings
Congratulations
Thank You
Graduations
Just Because
Reunions
Arbor Day
Special Achievements
For the Beauty of…
Location

Memorial Trees will be planted on City of Yelm property, including available spaces in parks, rights-of-way, or near City buildings. The City Forester will consult with City departments, to determine the best site for posterity.

Maintenance and Guarantee

Your donation covers all costs for planting and aftercare. Your tree will come under the regular care of the city staff. The City will provide mulching, watering, staking, pruning and other maintenance as needed. Trees which fail to thrive for any reason within five years of planting will be replaced.

Recognizing Your Contribution

All donations will be entered in Yelm’s Memorial Tree Register, kept at City Hall. This will record, for future generations, the person or event being celebrated, the date of the donation, and the donor. All donors will also receive a Memorial Tree Recognition Certificate.

Memorial Tree donations are accepted any time of the year, and a tree will be planted during the appropriate planting season. Your contribution of $50 or more, will cover the cost to plant and care for a tree normally at least 1.50 inches in diameter. In addition, donations of any amount may be earmarked for future tree projects. Donations are tax-deductible; please consult your tax advisor.

Your Memorial Tree will serve as a long term living memory to the past, growing in stature and beauty with each passing year, and improving our quality of life. There is no better investment in our surroundings.

NEIGHBORHOOD TREE GRANT PROGRAM
Imagine the City of Yelm as a city where every street is lined with trees. Since 2001, the Yelm Tree Advisory Board has offered free trees to citizens and neighborhoods within the City Limits of Yelm, who would like to beautify their streets with trees. Trees soften the hard edges of a city landscape, beautify neighborhoods, and clean the air of pollutants. Planting trees now ensures our children a greener city in the future. In its short lifespan, the Neighborhood Tree Grant Program has already provided 63 trees in 3 neighborhoods, at no cost to the recipients.

General Application Requirements:

Area for planting must be in City of Yelm, City-owned right-of-way, in the planting strips along the street, or the entrance into a development.
Streets must have a lack of trees, or a need for more.
Recipients are to sign a pledge and maintenance agreement to ensure proper care. A spring maintenance training may be required.
Applications must be submitted to the City of Yelm, Community Development Department.
Yes, it’s that easy!

As trees need to be planted in the Fall, newspaper articles and requests to submit applications for trees begin to appear in the Nisqually Valley News, and the Hawthorn Herald, around September and/or October. Once you see the notices and/or ads to apply, you should talk to your neighbors, distribute flyers, or make phone calls to find out how many people would like to beautify their streets with trees. Then submit an application.

Once applications are submitted, the Tree Board will schedule an inspection of all potential sites. They will then identify those neighborhoods that are to receive trees. Planting locations must be approved by the City of Yelm, and the Yelm Tree Board. The City will notify you of any changes to your request. You will receive an award letter from the Yelm Tree Advisory Board if you qualify to receive trees. Trees will be delivered to your site and City staff and Tree Board Members will be there to help plant the tree(s)! Neighborhood volunteers, or property owners are responsible for watering and maintaining the trees. This contribution is your “match” to the project.

YELM AVENUE HAWTHORNS
The YTAB and the City of Yelm have identified the Hawthorn Trees gracing Yelm Avenue as the first area to benefit from funds raised by the Adopt-A-Tree program. Originally planted in 1936, these trees have long been an important part of the City. Unfortunately, many of the Yelm Avenue Hawthorns are in poor health, suffering from the ill effects of improper pruning and/or disease. The Hawthorns will need special care over the next few years to bring them back to health. In addition, some trees will need to be removed and replaced with more resilient strains of Hawthorns.

Greenhouse
YELM TREE NURSERY & GREENHOUSE
The City of Yelm’s Tree Nursery and Greenhouse is a 4500 square foot area, located on the southwest corner of the Public Works Facility site. The construction of the nursery was a one-year special project, funded by a grant from the Department of Natural Resources under the Urban & Community Forestry Program, and contributions from the City of Yelm in 1999-2000. Horticulture and agriculture students from Yelm High School worked with City staff and other community members to install a watering system and then set young trees in the nursery to gain size and strength before being set out in plantings. Since that time, the nursery has been the home of many of the trees used in our Neighborhood Tree Grant Program, as well as many trees planted in our City parks and public rights-of-way.

Most certainly not a Kestral, but a Bohemian Waxwing

2009-10-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

This wasn’t the Kestral I thought it to be, but a Bohemian Waxwing that landed in my rose bramble! He may have been looking for left over hips. The cardinal like plume and red/white spotted wings gives him away, even though he wears a mask.

According to the Seattle Audobon, this Bohemian Waxwing has not been recorded in the West Cascades. Well, he showed up in Thurston County today, folks!

“In some years they extend farther west into the Columbia Basin (Cle Elum and Ellensburg), and can rarely be seen west of the Cascades.”

I dunno? Did I see a rare bird in the West Cascades?

My bird had an orange head with orange breast and red and white spots towards the edge of his wing tips.

Many tweeters have been so helpful in identifying the four European Starlings today.

Yelm Community Wildlife Habitat

2009-10-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

Yelm Backyard and Community Wildlife Habitat

Quail, Flicker, Grey Squirrels

2009-10-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

A large number of quail are living in the briars and were seen in the field.

A flicker has visited on several days in the backyard and was heard in a tree towards the Southern most side. Usually, flickers are noticed on the Northeastern side only.

Squirrels are attacking my bird feeding station and the suet feeder. I moved the suet feeder so that it would be more of a challenge for them. There are three grey squirrels and a two large nests here.

I found a chestnut buried in the dirt. It was a rather large chestnut, too. I wonder when it was buried as the chestnut was still tender on the inside. I can’t imagine a squirrell packing that chestnut all the way over here to bury it. I have not noticed any nearby chestnut trees. I will have to investigate.

A flock of unidentified birds were visiting this week. Medium sized grey wings, black spotted/orange-red spotted breast, and usually are seen in the trees undercover. About 20 of them were feeding on the lawn after the dog and I took a walk. I’ve noticed this type bird in the bushes/trees earlier, but it has never come out of the tree line.

There have been flocks of European Starlings that are flying noisily from tree to tree.

Cats, cats and more cats

2009-09-28T12:37:00.001-07:00

In the past week there were five wandering stray cats…..Nothing says bad birding day like a stray cat. arrrrghhhh

Prairie and Oak Habitat

2009-09-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

Thurston County Continues Efforts to Protect Native Prairie and Oak Habitat. Read more http://ow.ly/pSC0

Beneath the Garry Oak

2009-09-11T12:35:00.001-07:00

Surfing for more information or updated information about Garry Oaks in WA I came across this blog post dated in February of this year. I missed this and was really pleased to read about this effort underway by the WA State Senators Jacobsen and Kline.

What surprised me was this really neat poem that was written:

Beneath the Garry Oak
D. R. Thysell, January 21, 2004

From the Fraser through the Puget Trough and down Columbia way,
Up the Willamette, across the Rogue, around San Francisco Bay.
In seas of green were islands, of camas and crimson and gold.
This was the land of the Garry Oak, its story here is told.

Once, it wasn’t long ago, a very few hundred years.
Yes, once, up and down the coast, before the hungry pioneers.
In seas of green were islands, where salmon and oak did abound,
And meadows and savannahs and the baffling Mima mounds.

But we live our lives the best we can beneath the Garry Oak.
Day after swiftly changing day of questioning and hope.
The woodlands, once so plentiful, now fading into memory,
Living our lives the best we can beneath the Garry Oak.

From Victoria and the San Juan Isles to near Los Angeles.
Up and over the Cascade crest far from the ocean breeze.
In seas of green were islands, where kinsmen gathered, it seems.
Beneath and because of the Garry Oak, and salmon-filled emerald streams.

Not so very long ago the woodlands transformed.
Prairies to pasture, changes now faster than evolutionary norm.
In seas of green are islands invaded, engulfed, and ignored.
Beneath the oaks lies a challenging question: “Can they be restored?”

But we’ll live our lives the best we can beneath the Garry Oak.
Year after rapidly changing year of struggle and of hope.
The meadows hemmed with ancient oaks now vanishing beneath the sea
Of green, yet what of the acorn cache beneath the Garry Oak?

When western shores were settled, about ten thousand years ago.
The Garry Oak abided, where, exactly, we’ll probably never know.
In seas of green were islands that fire certainly spawned.
Flames on the prairies combating Doug-fir, oak’s long indispensable bond.

The oaks have stood the test of time till not so long ago.
Canopies that for centuries held wonders we’ll now never know.
If just one ancient oak could talk, what would it have to say?
Or should, instead, we question who would listen, here, today?
The oaks would surely ask us who would listen here, today.

But we’re living our lives the best we can beneath the Garry Oak.
Centuries and centuries of agonizing hope.
Barely free from ice’s grip, on gravelly plain and precipice.
Living its life the best it can: the stately Garry Oak.

From the Fraser through the Puget Trough and down Columbia Way.
And if just one ancient oak could talk, what would it have to say?
This is the land of the Garry Oak, its story now is told.

SB 5064

It has been said that the Garry Oak was so named after a man by the name of Nicolas Garry of the Hudson Bay Company around or between 1822-1835.

35 more acorns to oaks

2009-09-11T12:35:00.000-07:00

35 - 39 more acorns were potted and planted this week. These seeds may or may not produce actual Garry Oak trees. The acorns that were potted last year formed a better root system, had greener leaves, and appeared stronger overall than the acorns that were planted in their intended growing spot. Four more acorns were taken from town and planted in pots to sit in what is left of this summer. Summer it seems has been extended to include this week. The temps here will be in the high 70’s to 80’s.

3 out of 9 = 33%

2009-09-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Found! Another acorn finally sprouted!

That makes three out of nine acorns and 33% of the plantings took root. Seed collection has begun with two handfuls of acorns passing the float test.

This is where the acorns are soaked for 24 hours and the weak float and are fed to the squirrels.

A review - GOERT: Gardening & Restoration: Planting & Caring for Garry Oak Trees

garryoak.txt

This is the ONLY sample listed from Yelm, WA taken in 1891 of a Garry Oak:

Ex Herbarium Young Naturalists’ Society

14.

Quercus garryana Dougl. (Fagaceae)

Det. #1 by G. N. Jones. USA, Washington,

Thurston County: Yelm.

46.94222° N, -122.60472° W, WGS 84, Gref. program

Origin: Native;

Specimen Fertility: Cones C.V.P., 1119. 1 Sep, 1891.

WTU-5872

See file

And the University of Washington Herbarium

Seed collection was from midway mark on Canal Road S. E. Some seeds were green some appeared older. Acorns are forming now, and are not quite ready to drop. Most acorns are still attached, and only dropped after this past weeks rain and wind. There are several oaks on this roadside and many are too young to form acorns, yet. Someone in the past month or so has wrecked at this location. Several large pieces of glass were found at this location along with much trash and debris either from blown garbage, wreckless littering, or construction.

California Quail

2009-08-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

Three quail were spotted just around the corner yesterday.

August 6th sighting

2009-08-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

I am still trying to identify a very small grey bird with large white splotches on its back. It had a very slim tail and a long beak, too. I sent a request to Tweeters today in hopes that this visitor could be identified. I’m sure that I’ve seen a photograph of this one before, but I cannot place it - especially since the graphics card went out on this puter this week.

Downey Woodpecker

2009-08-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

A Downy Woodpecker just flew in along with three Northern Flickers.

Regular bath

2009-08-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

There are two shy birds that have been frequenting my bath, lately. They have a brown and black spotted breast with a long tail and black head, back and wings. They hop from branch to branch and have been seen attempting to feed at the feeder. Yesterday one of these birds smacked the feeder and then flew down to enjoy the reward. It seems that the bird is too large to sit at the feeder. Both of these birds will take a bath in the evening after or about 5PM or later. The chickadees that regularly feed during the day did seem a bit put out that these brown/black birds were taking baths and feeding too. One chickadee shared the bath for less than a minute then flew off.

Female Northern Flicker

2009-08-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

From eNature
description 12″ (30 cm). A large brownish woodpecker. Brown back with dark bars and spots; whitish or buff below with black spots; black crescent on breast; white rump, visible in flight. Eastern birds (”Yellow-shafted Flickers”) have red patch on nape and yellow wing linings; male has black mustache. Western birds (”Red-shafted Flickers”) lack nape patch and have salmon-pink wing linings; males have red “mustache.”

A few Oak Facts

2009-08-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Oaks are known to be resistant to fire.

Oaks are known to house and sustain a wide variety of birds and wildlife. A wider variety of species of wildlife than an evergreen or other deciduous trees.

Oaks in Yelm

2009-08-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

From Yelm Online
http://www.yelmonline.com/articles/2009/07/31/first_report/doc4a71d26a5fe88088452750.txt

Prairie Conservation Ordinance Enacted

On Tuesday, July 28, the Thurston Board of County Commissioners enacted an interim regulation that helps conserve south Puget Sound’s last remaining oak woodland habitats and native prairies. Approximately three percent of south Puget Sound’s original native prairies (estimated to be about 150,000 acres) now remain.

The interim ordinance makes the county’s definition of prairies consistent with state and federal guidelines, requires that persons seeking to develop areas that may contain prairies identify the location of prairies, and, as necessary, develop Prairie Habitat Conservation plans to reduce development impacts to prairies.

Commissioners feel prompt action is necessary to prevent further degradation to this increasingly scarce resource. Prairies used to extend throughout Thurston County from Rochester up to an area just south of Tacoma. Some of the south Puget Sound’s most valuable remaining prairies are located in Thurston County.

Prairie and oak habitats are home to endangered plants such as the golden paintbrush as well as threatened and endangered wildlife and insect species such as the Mazama pocket gopher, streaked horned lark and Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly.

These species as well as other prairie dependent species are found in only a small number of places in the world. In recent years, south Puget Sound prairies have become threatened due to development and the invasion of non-native plant species. A few of the larger prairies can be easily seen, such as the Mima Mounds and the Glacial Heritage Preserve, while others are scattered among forests, farms and houses.

For more information on the ordinance and on Thurston County prairies, contact Senior Planner Cynthia Wilson at 786-5475.

Woodpeckers

2009-07-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

A pair of woodpeckers flew in to drink. They both took turns at the
watering hole. Both took long drinks dipping his head into the water
and throwing it back to swallow . The woodpeckers have been flying
in about the same time 3:30-4:00pm for the past two days.

ID MARKS: overall grey/black with red/orange breast.
They have grey/black crown peaks like a Pileated woodpecker and each
have white undertail coverts.

Swallows

2009-07-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

TWEET from Bellingham indicated that they may be at staging areas and not yet headed for a buggier climate. A TWEET canoeing down Black River in Thurston County indicated that the swallows were missing in his count for that trip. Olympia area TWEETs are also indicating swallow numbers are down.

Swallows

2009-07-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Have not seen any swallows for the past few days. Normally, they are flying all over above or at the level of the tree tops here. Posted to Tweeters. Typo: What? should be Where have all of the swallows gone in Thurston County

From Tweet:
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TWET.html#1248149704
Black River, Thurston County - did not see any swallows. Previously noted in the area of Black River (canoeing) in 2002.

Woodpecker and Junco’s and Loitering

2009-07-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

Woodpecker flew up into a tree yesterday. I’m not sure what kind he was, but did appear to have a red tinged triangle at his head and black and white wing tips on…

The Junco’s are back after a brief haitus and are just tearing up the feeder and playing in the trees, lately.

The hummingbird feeders have been refilled and washed. One more feeder was added to the backyard, in addition to one vertical regular feeder.

The bird bath was empty two days ago, washed and refilled in time for the Junco’s to play. Last night near the bath, a bird was chirping an alert - sure enough there is a stray cat. He exited as soon as he saw me, and then another cat appeared… he soon exited but no quite fast enough for me. He was loitering around me newly planted rose bush. Likely, looking for a fresh place to squat.

eBird

2009-07-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

Observation type: Casual Observation
Observation date: 7/9/09 Distance covered: N/A
Start time: 5:55 PM Area covered: 1.0 acre(s)
Duration: 1 hour(s) 0 minute(s) Elevation: N/A
Number of people in party: 1
Comments: This is the second day in a row that the Pileated woodpecker showed up and my first Anna’s hummbingbird for the summer.
Species

Are you submitting a complete checklist of the birds you saw/heard? No

1 Anna’s Hummingbird
1 Pileated Woodpecker
2 Steller’s Jay
4 American/Northwestern Crow
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)

South Sound Prairies

2009-07-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

South Sound Prairies hosts a number of documents about wildlife, native plants, and endangered/threatened species.

Water

2009-07-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

The oak seedlings have been watered several times this week as the soil is really dry. There are new shoots forming at both seedling heads and each share a dead leaf.

The volunteer oak that did not get its roots established in a planter, has a brighter green leaf without as many leaf hairs as the oak that rooted in a planter.

Junco’s have been to the West side of my main viewing area, lately. And orange hummers are traveling through the green belt. I have seen two butterflies. One yellow and black, and one white and black with red at its wing tips. There are many white moths. Bees are enjoying the last drops of water in the birdbath. I’ve had to refill it twice in two weeks as it has all dried out in the heat. I’ve added rocks and branches to the bird bath as its bottom was rather slick and likely too deep for the birds.

Territorial Crows

2009-06-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Crows were at the feeder this morning and were taking entire pieces of bread away. Later they were squawking loudly at a cat who had entered the “feeding area”. Two crows perch in the same tree nearly every day. I haven’t noticed the times of day and whether or not they were the same, however.

MaShell River Park, Eatonville, Washington

2009-06-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Birdnest bush

2009-06-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

A birdnest was found under this bush at MaShell Park.

It had toppled out and landed upside down.

Crow harassment

2009-06-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

Crow harassing Bald Eagle The video isn’t that great. The two birds are little specks on the screen, but the audio detailed another bird song that I would like to identify. This video link was posted to other Tweets, maybe they will id on the list or comment at the bucket.

Rose Bramble

2009-06-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

Bumble bees were all around the bramble a few sunny days ago. They have since tamed.

Elusive tweet

2009-06-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to photograph a particular bird that has been singing outside my window in the morning. He lights high in the pine tree and is so very small he is difficult to catch.

Pweet twit cheap. Peeroweet.

Hummingbird

2009-06-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hummingbird passed through about the same time 7:30pm, but did not stop at the feeder last night. Instead he visited the rose bramble.