Content about Don't Forget the Birds

warning: Declaration of views_handler_argument::init(&$view, &$options) should be compatible with views_handler::init(&$view, $options) in /var/www/ticket/html/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_argument.inc on line 744.
warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter::options_validate(&$form, &$form_state) should be compatible with views_handler::options_validate($form, &$form_state) in /var/www/ticket/html/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter.inc on line 607.
warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter::options_submit(&$form, &$form_state) should be compatible with views_handler::options_submit($form, &$form_state) in /var/www/ticket/html/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter.inc on line 607.
warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter_boolean_operator::value_validate(&$form, &$form_state) should be compatible with views_handler_filter::value_validate($form, &$form_state) in /var/www/ticket/html/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter_boolean_operator.inc on line 159.
warning: Declaration of views_plugin_style_default::options(&$options) should be compatible with views_object::options() in /var/www/ticket/html/sites/all/modules/views/plugins/views_plugin_style_default.inc on line 24.
warning: Declaration of views_plugin_row::options_validate($form, &$form_state) should be compatible with views_plugin::options_validate(&$form, &$form_state) in /var/www/ticket/html/sites/all/modules/views/plugins/views_plugin_row.inc on line 134.
warning: Declaration of views_plugin_row::options_submit($form, &$form_state) should be compatible with views_plugin::options_submit(&$form, &$form_state) in /var/www/ticket/html/sites/all/modules/views/plugins/views_plugin_row.inc on line 134.

April 22, 2014

Unsolitary Solitaires

Spring migration delivered some excitement this month with two groups of Townsend’s Solitaires showing up in north Vashon yards. These birds are rare migrants on Vashon and usually make very brief visits.

Spring migration delivered some excitement this month with two groups of Townsend’s Solitaires showing up in north Vashon yards. These birds are rare migrants on Vashon and usually make very brief visits. Amy and Alan Huggins found two perched high in fir trees on the 13th. The birds than dropped down to a garden fence and begin catching flying bugs on the wing, “flycatching.” Solitaires, part of the thrush family that includes robins, catch insects in a variety of ways. They also inspect yards and gardens for berries and other small fruit.&nb

March 12, 2014

More Signs of Spring

The changing plumage of local birds provides another sign of spring. In the last column, I talked about how the resident birds already are beginning to perform their breeding season music.

The changing plumage of local birds provides another sign of spring. In the last column, I talked about how the resident birds already are beginning to perform their breeding season music. Another sign to watch for includes the switch in plumages from basic (winter) to breeding. If you have a bird feeder with thistle or sunflower seeds, over the coming months, watch how the American Goldfinch males shift from winter grayish yellow-green to their bright yellow summer feathers. Email me when you see the change begin with your birds.

February 16, 2014

Signs of Spring

Has anyone noticed the bursting out of bird song recently? For the last several weeks I’ve heard more and more of our breeding birds that stay year-round trying out their spring songs.

Has anyone noticed the bursting out of bird song recently? For the last several weeks I’ve heard more and more of our breeding birds that stay year-round trying out their spring songs. Black-capped Chickadees can be heard sitting at the top of an ornamental tree whistling their mournful two-note call, Brown Creepers lighten up the woods with their sweet song and the Song Sparrows, especially, seem to be improvising a whole new set of riffs on their basic song. At my house the Song Sparrow starts in the bush in front of the porch as soon as I turn the porch light on i

January 15, 2014

Count Shows Decline in Grebes

On Sunday the 5th of January, the Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society held its sixteenth Christmas Bird Count (CBC).

On Sunday the 5th of January, the Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society held its sixteenth Christmas Bird Count (CBC). We’re still adding up the numbers, so the final word isn’t in, but so far it looks like it was a fairly normal year. Some bird species were up slightly and many seemed somewhat but not excessively down. There were a number of fun and exciting highlights and one big lowlight: Western Grebes showed an all time, disastrous low.

May 11, 2011

A Very Rare Spring Sighting

Jeff Adams sent in some good photos of a pair of Cinnamon Teal along the shore just north of the Cove Hotel May 1. This gives Vashon only its second record for this small duck.