Are bats disappearing?

At least in New York State?

This is the time of year I start looking outside, hoping to spot something flying spasticly by in the dusk, as the bats wake up to eat. So I read this article with interest.

Crow Swooping Time Again

Driving home last night, I saw about seven hawks, red tailed, ruffled legged, swainson's, all sitting on poles, bushes, evergreens.

And when I couldn't see them, I could find them by the crows, squawking and swooping on the trees where they are hidden. I don't think they have their nests going yet, but it seems like they are getting practice in early.

Want To Have Your Say on Saving Puget Sound, Here's Your Chance

Just received this through the Seattle Aquarium's Beach Naturalist program.

Here's the press release. The first meeting has already been held by the Puget Sound Partnership, but the rest begin next week.

Schedule for a first round of Workshops and Community ConversationsWorkshops and Community Conversation are scheduled at 10 locations beginning February 25
through March 7. For your convenience, talking points are provided at the
bottom of this email.

What is a Workshop?The workshops (1 – 5 PM)
are open to all, but are focused on getting information about the health of the
local area and threats to that health from interested groups, stakeholders and
citizens who have local knowledge about the area.

What is a
Community Conversation? After the Workshop, the Community Conversation (5:30 to 7:30 PM) offers the public a chance to weigh in on what needs to be done, both locally, and Sound-wide to restore and protect the health of Puget Sound.
The Partnership will provide an overview of the Partnership and developing the
Action Agenda, review the results of the local workshop, and have a
discussion.

February 25
Seattle
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: South Central
The Mountaineers
300 3rd Ave W

February 26
Tacoma
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: South Central
Pacific Lutheran University, University Center
Garfield Street S & Park Avenue S
Tacoma

February 27
Friday Harbor
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: San Juan/Whatcom
Mullis Community Senior Center
589 Nash Street

February 27
Everett
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: Whidbey
Northwest Stream Center
600 128th Street SE

February 28
Bremerton
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: North Central Puget Sound
Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside
100 Washington Ave

March 5
Port Hadlock
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: Hood Canal Inn at Port Hadlock
310 Hadlock Bay Rd

March 6
Bellingham
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: San Juan/Whatcom
Port of Bellingham
Cruise Terminal
355 Harris Ave

March 7
Olympia
1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: South Sound
Evergreen State College (no concerts with this one tho)
2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW

March 7
Sequim 1 - 5 PM; 5:30-7:30 PM
Action Area: Strait of Juan de Fuca
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Red Cedar Room
1033 Old Blyn Hwy

Your participation and involvement in the Action Agenda is essential. Here are three ways you can participate on a regular basis between now and September 1, 2008:
1. Attend Partnership workshops and/or Community Conversations session near you. Let us know how it goes by emailing us;

2. Submit your comments and ideas via People For Puget Sound web site and we will deliver your comment sheet to the Partnership.

3. Join the Save Our Sound Campaign for timely updates and calls to action. Please contact Rein Attemann, rattemann@pugetsound.org or 206.382.7007
More information is available on the Partnership’s web site.

Photos by Jennifer Conner and People for Puget Sound and the Associated Press

Octopi, smarter than you think

I had heard that octopi had the intelligence of about a two year old, and after hearing that, I swore off eating calamari (that isn't squid).

This article in the Seattle Times about the Seattle Aquarium's octopus week hints they aren't that smart, but I'm still not eating them any time soon.

Any animal that can recognize its feeder (and greet it) and recongize a keeper that harasses him, or her, and squirts at them is smart enough for me. Besides they can do something I can't, and get into those childproof bottles.

I haven't seen the Pacific Octopus, but have seen the red octopus on beach walks, except they aren't red once we lift the rocks, they are turning white, a color of fear, I'm told. And we're also told NOT to touch them, as they have a nasty sting.

Photos courtesy of the Seattle Times and People for Puget Sound

Take a walk on the wild side in federal way

I'm glad that this boardwalk finally happened so people can really see the Hylebos Wetland, that's been so trashed by nearby development. But a lit bit of it hangs on, thanks to individuals that have dedicated their time - often unnoticed - to saving it.

There are those that still remember when it was a thriving salmon spawning stream, thick with chinook.

Photo courtesy of the TNT

Global Warming is Real, and it does make a difference on our beaches

I wonder what I'll see when I'm out on the beach this summer, doing the beach naturalist bit.

Last year, we had oceanographers in, telling us that the temp in the oceans and puget sound was climbing by small ticks, which make a significance difference in sealife we don't see, and very quickly, in the sealife and birds we do see. This article, sadly shows us what's going on in the depths.

Think a bit before buying that rose on V-Day

That's the lesson I learned after reading this Audubon Magazine article on how many pesticides are used in growing roses, both here and in Central America. (this is a shortened version of the article that PLU prof. Chuck Bergman agreed to let us trim from the original. The longer version included in a link.)

And if you think it doesn't matter to the critters and birds here, well, in case of the birds, it does. According to this article, pesticide use in Central American kills 67 million birds a year that migrate south. A year. So if your bird feeder seems a bit lonely this spring, that might be why.

I'm all for spending a bit more extra $$ and buying the organic rose tomorrow.

Photo by Jordan Hartman, PLU Photographer (which is where I work (:)

Critters on Scenic Hill

Just went to my first Scenic Hill Community Council meeting last night, and one of the most interesting parts of the meeting was having the KC Animal Control officer we invited tell us about the types of wildlife living right next door.

The usual, squirrels, raccoons, skunks and yes, coyotes (no mention of shooting them in this group tho). Then the unusual, like red fox, small beavers and deer. In Mill Creek Park?

"If you see one, there are probably 20 more around, at least," he said. "If you see one coyote, there is probably a pack."

Just waiting for one of my fat cats to waddle within range, no doubt.

One woman was complaining that raccoons were emptying out her koi pond. He just looked at her and said, really, the only way to make the raccoons to go away is remove the food source. IE, the koi.

One man actually said he's called out a agency to trap and release squirrels in his yard. That seems to me, a bit of a exercise in futility.

Backyard Bird Watch is Coming Up

This from the Rainier Audubon site (which is having a meeting on the Feb. 18 at the Federal Way United Methodist Church BTY).

Unlike the national bird count which occurred in January, this count occurs Feb. 15-18 and encourages folks to count the birds that alight in the back yard.

A symbol of freedom still lives in Federal Way

As I was going up Highway 18 to I-5 yesterday, looked up to see what I call the Federal Way eagle wing over.

There's a pair that nests in the trees to the north of 18 near a lake. I guess they are wintering over still, and must still be tolerating all the traffic noise.

The posse has been called off the varmit

Due to public outcry, apparently the Navy will not be shooting the coyote at Magnesun Park.

There are going to be having a public meeting about the critter tonight at 6 pm in Seattle. (or looking at the time, the meeting is going on as we speak.) The night meeting is just a sidebar on this story. Read the whole thing. It is very funny.

Next week, Scenic Hill is having a neighborhood meeting. I wonder if the topic of coyotes will trot into the room?

Photo curtesy of the Seattle Times.

As Super Tuesday plays out, who's in the green?

I have some musings on plastic bags and Canadian Geese, but I figure those can wait until tomorrow.

Tonight, everyone's counting the delegates and the poll closings, as Super Tuesday works its way west.

Here are two nice comparisons by Grist of the dems, at least, on the issues. The first is an analysis, the second a chart. Also, check out MSN's cool interactive comparison of all the candidates on all the issues on the "Elections" section of their home page.

So how do the birds fair during the white outs?

I often wondered that as I looked at reports from the TV on the heavy snow and blasts of winter that the Cascades, as well as other parts of the country have been enduring.

So I checked in on a few blogs from that area and came across the Klamath Birding Blog, which has reports of birds hanging on to trees (lee side) for dear life.

Finally got ahold of Auburn, and the restoration folks

And in an voice message on my cell phone, the conservationist there said yes, they've received a grant $20,000, I think, to begin restoratin work along Mill Creek, which does begin in Kent, or go through Kent, I should say, but it doesn't include any work in Kent.

Only the Auburn portion. I drive past these sites almost every day, and the animals and birds seems to like them. It's too bad that the entire creek can't be preserved and restored.