Woody

163 posts

Talaris Plan Does Not See the Forest or the Trees

Here we go again.  An 18-acre site formerly used as a conference center is slated for development in a style that is oblivious to nature and the need for low-income housing.  We can and should do better. Located across NE 41st from  Union Bay Natural Area in northeast Seattle, the […]

Lands of Enchantment

New Mexico’s state nickname is land of enchantment, which is fitting for a ruggedly beautiful, culturally rich state.  With all due respect to the great state of New Mexico, all of our public lands should be considered lands of enchantment.  On a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park and Craters […]

Barred Owl Encounters

              Without warning, a Barred Owl flew from the forested ravine to a branch next to the pedestrian bridge upon which we were standing.  It stared fiercely, leaning forward in a stalking pose, then swooped below to snatch an Eastern Gray Squirrel from a […]

Golden Icons Usher in Spring

What bird heralds the arrival of Spring for you? The song of an American Robin signaled the arrival of spring back in Illinois where I grew up. Here in the Pacific NW, Robins are residents that sometimes sing in late winter. The arrival of swallows and vultures marks the change […]

Nisqually Magic – The Spell Continues

Flashback: March 17, 1985 On this stormy St. Patrick’s Day, Lori and I set out for a sea kayaking adventure. We paddled into Puget Sound, across the estuary and up the Nisqually River against a strong current as a Bald Eagle flew directly overhead heading downstream as if warning us […]

Licorice Fern: RX for winter gloom, sore throats

Amid the gloom of January in Western Washington, one can find welcome splashes of vibrant green in coastal forests. The evergreen Licorice Fern emerges from its dormancy to produce bright green fronds throughout the winter. This cheering trait has earned Licorice Fern the nickname “winter delight.” Often found in tree […]

Restore Paradise, Take Out a Parking Lot

“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone. Pave paradise, put up a parking lot.” – Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi Although this famous song told a sad tale; here is happy story, that remarkably, also features a parking lot. Union Bay […]

From 2020 to 30 X 30 Vision

The year 2020 has been one of the most turbulent, destructive and divisive in our history.  We experienced death, disease (COVID-19 pandemic), race riots, fires, floods and chaos in historic proportions.  Our country has veered off-course and our President has fanned its flames. Thankfully, things are changing for the better. […]

Judge Less; Engage More

On a mild early autumn morning with a peachy glow and a scent of sweet grasses, I strolled through a favorite birding spot, Union Bay Natural Area along the shore of Lake Washington. Having just found and photographed an elusive Green Heron along a channel where water from Ravenna Creek […]

Confederate Bird No More!

Black Lives Matter and the resurgence of the Civil Rights movement after George Floyd’s senseless murder at the hands of Minneapolis police have resonated nationwide. Nearly every organization has been affected. The bird-watching/ornithology community has not been immune. Christian Cooper, a New York Audubon board member was subjected to racist, […]