Dyke's Marsh, Potomac River, Alexandria, VA

Usually when we refer to refuges, we mean nature refuges.  These are places rich in natural diversity, densely populated by birds and other forms of wildlife.  They are often high in scenic value and provide a departure from our increasingly urban existence.

Refuges, however, are not just for bird and wildlife watchers, hunters and fishers.  They are just as valuable for people who seek peace, beauty, contemplation or a place to grieve.

Terry Tempest Williams in her perceptive novel Refuge wrote eloquently about the significance of nature refuges during a time of grieving.  In her case, while her mother was struggling with cancer she took periodic trips to the Great Salt Lake to regroup.

My wife is going through this now with my ailing father-in-law.  Her monthly visits are stressful due to her efforts to balance financial, medical, legal and organizational obligations with spending quality time with her dad.  Taking restorative walks at Dyke's Marsh along the Potomac River helps her cope with this daunting situation.

At an event a decade ago honoring my landscape architect/park creator/conservationist great grandfather, Jens Jensen, one speaker gave a powerful testimony to the value of parks as places to grieve.  This high-level Chicago Parks Department official spoke passionately about the tragic loss of a family member and how he desperately needed a quiet, calming and appropriate place to grieve.  North Chicago's Humboldt Park, a Jens Jensen landscape, fulfilled this need.

We all experience tragedies, let-downs and eventually, death. Where can we go to soothe our souls during these hard times?  Natural areas.

The "Fill" in summer and early spring

Is it possible to enjoy good bird and wildlife-watching, great scenery, and even fragrant smells (not the bad kind), at a former city dump?  The answer is an emphatic yes!  Where?  Union Bay Natural Area in Seattle, aka Montlake Fill.

Today was a glorious spring day at the “Fill.”  Mt. Rainier loomed in the distance across Lake Washington.  Tree Swallows perched and entered their nesting holes after their long journey from parts south.  A Bald Eagle pair harassed the coots en route to their massive nest.  Virginia Rails oinked and Ka-dinked; marsh wrens chattered noisily; and scores of Red-Slider Turtles basked on logs in the 60-degree weather.  Black Cottonwood Trees emitted their intoxicating sweet aroma, one of the finest smells in nature.

This place was not always so nice.  It was a city landfill until 1971 when it was capped and later became neglected, allowing a host of invasive plants to take over.  Since the 1990s, the University of Washington and the Center for Urban Horticulture have used the site for restoration ecology.  The results of their combined efforts are spectacular.  Over 200 species of birds now visit the “Fill” each year.  It is rated one of the top birding destinations in Seattle, recently included on Audubon’s new Puget Loop birding trail.  In just a few hours today, I tallied 40 species there.  Native vegetation continues to be planted there while invasive species are removed by dedicated university students and volunteers.  The habitat keeps improving.

The natural diversity here is very impressive for such an urban and previously compromised place.  Located three miles from downtown Seattle, this 74-acre refuge is adjacent to the University of Washington and its two sports stadiums just across the water. Sometimes you hear the roar of the crowd and the marching bands playing at the Husky Football Stadium.  At the same time, you could also see a Red-tailed Hawk capturing a vole while the band is playing.  I have.

This strange but wonderful refuge is a model for other similarly degraded sites.  If you would like to go on a birding tour of the Union Bay Natural Area, please join me on one of my “Fill the time with Birds” walks http://conservationcatalyst.org/walking.html

top: Male Quetzal from afar; middle: nest hole; bottom: female with food near nest hole

Resplendent usually refers to Costa Rica’s icon, the Resplendent Quetzal.  It could also refer to the entire country, which lives up to the term that means shining, dazzling and brilliant.

Although often seen in Costa Rica, the Resplendent is Guatemala’s national bird.  The name Quetzal derives from the Aztec word “quetzalli” for things that are precious or beautiful.  Only Aztec royalty were allowed to wear Quetzal plumes.

Recently, I had the good fortune to host a Naturalist Journey to Costa Rica http://www.naturalistjourneys.com/.  There we saw 230 species of birds, along with myriad flora and fauna, ranging from Howler Monkeys to Green Iguanas, Basilisk Lizards, Caimin, White-collared Peccaries and butterflies.  We saw Quetzals too - a total of six - in two different locations.  It was my first time seeing this magnificent bird.  No amount of photos, videos or descriptions can prepare you for the way these birds appear in their native habitat.  Seeing a Quetzal is an awe-inspiring experience!

The most ornate members of the Trogon family, Resplendent Quetzals inhabit tropical rainforests and nest in holes they drill in soft, decaying tree snags.  Their diet is comprised of 80% wild avocados, with the balance made up with lizards and insects.  According to National Geographic, the population of Quetzals is threatened throughout most of its range, except in Costa Rica:  “In some areas, most notably Costa Rica's cloud forests, protected lands preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe.”

Costa Rica’s conservation efforts are indeed impressive:

· 25% of the country, roughly the size of two Vermonts, is protected for its habitat values

· Costa Rica has a national organization that inventories its biota:  The National Biodiversity Institute

· Costa Rica ranked first among the Americas in a 2012 Environmental Performance Index

· Costa Rica ranked the greenest country in the world according to the New Economics Foundation

May we all learn from Costa Rica’s example.  In the meantime, have a quetzalli day!

The Many Issues Addressed in Dr. Suess Books

The late great Theodor Suess Geisel was ahead of his time. While his books delight, they also educate kids and their parents about vital issues ranging from racial inequality to environmental destruction. Some of his books were cautionary tales.

An animated film version of one of these, The Lorax, will be released in March. Based upon Dr. Suess’ 1971 book, it features a faceless, greedy industrialist “the Onceler (not exactly a sustainable name)” who exploits resources rapaciously, causing major environmental damage while manufacturing "Thneeds" that as he put it "everyone needs." The Lorax, a wizened advocate who “speaks for the trees, because the trees have no tongues,” confronts the Onceler about the environmental impacts of his business. A fascinating, yet realistic dialogue ensues.

The Lorax represents a voice of environmental consciousness that we once again need to hear. We humans struggle mightily to understand our place in nature. At times we seem to grasp it, as illustrated by the green movement, recycling, sustainable development, and fuel-efficient cars. But then we back-slide, as evidenced by climate change deniers, the anti-science and anti-evolution crowd.  It is hard for us to accept our responsibilities as earth stewards.

The new animated film version of The Lorax provides hope. We all know the power that media holds to transform and inspire. The challenge is to change our culture so that acting badly toward the environment becomes socially unacceptable, just like smoking in public places or throwing trash out the window of your car has. Perhaps the film retelling of the Lorax is one step toward this change. The environmental messages contained in it bear repeating, and nobody could say them in a more creative, compelling way than Dr. Suess. To wit: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”

Welcome back, Lorax!

Audubon Washington just released its latest in a series of state birding trail maps. These maps are fantastic resources for birders and wildlife watchers that lead you to some of our state's most beautiful natural areas. The maps give detailed directions to good birding/wildlife-watching spots and tell you what species you can expect to find there.  You can purchase them at Seattle Audubon for $4.95 each https://www.seattleaudubon.org/sas/Default.aspx?TabID=55&CategoryID=34&ProductID=1288

A boon to eco-tourism, these birding trails also build constituency for protecting parks, green spaces and natural areas that provide habitat for wildlife. Nice work, Audubon!

Have a look at the latest map and listen to KPLU radio's story about it:

http://kplu.org/post/audubon-map-%E2%80%93-new-puget-loop-unveiled-enviro-groups-strategize#.TyCf9jBCyyE.email

Good Birding!

Looking for birds in all the wrong places?*

Would you go if I invited you on an all-day birding trip on an industrial waterfront in a major city at one of the darkest, rainiest times of year?  Would we see any birds?

On December 31, 2011, five intrepid birders joined me for this very trip.  It was Seattle Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count.  Our route took us on a two-mile stretch of Seattle’s heavily-developed Shilshole Bay, from Golden Gardens Park to the Ballard Locks and Fisherman’s Wharf.  We tallied 67 species of birds; 18 California Sea Lions and one River Otter.  Among our less common findings were:  Orange-crowned and Townsend's Warbler; Thayer’s and Herring Gull; Common Murre, Harlequin Duck and a Pacific Loon.

In fairness, there were extenuating circumstances that led to this relatively high count.  First, I was accompanied by five competent birders, two of them armed with spotting scopes.  Secondly, since this was the Christmas Bird count, we worked hard to count every species and bird.  Third, we had incredibly good weather for this time of year:  clear, calm, dry, sunny and up to 50 degrees.

Another factor was at play too:  habitat.  Although most of our route consisted of marinas, shipyards, restaurants, railroads and condos, the majority of birds and wildlife were seen at Golden Gardens Park.  This park features native vegetation planting strips and two shallow ponds lined by riparian (waterside) vegetation that are packed with wintering waterfowl, especially Mallards, Wigeons, Buffleheads and Northern Shovelers.  The upper portion of the park is a wooded hillside with tall evergreens and snags that provide habitat for Bald Eagles, other raptors and woodpeckers.

As I’ve noticed before on Christmas counts in Seattle, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Marysville and other urban locations, habitat is absolutely the key to bird abundance and diversity.  There is a stark contrast between park and green space areas with high bird activity, and less-vegetated neighborhoods nearby that host a handful of species, like American Crows, House Sparrows, House Finches and European Starling.

Fortunately, many cities have been improving their urban landscapes of late to become greener.  Seattle is among them, with its Green Seattle Partnership program, and numerous other public and private restoration efforts.  Since most of us live in cities, green spaces are absolutely vital.  They literally help us breathe easier by providing oxygen, and as many studies have shown, they relieve stress.  And they provide homes for birds and wildlife, which in turn enrich our lives.  If you would like to go on an urban or rural birding adventure, contact me via my website at http://www.conservationcatalyst.com and we can arrange a custom tour.

book recommendation:  City Birding, True Tales of Birds and Birdwatching in Unexpected Places – edited by Mark Allison.

*  Even here we found Double-crested Cormorants, Buffleheads, Barrow's and Common Goldeneyes, & Kingfishers.

Conservation Collaborators (left to right): Bryan Zemp, Eagle Scout/Realtor; Joy Johnson, City of Bothell; Jim Freese, Friends of North Creek Forest

As I have written before in this blog, good does happen, especially when it is by design. Good just happened in Bothell, Washington where a 35-acre parcel of mature forest was purchased by the City for parkland/green space.  This was a triple-win:  The City of Bothell, The Boy Scouts, and the Friends of North Creek Forest all benefited from this deal.  But the people who live in the area stand to benefit the most by having this wonderful natural area protected for its recreational, educational and habitat values in the midst of a rapidly-developing urban area.  To top it off there was excellent media coverage of the forest purchase.  Read on and smile; sometimes people come together to make the world a better place:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017026406_bothellwoods16m.html

http://heraldnet.com/article/20111228/NEWS01/712289932/-1/News#A-boon-for-Bothell

http://www.ci.bothell.wa.us/CityServices/Administration/CityManagersOffice/CityNews.ashx?p=1710&2077_na=243

Snowy Owl at Damon Point, WA

Twice a decade or so, we in the Pacific Northwest are graced by the presence of majestic Snowy Owls in the winter.  People are seeing them now in many places in Washington State and all across the north-central United States and southern Canada http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/nov/28/snowy-owls-making-scene-across-country/.  Clearly, a Snowy irruption is underway!

Irruptions are irregular migratory movements that depend upon such factors as food availability and/or a change in seasons.  In the case of Snowy Owls, they have a lot to do with availability of their primary food source:  Lemmings.  Snowy Owls leave their Arctic tundra breeding grounds when the cyclical supply of food (Lemmings) is low.  They will also sometimes leave after a big Lemming year, when there is a resultant bumper crop of young owls needing food and territory.  Finally, extreme winter weather can drive owls southward.

Lemmings are small mouse-like rodents that remain active all year long; they do not hibernate.  Lemmings eat shrubs, herbs and sedges in summer and Willow Buds, leaves, twigs and bark during the winter months.  The notion that Lemmings commit mass suicide is a myth.  They do, however, run as a group and will enter bodies of water to swim to another land mass.

Snowy Owls are one of the few resident bird species of the extreme northern Arctic tundra.  The others are Gyrfalcon, Willow and Rock Ptarmigan and Common Raven.  Even though there are relatively few bird species up there, predators still exist.  Snowy Owls vigorously defend their nesting territories from wolves and Arctic Foxes.  Other Arctic breeding birds like Snow Geese, Brant and Common Eiders will sometimes nest near Snowy Owls to discourage attacks from Arctic Foxes.

Snowy owls perch in open areas waiting for prey, which in these parts would be Voles or other small rodents.  Their white color makes them conspicuous in our blue-green-gray winter color palette.  In their Arctic home, however, white provides the perfect camouflage against the snow.

If you want to see a Snowy Owl, check your local birding sightings, which around here is Tweeters.com or nationally at E-bird.org.  Or join me on a daytime Snowy Owling adventure.  Look for the owls calmly sitting atop trees, power poles, driftwood, snags, small hills, or any perch that provides a view of open country.  We are so accustomed to seeing garbage around, that we sometimes fail to investigate large white items in the countryside, like discarded plastic gallon jugs.  Check these out with binoculars; they might just be Snowy Owls instead.

Sources:  Arctic Studies Center; Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology; Birds of Washington State by Brian H. Bell and Gregory Kennedy; Borealforest.org; Ornithology by Frank Gill; Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behaviour by David Allen Sibley