Missed Miscellaneous Items - 1/2/09

Seattle PI Guest Columnist. We were forwarded the attached article from the Dec 14th Seattle PI and asked why we have not passed it on. The column appear first in the Olympian and then in the Post Intelligencer. The link to the article is http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/392115_firstperson15.html

Robins Here are Not Local. We sent out an Update yesterday that stated the robins being observed this winter were local. We were wrong. According to the Audubon experts, they are not local Robins as noted in the attached response received, but rather migrants.

Hey Jim:

By the way, an interesting note from my aunt. The robins we have here in the summer are not the same as the ones we have here in the winter. They all migrate north/south during those seasons. Our winter robins spend summer season nesting further north of here. Our summer nesting robins spend winter further south. Robin behavior dictates they flock-up during winter, then pair up for nesting activity in spring.

Other Wildlife Notes. We were also remiss in not noting that one of the local ravens appears to have a cold or something because of his strange cawing. They are mostly heard around the Illahee Preserve.

Some seals were reported working the shoreline after corralling some kind of fish and one of the bald eagles was able to get a fish in the process. There were even a river otter trying to get in on the action.

A red breasted sapsucker was sighted when the persons cat became interested in a nearby tree. One of the sounds made by the red-breasted sapsucker is a meow like a cat. They didn't hear the "meow" sound but surmised that something attracted the cat to the tree.

More Snowbrush Bush Information. Attached are two websites with more information on Snowbrush bushes, which are native plants in this area.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CEVE

http://www.cwnp.org/photopgs/cdoc/cevelutinus.html

Thank you for keeping us informed. We get a number of emails everyday and sometimes get behind. We don't mind reminders. We especially like emails where can simply paste your comments.

Jim Aho