Please send information about wildlife sightings to our Wildlife Sightings Chair.
To see some recent Washington State bird sightings go to the Tweeters list. To subscribe to Washington State Tweeters or to get more info about Tweeters visit WA Tweeters.
- Details
Upon learning that 3,000 Vaux's Swifts were observed at Chapman School in Portland the other night, Darrel Whipple decided to check out Carpet One in Rainier. Result was Carpet One - 0, Rainier's Old Hall (Big Green) - 82. The migrating swifts are dropping into the tallest chimney in Big Green (the northwest corner, behind City Hall). Some were observed there during the northward migration in May,
- Details
Do you know about our bird lists?
You will find different bird lists in the "Wildlife Watching & Sightings" section. Russ Koppendrayer just updated the Cowlitz County bird list adding this: "We have surpassed our best year ever with 4 months to go, and the question now is weather we can break the 200 barrier".
The list provides you with information about this year's bird sightings by date and location.
- Details
Thanks to one of our members, who sent in an email with the link, here is a great source to learn more about spring migration for up to 31 different bird species. From the eNature website: "For each species shown below, we have created spring migration maps that show the winter range, the migratory path, and the dates when you might expect to see the first arrivals in your area." (Thanks John for the link.)
Click here to see the maps.
- Details
A long-tailed duck (previously called old squaw) was first sighted at Lake Sacajawea in Longview by Russ Koppendrayer on January 21, 2011. It is still being seen as of 2/2/2011 hanging around the Washington Way bridge and Lion's Island. The male bird is in non-breeding plumage. If it stays long, we may see it molt towards breeding plumage and develop its characteristic long tail. This sea duck is more commonly found in pelagic waters and often seen in Puget Sound in winter.
- Details
Andrew Emlen of Skomokawa observed a fascinating behavior last December. Here are the details as described by Andrew: A female Northern Harrier landed on a duck (possibly a wigeon, of which there were others nearby) in the pond opposite Hornstra Beach in the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge. The Harrier was belly-deep in the water as the duck struggled.