Subject: Lowland Raven
Date: Mar 2 10:35:20 1995
From: James Neitzel - neitzelj at elwha.evergreen.edu


On my way in from the parking lot this morning a raven flew by very low,
emitting occasional croaking sounds. I only rarely see ravens in the
Puget Sound lowlands; are they as rare as I think they are? Is it more
common to see them moving in spring and fall? The bird was seen at The
Evergreen State College, west of Olympia and was flying south to north;
the local crows were mildly agitated by its presence.

Adding to comments about spring: this past Saturday I went to Nisqually
and in a 2 hour hike out to the ring dike and back I came up with 35
species. HIghlights for me were seeing 2 brown creepers chasing through
the trees, adn large numbers of the most brazen rufous-sided towhees I
have ever seen. Both chickadees and both kinglets were extremely active,
and the Canadian geese were extremely territorial; one pair chased off a
great blue heron. The river had common mergansers and american
goldeneye; Bewicks and marsh wrens were singing. Indian plum was in full
bloom everywhere, and also some wild cherry. Several swallows were
active, but I'm not going to claim I IDed them; I'll take the word of
other observers that they were tree swallows. What a great day!

Jim Neitzel
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, Wa