Thank you all for our patience and responses. Hope you enjoy this week's
entry also. We surely enjoyed our experiences and the "wild".


3-3-96 Sunday Fir island overcast 48f slight wind
8:30AM- 4:30PM 15 observers

On Fir island we saw two short-eared owls, they looked like teddy bears
with facial disks and wings, they just sat there while a NOHA circled
overhead.

How do you tell a male SEOW from a female SEOW, and do SEOWs migrate?

Josh
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March 3, 1996 Sunday Fir island Mostly Cloudy 42F
Slight Wind about 5 mph

On Fir island we saw 8 WEME's (Western Meadowlarks). they are beautiful
yellow birds that skip around in the reeds it was the first time I have
ever seen one. So it was special. Later that day we went to a museum
called padilla bay center and we saw a carved one.

"In grassy country, a chunky brown bird flushes, showing a conspicuous
patch of white on each side of its short wide tail. Several rapid
wingbeats alternate with short glides. Should it perch on a post, The
glass reveals a bright yellow breast crossed by a black V. Walking, the
bird flicks its tail open and shut. A starling shape."

We saw different stages of breeding plumage. Is that a sign of spring?
Do WEMEs nest in burrows, tree branches, on top of the ground, or in a
cavity?

THANKS Chris Carpenter
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march 6th wednesday marymoor park cloudy 50fh
no wind time 4:00to 6:00 5 obervers

We heard a bird sound it like a machine gun. It was a Marsh Wren. We
didn't see them because it was hiding in the marsh we record it the Marsh
Wran. We went and then we saw a red-wing black bird. It sounded like
konk-la-reee.

THANKS, DARA
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Date: Wed March 6th \\ Location: Marymoor park \\ Sky: overcast
\\ Temp: 50 \\ Wind: None \\ Time: 4:00 to 6:00 \\ 5 observers

When we were on the birding trip we saw: 2 BTPI, 7 AMCO, 1 GADW, 1 RUBL,
3 AMRA, 100+ EUST, 6 RODO, 1 BEWR, 2 GBHO, 3 PBGR, 9 BUHE,
4 MALL, 2 NOHA (m&f), 6 MAWR, 2 SOSP, 1 RTHA, 20+ CAGE.
While we were there we found some barn owl pellets.

-Connor
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Date: Sun March 3rd Location: Fir Island Sky: Mostly overcast Temp: 45f
Wind: Slight wind Time: 8:30 to 6:00 #of obsevers: 15 peoples.

As I was looking around with the scope on Fir Island, I spotted
5 Tundra Swans (TUSW) and Trumpeter Swans (TRSW). Some of the
swans were sticking their head inside the water looking for alegies. The way
I thought the difference between the TUSW and the TRSW is by their necks.
The TRSW has a longer neck then the TUSW. When I see them fly, I make
sure the neck of the bird is long because the SNGE has the same color as the
swans but shorter necks.

What does TRSW and TUSW eat besides alegies?
How many other differences is there besides their necks?
If there is more what are they?

-Sachiko-
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Date: March.3 Sunday. Loacation: Fir Island Sky: over cast,
slow wind, 40f Time: 8:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. Observers: 15

We were driving down fir Island road. Everybody was cold and wet but
enthusiastic. It was then we spoted a red-tailed hawk. As we watched the
red-tailed hawk flew and chased a perching merlin to a nearby tree and
left. The Merlin stayed there and continued to look nervously around.
The Merlin often bobbed the head and leaned forward looking like it was
going to fly until we got the scope on hime and he seemed to slowly calm
down as the realization that the red-tailed hawk was gone seemed to dawn
on him.

Why did'nt the red-tialed hawk follow through with the attack on the Merlin?

How long does it take for the Merlin to build all the power it needs to
move as swiftly as it does?

-Dakota
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