98-01-01, Jerry Broadus writes:

<< Is anyone else bothered by the remake of the land west of the west 90
in the Samish flats... snip ...Is there any chance that it could be made in
to a raptor preserve (hope I'm not just dreaming with that one). >>

My exact recent thoughts and dreams too, Jerry! I had always thought how
wonderful it might be (or have been) to have preserved all that land on the
south and west side of the 'West 90' and always dreaded the day that it would
likely fall to the plow. We stopped by there at sunset after the San Juan
Islands (Ferry) CBC to watch the evening flight of the Short-eared Owls and
maybe catch a glimpse of the Gyrfalcon. Nothing! That vast weedy field that
used to be so good for raptors and owls has all been plowed under and
converted for cultivation. Actually, I think this may have happened a year or
so ago. That was such a dynamic spot, and there is so little if any others up
there that are reasonably accessible, and none with the nearness to the water
which attracted other birds that the 'West 90' site provided. If there was
any practical way to obtain that parcel of land and return it to the raptor
haven it once was, I would be the first to stand behind it and lend what
support I could. It is a site so unique to Washington and the Pacific
Northwest and attracted birders and raptor lovers from all over North America,
that some sort of effort should be organized to look into it's restoration and
preservation. But then, like Jerry and Clarice, maybe I'm just dreaming too.
--Richard

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)