> Anyways, my questions are
>
>Has anyone who lives close to Monroe ever seen a Steller's Jay around here?

Many people refer to the Steller's Jay as a "Blue" Jay because it's a jay
and it's blue, right? :) But the actual species called Blue Jay has notably
different coloration, though the size and shape are similar. Blue Jays also
do not normally inhabit our part of the continent.

>
>Also, I could swear there have been times when my husband & I have been out
>birdwatching
>that we have seen a crane now & then. This might be a silly question, but do
>we have cranes
>here?

I've heard people refer to the Great Blue Herons as "Blue Cranes". In this
case it could just be common use among people who don't care to make a
differentiation between two long-legged/long-necked birds! Hey, as long as
they're interested that's great! Sandhill Cranes are seen in western
Washington, but they are not as common as herons. In eastern Washington,
cranes can be seen in large flocks at the right time of year.

>
>Here in Monroe we are so lucky because my favorite birds of all are here
>often...which are owls.
>I am trying to figure out though from the other night, I heard a screech &
>knew it would be an owl, I screeched
>a screech sound & this wonderful owl flew over, but in this book I bought it
>says the Screech-Owl is 8-9 in.(females are
>slightly larger), but the one the other night was it looked like about 16
>in. long with a wing span of about 29 in. or so.
>The underneath was a medium brown. It was beautiful *S*

Hmmm, I don't know owls too well. Several are close to that size but I don't
really know their calls. What sort of habitat were you in?

>
>My parents live in Duvall & they just recently moved to a new location
>there, my mom was telling me tonight on the phone that there is a bird that
>makes this strange loud peep type of sound at night time & in the early
>mornings, every night & day.
>I told her I would come out there with my new book & we will need to see if
>we can find the bird & see if it is one that's in this book.

Could be the Common Nighthawk. My book describes their call as "peent",
which I think is pretty close to "peep"! :) I haven't been to Duvall in a
while, but Nighthawks are certainly possible. I've heard them at least once
near my house. They seem to be more common in the mountains and eastern
Washington.

Hope this helps.


Michael B. Brown
Puyallup, Washington
H-253-841-4281
W-253-841-8733
C-253-208-9588
borealis at borealis.seanet.com
Nature Trail- http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/elem/firgrove/brown/trail.htm
Home Page- http://www.seanet.com/~borealis/Resume.htm

"...I found myself suddenly neighbor to the birds; not by having imprisoned
one, but having caged myself near them."

-Thoreau
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(o!o)
((___))
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