Friends,
The Tuesday Seattle P-I included quotes from several of our posts
regarding the Mayor's (or most likely his "spin" staff's) idea about
lighting up buildings, bridges, other infrastructure for most of 1999 to
celebrate the turn of the century. I do have to praise reporter George
Foster's including information about scientific evidence for migratory
bird kills at night-lit towers, rather than just the "reactionary"
statements (yes, I did call the idea "fluff-headed.)

Again, why can't this city take its diverse NW culture into the 21st
Century with substantive, enduring, environmentally-progressive and truly
enlightening events/monuments?

Actually, I have a very selfish, but environmentally reasonable
Millennium idea---an addition to our transportation system that serves the
waterfront populations: A reliable, rapid, commuter water-MetroTaxi that
serves the Soundside villages (such as, ahem..........Des Moines) to/from
downtown Seattle. A walk down to the Marina to catch a morning boat is
much more appealing than driving on increasingly congested First Avenue S
to Burien Park, Murder & Ride to catch a University "express" bus that is
going to "park-and-creep" at the First South Bridge with everybody else.

Birding note over the Memorial Day Weekend: A single BRANT goose in
scraggly plumage at the Des Moines Creek Beach Park seen at beach edge
during low tide feeding on the abundant green stuff........and 4 COMMON
GOLDENEYES (late for here) also feeding close to shore. In the woodland
of Normandy Park bluff just north of the Marina, I found singing
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS (may be nesting), definitely nesting
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. SPOTTED TOWHEES have
increased population here over the past year, and they were singing
everywhere. The woodland east of the Senior Center at the Beach Park is
not passable for birding for the time being.........looks like a major
flood control project plus perhaps "improving" the trail. A lot of the
low underbrush on the north side, i.e., Song sparrow nesting habitat, has
been bulldozed. I'll keep a monitor on this construction work.

Cheers (sort of,)
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA

"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-