Hi to all,

I always enjoy reading tweeters but seldom have the time to send out a
posting. But this time I just had to share my weekend experience!

Here in Kitsap County we are blessed with many spectacular birding
opportunities, especially along the Hood Canal. For me some are good and some are 'not
so good'. For instance: On Thursday last, I was called to the old ferry dock
at Lofall, just south of the Hood Canal bridge. There on the beach was a
very sad, OLD and badly injured Bald Eagle. From the looks of things it had lost
it's last battle over an eagle territory nearby. The "Good Sam's" nearby
told me that they had witnessed a couple of eagle fights in the few days prior.
We could not help this bird recover from it's injuries and brought it's
suffering to an end.


To help myself recover from this great saddness and sense of personal loss I
took the opportunity to go out to Big Beef Crossing on Friday, June 4th, at
the history setting 'minus tide'! The tide has not been this low in Washington
State for 19 years!

Well, someone must have notified all of the Bald Eagles for many miles
around! On Friday, Saturday and Sunday's consecutive minus tides we were able to
count and photograph as many as 36, 46 and 37 bald eagles for each day
respectively! About half of the birds sited were juveniles & sub-adults ranging the
usual 1 to 4 years of age with the remaining half being fully matured adults.

There were so many birds that the occational scuffle for oysters, clams,
starfish, fish, bathing positions, etc., etc. were s.o.p. This was a wonderful
chance to train the eye to the age progression markings for this species and to
observe the social order among them.

After having lost three bald eagles to their injuries in the last month (one
from B.I, one from Pattison Lake & the one from Lofall), my heart and soul was
in need of seeing eagles soar and play and squable in their own world. All
of these birds were in the apparent 'picture of health'. This 'birding
weekend' really charged my batteries.

I also counted 26 (fri), 32 (sat) & 27 (sun) Great Blue Heron as well as
uncounted dozens of two or three species of gull and surprisingly only a couple
dozen crow (some were Am. crow & some were NW crow). We also saw a few PUMAS in
the area near the opening of Big Beef Creek. Sorry, we didn't count all of
birds present.

If any of you would like to experience this fantastic show you do have
another opportunity early next month. According to the tide table in the phone book
we will be have two more BIG minus tides on July 3rd and 4th.

WHAT A SHOW. Hope some of you can make it and don't forget to bring a great
spotting scope with camera if you've got 'um. Plan to arrive on the waning
tide about 1 hour prior the turning. The numbers of birds present begins to
drop as the tide begins to rise. Something small to sit on will make you feel
both smug and comfortable. Please car-pool wherever possible. Parking is
really at a premium.

Happy Birding to all,

Sandy Fletcher
Director, Wildlife Rehabilitation
Island Wildlife Shelter, atb
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-3001

Voice: 206.855.9057
Fax: 206.842.6027
Cell: 206.799.7142
Website: www.islandwildlife.org
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