Regarding Seattle area snowy owls, the one reported from the south part of
Discovery Park was present through at least Sunday. Thanks again to Matt
Bartels for the post. Please be aware of the residents in the military
housing, and respect their privacy by staying clear of their property. (The
owl could use ample personal space as well!) The visitor's center may
provide the latest update:

Discovery Park Visitors Center Contact Information: (206) 386 - 4236

On Tuesday I was on Issaquah Creek, just above the fish hatchery when I
heard and saw a dipper below me as I stood on the bridge over the creek. It
was working its way upstream, rapidly dipping into the current. On the east
side of Lake Sammamish at Ebright creek I heard another dipper as I stopped
to collect water samples. These are probably the most urban dippers I've
ever observed.

Two recent gifts for myself:
Peregrine Falcon: Stories of the Blue Meanie
A superb success as a bird, combining great speed, aeronautical grace, and
fearlessness . . . inhabitant of wild places, inaccessible cliffs, and
skyscrapers . . . worldwide dweller, trans-equatorial migrant, and docile
captive--the peregrine falcon stands alone among all others of its kind.
Perhaps this is why so many varied people rushed to its aid when it faced
decimation by pesticide poisoning. In this personal and highly entertaining
memoir, Jim Enderson tells stories of a lifetime spent studying, training,
breeding, and simply enjoying peregrine falcons. He recalls how his boyhood
interest in raptors grew into an ornithological career in which he became
one of the leading experts who helped identify DDT as the cause of the
peregrine falcon's sudden and massive decline across the United States. His
stories reveal both the dedication that he and fellow researchers brought to
the task of studying and restoring the peregrine and the hair-raising
adventures that sometimes befell them along the way. Enderson also
seamlessly weaves in the biology and natural history of the peregrine, as
well as anecdotes about its traditional and widespread use in falconry as an
aggressive yet tractable hunter, to offer a broad portrait of this splendid
and intriguing falcon. 254 pages. $22.95

Return of the Peregrine
- a North American Saga of Tenacity and Teamwork
The visionaries who achieved the historic restoration of Peregrine Falcons
in North America tell their story in a full-color hardcover book. The
Peregrine Falcon restoration is the largest and most comprehensive endeavor
to restore wild populations of an endangered species ever accomplished. Why
and how this effort was achieved is documented in this book and serves as an
example of what can be accomplished when people are willing to work
cooperatively. Authored by 68 people with long-term involvement, and most of
the individuals key to the success, the story is presented chronologically,
topically, and geographically. Included in this book is approximately 400
pages, more than 450 photographs, 21 chapters, and 54 sidebars. $59.50

Book notes are pasted from the Peregrine Fund web site.

Kevin Li
Ballard, USA