Hey tweets, signs that spring is in the air were everywhere at the
Fill today, and I couldn't be happier. I am so tired of having to get
bundled up in multiple layers of clothing until I resemble the
Michelin Tire Man.

The Ruddy Duck who has been floating regularly on the Main Pond is
starting to blue-up his bill. Four (!) Winter Wrens in the Surber
grove were emboldened to come out and sing at each other, in between
hunting for the odd tidbit among the leaf litter. The Red-winged
Blackbird males are lining up their territories in anticipation of
garnering the females' admiration, kind of an icterid version of "hey,
baby, how do you like my hot rod?" Females make their selection of a
mate based on the quality of a male's home territory, so the stakes
are high. This morning, the males had to sing atop frozen ponds whose
insect population could only be guessed at. I think the uncertainty
cramped their style a bit, at least until the sun warmed up the ponds
and melted the ice.

In other news, the Western Meadowlark who has been hanging out in the
fields all winter is beginning to burble, a most lovely song. Two
Killdeers were foraging on the mud island in the lagoon, which
ordinarily wouldn't raise anyone's eyebrows except for the fact that
Killdeers have been notably scarce at the Fill ever since the coyotes
moved in. Other ground-loving birds are getting mighty scarce, too. No
one I know of has either seen or heard a Ring-necked Pheasant since
last May. They may be extirpated by the coyotes. Speaking of which,
the coyotes staged an early-morning howl-in today. Usually they like
to hold their concerts in the evenings, especially when they hear a
siren go by, so today's performance was exceptional.

The best bird of the day for me was a lovely Purple Finch, a female at
the top of a little tree near the compost heap at the west end of
Wahkiakum Lane. This whole area is becoming a very rich habitat,
thanks in part to the efforts of environmental students working under
the leadership of Kern Ewing. You should check it out during every
walk - its potential to produce rarities is high. - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com