Seeing the posting of the ferruginous hawk nest at Wilson Creek has prompted me to ask Tweeters who visit this area to be very careful. Ferruginous hawks can be very sensitive to disturbance early in the nesting stage (now and for next month) and prone to abandonment. This is a Washington State Threatened species that continues to experience further declines in the State. If you visit please give the birds and the nest a wide berth this time of year. Its hard to provide specifics on how far away in general as each year birds have different tolerance limits, but ferruginous are well known for being the most sensitive to human disturbance and nest abandonment among Washington's buteo species.

Thanks and best to everyone who gets to see this magnificent and declining raptor species!

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA