Hey tweets, thanks to your generosity, the white board is up and
running at the kiosk (located at the east end of Wahkiakum Lane). At
the moment, I have posted latest sightings of unusual birds (nothing
too exciting for now). I have also included a list of all the birds
seen at the Fill so far this year: 81 as of Feb. 14.

Today I am posting something new: a photo (courtesy of Doug Parrott)
and a vignette I wrote for my new book. The subject: Green-winged Teals.

The purpose of this part of the white board is to remind us about the
wonder of all birds, even everyday ones. It is also to encourage non-
birders to stop a moment and take in the beauty and behavior of the
scores of birds who depend on the Fill.

I encourage all of you to stop by the white board and have a look. If
any of you desires to post something, you can hike to the CUH main
building, turn left as you enter the double doors and ask the person
behind the glass windows if you can borrow the keys to the locked
white board cabinet. You will need two keys to unlock the cabinet.
Pens and a makeshift eraser are in the cabinet already. Feel free to
erase old posts and write in your observations. Or you can email your
sightings to me, and I will gladly post them for you.

Photographers: If anybody wants to contribute hard copies of your
gorgeous work, please drop them off at the receptionist's desk in the
CUH building (with a note to me). I would like to build up a library
of photos and stories over the next few years so that we can post them
whenever we want to let people know what to look for out there. As you
will see with the currently posted example, you'll be credited for
your work. I think this would be a terrific service to provide to all
who come to the Fill.

Finally, if anyone has a good idea of how best to make use of our
white board, please let me know. FYI, the CUH staff are working on
putting up a map and informational posters on the other 3 sides of the
kiosk. The map, I'm sorry to say, will be pretty basic and will not
include very many of our birders' special locations.

Fran Wood suggested that I post a copy of the map that appears in my
book. I'm happy to do this, but the white board is pretty small, and
the map would take up most of the cork part. An alternative idea would
be to find a carpenter out there who might be willing to build a
little box with a hinged lid and attach it to the side of the kiosk. I
would be willing to donate paper copies of my map for people to take
out of the box and keep. We could print up a complete bird list of the
Fill on one side, and the map on the other. Is this a good idea? I
wonder about the possibility of creating litter.

In the meantime, check out the alder grove kitty corner from the
kiosk. It's been a great place for BROWN CREEPERS lately. A PEREGRINE
FALCON has been paying numerous visits to the Fill this past week, as
have various COOPER'S HAWKS. One is a juvenile with the most beautiful
white front, lightly sprinkled with dots and lines like powdered
chocolate on whipped cream. The WESTERN MEADOWLARKS have begun to sing
(except when the Peregrine shows up), and the DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS have taken to perching on the baseball light standards.
They look like fans getting impatient for spring training to start. A
FOX SPARROW is easy to find at Conibear in the early morning. Finally,
a birder friend told me yesterday that he had seen a juvenile NORTHERN
SHRIKE at the Fill a while back. Keep your eyes peeled! - Connie,
Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com