Hey Tweets!

I've gotten some emails in the last week or two regarding a potential land sale in Renton. Story here:

http://www.rentonschools.us/FILES/DISTRICT/Community%20Relations/District_to_start_sell_of_property_6_7_2012.pdf

It's in my Christmas Bird Count area, and I know of at least two birders living adjacent to/near the Tiffany Park parcel. One reported Western Screech-Owl calls from those woods in the last few nights, and I know that Pileated Woodpeckers are another species in this stand - mostly coniferous, and old-ish trees.

So.. one question then is about the status for the screechies - I don't think there's any question that they are in serious decline locally, but I would be happy to be corrected on that. If that is the case, how long does it take for a decline to lead to any protections for birds? And how are things like that documented for a situation like this...? I'm just pretty new to the part of birding where we actually doooo something with the stuff we learn, and want to know what to pass along to people. What other woodland species locally would be worth noting?

If you look at the Tiffany Park parcel on a map, and back away, you can see it's a pretty big parcel, but also that it's like a little island relative to the humongous Renton Natural Area. It would be interesting to hear any thoughts on what might make this habitat unique in this particular area, and on the urgency of protecting it.

-Happy Birding!
Tim Brennan
Renton