Hi Tweets - I totally agree with Terry Dunning that we should all speak up to WDFW about the future of Leque Island. I expect this is where birders and duck hunters come together in opposition to the strong influence of the salmon habitat restoration juggernaut (mostly a good thing, but here...? There's some pretty good habitat for a number of other species, as we've seen this winter!). Speaking of which, I was saddened to see the report of the demise of one of the Long-eared Owls that have attracted so much attention this winter. I visited Eide Rd. on Sunday and was startled to see that someone (the Troglodyes, no doubt) saw fit to create a 4x4 race course right off the parking lot and very close to the thicket that has provided the LEOW its refuge from the hordes of viewers. This activity covered the parking lot with mud and dug up the field that has been a great place for Western Meadowlarks; more importantly, I doubt that the noise and flying mud would have been considered tolerable by even the most patient and tolerant LEOW, as these seemed to be. Needless to say, the owls were not in the usual place, and now, at least one of them has been found dead. Sad indeed!

Jon Houghton, Edmonds
Jon.Houghton at HartCrowser.com<mailto:Jon.Houghton at HartCrowser.com>