Alan, you made a good point here in your last sentence. I don't know why people plant willows around wetlands like this, thereby fairly quickly destroying their value as shorebird habitat. It's been done at Montlake Fill, it's been done at Magnuson Park, and I know it's been done at other constructed wetlands. Willows and cottonwoods come in soon enough on their own, and my recommendation has always been to actively manage for shorebirds-;clear out the woody vegetation that invariably becomes established at such places and not only ruins it for shorebirds and some other wetland species but even eliminates the views that birders cherished before the trees blocked them.

We have lots of trees in this area but not lots of open meadows and wetlands. What is not liked about the latter scarce habitats?

I don't know why the various agencies have this bias, and it would be good to bring out in the open and discuss in the environmental community. There seems to be no trace of an environmental master plan for the region.

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> On May 15, 2021, at 4:48 PM, pan <panmail at mailfence.com> wrote:

>

> Tweets,

>

> I made the wrong decision last minute this morning and went east to Redmond rather than my usual Discovery Park (where goodies reported). Just so you know it's not a given, I spent an hour scoping the wetlands off Avondale Road around 85th, and did not see Pectoral Sandpiper.

> Greater Yellowlegs, 3

> Spotted Sandpiper, 1

> Long-billed Dowitcher, 1

> Killdeer, ~4

> Blue-winged Teal, 1

> Cinnamon Teal, 1 (a couple females unidentified at distance)

> Great Blue Heron

> Osprey

> others, including a male Lazuli Bunting

>

> The farthest east pond, also farthest from view, across from about 90th, where a couple Pectorals were reported yesterday, had only a yellowlegs and a couple crows wading. These wetlands will probably close up in a year or two with all the willows planted.

>

> 15 May, 2021,

>

> Alan Grenon

> panmail AT mailfence.com

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