West Seattle wildlife: From the backyards to the beach

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Three views of West Seattle wildlife to share – first, from Patrick McCaffrey, a pileated woodpecker – and then from Melanie Dixon, her backyard screech owl, “just before taking off after prey”:

On the beach at Lincoln Park, a placid Saturday afternoon view of a resting seal. Sabra, who shared the photo, says Seal Sitters were on the job:

Seal Sitters hasn’t had an off-season yet this year. (Many of their adventures and challenges are chronicled on their “blubberblog” site.) Meantime, thanks to everyone who shared photos – send ’em any time! (Or share via the West Seattle Blog group on Flickr.)

ADDED 7:42 PM: One more Lincoln Park photo – a barred owl, seen and photographed there by Kate:

… which reminds us that West Seattle naturalist Stewart Wechsler has two owling walks on his calendar, just days away.

Cheryl April 1, 2012 (2:53 pm)

We are SO very blessed to live in such a wondrous place. #JustSayin

eve shepard April 1, 2012 (5:50 pm)

oh my gosh..how can I go about getting my very own backyard screech owl???

cj April 1, 2012 (6:03 pm)

Hope things go well with the seal sitters, Lincoln Park is one of the worst places for the kind of dog owners and sometimes parents who think the rules don’t apply to them. Good luck with protecting the baby. I love the place but not so much some of its visitors.

Idle April 1, 2012 (7:54 pm)

I was also wondering how to get a screech owl to move in. We have some prey of the rodent variety that we would like some help with.

WestSide45 April 1, 2012 (8:39 pm)

To get a Western Screech-Owl to move in you must create an enclosure with the correct opening size and interior cavity size. Google “Western Screech owl nest box” and you will find instructions on how to build one. Or, you can buy them pre-made. The owls are not necessarily scarce, and you may be able to attract one simply by erecting a box and placing it in the correct spot. However, others may also find your owl box attractive (starlings, house sparrows, etc.) so you, as landlord, may be serving eviction papers quite often.
Good luck.

MMB April 1, 2012 (8:46 pm)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – we have some first-rate wildlife photographers here in West Seattle. Keep those beautiful pictures coming, folks. Thanks, WSB for being the place to go for beautiful wildlife pictures!