West Seattle, Washington
07 Tuesday
11:31 AM: Going on a month and a half after we first started getting reports about, and photos of. The West Seattle Turkey, it’s still hanging out on the peninsula. The photos above and below were sent last night by Monica Zaborac.
And from a few days earlier, this photo’s from Jeremy Barnes:
Though the sightings started in April in southwest West Seattle and steadily moved north, then east, it has been consistently reported south/southeast of Admiral for a few weeks now. Still no hint of its origin. P.S. Thanks for the updates!
ADDED 1:30 PM: A photo from this morning, same general vicinity, courtesy of James Craig:
As reported here last week, the fry-release season at Fauntleroy Creek has just wrapped up for Salmon in the Schools participants – but the Fauntleroy Watershed Council is offering community members a special chance to participate, and it’s this Saturday (June 8th), 1-3 pm, at the big bridge in Fauntleroy Park.
Even after 1,800 fry were released by more than 700 students, 100 fry were reserved for the occasion.
It’s free – first-come, first-served.
For a map showing where the bridge is – go here.
(Photo courtesy Seal Sitters)
Space is still available in Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network‘s June 15th volunteer training. Here’s the announcement:
Interested in protecting seals and other marine mammals? Seal Sitters’ first training of the year will be held on Saturday, June 15th, in the front meeting room of the Alki UCC from 10 AM – Noon. If you would like to volunteer, this training qualifies you for on-the-beach duty in our territory from Brace Point through the Duwamish River including Harbor Island. As a member of NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, we respond to reports of any marine mammal on the beaches in those areas. Harbor Seal “pupping season” is now underway in Washington and runs from late June – September in our area.
An RSVP is required to attend. Please use this link for more details including instructions on how to RSVP.
The photo and report are from Eilene Hutchinson:
Around 7:40 this evening, we were just south of Salty’s when we were startled by a loud sound and looked up to see a whale surfacing close to shore. We believe this was a gray whale.
It moved off to the north along the Harbor Ave shoreline. We drove to Duwamish Head, where along with others, we watched it surface a number of times before the whale headed southwest toward Alki Point about 8:00 PM.
If you haven’t seen The West Seattle Turkey in person yet (we haven’t!), these photos sent by Monica Zaborac just might be your clearest view yet. So, for all The Turkey’s fans, we are publishing these pronto:
Monica explained, “The Turkey was spotted hanging around 39th and Hanford. A dog got loose and started chasing it and it is the first time I have seen a turkey fly! He is still hanging around in that area. Also 2 houses away, a bunny rabbit.”
It’s been a month now since first word of The Turkey.
Four weeks after they both (re)surfaced, West Seattle’s mystery birds have been sighted again this afternoon:
THE WEST SEATTLE TURKEY: This bird seems to be southbound now. First sightings were in Seola and Arbor Heights in late April – 3 years after another string of turkey sightings – and it moved north to Alki Point, then east to Admiral/Belvidere, where it seemed to have settled – until this sighting today near Tibbetts United Methodist Church, about midway between Admiral and The Junction.
Linda sent that photo/report; this next one is from E:
THE WEST SEATTLE GOLDEN PHEASANT: This one has not ranged far from the Arbor Heights area since we published a sighting four weeks ago, six years after the previous series of sightings. E’s photo was taken today in the Marine View Drive area.
(Photo by Mark Sears – permit 21348)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“It’s a good week for the whales!”
So declared Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail as her organization’s May gathering began at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor).
She added: “It’s going to be different for the whales this summer and beyond.” Her explanation at the May 16th meeting was followed by an update from Mark Sears, the West Seattle-based researcher who is ofteb out with them when they visit central Puget Sound.
But first: Read More
(Video by Karen Therese, as orcas passed Lincoln Park)
8:45 AM: Northbound orcas off Constellation Park, reports Kersti Muul.
10:40 AM: Thanks for the updates and photos in comments!
(Added: Photo by Gary Jones)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:35 PM: Thanks for the tips! We’ve gotten several about northbound orcas passing west-facing West Seattle. Most recently, Kersti Muul – who says it’s the T65a transients – reports they’re passing Fauntleroy. Let us know if you see them!
(Added: Photo by Eilene Hutchinson)
ADDED 9:23 PM: Thanks for the photos! And also thanks to the commenters for the updates as they passed our shores.
Thanks to Trevor Simonton for the photos from Sunday, taken from the shore at Lincoln Park. He writes:
My wife and I saw some kind of porpoises (and a harbor seal) fishing off of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal … I thought it would be fun to share some pics.
We would love to get some opinions on what kinds of fins we saw… maybe Harbor Porpoise? Dall’s Porpoise? (on the far right of the pic of the paddleboarder there’s a harbor seal’s head… he was bobbing up and down along with the porpoises)
Trevor’s photos included one that needs no ID help:
As for the fins – even with a species guide like the one offered by The Whale Trail, we couldn’t tell. Can you?
At our West Seattle Bee Festival booth on Saturday, the bird we have uncreatively nicknamed “The West Seattle Turkey” was Topic A with those who stopped by to say hi. So we’re sharing news of three sightings today. Above is a photo sent by Lily this afternoon when the turkey turned up in the 3200 block of Walnut SW, just a bit south of West Seattle High School, where Zoe caught this quick clip:
Zoe reports, “The turkey that has been roaming around was behind the woodshop at West Seattle High School this morning. A fun addition to 4th period. And it was still in the area this afternoon – this photo’s from Ray:
Ray saw it this afternoon on the northeast side of the WSHS campus. As Rose reported last week, the turkey seems to have settled in the general east Admiral area. Sightings began in southwest West Seattle three weeks ago. No one’s come forward to say they’re missing a turkey; we’ve checked with the Seattle Animal Shelter and they’re mystified too.
Second orca alert of the day! This time from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, reporting northbound orcas in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes. Let us know if you see them!
Add to the list of things you can do today – go look for orcas! Kersti Muul sends word there are whales just north of Elliott Bay, headed southbound. Let us know if you see them!
Almost three weeks after we started getting reports of sightings, the West Seattle Turkey seems to have settled into the east Admiral vicinity. The latest photos and report are from Rose De Dan of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, who sent this on Thursday morning:
It appears that the turkey has made our neighborhood its home.
Every day I put nuts out for my crow friend Rogue and the squirrels. Both often come calling at my front door, and the squirrels will be really pushy and start banging on the window if they don’t get service. I jokingly refer to my house as the Wild Rose Café.
This morning I opened my front door to find the turkey standing right there, looking in, and asking for breakfast. Apparently he had heard the rumors. I’m not kidding, I have photos, and video!
He preferred the bird seed I put out, drank out of the birdbath, and then wandered on down the street where he had a bit of an interaction with two neighbor cats. It was an interesting dance. They were more curious than anything else.
Right now he is back, and warning off the squirrels from HIS pile of food. He puffs up to look really intimidating and has a go at them.
It appears that I may have been adopted by the turkey, and honestly, I am no longer sure he is wild, but he is welcome to stay. He is clucking right outside my front door at the moment.
Our previous report with multiple sightings is here.
Just got the tip from Kersti Muul: A group of orcas identified as the T-65a transients (who, she notes, include a year-old calf) is headed southbound, seen off Yeomalt Point on Bainbridge Island [map]. Midchannel, so if you go out looking, bring binoculars. Let us know if you see them! We’ll keep updating this story, though we’re working on a lot today so it won’t be at the top of the stream for long.
(Photo by Mark Sears – permit 21348)
What did the Legislature approve to protect Puget Sound orcas, and what happens next? You can find out at The Whale Trail‘s next gathering, which also will feature orca researcher Mark Sears. Here’s the announcement for the event Thursday night (May 16th):
“Celebrate Orca Legislation and Puget Sound Orca Update Featuring Mark Sears”
When: Thursday, May 16, 7:00 – 8:30
–Doors open at 6:30
Where: C & P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW
Cost: $5 suggested donation; kids free
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.comLast week Governor Jay Inslee signed five bills to protect southern resident orcas. The new laws will reduce vessel noise and disturbance, improve salmon habitat, reduce contaminants, provide protection from oil spills, and educate boaters. The Canadian Government also announced new measures to protect orcas including establishing feeding sanctuaries for the orcas and setting a distance setback of 400 yards for all vessels. A good week for the whales!
Join us to celebrate a new era in orca protection, and hear an update about orca activity in Puget Sound from whale researcher Mark Sears. Learn what’s next for orcas, the Task Force, and the Whale Trail, and how you can help!
Buy tickets now to reserve your seat.
Our report on last month’s Whale Trail gathering/presentation is here.
The photo and report are from David Hutchinson on behalf of Seal Sitters Marine Stranding Network:
Seal Sitters’ 2019 harbor seal “pupping season” got off to an early and sad start this past Saturday. Harbor seal pups in our area of Puget Sound are normally born from late June – September. Our Hotline (206-905-7325) received a call from a resident along Beach Drive, reporting what appeared to be a seal pup along with two other seals on an offshore raft. It was later determined that the pup was deceased and it was retrieved at low tide, after the two larger seals had left. It was then taken to the WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations facility for a necropsy. We received a preliminary report today that the pup weighed 4.5 kg (10 lbs.), was 62 cm (24 in) in length and most likely was a “3rd trimester stillborn”. Further tests are planned, funded by Seal Sitters. For additional details, please see this link.
Also, you have two upcoming chances to volunteer on behalf of local wildlife and a healthier Puget Sound:
If you are interested in volunteering with Seal Sitters, our next training session has been scheduled for Saturday, June 15th. Seating is limited so an RSVP is required. Please use (this link) for more details, including instructions on how to RSVP.
Also: Seal Sitters along with our neighboring network Sno-King Marine Mammal Response and SR3 are co-sponsoring our annual Alki Beach cleanup on Saturday, June 29th. For more details and for instructions on how to RSVP (requested, but walkups are also welcome) for this event, please use (this link).
FRIDAY REPORT: Thanks to Lynn Hall for the newest photo of the “West Seattle turkey,” two weeks since we started hearing about sightings and receiving photos. It seems to still be headed north/east – Lynn spotted it along Alki Avenue this morning; that’s where Jan Pendergrass saw it on Thursday:
Sighting reports started in Seola, moved through Arbor Heights and Fauntleroy, along Beach Drive, to Alki Point, and now north/eastward along Duwamish Head. Still no word of anyone looking for a missing turkey. We’re checking with the Seattle Animal Shelter to see if they’ve had any reports from elsewhere in the city; three years ago, SAS speculated the turkey seen around town then might have escaped from a “private flock.”
SATURDAY UPDATE: Still headed east – but now south, with sightings in Fairmount Ravine and Belvidere:
That photo is from Catherine, who says, “Just saw the turkey this afternoon while walking through our neighborhood. Made me smile. Up on 38th Ave SW in the Belvedere neighborhood.”
SUNDAY REPORT: A photo from 10:30 am at 38th SW/Olga:
Thanks for sending the updates!
MONDAY UPDATES: Jody spotted it on “37th Ave SW between Stevens and Olga.”
Then it turned up in Tim‘s garden int the 2700 block of 38th SW:
After garden mayhem, Tim reported, the turkey took a nap.
TUESDAY UPDATES: The reports we received today were from the same general area. From Michael Ross:
From Regan:
There might be a reason the turkey’s lingered there. Rose De Dan of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing said she invited it to visit. She finally got to see it:
Tonight, around 7:30 p.m. I heard the very loud and distinct sound of a turkey gobbling! I looked out my front window which faces 39th and Lander, and there he is in all his puffed up glory, strutting down the street, gobbling away, and headed right toward my house. It is definitely a he, since only the males gobble. He is issuing a call to any lady turkeys in the nearby vicinity. Poor guy, I sincerely hope he finds a lady love.
He is definitely wild. As soon as I opened my front door he hightailed it in the direction of the greenbelt that runs behind the houses across the street from me. The neighbors have seen him fence hopping from yard to yard.
I did not see him again, but heard him gobbling away for a little while longer. I am so grateful that he came to call (literally), and I hope that he finds the female turkey of his dreams …
One week ago – Arbor Heights and Seola. A few days ago, Fauntleroy. Now … still northbound:
Fred sent that photo after a Beach Drive backyard sighting on Sunday. Today, a texted photo from Alki Point:
Where will “the West Seattle turkey” turn up next? Is it the same one that wandered the peninsula exactly three years ago? We haven’t yet checked in with Seattle Animal Shelter but that year, they told us their guess was that the wandering turkey had escaped from “someone’s private flock.”
Same turkey (at least, that’s the majority vote on ID so far) as last Sunday in Seola? Charles sent the top photo today after the big bird showed up in his backyard near Lincoln Park; Jon sent the photo below after a backyard visit in Fauntleroy on Friday:
As noted last weekend, the previous wave of turkey sightings was right about this time three years ago.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Every spring, salmon fry like these are released into Fauntleroy Creek with the hopes of students, educators, and volunteers swimming right along next to them. Today, these were the first school-raised fry of the year to be set free. And the occasion brought another first:
Fifth-graders from Louisa Boren STEM K-8 are the first at their school to participate in the Salmon in the Schools program. They arrived by bus at Fauntleroy Park in the midmorning sun and headed to the creek:
Watershed steward Judy Pickens tells us that lead teacher Christina Massimino and students at Boren have “jumped in” wholeheartedly with a lot of environmental learning tied to coho-raising in the four months since eggs were delivered.
Another 19 releases are planned in the next month. Judy adds, “Volunteers Dennis Hinton, Pete Draughon, and Shannon Ninburg will be in the woods again this year, dipping fish, looking out for safety, and coordinating habitat exploration.”
After the fry are freed, it’s off to Judy’s end of the creek, closer to the overlook across from the Fauntleroy ferry dock, for Q&A and lunch. The annual cycle at Fauntleroy Creek also includes the fall watch for spawners; last year, volunteers counted 18, the most in four years.
P.S. In case you haven’t already seen it, Fauntleroy Creek – and Dennis and Judy – got a TV showcase this week.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that orcas are in the area – southbound transient killer whales passing Bainbridge’s Restoration Point as of a little while ago. Let us know if you see them!
(November 2018 photo by Trileigh Tucker – resident orcas being observed by licensed researchers)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Many point out that Earth Day isn’t really about saving the planet – it’s about saving those who live on it, ourselves included.
Some are in more imminent danger than others. In particular, the Southern Resident Killer Whales, whose plight was the focus of this month’s Orca Talk, presented by The Whale Trail.
Their population remains at 75, only four above their historic low of 71. “If they go below 71, no one can say whether they’ll come back.”
That was the somber reminder from both TWT founder/executive director Donna Sandstrom and the Thursday night event’s featured guest, retired marine-mammal expert Dr. Tim Ragen. He opened with toplines on his background, including working on the Marine Mammal Commission in D.C. 2000-2013. More recently – in “retirement” – he’s spent time focusing on other species in danger,from Hawaiian monk seals to Florida manatees.
Addressing the status of the SRKWs, Dr. Ragen explained that the number 75 doesn’t tell the whole story.
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