West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
We know we’ve shown you the Harbor Ave Canada geese over and over again … but this afternoon, we just happened to be working in the car at Don Armeni for a short time, and there they were, and we were powerless to resist the desire to pull the camera out of the laptop bag, and … Besides the two little guys shown with the adults here, there were also two — elder siblings? — in the group (and note the aft end of the Magnolia-docked cruise ship at left):
ADDED 11:28 PM: David Hutchinson, who has shared excellent photos of the Harbor Ave goose families, says he and wife Eilene have been observing them all and he happens to have a lot of backstory:
The 2 older goslings were hatched on one of the pilings near Salty’s the thirdweek of April. Their father is the larger adult with the large indentation in his feathers on the right side of his chest. Based on our observations, he is the “alpha male” goose along Harbor Avenue. When he and his family approach, everyone else leaves very quickly – even the 4 adults with the 19 goslings.
We have observed him and his mate since last year when they had 4 goslings. Only 1 lived to adulthood – 2 disappeared and we took the 3rd to PAWS with a badly injured leg (it later had to be euthanized because the injury led to a severe infection). This year there were originally 4 again but 2 of those disappeared. The 2 smaller goslings you photographed were “adopted” by this family on Mother’s Day, May 10th. That morning they showed up at Don Armeni with a different family and by afternoon, they had joined their adoptive family and their parents had left. From what we have read, very young goslings have not “imprinted” on their biological parents and will go off with other goslings of similar size. Once this happens, the adoptive parents will not allow the biological parents near.
Alki photographer David Hutchinson has shared several great shots of the Canada goose families many West Seattleites (and visitors) have been watching – and in the final moments of Mother’s Day 2009, he shared this comparison, explaining:
My wife and I have enjoyed following the development of the large family of Canada Geese goslings this past month during our walks along the Harbor Ave waterfront. This large combination of families is being watched over by 2 pairs of adults. Their number seems to have stabilized at 20 down from the 24 we had counted a couple weeks ago. This is a much higher survival rate than another family of 5 goslings, all of which have now disappeared. The photos are of the same group of goslings and were taken about 1 month apart.
Thanks to WSBers’ wonderful photography, we have shown you great Alki-area wildlife photos like that one that Gary J shared recently – but there’s an unseen, vital part of those pictures: If there’s no habitat for the birds (and many other species), wildlife won’t be around to see. So we wanted to remind you about an upcoming event that’s been on the WSB Events calendar a long time but is finally now less than two weeks away: The May 23rd celebration of Alki as the Seattle metro area’s first National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat. Here’s the latest on what’s planned for the big event:
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) officially recognizes Alki as an NWF Community Wildlife Habitat on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the Alki Bathhouse.
The celebration is free and runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Bring the kids. There will be activities for all ages and light refreshments. Bluegrass duo Squirrel Butter will perform from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local dignitaries, including City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, will participate in the 1 p.m. ceremony.
Alki invites all Seattle communities to join the national trend to counter habitat loss. “Once habitat is lost, it is gone forever,” said Nancy Whitlock, Executive Director and Founder of Nature Consortium.
Learn what you can do to create your own, and encourage neighbors to do the same –ultimately expanding wildlife corridors. The NWF will talk about the elements required for wildlife protection. All flying and crawling friends seek, food, water, shelter and nesting places while using sustainable gardening practices like composting, mulching, selecting drought tolerant plants, avoiding pesticides, fertilizers and over watering. Healthier air, water and soil without high maintenance are the result.
A beach naturalist from The Seattle Aquarium will teach us how to better respect Puget Sound and our waterways. You’ll learn what to plant from the Washington Native Plant Society. To make it easy, native plants will be on sale.
Alki is the first in the Seattle metropolitan area to become a Community Wildlife Habitat, the fifth in Washington State, and 31st in the country. “We’re so lucky to have wild places within our city,” said Sean Schmidt, Director of New Initiatives and Acting Executive Director of Sustainable Seattle. Gene Duvernoy, Executive Director of the Cascade Land Conservancy, added this “certification is well deserved. The Alki community is showing us all how we can live side-by-side with nature.” More than 125 Alki businesses, schools, parks and private homes made healthy habitats a priority.
The Alki Wildlife Habitat Project took root in January 2003 as a shared vision of the Alki Community Council. They formed the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored an open house at the Bathhouse and rallied the neighbors to seek certification as an NWF Community Wildlife Habitat.
Six years later, linking one yard at a time as well as creating a demonstration garden, the collective efforts paid off. Alki now has “less lawn, more berries… birds, bees and butterflies, “said Chairperson Dolly Vinal. Shawn Cantrell, Executive Director of the Seattle Audubon Society, said, “Global warming, polar bears clinging to ice floes, habitat loss to encroaching development and other environmental woes create a picture of doom. It’s easy to feel helpless. But individuals make a difference as one property at a time is dedicated to nurturing and protecting our wildlife.”
The Alki Community Council and The Boeing Company co-sponsor the awards celebration.
After this week’s humpback sightings (here and here), Lori in Arbor Heights wanted to share this:
I’d like to urge anyone who sees the Humpback (or any other whales for that matter) to please, please call Orca Network at 1-866-ORCANET to report the sighting. They will in turn contact researchers who would dearly love to find that whale and try to i.d. it. If anyone gets any pictures, especially of the underside of the tail fluke, they can call the preceeding number and get info on where to send copies of their pics to.
Also, folks can check out www.bewhalewise.org for info on guidelines for what to do if they encounter whales while out on their boats. Please give these whales LOTS of room.
With good weather … this weekend, and lots of folks out and about, I’m hoping we’ll see him or her again. I will be out looking myself in earnest.
Since apparently we usually only see about one humpback whale a year in Puget Sound, we’re guessing the one KING5 caught on video (see it here – closest view is the last :30) is likely the same one spotted in West Seattle waters Monday.
As at least one group in attendance at today’s Sustainable West Seattle Festival reminded, the preferred philosophy for dealing with coyotes and other urban wildlife is coexistence, not panic or fear. That said, some find it helpful to know what’s seen where. So here’s the report Kathleen sent us last night about a coyote sighting in Admiral:
We are dog-sitting a little terrier and were surprised (Saturday) afternoon with a coyote that ran into the yard. It didn’t harm the dog, as my husband ran after the coyote, who easily cleared a 6 foot fence and ran into the neighbor’s yard. We live at 51st and Pritchard, one block north of Admiral. I wanted you to know because pets left unattended might be at risk.
Previous coyote reports published on WSB (some with photos) are archived here, newest to oldest.
Second one of the week, first one with a photo. Brian tells the story from 35th/Thistle (map):
Woke up this morning and let the dogs out to do their business and 5 minutes later I hear them barking like mad. Look out the back window and see this fella casing the joint. … While my dogs (and the neighbor’s too for that matter) would have turned this poor guy limb from limb, I guess I have to keep an eye on the cat! He looks hungry.
And that’s what wildlife experts say (state info sheet here) – while they counsel coexistence with urban wildlife, that includes keeping pets indoors. (WSB coyote stories/photos are archived here.)
(the coyote we spotted a year ago at Thistle/Northrop, a few blocks from this latest report)
Also out of the inbox, the first coyote sighting reported to us in a while – this one’s from Alice:
Keep your cats and small dogs inside, or protected. Yesterday, in the middle of the day, as i pulled into my driveway, a coyote walked casually across 44th Ave SW, @ 8200 block (map), and went into the greenbelt. This is just a few blocks above Lincoln Park.
Previously, our neighborhood lost many many cats, and at least one small dog to a hungry coyote. I believe they are nocturnal, so she must be hungry to be out midday.
All WSB coyote reports (including some with photos and video) are archived here, newest to oldest.
ADDED 5:44 PM: Another note that came in after we published this:
My sister lives in Snohomish. Her cat was killed by a coyote in broad daylight. They are not just nocturnal hunters. This happened at around 2pm, my nephew heard the cat screaming, etc. So, don’t be fooled, keep your pets inside.
And that’s what the experts advise as well, but they warn against other dangers to outdoor cats (cars, raccoons, other cats, etc.) too.
Thanks to Mary T. and David Sheely for sharing that photo from this afternoon’s low tide at Alki; the tide will be just as low tomorrow right before 2 pm, but then we won’t see tides this low till late May. Down the shore a ways, David Hutchinson checked back with some members of Harbor Avenue’s semi-celebrity Canada goose family:
Bonus — just as we were getting ready to hit “publish,” Alma sent us a photo of tonight’s sunset:
Thanks again to everyone who shares photos via WSB – whether breaking news or beautiful sunsets – editor@westseattleblog.com any time!
(photo by Gary Jones, taken today at Alki)
After all the incredible photos shared with WSB lately showing eagles around West Seattle, we thought it would be interesting to get a broader look at the local population. Since we (like many other local-news organizations) work on occasion with the University of Washington News Lab, we asked if any of their student reporters might want to take that on – they agreed, and here’s the result (with some WSBers’ eagle photos and video woven throughout)!
(Brace Point-area juvenile eagle, photographed by Rick R)
By BEN BRADLEY
UW News Lab
This spring, people in West Seattle have noticed an increase in bald eagle sightings, particularly around Alki Beach and Lincoln Park.
David Schneider, a resident of West Seattle, has spotted a few himself. “I think there are only two or three pair, but I usually see them on Beach Drive on the north side of the park.”
Thanks to JayDee for that view from Sunset Avenue SW, looking out toward Alki Point, with Blake Island in the background. Next: Ground-level on Alki, we spotted this bird a few days ago, and have been meaning to ask aloud if it’s yet another eagle-in-transition:
Different kind of creatures onstage this past week at West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) – congratulations to the preprimary performers who put on “Three Billy Goats Gruff”, and thanks to Jennifer for sharing the photo:
Last but not least, we published a photo tour last week spotlighting a new WSB sponsor, Mural Apartments in The Junction — a few days later, Brian sent us this photo, with appliances-in-waiting seeming to mirror the windows above:
Thanks to everyone who shares photos via WSB, whether breaking news or interesting sights – yours are welcome any time at editor@westseattleblog.com (including links to Flickr or other types of galleries, as long as you tell us it’s OK to publish)!
WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli shares two views of the Washington State Ferries vessel Issaquah, usually on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run but currently in drydock at Todd Shipyards:
Also along the West Seattle waterfront: David Hutchinson provides a new view of one of this spring’s most famous local families:
David writes:
There are currently 24 goslings being tended by 2 pairs of adult geese. You can see them roaming the lawns between Salty’s and the Don Armeni boat ramp each day and then leaving in a group after sunset for the beaches of Jack Block Park to spend the night. By the end of July, they will have grown to near adult size and will have learned to fly.
We closely followed the development of last year’s group of goslings and found it very fascinating. Hopefully, despite their controversial status, people will take advantage of this opportunity to see nature close up and will be tolerant of their presence over the next several months. Sadly, last year we observed individuals setting their dogs on groups of adult geese with goslings and quite a few kids seemed think that it was amusing to throw rocks at them as they swam by.
For more information about Canada Geese, check www.canadageese.org/faq.html
We received another goose-family photo today from Manuel:
P.S. Not West Seattle-specific, but if you too are a bird fan, you might enjoy reading the latest on Seattle’s urban peregrines (they’re not mentioned so far this year, but some have been known to nest under The Bridge).
Thanks to Lina Senzer-Rose for sharing the sea lion photo taken by husband Scott Rose – many others who rode the King County Water Taxi (our major coverage of today’s kickoff is here) probably got a good look too! – One more weekend note, Scott C tipped us that lane lines on The Bridge have been re-striped – this photo doesn’t quite do it justice, but we verified ourselves they’re strikingly brighter. Knock wood that we aren’t in for further rounds of road-eroding weather badness.
We had one other bit of road news – we’ve published so much news this weekend that you might have missed it or not gotten to it yet – the Fauntleroy Way repaving contract was awarded, and the bid came in low enough that they will be able to stretch the repaving southwestward to SW Holly. We’ll be checking this week for updates on when that work’s likely to start.
First: West Seattle photojournalist Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com shares that photo, along with this explanation:
Saturday evening, a team of die-hard cricket players took the beach at Alki. The “batsman” stands in front of a “wicket” and tries to hit runs from the “bowler” (pitcher). The game, cricket, has some similarities to baseball. There are eleven players on a team and batsman tries to score runs the bowler throws from an opposite wicket. The game can last an afternoon or several days.
Second, West Seattle resident Bill Bacon sent this photo, taken at Myrtle Edwards on the downtown waterfront, as a semi-rare closeup look at one of the river otters that live in Elliott Bay (and are often seen, in and out of the water, over here):
Thanks to Matt and Bill for sharing the photos; as you know if you’ve been here more than once, we are thrilled to share your photos and video as well as pix and clips we get ourselves while covering the news, so keep editor@westseattleblog.com in mind … thanks!
Out of the WSB inbox – Deb Barker tells the story:
We had a bit of drama on 48th Ave @ SW Graham this afternoon with a sick or wounded possum lying in the middle of the busy roadway. Two strangers stopped to tend to the critter, getting it into a box, duct taping the box together and getting it into my car. (I was running back and forth setting up traffic cones, calling animal control, fetching gloves, tape, etc). I am hoping that my fellow rescuers read the West Seattle Blog so that they know that the critter was delivered to Seattle Animal Control on 15th West, and they were going to have PAWS take it. (I offered to take the possum to Lynnwood, but it sounded like PAWS was enroute anyway). Also, I have the sweatshirt and blue strapping ties that the rescuers left behind.
But most importantly, I want to thank both of the rescuers for taking time out of their day to stop and offer comfort and aid to a small creature. I’m sorry that the drivers along this street were mostly idiots who couldn’t be bothered to slow down while you crouched in the middle of the street protecting the possum. You are my heros – I am so honored to have met you – THANK YOU!!
Let me know if you’d like your belongings returned – the Blog will know how to reach me.
And indeed we do – e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com (other contact methods here).
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
A family of Canada geese along Harbor Ave got their 15 seconds of fame this afternoon — catching the attention of media photographers (including ours) heading away from Seacrest after the diver-rescue incident. These little guys even turned up in a clip on the channel 4 news.
Yes, we know some consider geese a nuisance, but you know, they’re noble in their own way. Including lifelong fidelity.
Back on Tuesday, we published video and photos from Gary … now, Cynthia sends two close-up looks at a high-flying Alki regular:
Cynthia took those photos near Cactus on Sunday. So — how many bald eagles are around here, you ask? Here’s one measure: The Seattle Audubon Christmas Bird Count tallied 54 within a 7.5-mile radius of Pioneer Square; see the results here.
ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: Cynthia had one more photo to share:
We’ve seen eagles more than a few times in our 18 years of living in West Seattle, but can’t quite recall HEARING them – so thanks to Gary Jones for getting close enough to capture audio as well as video from Alki Point this morning, and sharing the results. At one point, he spotted four eagles in the same tree, and got still photos too:
Thanks again to Gary for sharing the video and photos – if you capture wildlife, breaking news, memorable scenes, editor@westseattleblog.com – any time!
Just got a call from West Seattle-based orca expert Jeff Hogan, who says there’s been a sighting around Bainbridge and they’re headed south – so heads up if you’re anywhere near the West Seattle waterfront. Updates as we get them. 11:12 AM UPDATE: Jeff called again – says “they’re a mile off Vashon, heading south.” 1:45 PM UPDATE: The Orca Network has more details on today’s sighting near Bainbridge:
March 19
Orca Network received a call from the Ferry Kitsap at 10:50 am, reporting a pod of orcas 1 mile off Alki Pt, between Alki & Restoration Pts, near the Tango Buoy, heading south.March 19
We are watching what looks like 4 Orcas in a line between Rolling Bay, Bainbridge Island and Carkeek Park, Seattle. They are close to the south bound shipping lane heading south. Looks like one male, two females and not sure about the 4th one. Saw the first one at 8am.
UPDATE 8:30am: The four came in by Skiff Point, Bainbridge Island still heading south. A mother and a juvenile are also out in the south bound shipping lane off of West Point. The juvenile is particularly frisky – jumping clear out of the water.
ADDED 4:15 PM: Here’s a link to KING5 aerials shot today.
Thanks to Manuel for pointing out the “newest” Seattle Municipal Archives addition uploaded to Flickr – it’s dated 1900, with the address listed as 1613 44th Avenue SW (known in 1900 as Olympia Avenue). Here’s the area today, from Google Street View:
Though that house looks a lot like the one next to the grocery store in the 1900 photo, county property records show nothing older on the block than 1909, so it’s apparently just a coincidence. As for the store, it may have been the first one in West Seattle — the definitive account of West Seattle history from 1851-1987, West Side Story, opens Part I, Chapter 3, with a poem titled “The Birth of West Seattle” that is attributed to “John D. McGee, proprietor of the first grocery store in the town of West Seattle, and part-time poet.” (You can find many more historic photos of West Seattle and the rest of the city in the Municipal Archives; thousands are on the city website, and 600+ on Flickr.)
One other photo to share this early morning, from Alki:
Iris Chamberlain is previously from back east and thinks this might be the first bald eagle she’s ever seen – she e-mailed to share the photo after seeing the eagle in and around the tree across from Alki Bakery.
Thanks to Gary J for sharing photos of eagles around Alki Point; it’s “eagle season,” as he put it:
Maybe the one at right is the juvenile eagle seen on Beach Drive recently (as reported here)? Anyway, thanks again to Gary J – send us your photos, news tips, stories to share, any time – editor@westseattleblog.com – or if it’s something too urgent for e-mail (or you’re away from a keyboard), call 206-293-6302 day or night, 24/7. (More wildlife later – a new coyote concern to share.)
Don’t just have a garden – much less a yard – how about a “backyard wildlife habitat”? A unique four-part workshop to show you how is just days away, so here are the details one more time:
Backyard Habitat Workshop at Camp Long
Join Woodland Park Zoo, National Wildlife Federation, Seattle Audubon, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Native Plant Society at Camp Long for this informative workshop on creating a backyard wildlife habitat. Meet experts and get hands-on experience that will show how to attract birds and other wildlife to your backyard, select and care for native plants, recognize and remove invasive plants species, conserve water, manage your backyard without the use of chemical herbicides and pesticides, place feeders and bird houses, get your backyard, schoolyard or community garden certified as a Backyard Habitat.
This is a four-part workshop:
– Tuesday, March 10, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
– Tuesday, March 17, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
– Tuesday, March 24, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
– Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Cost: $75 (or $140 for couples); scholarships available for members of West Seattle Garden Club and local neighborhood associations
To register, please see the zoo’s website:
http://www.zoo.org/educate/adult/workshops.html
(J45 photo added Thursday am, republished courtesy of Center for Whale Research – other whales in the photo: J14 and J1 in the background)
Just got tonight’s edition of the Orca Network e-newsletter, and it includes a report that J-Pod has another new baby – the second one this year. Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research in the San Juans is quoted by the Orca Network as saying a new calf, J45, was spotted with J14, not far from the new calf reported in February, J44, who’s with J17. The newsletter includes a photo, which we’ll add IF we can get permission – or we’ll link it if we find it online. J-Pod is one of Puget Sound’s three resident “pods” – groups of orcas – but it’s not the same one that passed through West Seattle waters last month; as reported here, that was L-Pod. Members of J-Pod DID pass this way in December (as noted here).
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