Cooper's Hawks survive scare

Sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday Morning, a very large chunk of a big leaf Maple broke off and hit the tree that hosts the Cooper's Hawk nest. The piece that pretty huge, at least 3 feet in diameter. It whacked the western hemlock pretty good, and took out some branches. Jack Bettesworth was there when I came by, and said that the nest was still there, and they were still around. We saw one of them hunting smaller birds in the double big leaf maple on Arboretum Drive in the Sorbus collection.
I saw a rat on the Drive later that day too. It was about 6 inches long, with the tail. He was heading towards the other Cooper's hawk nest so it better be careful.
Lots and lots of birds in the islands in the north of the Arboretum.

Last Friday, I saw all five Barred Owls at the lower Woodland Garden pond. I found them while looking for their nest (didn't find it). I heard the juveniles high pitched, ascending screech, and followed it to the lower pond. They were hanging around, frightening a duck and her ducklings.
I saw Jack (our raptor banding contact) on my way to work today. He attempted to band the female Cooper's Hawk, but she wasn't having any of it. The chicks are too young, and were intimidated by the bait in the trap, so maybe a week or so till he can check them out.
More to come...

OK, first off is an apology, I've gotten really busy with the dry spell.
We have had several sightings of Barred Owls. For a few days we had daily sightings of a family of five Owls in Loderi Valley. We think there may be a nest nearby, but I've not found it.
The two Cooper's Hawks in the Pacific Connections garden have both been banded. The two in the Magnolia collection have not been banded. They are much more cautious, which makes sense to me, if there is a Barred Owl nest nearby.
There are loads of Dragonflies all over. I love watching these acrobatic little eating machines.
I've not seen any coyotes on this side, but Doug says there is one hanging around CUH.
I'll be much better about updates, I promise.

Hawks and Coyotes

We had a coyote sighting the other day, near woodland garden. It was said to be a small one, so maybe a juvenile? The one I saw the other week was a large one, so probably not the same one.

The Cooper's hawk banding in the magnolia nest was unsuccessful, the male is to wiley. maybe next time.

Hawk banding

It's been busy at the Arboretum! sorry for the lack of recent posts. The male Cooper's Hawk in the Pacific Connections Cascadia garden has been banded. With a good scope you may be able to see a blue band on his leg. I forget which leg is banded. The male gets a band on one leg and the female another, I'll fill you in soon. The male hawk in the magnolia section was a little too elusive, and they will try again tomorrow. stay tuned!

Birds and racoons

Last Saturday morning I spied a raccoon (with the aid of some crows). It was a big one with no tail. Interestingly, crows help me find about 90 percent of the wildlife in the Arboretum, especially if its a predator. I don't know if the crows are warning their friends or if they're just being jerks and yelling a lot, but they sure help me out.
I've been told that the Coopers Hawks in the Magnolia area have hatched, which is great news. I haven't heard on the status of the nest in Pacific Connections, so stay tuned.
There is an Eagles nest in some trees just north of the Center for Urban Horticulture. I saw one of them coming from the nest today. I saw his/her huge shadow first, and then saw it flying towards Lake Washington.

After a short search I was able to find an owl. I was pretty much done looking when a passing visitor saw it. I told you they can be hard to see! I was looking up that same tree and missed him. I don't actually know if it's a him, I don't know how to tell males and female barred owls apart. Either way, this owl is large and beautiful. This picture was taken just south of the sequioa grove, in the Douglas fir with all the ivy under it.

Quick update:
we went on a tour with Jack Bettesworth, who is tracking our resident raptors, and checked up on the Coopers hawks nests. No babies yet, but they should be hatching VERY soon, so keep checking back here and I'll let you know as soon as they are spotted. We went by the owl nest and didn't see anything, but they can be very elusive in the day. Also, they are very well camoflaged, so I could have looked right at them and not known. I'll be swinging by there in an hour or so and see how they are.

pic as promisied

Here's that pic of the Cooper's Hawk

Yesterday my wife and I were having a picnic at the high point in the cascadia forest area (a wonderful spot for that sort of thing by the way) and spotted the two Cooper's hawks. They were both flying around, then one went back to the nest, while the other gathered sticks. They must have been tidying up the nest. They are both looking good. Cooper's hawks are very fast and hard to photograph by the way. I'll post some pics if any came out.

The Apiary is buzzing with excitement!

I noticed yesterday that the Apiary (located just south of the greenhouses by the Arboretum visitor's center) is a hive of activity (please pardon the pun.) With the return of warmer weather and plenty of flowers all over, the bees are back at work. check them out at the Arboretum, or learn more at http://www.pugetsoundbees.org/

First Post! Spring in the Arboretum!

Well, I've finally done it. I went and started a blog. I'm not sure were to start, so I may as well start with some recent sightings.

We have two Cooper's hawk nests in the Arboretum. One in a western hemlock near the Sorbus collection, near Arbotreum Drive, and the other is in a very tall Madrone, in the new Pacific Connections Cascadia Forest garden. Last I heard they were both still incubating eggs, so stay tuned, we should have babies soon.

Our resident Barred Owls have had 2 chicks (I think, I've only seen one so far.) I spotted one of the adults taking something dead to one of them in a big leaf maple near their nest. the chicks are pretty big now, but still very fluffy.

I spotted 2 Coyotes about two weeks ago, near the camellia collection, and one was spotted last week a bit further north.

That's it for now, I hope to update often with sightings and info from both sites!