Thursday, July 23, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

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...

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

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.