Field Notes: a Northwest nature blog
One of the reasons many of us live in the Pacific Northwest is the natural wonders that amaze us all. On this blog Seattle Times writers and photographers will share their explorations of the natural world from snowcaps to whitecaps. Write us at fieldnotes@seattletimes.com with your own sightings, questions and wonders to share.
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More on shorebirds: How do they do that?
Perhaps you saw my story in the Seattle Times this morning on shorebirds. Tom Luhman, member of the board of BirdNote, sent along this link from the program's piece on how dunlins, starlings and other birds manage their acrobatic flight, turning and sweeping en masse in perfectly coordinated movement to confuse a predator.
Starlings in flight.
Image from BirdNote
As Tom wrote in his note to me, understanding how they do it doesn't diminish the mystery ... it just adds to the fun.
Go see it for yourself. Port Susan is so close to Seattle, yet feels a world away.
For permission to visit the Nature Conservancy's reserve, call 360-419-3140. Here's more on the trail from Washington Trails Association.
Or, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's public access point on the Skagit delta, not so romantically named Big Ditch, Remember you will need a Discover Pass to park.
Feb 25 - 7:00 AM Washington's wolf population has at least doubled since last year
Feb 22 - 7:00 AM See (and smell) it now: witch hazel at Washington Park Arboretum
Feb 18 - 7:00 AM Live from pocket protector central: The AAAS wraps up in Boston
Feb 15 - 7:00 AM Here come the snow geese ... along with their very own festival
Feb 11 - 10:13 AM More on shorebirds: How do they do that?
News where, when and how you want it
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