One notable species is the horned grebe. The young learn to fish with their parents assistance. In summer, colonies of seabirds are busily raising and attending their young. This is a suburban neighborhood about 20 miles north of Seattle. And what does their disappearance say about the health of the Salish Sea? It is frequently seen in small groups in the bays around Puget Sound. They hope the birds can be used as an indicator of Puget Sound health. The young ride on the parent’s back for the first week and are fed small aquatic invertebrates and fish. Birds of the Puget Sound Region: Coast to Cascades is a pocket-sized photographic guide featuring over 260 species of birds. After fledging the young disperse around the area leading to crowding in prime hunting grounds. However, individuals have occasionally been present locally throughout mild winters. At night they gather in large resting flocks in the middle of local bays, but most commonly at the east end of Dana Pass. The female is similar in size but has a rusty belt along with the blue belt. With its striking plumage and brilliant orange bill, the Tufted Puffin is an iconic seabird well known to native peoples, fishermen, and coastal communities throughout its range in the temperate and sub-arctic North Pacific. The program has been ongoing for years on Whidbey Island. It breeds in the far north at the edge of the coniferous forest in muskeg and tundra areas from Alaska east through Canada. The Great Blue Heron relies on stealth to capture its prey. Sporting it’s spring finery of bold black and white patterns, the Common Loon, a large diving bird with a body length of around 32 inches, prepares for the breeding season. Audubon recommends several in the $120-$180 range. While they may occur in saltwater in the winter, they breed in freshwater areas. (Click on any photo for a larger image.) This species ranges throughout North America with some flying as far south as Central America for the winter. With the exception of humans, these organisms have a diet that consists almost entirely of fish or other vertebrates. Nests can be up to eight feet across and weigh a ton. There are seven species in North America ranging in size from the nine inch least grebe to the large winter visitor, the western grebe at 25 inches. Way to go, volunteer birdwatchers! This article was originally published by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of its annual report Threatened and Endangered Wildlife in Washington. However both males and females will occasionally stray south to Puget Sound. The Bufflehead is one of the smallest ducks in North America weighing just over a pound and around 13.5 inches long. The Belted Kingfisher is commonly seen along the marine shoreline of south Puget Sound as well as along streams and lakes in the area. Com. They feed on a variety of food items ranging from sea stars, moon snails, crabs, clams, mussels, small fish and human garbage. Foraging is done alone or in small flocks where the birds skim prey from the water surface or swing their bills back and forth seeking fish. The Encyclopedia of Puget Sound species library now includes a list of species of concern in the Salish Sea watershed. Studies are underway to develop means of dealing with the predation. They will also use offshore islands in the arctic when foxes are common on the mainland. They are well equipped to spend their lives in water with rear mounted legs and toes that are lobed for maximum underwater propulsion. They breed in North America near water on freshwater and estuarine islands where there are wide open spaces. Peacefully enjoying a lunch of delicious pile perch, this adult Bald Eagle is about to get a surprise. The number of species of concern in the Salish Sea is growing at an average annual rate of 2.6%, according to a report published in the proceedings of the 2016 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Vancouver, B.C. They even eat mice and other small mammals while patrolling open fields. A new video series follows local scientists into the water, capturing the adventure behind the research. It’s close cousin, the Barrow’s Goldeneye, is very similar except that it’s white cheek mark is comma shaped and the white on it’s flank is broken up. That may be because their population is generally stable, but a group of citizen scientists is helping to put guillemots on the conservation radar. Birds of the Puget Sound Region by Bob Morse; Tom Aversa; Hal Opperman A readable copy. They build nests of mounded wet vegetation next to the shoreline on small islands or open areas. More than 50 percent of the state’s population lives along the east shore of the Sound from Everett to Tacoma, in a narrow, crowded, 70-mile strip undergoing the trials of rapid growth. More than 70 bird species regularly utilize Puget Sound during some or all stages of their life histories (Gaydos and Pearson 2011), but only a portion of these are actively being investigated. Like many fish-eating birds their bills are uniquely adapted to grab and hold onto slippery prey. Hybridization between the species regularly occurs. Hunting of this species is allowed in those areas, but not in Washington. California Quail, Callipepla californica. But in the spring the birds break into smaller groups and begin the serious business of producing the next generation. The 640-acre Marymoor Park is worth a visit any time of year. Uncom. As the young grow older they will stick together for several weeks flying about the local area in mock chases. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Puget Sound Estuarium. Other grebe species perform the same type of behavior. It feeds in both freshwater and estuarine areas on a variety of small animals such as crustaceans, marine worms and insects as well as fish. Birds Accounts of Washington's bird species with images, maps, and sounds. There they build nests on the ground under brush or clumps of grass. Plants, animals, and pathogens all can be invasive. Breeding occurs in freshwater lakes mainly in northern Canada. The courting pair will swim together and then rush forward in parallel on their tiptoes, running for tens of feet before plunging back into the water. One of several top predators in Puget Sound, the Great Blue Heron feeds on small animals such as sculpins, sticklebacks, small perch, shore crabs and other invertebrates that it can easily swallow. Hatching occurs after 23-25 days with the young immediately leaving the nest. A 2014 report describes a research and monitoring study of Pigeon Guillemot conducted in and near the Nisqually Reach Aquatic Reserve. This species, like other gulls, nest in colonial groups. One of several major upland predators that invade the intertidal zone at low tide is the Northwestern Crow. Find content specifically related to birds of the Puget Sound and Salish Sea ecosystems. Down is added as incubation progresses. The young fledge at night and can swim and dive immediately, but need another several weeks to become strong flyers. They will also hover above the water like a helicopter for several seconds looking for prey. They also occur in northern Europe where they are called the Great Northern Diver. They use partially folded wings to “fly” underwater chasing prey such as fish, crabs and shrimp. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less. They are often seen together during the winter season. Joe says a pair of binoculars and any decent field guide are all that’s necessary to appreciate these underappreciated birds. They often nest in trees, building large nests of sticks. While a ring-billed gull may take three years to mature, smaller gulls may take two years and larger ones four years. They communicate with each other using a heron-like squawk. The 450 new photographs are state of the art digital … One colony can be observed in the Spring along McAllister Creek in the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Coloring Book Downloads . A place to post links about or your photos of our feathered neighbors. Studies have focused primarily on abundance and distribution, habitat utilization, … The fish is always swallowed head-first to prevent the fish spines from sticking in the throat. The nest is a simple structure of matted grass including some fine grass and feathers. Holtz found out about it and contacted the Kitsap Audobon Society. The call is very unusual and fun to listen to. Loons are an ancient bird group having fossils dating back 70 million years. We followed a group of researchers as they gave a health checkup to a breeding colony of rhinoceros auklets on Protection Island. Young are eaten by a variety of predators while the adults are taken by weasels, mink and various hawks, falcons and owls including the Bald Eagle. They breed in colonies located in isolated areas such as rocky islets, remote coastal areas or islands in lakes. The adults usually return to the same nesting location and partner each year. Nesting locations range from isolated cliffs to small islands including the tops of large warehouses or apartment buildings near the water. During the summer they feed on aquatic insects, crayfish, small fish and some aquatic vegetation. Puget Sound Backyard . Seattle-area Backyard Birds. If you think all seabirds are all gulls, or dark, uninteresting blobs, consider the harlequin duck. Nests are placed in tree cavities near water. It seeks freshwater lakes and small ponds to spend the summer. 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