Migrants have been moving through Juanita Bay Park in the last month, including a common loon, a red-necked grebe, and various warblers. The trees are leafing out, the red-flowering currants and Oregon grape are hosting hummingbirds, and the trillium are already dying away.
If you look carefully, there are many signs of spring in the parks. The trillium are blooming by the restrooms and the staircase to the parking lot at Juanita Bay; a few salmonberry are beginning to unfurl its blossoms, and a lonely skunk cabbage is out.
Most of the swans left Juanita Bay several weeks ago. In mid-February, many park visitors were concerned about an apparently sick swan cygnet (young bird), whose family group of one sibling and both parents lingered with it. By the end of the week, the cygnet died. Lead poisoning is suspected from its swelled neck and stomach. Fish and Wildlife were called about our concerns before the bird died. Several swans remained in the Bay as of Feb. 20. Generally all leave before the end of February.
Winter birds continue to arrive at Juanita Bay Park. Two swans came in Nov. 10, an early arrival date for that species in our bay. Up to four swans have been reported in the bay as of Thanksgiving Day. In each of the last two years, the swans first appeared Thanksgiving week, their numbers built up until around Christmas, and they departed at the end of January to early February.
It is beginning to look a lot like summer – with snow – as the poplar trees send out their seed packets of white fluff, and the summer resident birds get down to the business of raising a family at Juanita Bay Park.
The work party and the goats were both a hit the weekend of April 24. A lot of maintenance was…
The western screech owl is sometimes roosting in the ivy-laden willow west of the central boardwalk. He is very hard…
Trillium, red-flowering currant, and tall Oregon grape are blooming. The Anna’s hummingbirds are very evident in the park as they…
With the mild weather, it has been quiet in the park. Our swans are still in residence, and the Eurasian…
New Year’s quadrupled our swan population from three to at least 12, and brought in a pair of Eurasian Teal….
The mild weather to date has apparently reduced the number of winter ducks visiting the Juanita Bay Park. A pair…
While I have not been in the park much these last two weeks, there have been some bird observations exciting…
When I say I am from Kirkland, the response usually is enthusiasm for the city, if the other person is…
A young western screech owl has been seen at its daytime roost along the east boardwalk a couple of times…
Kudos to our Park’s Department for their major park restoration effort now underway at Juanita Bay Park. Also, thanks to…
We picked up the rock during low tide, looking at the life on it. Barnacles encrusted much of it. We…
Migrant warblers are moving through Juanita Bay Park. Black-headed grosbeaks, Bullock’s oriole, Common yellowthroats,
Juanita Bay’s work party was a resounding success, as reported in last week’s Kirkland Reporter.
Green Economy: What is a cooperative?
The swallows have returned, and a few other spring migrants and summer residents are beginning to show up, but it has been a quiet month birdwise.
Our swans decamped for their summer nesting grounds overnight February 28-March 1.
Seventeen swans are still seen regularly at Juanita Bay Park as of Feb. 19, but generally things have been quiet. I expect the Indian plum to unfurl its leaves shortly, and the willows and red-flowering currant buds are swelling noticeably.
I have had many informal talks with people who have enjoyed winter waterfowl in Juanita Bay Park for years. Many note a decline in the number of diving ducks wintering here, and that previously common ones, such as ruddy and golden-eye, are now quite scarce. Usually we speculate that total numbers may be down, or milder winters enable them to winter further north. However, this year we have had an unusual influx of swans in the Bay. A single bird was here only a few days around Thanksgiving (a scout for a new wintering ground?), but since the Christmas week, up to 20 swans are seen regularly. While reading up on swans, a section on swan feeding behavior unearthed the fact that they are very shallow water feeders, as are the coots, green-wing teal, and gadwalls that are increasing in winter numbers in the Bay. I would be interested in data on siltation into the Bay over the last 10 years, as a possible factor in our changing mix of waterfowl. I did a quick survey of Kirkland’s other waterfront parks New Year’s weekend, finding that the deeper waters off these parks had predominantly diving ducks such as common goldeneye.
