Beauty and Balance

A Chestnut-backed Chickadee in a Western Hemlock.

The bird perched on the branch and the evenly distributed small green needles both display balance. The dark cap and bib offset by the white cheek, the small tan cones among the green twigs, and the rich chestnut of the bird's body combine colors in nature's perfect palette. Artistically, and ecologically, these life forms belong together.

In a deciduous tree a Chestnut-backed Chickadee is still a delightful little bird and the background colors are similar, but the visual poetry of beauty and balance is not quite the same.

If you are not an avid birder you may be thinking, "The Chickadees in my neighborhood don't seem so colorful." 

A Black-capped Chickadee gathering moss for its nest.

That is because the far more common Black-capped Chickadees have dull gray backs. However, both species have heads with a similar "capped" design, similar body shapes and similar behaviors. Obviously, they are both members of the same family. 

However, when we consider where each species chooses to live we see a dramatic difference. One species is very widespread and flexible while the other is quite selective.

Click Here to see the range map for Black-capped Chickadees. They exist in a wide bar all across North America.

 

Click Here to see the range map Chestnut-backed Chickadees. They exist in two vertical stripes of western temperate forest. The longer one, parallels the Pacific Coast, and the smaller one is along a tiny portion of the rain-catching slope of the western Rocky Mountains. 

The tree species with the most interesting range similarity to our Chestnut-backed Chickadees is the Western Hemlock.

Click Here to see the range map for Western Hemlocks.

It seems obvious that there is a shared history between these two species.

This relationship is reinforced when we watch Chestnut-backed Chickadees feeding on the Hemlock seeds. Their acrobatic approach is highly entertaining.

The tail can be used like an arm for stabilization.

If the tail is insufficient the whole wing can be used like a hand grasping the tree.

Given that a Chestnut-backed Chickadee weighs less than half a cup of cornflakes, it should not be surprising that their primary feathers are extremely fine. Still, I was startled to find their feathers are so thin that we can see through them.

In addition to seeds, Chestnut-backed Chickadees often feed on insects. The dry curled up leaves on deciduous trees often hide the eggs or larvae of tiny creatures. 

Sometimes, flapping the wing can help the Chickadee maintain its balance or perhaps scare a smaller creature into moving and revealing its location. The photo above also displays the thumb-like alula feather, which provides more precise control, and which we discussed toward the end of the last post. 

The Chickadee's muscle to mass ratio would make a rock climber envious.

Nature is a web of interlocking and interdependent lifeforms, climates and geographies. While I do not have proof, and do not expect, that Black-capped Chickadees are solely dependent Western Hemlocks, I do think their coexistence in a very similar area does indicate a mutual dependance on a nearly identical set of circumstances. I believe it is logical to assume the well-being of either one of these two species might very well indicate challenges for the other. From a scientific perspective this would be considered a hypothesis that needs to tested.

A few years ago, I saw an excellent visual presentation regarding Western Hemlock Mortality in the Arboretum. It was constructed by Faith Ong, a University Washington student. The underlying data was provided by Ray Larson and a variety of dedicated UW Botanic Gardens )(UWBG) Arborists and Senior Gardeners who have worked in the Arboretum over the years. 

My most sincere Thanks to Ray Larson and UWBG Staff for this information!

The data spans the years from 2006 through 2023. It shows the location and state of each individual Western Hemlock in the Arboretum that was found to be dead or dying during that time. I divided the data into two equal periods.  

Date Range:            Tree Count

2006-2014                     10

2015-2023                     45

On average 1.1 trees per year died during the first nine years. The rate jumps to 5 trees per year in the second period, nearly a 500 percent increase. What may have caused such a dramatic change?

The annual average high temperature in Seattle increased 1.6 degrees and the annual number of days over 90 degrees doubled, from 3 to 6, during these "somewhat" similar time periods:

Date Range:            Temp.            Hot

2000-2009                59.5                3

2010-2019                61.1                6

per Current Results. 

I am sorry to say the historical US government weather data (i.e. NOWData), which I would normally have used to provide a more precise comparison, is apparently no longer available to the public. 

Luckily, I had previously saved some relevant Seattle area precipitation records.

Date Range:        Average August Rainfall in Inches

2000-2009                1.10

     

2010-2019                0.81

During this time the August rainfall decreased by 26%, while the average number of days over 90 degrees doubled. Correlation does not prove causation, but it certainly provides a likely direction for additional investigation.

Over a much longer time frame, the population of Chestnut-backed Chickadees has declined by 56% between 1966 and 2015. This is from the Conservation section in All About Birds which references to The North American Breeding Survey (1966 to 2019). Click Here to view this source.

During a fairly similar time frame, 1960 and 2015, the human population of Washington State went from 2.9M to 7.2M. It would seem likely that the 148% increase in human population resulted in a need for more housing and a decrease in forested habitat.

Obviously, these macro trends are out of our individual control. The pertinent question is, What can we do as individuals to help the Chestnut-backed Chickadees, the Western Hemlocks trees and all the other native creatures who need a healthy local ecosystem?

For example, home owners (and sometimes even renters) get to choose the types trees, bushes and ground cover we plant or retain in our yards. Replacing dead, dying or non-native flora with well-suited native vegetation is a great place to start. 

Here are some thoughts about protecting Western Hemlock trees:

• Retain rain water to irrigated during dry weather - even watering deeply twice during dry months could help.
• Redirect irrigation from grass to tree. (Grass is generally not valuable to native lifeforms and often survives without water.)
• Leave the leaves, wood chips, and needles around trees to help retain moisture.
• Remove nearby water-consuming invasive plants - holly, ivy and non-native blackberries.

If you have a Western Hemlock that does not survive then Ray suggests:

• In a mostly shaded area, consider replacing it with another Western Hemlock.
• In a partly shaded area, look to an Alaska Yellow Cedar or Nootka Cypress as they are more drought tolerant and still native to Washington State.
• For a smaller tree consider Vine Maple.
• For sunnier spots, consider Quercus garryana (i.e. Oregon Oak)

Thank you, Ray!

By the way, those last two are also in the Top Ten keystone species. They are critical to providing nutritious caterpillars for young native birds in the Spring. (See the Going Native section below to learn more about keystone species.)

***************

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and black birders are welcome!

Larry

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathes the air, drinks water, and eats food should be helping to protect our environment. Local efforts are most effective and sustainable. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and the local native creatures. Even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. 

I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (When native plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants. 

*************** 

Keystone native plants are an important new idea. Douglas Tallamy, in the book "Nature's Best Hope, " explains that caterpillars supply more energy to birds, particularly young birds in their nests, than any other plant eater. He also mentions that 14% of our native plants, i.e. Keystone Plants, provide food for 90% of our caterpillars. This unique subset of native plants and trees enables critical moths, butterflies, and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially when feeding their young. 

Note: Flowering plants and trees, i.e. those pollinated by bees, are also included as Keystone Plants.

This video explains the native keystone plant concept in more detail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cXccWx030

The Top Keystone Genera in our ecoregion i.e. Plants and trees you might want in your yard: 

Click Here

Additional content available here:

https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Native-Plant-Resources-10-7-22.pdf

******************

In the area below, I normally display at least one photo with each post to challenge us to know our native lifeforms. 

Coming soon!

Scroll down for the answers.

******************

*****************

The Email Challenge:

Over the years, I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements. As of 2021, Google has discontinued the service.

In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:

                Larry, Please add me to your personal email list. 

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

Thank you!

*******************

The Comment Challenge:

Another common issue is losing your input while attempting to leave a comment on this blog. Often everything functions fine, however, sometimes people are unable to make it past the robot-detection challenge or maybe it is the lack of a Google account. I am uncertain about the precise issue. Sadly, a person can lose their comment with no recovery recourse. 

Bottom Line: 
If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

Sincerely,

Larry

Final Photos:

We, humans, are in race against time and ignorance. Our challenge is to learn enough about the earth and the life that surround us so that we can protect the ecosystems that support all life (including us), before they are irreversibly damaged.

This is made more challenging since each of us only perceives a fraction of the complexity life and the changes happening around us. Part of taking responsibility for our impact is being aware of the local native lifeforms, the challenges they face, and how we can assist in their quest to survive.

Tiger Stripes

Last week, my friend Marcus Roening sent me an email. The subject line read, "Go Today! Ruff & Fantastic shorebirds at Cedar River mouth". I went. The bird in the photo is the Ruff. The first and only one I have ever seen. They are rare here. 

Birdweb describes the odds of seeing one in Western Washington as rare during August, September and October, i.e. during migration. During the rest of the year, the chance of seeing a Ruff in our area is apparently nearly zero.

Typically, Ruffs nest in Northern Europe or Eurasia and spend their winters in places like Africa, Southeast Asia. or Southern Europe. If you are ever lucky enough to observe them during their nesting process, it will be a wonderful treat. Click Here to see a video displaying their very entertaining mating strategies.

Ruffs are shorebirds. We do not see a lot of shorebirds around Union Bay. However, many dozens of shorebird species migrate through the PNW. They often look somewhat similar and identifying them all can feel overwhelming, especially since we see them infrequently. So, I have taken the strategy of first learning the local shorebirds, that I see more often, and then incrementally working to understand how other similar-looking shorebirds are different.

For example, we have Killdeer here year-round. To my knowledge, Killdeer are the only species of plovers in the PNW that have two dark and distinct breast bands and that nest around Union Bay.

The incremental learning approach helped even when I was visiting Georgia in 2016. I encountered a new-to-me, more eastern plover species. I was still able to recognize that they were in the same family as the Killdeer which helped me to identify them as Piping Plovers.

Here is another example of observing both a more common Union Bay shorebird, a Wilson's Snipe, with a less common Union Bay shorebird. 

During Winter, the Wilson's Snipe is fairly common around Union Bay.  Although they do blend in with their surroundings and they can be difficult to see.

This is a Long-billed Dowitcher. The first clue to it not being a Wilson's Snipe is the lack of a stripe down the middle of the head. You can read the story about these two birds in the post, The Unsnipe.

By the way, there is another shorebird species that looks even more like a Long-billed Dowitcher than a Wilson's Snipe.

Last week, while observing the Ruff at the mouth of the Cedar River, birders with scopes were comparing these two birds and making comments about tiger stripes.

It turns out that both of these birds are juvenile dowitchers. However, one is a Long-billed Dowitcher (LBDO) and the other is a Short-billed Dowitcher (SBDO). They are nearly identical. Even their bills can be the same length. The male LBDO's bill can be just as long as a female SBDO's bill. In both species, the females are typically larger than the males.

One of the birders, a particularly gracious woman, described reading Dennis Paulson's "Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest" and how the book provided excellent diagrams, photos, and step-by-step descriptions of how to identify our PNW shorebirds. She explained how it really accelerated her knowledge of local shorebirds.

Looking through my camera, I did not see any tiger stripes. So, when I got home, I pulled out Dennis' book and found a diagram (on page 328) comparing the juvenile tertials of these two species. It helped. However, I still did not see tiger stripes. So, I asked my friend, Marcus, who first taught me about birds, if he could explain the tiger stripe comments.

Marcus circled the tertials on both birds and explained that on the SBDO the "tiger stripes" are not always stripes. Birders tend to use the phrase because it sticks in their minds and helps remind them to look for the irregular light-colored markings that sometimes may sort of resemble tiger stripes.

This quick depiction is an attempt to clarify how the tertials on these two juvenile Dowitchers differ. The first is similar to the Long-billed's tertial, i.e. the central area is consistently dark, while the second is supposed to resemble the Short-billed's tertial and shows lighter markings, if not exactly stripes, in the central part of the feather.

This discussion inspired me to wonder how all the wing feathers are arranged in a sitting bird. I had seen diagrams of feathers in flight, and the visible wing feathers on sitting birds, but I still could not picture where all the other wing feathers ended up.

My goal for the following diagrams is to communicate common concepts that I understand to be true for all birds. These sketches are not intended to represent any specific bird species nor all feather types. 

(Speaking of other feather types, Do you know where on the wing would one find the alula? The answer will be after the Go Native section, towards the end of this post.)

In the first figure, during flight, the coverts cover the connecting shafts of the larger flight feathers, kind of like shingles on a roof, to give the wing airflow integrity when extended. 

I doubt that scapulars are considered wing feathers. They are attached to the body in the shoulder area, however, they cover a portion of the coverts so they do work together, kind of like good neighbors.

The second figure attempts to show the flight feathers beginning to slide under one another.

The most interesting part of the process is that the outermost primary feather, P10 in this example, ends up being the closest wing feather to the body when the bird is at rest. Immediately above, or outside, it will be P9, then P8, etc. This continues with the primaries being folded under the secondaries, and the outer secondaries under the inner ones, i.e. S1, under S2, which tucks under S3, and so on. Finally, the tertial feathers end up on top. 

The bottomline is the positioning of flight feathers at rest, relative to the bird's body, is essentially precisely the opposite of their arrangement in flight. Depending on the bird, the tips of the longest primaries may or may not be exposed above the tail feathers when at rest.

A trusted source for this information is an excellent write up by David Sibley's in Bird Watching. Click Here to read it for yourself. 

As Marcus pointed out to me, the ultimate result is that the majority of the critically important primary feathers have the greatest protection from UV light when the wing feathers are fully tucked away. 

Another rule of thumb to use when identifying Dowitchers is that Short-billed Dowitchers are more likely to be seen in Salt-water environments i.e. surrounded by Salt. Long-billed Dowitchers are more likely to be found in fresh-water environments that are usually surrounded by Land. I use the S in salt and the L in land as mental reminders of these associations.

However, the photo from the mouth of the Cedar River, shows both species standing side-by-side in freshwater. This demonstrates that location is not a precise method of identification, and explains why the birders were still looking for "tiger stripes".

Another helpful method of identification is to listen to the different sounds that two species make.

Click Here to listen to the higher-pitched "keek" calls of Long-billed Dowitchers, via multiple recordings on All About Birds.

Click Here to listen to the lower-pitched "tu-tu" calls of Short-billed Dowitchers, also on All About Birds.

In case you are wondering, Yes, I was disappointed to realize that the Short-billed makes the longer sounds waves and the Long-billed makes the shorter sound waves. 🤷 The opposite sure would have made a great memory aid.

On a more positive note, I believe Marcus identified every shorebird within sight or sound near the mouth of the Cedar River. I am lucky to be able to share the link to his eBird checklist from that day. It includes his very instructive commentary and Sandy Pringle's excellent photos. Thank you, both!

 Click on the following link to enjoy:

 https://ebird.org/checklist/S272123387

The most wonderful part of nature is the endless opportunity to observe and keep on learning!

***************

Update:

A kind and observant reader of this post pointed out that he visited the mouth of the Cedar River on the same day I took this photo:

He concluded that the two dowitchers in this photo looked like they were both juvenile short-billed dowitchers because they both seemed fairly bright in color and neither one was a lighter gray brown. I thought this contradicted what the markings seemed to indicate.

After some great discussion and a number of emails, I agreed to send a letter to Dennis Paulson asking for his expert guidance. The essence of the letter was:

"...The reader referenced the website below and the linked photos showing juveniles of both species, where there is a distinct color difference.

https://daretobird.blogspot.com/2017/08/dowitcher-identification.html

I have tried to work this out on my own. On page 332 under Juvenile Plumage (second bullet) you stated, "At closer range a virtually certain field mark is the color and pattern of the tertials -- very dark brown with bright buff markings in the Short-billed and grayer with pale buff edges in the Long-billed." Under the prior bullet you use the word "typical" which implies there can be color exceptions. I have also found photos on Birds of the World showing juveniles of both species having both color schemes.

The more I look the less certain I become.

Bottomline: I am wondering what your reaction is to my dowitcher photo? Do the markings over-ride the colors or Is the coloring more important?..."

Dennis kindly responded with:

"Hi Larry,

I would call them both Short-billed, as the bright breast of the rear bird strongly indicates that, and I think there are sufficient markings on the tertials to be OK for S-b. Of course I would have liked a better look, but that's my best guess...."

Thank You, to both Dennis and the kind reader (who prefers to remain anonymous) for your close observations, sharing your knowledge and especially for your patience and persistence with me! Clearly, nature is not simple and I need to double check multiple field marks when trying to make a challenging identification. Still Learning!

***************

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and black birders are welcome!

Larry

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathes the air, drinks water, and eats food should be helping to protect our environment. Local efforts are most effective and sustainable. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and the local native creatures. Even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. 

I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (When native plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants. 

*************** 

Keystone native plants are an important new idea. Douglas Tallamy, in the book "Nature's Best Hope, " explains that caterpillars supply more energy to birds, particularly young birds in their nests, than any other plant eater. He also mentions that 14% of our native plants, i.e. Keystone Plants, provide food for 90% of our caterpillars. This unique subset of native plants and trees enables critical moths, butterflies, and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially when feeding their young. 

Note: Flowering plants and trees, i.e. those pollinated by bees, are also included as Keystone Plants.

This video explains the native keystone plant concept in more detail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cXccWx030

The Top Keystone Genera in our ecoregion i.e. Plants and trees you might want in your yard: 

Click Here

Additional content available here:

https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Native-Plant-Resources-10-7-22.pdf

******************

In the area below, I normally display at least one photo with each post to challenge us to know our native lifeforms. 

Can you name this native butterfly?

Scroll down for the answers.

******************

Western Tiger Swallowtail: A butterfly most commonly seen around Union Bay in June and July. (I had to find some tiger stripes somewhere in my photos.)

*****************

The Alula:

An alula is one of the 3-5 short feathers found at approximately the middle of the leading edge of a bird's wing. Together the alulae, i.e., multiple alula, help to generate lift and control at slow speeds and are often extended when landing. 

The alulae attach to a bone most equivalent to our thumb, while the primary feathers attach to bones that are similar to those in our wrists and hands. Not surprisingly, the bones connecting between bird's body and their wrists are the humerus, radius and ulna, similar to those in our arms. Nature makes very efficient use of variations on a theme. If you look closely at the Belted Kingfisher's inner wings, in the photo above, the shadows and light reveal the outline of the arm bones.

Click Here to see a very nice diagram of the relative structures.

The slats on an airplane wing work similarly and were most likely inspired by birds.

It is fun to try to use our arms to mimic the way a bird's wings and joints must fold in order to tuck their feathers away. However, our bone structure does function the same way, so be careful and do not hurt yourself!

The Email Challenge:

Over the years, I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements. As of 2021, Google has discontinued the service.

In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:

                Larry, Please add me to your personal email list. 

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

Thank you!

*******************

The Comment Challenge:

Another common issue is losing your input while attempting to leave a comment on this blog. Often everything functions fine, however, sometimes people are unable to make it past the robot-detection challenge or maybe it is the lack of a Google account. I am uncertain about the precise issue. Sadly, a person can lose their comment with no recovery recourse. 

Bottom Line: 
If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

Sincerely,

Larry