The Scrape Ceremony

A Killdeer so tiny one can easily imagine it still in the egg.

Practically, all legs and feet. It cannot fly for the first month, so fast footwork is critical to surviving.

Being quick with the bill is also helpful.

The young killdeer successfully caught an insect!

Last year, when the adult Killdeer (the mother I presume) sounded a warning the chick also knew to hide.

The young one nuzzled against the mother's breast.

It was looking for an opening.

The adult made room by slightly lifting a wing.

When she settled to the ground, the young bird was completely hidden.

Killdeer are the most common, year-round shorebird around Union Bay. They nest on the ground and, unlike any other local bird I can think of, totally out in the open. You would think this would make their nests easy to see. But it has not worked that way for me.

Until this year, I had seen photos of Killdeer nests but I had never actually seen a nest with eggs. A previous post, Precarious or Precocious, shows photos of young as they develop and also a wonderful photo of a nest with eggs - taken by Sarah Schmidt. It is obvious in the photo that Killdeer do not build a nest in the popular fashion. It seems like they simply lay their eggs on the rocks and cross their fingers (so to speak). 

There are multiple challenges to seeing a Killdeer nest. The first of course is:

• Not being able to see their well-camouflaged eggs, and then
• Not wanting to disturb the birds while nesting, and
• Not wanting to draw attention to their nests. (Crows love to raid their nests.) and finally
• The fear of accidentally stepping on an unseen nest and crushing the eggs.

To protect a nest the mate, of a nesting bird, will begin screeching and often act as though it has been injured to draw you away from the nest.

This Killdeer, the male I would guess, looks over his shoulder as if to say, "Is it working?"

I suspect in the previous photo, where you primarily see the back of the head, he may be able to see you, given the extended horizontal positioning of his eyes. It is almost like having eyes in the back of his head.

This year, for at least the third year in a row, there were multiple nests inside the 520 construction area. Not only was the construction area fenced off, but inside the fence, orange tape marked a smaller area reserved for the nesting Killdeer.

I limited the length of my observations and watched carefully for crows. However, every time I was in the area I would take a brief look at the nest.

Finally, after years of looking, I spotted Killdeer eggs on the open ground.

They are in the band of the photo that is most in focus and slight right of center. If you still don't see them that is actually good. It means their camouflage works!

Here is a sample of what you are looking for. 

(Thank you to Dennis Paulson and the Slater Museum.)

When we zoom in they become a bit more obvious.

I suspect I saw the adult on the nest a few days before I spotted the eggs. Plus, most likely the person who spotted the nest in the construction site added the pointed piece of wood specifically to help note the location. 

The only thing that would have helped more would have been flashing lights and arrows. Of course, I would not have wanted that. However, I am amazed that the Killdeer chose to nest amid earth moving equipment, cranes, cement trucks, their various back-up buzzers, and all the other noise, confusion, and activity.

A month later, they were ready to try again.

According to Birds of the World the male, typically, scrapes out a nest site with his feet. In this case, it looked like he (or she) was pushing with the feet but using their chest to physically move the rocks and dirt.

This effort went on for about five minutes before the next phase of the breeding ceremony continued.

This exact process is documented in Birds of the World. The male (typically) displays his tail, vocalizes, and moves out of the scrape as the female moves in.

The male is said to sometimes throw bits of material over his shoulder as he moves away. Plus, the whole process may be repeated many times with the roles reversing, depending on which one starts out in the nest.

All About Birds mentions that they may add a few light-colored sticks and rocks to the site after they start laying eggs.

For the most part, I will not be sad once the 520 construction is complete. However, I do fear for the Killdeer. They used to nest in Parking Lot 10 on the west side of the Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA). However, as part of the 520 mitigation, that parking lot was planted and turned into a wonderful marsh area. Much of the other open area in UBNA was also densely planted, with native plants, and of course, the construction area will ultimately be paved or planted. 

Down the road, I am just not sure where the Killdeer will find open ground for nesting near Union Bay. We can only hope their flexibility, in using an active construction site, indicates they will make creative compromises in the future.

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Click Here to see an animated migration of North American Killdeer via the Cornell Lab's weekly abundance map.

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In other news, Friends of Arboretum Creek (FOAC), has successfully completed the 30% Design phase of the Headwaters Project. This project will add clean water to Arboretum Creek, enhancing the ecosystem, and protect the Japanese Garden from flooding. 

Select one of the following to learn more:

The FOAC website:

    http://www.arboretumcreek.org

The 30% Design Report and Plans:

   http://www.arboretumcreek.org/latestNews.html

Current Activities:

    http://www.arboretumcreek.org/getInvolved.html

 

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Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city!

Larry

Recommended Citation

Jackson, B. J. and J. A. Jackson (2020). Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.killde.01

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathe the air and drink the local water, needs to watch and protect our local environment. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and 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. 

*************** 

My friend Elaine Chuang shared several resources (that were new to me) from the January 2022 Washington Ornithological Society meeting. By the way, Elaine credits Vicki King for researching and supplying this information. The major new concept is that specific keystone native plants enable critical moths and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially during the breeding season. Here are the top two links from her list.

Native Keystone Plants for Wildlife:

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

Resources for adding plants to your Pacific Northwest Garden:

https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/native-plant-resources-v2.pdf

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

In the area below it is my intention to display at least one photo each week to help challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.  

What is this plant? Is it native to our area?

Scroll down for the answer.

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

Pacific Ninebark: Yes. It is native to the PNW. Click on the name to learn more.

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

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, I want to see more of nature. Please add me to your personal email list. 

Thank you for your patience and interest!

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

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

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:

Eagle Reunion

Yesterday, after about six weeks of great food and healing, Monty and Marsha's overly adventurous young eagle returned to Montlake. Click Here to read how this young eagle left Monty and Marsha's nest before he could fly. In the process, he sustained a cracked clavicle and a metacarpal injury. Thanks to the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) for attending to his injuries, providing food, housing, a safe space to learn to fly, and finally the thoughtful timing of his return. 

Just after dawn, Jeff Brown from PAWS carefully opened the crate and backed away. Jeff silently sat down to make himself as small as possible. His immediate goal was to allow the young eagle time to calmly and quietly acclimate to his surroundings. 

The young eagle spent over five minutes on the ground before finally taking to the air.

The general location of the young eagle's release was determined by his parents and their choice of a territory - surrounding Montlake Cut. Even though the young eagle has proven he can fly, in an enclosure at PAWS, he is not yet able to catch his own food. It is critical that his parents, Monty and Marsha, welcome him back and supply food while he learns to hunt.

Earlier in the day, before his release, the parents brought food to the nest for his sibling, who is now flying with ease. Once their young learn to fly it is just a matter of time before the parents choose to feed them away from the nest and then ultimately quit feeding them altogether. This situation reinforced that releasing the young male eagle as soon as possible is his best chance of being fed by his parents, Monty and Marsha, while he learns to hunt.

Lucky for us, the Urban Raptor Conservancy (URC), had the opportunity to band this young eagle while he was at PAWS. (Thank you, Patti!) This means if we watch closely (binoculars recommended) we will be able to identify this particular bird. The green and black band with the code 6/S is his unique ID and sightings should be reported. URC keeps the official record of their banded bird sightings. However, in this case, I would love to know when and if you see this eagle as well.

By Winter, the young need to be self-sufficient - even though they will not be fully mature for four or five years. People often ask how long the young remain around their parents. The literature I have read suggests only until Fall. With the ID band, we may be able to see if that actually happens in this case.

The specific location of his release, in front of the Waterfront Activities Center, was chosen because at the time both parents were sitting in the tallest cottonwood on Marsh Island with a clear, unobstructed view of the site. In addition, the paved area provided an open space for the young eagle to get airborne, and the trees to the south, west, and north provided safe landing sites after his initial flight.

After taking to the air the young bird flew strongly while circling fairly low overhead. Slowly, he moved out over the water. 

Surprisingly, he chose to sit down in the water. He was quite some distance from shore. We became immediately concerned. Was he exhausted after the longest flight of his life? Would he be able to get lift and take off from the water? Would his feathers get waterlogged and make it even harder to take off? All the boats along the dock were locked up. There was no one else nearby and there was no obvious way to rescue the young eagle.

He partially spread his wings on top of the water. That seemed to help him stay steady and float. His parents watched from the tall cottonwood tree on Marsh Island. They had no way to help. He really was all on his own.

The young eagle seemed to drift closer to the boating channel that connects Lake Washington with Montlake Cut.

Demonstrating an incredible commitment to the young eagle - Jeff jumped in the water. His goal was to swim all the way out and around so he could approach the eagle from the east. Jeff's head is visible just above the buoy on the left. The eagle is floating opposite him on the far right and the parents are barely visible in the cottonwood.

Jeff was hoping to inspire the young eagle to fly back to shore. In the worst case, if the young eagle could not fly maybe it would swim to safety. Eagles can do something similar to the breaststroke. However, it looks more like rowing to me.

In 2020, I watched Marsha, the female of this adult pair, use her wings to row to shore. See more about that by Clicking Here.

Jeff was doing the dog paddle as he cautiously approached the young eagle.

Suddenly, the eagle left the water. Jeff said there was a moment when it felt like the eagle was heading directly toward him. I am sure he was wondering what would happen next. (I am positive I would not want a young Bald Eagle landing on my head while swimming.)

Luckily, the plan worked as desired and the eagle turned and headed west - towards the shore.

He flew to my south allowing me to catch a couple of sunlit photos.

In this one, it is easy to see how the water was absorbed into his primary feathers, toward the end of his wings. They look much darker than the dry feathers on his back and head. In another surprise, the young eagle turned and flew by me at shoulder height. There were only about three inches between my shoulder and his wing tip, when he flew by.

Unfortunately, he choose to land face first, about eight feet off the ground, between the paved roadway and the dock, in a very small tree. 

He sat and struggled with his footing while Jeff swam to shore. I attempted to direct runners and walkers to avoid the young eagle as much as possible.

Finally, he figured out how to turn and face the world. When a large truck passed by he chose to leave this perch and flew west - away from the water. We were unable to keep up with him. 

However, later as Jeff was leaving the parking lot he spotted the young eagle being harassed by crows. After the eagle escaped the crows, he landed on a higher, and safer, perch in a tree to the south of the Husky Stadium.

After an hour or so he began climbing inward - towards the center of the tree. Some lessons can only be learned by experience. 

Although, it is easy to see why young eagles do not have adult colors. Their dark coloring makes it easy for them to disappear into the shadows.

The prickly needles of the old world cedar were apparently not to his liking and soon after his inward migration, he left the tree.

Once again he flew strongly. Once again I lost him. Apparently, he settled into a tree just out of my sight.

However, I was alerted to his presence when a gull began calling and harassing him.

The final time I saw him yesterday he had escaped the gull and was heading back toward the trees to the south of the WAC.

We now know he is a strong flier and his parents are clearly aware of his return. What we do not know is whether they will choose to bring him food or whether he will find his way to the nest - where food is "currently" being served to his sibling. 

The day before, one of the parents headed to the nest, even though they clearly saw the sibling was north of the WAC. The sibling immediately started food begging and followed the adult to the nest. If this pattern is repeated we can hope it serves as a very clear example for our the returning young eagle i.e. food found here.

In any case, I would love to hear from you if you happen to see 6/S being supplied food by Monty or Marsha. Plus, I am sure Jeff would be greatly relieved to learn that his early morning swim contributed to a fully successful reuniting of this young eagle with its parents.

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city!

Larry

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathe the air and drink the local water, needs to watch and protect our local environment. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and 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. 

*************** 

My friend Elaine Chuang shared several resources (that were new to me) from the January 2022 Washington Ornithological Society meeting. By the way, Elaine credits Vicki King for researching and supplying this information. The major new concept is that specific keystone native plants enable critical moths and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially during the breeding season. Here are the top two links from her list.

Native Keystone Plants for Wildlife:

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

Resources for adding plants to your Pacific Northwest Garden:

https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/native-plant-resources-v2.pdf

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

In the area below it is my intention to display at least one photo each week to help challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.  

Is this butterfly native to our area? What species is it?

Scroll down for the answer.

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

Western Tiger Swallowtail: Yes. It is native to the Union Bay and the PNW.

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

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, I want to see more of nature. Please add me to your personal email list. 

Thank you for your patience and interest!

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

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

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

Finally, if the comment seemed to be accepted but does not show up immediately don't worry. Due to inappropriate spam, I now have to approve all comments that actually make it into my queue. My apologies.

Sincerely,

Larry