On a Wing and a Prayer

Young Barred Owls are extremely cute. At first glance, they resemble stuffed animals cuddling close to stay warm. However, unlike soft furry toys, they are living breathing creatures, who experience many challenges. Challenges that are often similar to those we experience, i.e. hunger, pain, injury and competition.

A special Thank You to my friends Dao, John, Jack and Rikki, who have often provided the guidance that helped me locate these young owls in the Arboretum. (I find it hard to hear the high-pitched hissing sounds of the young owls as they beg for food. Luckily, Dao hears them and seems to find them with ease.) In addition, these four friends and others have graciously volunteered their perspectives, accounts and even a video for this story.)

A few minutes after the first photo above, the young owls moved a bit to their right and became very focused on something.

Apparently, the stick lying across the branch looked very interesting. In my mind, I imagine the young one on our left saying, "Mine, mine!" 

By the way, I do not know the gender of any of the owls in this story. I am assuming the owl on our left is older and male. For ease of reference, I am giving him the name, Bruno.

Bruno reaches out and grabs his sibling by the back of the head...

...and pushes him, or her, away from the stick.

The sibling does not fight back.

Immediately after being released, the second owl began a graceful retreat. Perhaps, we should call this one, Gracie. 

By the way, this photo also shows a third sibling, in the upper left. This sibling was on the same branch as the others, but it kept a bit more distance. It appeared smaller, maybe younger and less confident. I have been calling this one, Peewee. 

Peewee may have learned from experience. He (or she) appears to have an injured eye. It makes me wonder if Bruno might have also grabbed Peewee during some previous disagreement.

May 30th was the first time I saw the young ones.

One of the challenges these three owlets seemed to be facing began earlier that week. I was out of town when my friends Dao and John first spotted them in the Arboretum. A few days later, John learned that an adult Barred Owl had died nearby. Someone suggested that the adult might have been one of the parents of these young. At that point, to the best of my knowledge, only one adult owl had been seen watching, feeding and interacting with the young ones. In similar situations in the past, it has usually been easy to spot both adults working hard to feed and protect their young.

Folks are often surprised by the size and appearance of the young birds. There are three indicators of youth that I think are most easily observed. One they tend to be partially covered with downy white feathers that make them reflect more light and look brighter than adult owls. Two their tails are shorter than an adult's and three their bills look longer and their nostrils are more visible because the feathers on their face are not yet as long as an adult's facial feathers.

There are also behavioral differences. Young owls tend to move their heads in an exaggerated triangular fashion when trying to precisely locate another creature, including humans. They also will occasionally lie down on a branch. When they do, they remind me of a towel draped over a rack. I have never seen an adult in a similar position.

Also, young owls often beg for food almost incessantly. As a matter of fact, on May 30th and 31st as far as I could tell, they were hissing virtually non-stop. Since I knew that one adult in the area had died I was concerned that the young might not be getting enough food. Luckily, on the morning of June 1st, as I walked through the Pinetum I saw one of the young owls eating and an adult carrying food toward the tree where the other two had been seen previously.

Later, on June 6th, after spotting one of the young owls in the Pinetum, Jack and Rikki were crossing the Wilcox pedestrian bridge when they glanced south along Lake Washington Blvd. They noticed an adult owl flopping helplessly in the gutter of the road. It was still alive, but so stunned and dazed that it was not moving itself to safety, as cars whipped past.

Jack and Rikki hurried to help. Along the way, Jack found and rearranged a couple of orange cones to try and help drivers to avoid the owl. Even with the cones, the road was not a safe place to leave the owl.

Jack was faced with a critical dilemma. If this adult owl was the sole living parent for the three young owlets then their lives depended on this bird for both protection and the food it provided. Taking the owl to a rehab center, to be checked out, would most likely require multiple days and could reduce the three owlets odds of survival. Jack did not see any life-threatening injuries that would require rehab. So, he covered the adult owl with his t-shirt and moved it uphill to the dense safety of a cedar tree near the owlets.

In Jack's words, "While waiting to see how it was faring, we confirmed that all three chicks were in the taller trees nearby and still alive. The adult seemed to be turning its head and looking around, but its right eye was closed much of the time. We hoped it was merely swollen.

Rikki texted John & Dao, who contacted Larry...he..quickly came over to see where the adult owl was located, so he would know where to look for it in the morning to check on its status.

In a moment of astounding luck and joy for all of us...the owl took off and flew straight towards us, landing perfectly on a branch, perhaps only 15 feet away...

Close to dusk, a second adult owl, that was larger, appeared and called....The injured adult bird had moved to a tree close to there as well. Both adults called briefly. One of the chicks flew towards the second adult owl, giving its hissing begging call."

Seeing the injured adult fly, and execute a precise landing on a relatively small branch, was an incredible relief. It indicated that with awareness and a thoughtful approach Jack had made the optimal choice that was in the best interest of the injured owl and the whole owl family.

The next evening all three of the young were active in the Pinetum portion of the Arboretum, just west of the Wilcox Bridge, as the sun was beginning to set. 

By the way, this photo is a good example of the short facial feathers allowing the nostril to be easily seen on a young owl.

Before long one of the adults showed up and landed virtually in front of me. This photo provides a good chance to see how the nostrils on the adult are mostly hidden by the longer facial feathers. These feathers also make the adult's bill look shorter than a young one's bill, which seems highly unlikely.

At this point, two of the young became very excited.

They flew directly at the adult, who was not carrying food. This, apparently motivated the adult to go hunting - hopefully, not along Lake Washington Blvd. In this photo, we see that the young ones land on the perch the adult had just left. They continued their very active begging.

While this was going on a coyote passed under the trees where the young owls had been residing in the Pinetum.  I have no doubt that it could hear the young calling and most likely had been smelling and inspecting the pellets that the young owls had spit up, not to mention hoping an owlet might fall to the ground.

Two days later, Dao recorded this same coyote returning and checking out the young owls. Coyotes are one more challenge that young owls must learn to avoid.

Thank you, Dao, for this incredible video!

I just learned that the next afternoon, my friend Rumi also saw an owl get hit by a car in the Arboretum. In this case, the owl was healthy enough to fly to a nearby tree under its own power. These incidents make me wonder if the Barred Owls are chasing small animals as the scurrying through traffic or perhaps, they have learned to collect and consume fresh roadkill. 

This second incident might also be another valid explanation for Peewee's swollen eye. We cannot know for certain. However, it would seem logical to be more thoughtful and careful as we drive through the Arboretum. 

The trees and plants in the Arboretum are its living support structure, similar to the bones in our bodies. The creek flows like the blood in our veins and the creatures inhabiting the trees, soil, water and air are like the remaining cells in our bodies, i.e. they are like the living matter, containing the history of experiences that make us all unique. 

I believe we should view ourselves as caretakers of life, responsible for preserving and passing forward the Arboretum, and the earth as a whole, to future generations. Traveling through the Arboretum should be done with respect and awe for this living gift, which becomes ever more precious as the city continues to expand into and around it.

The photos at the beginning of this post are from last week. They demonstrate that all three young are being fed. They have avoided the coyotes and most of the automobiles. They are flying well enough that they are no longer confined to the Pinetum. Still, learning to be independent will be the biggest challenge of their lives. However, with the help of their parents, an occasional helping hand from Jack and Rikki, and under the watchful eyes of Dao, John, the many curious neighbors and visitors, I do believe their odds of survival are improving.

A final Thank You to everyone who sent me messages about the owlets and to everyone who met in the Pinetum to watch their development. This has been a very special Spring and if we work together to care for the Arboretum, and the life it contains, there should be many more to come.

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 during the breeding season. 

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

This video explains the native keystone plants very nicely:

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. 

 What are the two most common plants in this photo? Are they native to the PNW?

Scroll down for the answer.

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

Trailing Blackberry:  (Rubus ursinus) Yes, it is a wonderful native plant found in shady areas in the Pacific Northwest. It is the plant with the thin, long, blue-white stem visible mostly on the outer edges of the photo.

Catchweed Bedstraw:  (Galium aparine) Yes, it is a plant native to North America. It is visible mostly in the center of the photo. Sadly, it grows onto and shades out other plants so even though it is a native plant, it is essentially invasive.  It has velcro-like bristles. If you have been close to it, during this time of year, you will have found the small, green, bristled seed pods clinging to your pant legs. Carefully removing the plant by hand and hoe, as soon as you find it, seems to be the best approach to managing it. Click Here 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, 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

Sunshine with Wings

A male Western Tanager is a highlight of Spring. They remind me of sunshine with wings. The brilliant yellow and the splash of reddish-orange makes me wonder, How do I miss them? They seem like nature's version of neon lights. Like a magnet for the eyes.

However, despite their brilliant colors, I find them surprisingly hard to locate. 

In May, around Union Bay, they spend much of their time overhead searching for insects among the thick green leaves of our Spring deciduous trees. During the process they are fairly hidden and even if I hear them that doesn't make them easily seen.

They just don't attract much attention.

They are a bit more conspicuous when searching for insects in flight from elevated perches.

The lucky bugs pass by unseen. The less lucky ones are snagged in mid-air.

Then the Tanagers quickly return to a nearby tree to consume their catch. 

Both of these methods of catching insects are hard for humans to see. Their movement is quick, quiet, and high overhead. Observing Western Tanagers in action requires patience, a bent neck and a good angle i.e. leaning back and looking up for a long while, while also squinting into the sunshine, or the falling rain.

In addition, they spend most of their year to the south of us. Click Here (and then select the white triangle) to activate the dynamic map and see their patterns of migration. You will notice that they are here, in the PNW, primarily during breeding season and warm weather, i.e. from May through August, with some lingering into September. This is also confirmed on Birdweb. For seven months of the year, they are normally much further south. 

Plus, from my experience, they spend even less time around Union Bay. For example, of the 37,000 bird photos on my laptop only 234 are of Western Tanagers, and every one of those photos was taken during May. In addition, I have never noticed a pair nesting here.

On the positive side, a few years back my friend, Dan Pedersen, did find nesting Western Tanagers on Whidbey Island. Dan's experience makes me hopeful that someday, someone may find a Tanager nest near Union Bay. Click Here to read Dan's story, written with the help of his good friends and phenomenal birders Joy and Craig Johnson.

Another reason Western Tanagers can be hard to see is that the female half of the population is far less conspicuous. They attract the males without the need for brilliant orange or red colors. They can be even harder to notice among fresh greenish-yellow leaves.

I wonder if this is a male with just the slightest hint of orange on its forehead. They apparently do not hatch out with any brilliant orange or red color. 

Curiously, unlike many other red birds, the red coloring on the male Western Tanagers may be harder to accumulate. It apparently comes mostly from the insects they eat, as opposed to also from fruit, and from a unique source.

Birds of the World has the following information about male Western Tanagers. "...rhodoxanthin produces red hue of head (Hudon 1990b). The latter pigment, a retro-dehydro-carotenoid, is thought to be acquired directly from the diet without modification, unlike the red carotenoids (4-oxo-carotenoids) in Scarlet, Summer, and Hepatic Tanagers, and other emberizines, which are believed to be derived metabolically from common yellow precursors (xanthophylls; Brush 1967b). Rhodoxanthin is an uncommon pigment in birds,..."

Just for fun, here is a photo of a much less subtle Summer Tanager, as seen in Texas in April. 

I understood the prior quote to say the red of the Summer Tanager comes from yellow precursors, that their bodies then turn into the red coloring. This is unlike the red in Western Tanagers which comes more directly from the Rhodoxanthin in the creatures they consume.

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) says that the Western Tanagers gets their red color from insects that eat the buds of conifers, ferns and some non-native honeysuckles. Click Here to read the ABC source directly. 

This male seems to be at a midpoint in the process of acquiring its red coloring. Even so, it is easy to see how such a small amount of red can be easily hidden among overhead leaves. I am guessing, the amount of their red coloring varies depending on their age and their ability to find, catch, and consume the right creatures. 

Even among shadows, Western Tanagers always remind me of sunshine. I hope you find the time to get outside and search the trees around Union Bay for Western Tanagers. They are just a portion of the yellow birds who arrive here about the same time as the sunshine. 

Click Here to read a previous post that includes another yellow visitor.

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

Larry

Recommended Citation

Hudon, J. (2020). Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), 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.westan.01

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 during the breeding season. 

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

This video explains the native keystone plants very nicely:

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. 

These white flowers are currently blooming along damp roadsides in western Washington. What plant is it?

Note: There are multiple plants with white flowers, so I am including this photo of the plant's large "maple-leaf like" leaves to help with your identification.

Scroll down for the answer.

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

Cow-parsnip: Yes, it is a native plant. However, even though bees love it, it is not a plant I enjoy. If it touches your skin it can cause unpleasant rashes and burns. To reduce it from spreading, I have been removing the flowers. Note: I have learned to wear rubber gloves, rubber boots, coveralls and a hat to try and avoid the unpleasant rash. 

By the way, there is also a larger, but fairly similar, plant called Giant Hogweed. It is invasive and apparently even less pleasant. If you want to know the difference, I would start by reading this:

King County - Giant Hogweed

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

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

Nesting Anxiety

 

This is the sixth year that the Ravens have nested in or around the Arboretum, before that it may have been a hundred years since they nested here. This is the first time, in the last six years, that their nest has been visible. Even though they have used this nest before, apparently, an obscuring branch has fallen or the foliage has grown out away from the nest. 

Never before have we been able to see the young in the nest. If you look closely there is an upturned pink triangle to the right of the adult Raven. The adult's bill points directly at it. I believe it is the small bill of one of the nestlings. The photo was taken on April 3rd.

A moment later the Raven leaned over to feed the young one and the bill of a second hatchling appeared between the first nestling and the tree trunk. 

Five days later, I happened to catch an adult approaching with food again. The bill of one of the young appears noticeably longer.

When the adult places the food in the young bird's mouth the size of the young one's bill seems enormous compared to what we saw just 5 days before. Their eggs are laid sequentially and they may hatch out on different days. So there could be size differences between the first to hatch and the last. AllAboutBirds lists their clutch size, i.e. the number of eggs per nesting attempt, as varying from 3 to 7 eggs. 

By the 12th of May, their eyes were open, their heads were up and it was getting easier to see the young in the nest.

The next day I felt fairly certain that there were at least three young in the nest. AllAboutBirds also says that after hatching the young are in the nest for 28 to 50 days. I am guessing the availability of food is a critical factor in determining how fast they grow and how soon they leave the nest.

When they hatch out the young are defenseless. Luckily, their parents are aggressive defenders of the nest. They are also very attentive and return with food quite frequently. Given the rate of feeding appearances by the adults, it is surprising how often one can be found sitting in a nearby tree, apparently, on guard duty. I think the adults are primarily watching for Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks, given their very excited "clucking" when they chase them away. This post from 2023 refers to one of those interactions.

Earlier this year, I watched one of the adult Ravens charge at two adult Bald Eagles that ventured near the nest. On average one Bald Eagle is about four times heavier than a Raven. Nonetheless, the single Raven succeeded in chasing both of the Eagles away. Fierceness, commitment and agility matter.

On the 16th of April, I was stunned to see the nest looked dramatically different. It appeared to have grown a wall of sticks above the previous edge of the nest. My first fear was the Bald Eagles had returned and raided the nest. 

A few minutes later I was a bit relieved to see one young head appear above the nest. At about the same time an adult Raven returned with food (it is on the branch in the lower right of this photo).

Eventually, I went and examined the ground around the base of the nest tree. There were no signs of fallen sticks, no loose feathers and no evidence of anything falling from the nest site.

Later, I made out two young heads above the nest. I began to suspect that maybe the growing young Ravens had pushed the edge of the nest up and out, essentially, creating more space for themselves while making visible changes to the nest.

The other reassuring factor was the behavior of the adults. There were no apparent changes. They continued to come and go with food as if nothing happened. I am not sure how they would have behaved differently if they had lost a nestling. In any case, their continued consistent effort and hard work is reassuring.

I was away last week but when I returned the young in the nest were visibly larger and more mature-looking. Their awkward gangly looks were gone.

Even though I am sure the adults are still larger than the young ones, the most notable difference between them is the pink gape at the corner of their mouths. The adults are solid black on every exterior surface.

I am feeling relieved to once again see three young in the nest.

They are starting to spread their wings and flexing their newly developing muscles. If you look closely you can see that the base of the flight feathers are still visible. The coverts have not yet grown in. Once the coverts fill in they will create smooth and functional wings. Given their rate of growth from just three and half weeks ago I suspect they may begin branching out soon and potentially taking flight within the next week or two.

I read a study from long ago that said that a favorite food for Ravens is young rabbits. Perhaps our rabbit invasion from a few years ago is one of the reasons the Ravens returned. The availability of plentiful food may also explain why the young Ravens are growing so quickly.

This morning the three young Ravens were still in (or maybe I should say on) the nest. Given their size, the nest is looking rather small. Soon, they will have to move out onto nearby branches, which will provide more space while they flex their wings.

If you would like to watch the process the nest can be viewed from the bench immediately south of the "Rhododendron Glen" sign on Arboretum Drive. The nest is very high and a bit distant which is good. Given the nest's location, the foot traffic on Arboretum Drive does not bother the Ravens, but binoculars will be helpful if you want a good look.

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

Larry

Update: 

My friend and birder extraordinaire, Dan Reiff, called to say that he has seen both Ravens and Ospreys in situations similar to what I described above. He evidently watched more closely than I did. In his cases he saw the adult birds build up the side of the nest that faced the direction from which the nest was being observed by humans (in this situation the build up was also in the direction of observation). 

Dan felt certain that they did this to hide the nestlings from additional observation. I have no doubt the Ravens are smart enough to purposely build up the nest. However, in this case I did not see the activity take place so I cannot confirm or refute this possibility, however, I do not find it a particularly surprising scenario. Especially, given the skills and abilities of both Dan and the Ravens.

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 during the breeding season. 

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

This video explains the native keystone plants very nicely:

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. 

This small seedling will grow into which of the following Keystone tree species Oregon Oak, Big Leaf Maple, or Oregon Crabapple.

Here is a secondary hint, in case you are like me and previously had not noticed these interesting early leaves of this tree. In addition to the two first leaves this photo also shows what the third through sixth leaves can look like.

Scroll down for the answer.

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

Surprisingly, these are Big Leaf Maple (BLM) seedlings. They were photographed below this picturesque pair of mature Big Leaf Maples in the Arboretum just west of the Sorbus collection.

For comparison, this photo shows a bit more mature Big Leaf Maple leaves and a first-year Common Raven from May of 2023.

 

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

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