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This is a big shout-out to Sherrie Pelsma, the face behind Portland's Pollinator Parkways (also seen on my Biodiversity page). Sherrie has created a Do-it-Yourself Manual for home-owners who would like to "Flip their Strip", i.e. convert their turf-grass parking strip into a pollinator habitat. This is an excellent resource that will guide you through all the steps of transforming your "hell-strip". The manual is packed with clear instructions, shady/sunny plant lists and planting guides, and photos. You can also follow Pollinator Parkways on Facebook for updates and to share your photos. I have included Sherrie's manual as a pdf download. Have fun with your strip! Pollinator Parkways has created over 6000 square feet of pollinator habitat. Thank you Sherrie, for your community spirit and inspiration! Pollinator Parkway's Do-it-Yourself Manual: It's October, and that means it is time to get your backyard ready for winter here in the NW. I am attaching a pdf of my Urban Birds mandala for you to print and enjoy. Shine on Harvest Moon!
Next Monday, on August 21st, 2017, fourteen states in the continental U.S. will experience a Total Solar Eclipse. This is the first solar eclipse to track across the U.S. since 1979. The landfall in the U.S. is the Oregon coast. Oregon is expecting a population increase of 25%, with over a million visitors arriving to view the totality. If you are planning to travel to Oregon, be aware of the traffic jams (a projected influx of 100,000-500,000 vehicles), wildfires (currently four burning in the 60-mile path), and projected gas, food, and water shortages as hoards of visitors flood Oregon's tiny towns. Me? I am very excited to have this Solar Eclipse coming to my neighborhood! I plan to enjoy a partial eclipse in the comfort of my backyard in Seattle. We are about 175 miles north of the path of totality and will experience 94% coverage (photo below from Pacific Science Center). I am equipped with my approved Eclipse glasses (provided by Seattle Public Library) and have downloaded a couple apps to keep me updated. So far, the weather report looks perfect for a good Seattle show. Enjoy the EclipseSouthwest Florida: Tropical Storm Emily blew dozens of tree frogs, toads, and aquatic frogs into our backyard swimming pool, which made for three days of rescues and photo opportunities. Above is a tiny greenhouse frog (inside my ring!) Oak Toad (above) with the tell-tale racing stripe and orange feet (Left) Southern Toad with its warts and crests; and (right) Southern Leopard Frog
Bombus mixtus enjoying the sage blossoms and snowberry in our front yard Honeybee collecting nectar=Sage Honey this fall ©Tracey Byrne 2017 Did you know that almost 90% of all flowering plants rely on animals, rather than the wind, for pollination? Over 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators. The vast majority of animal pollinators are insects such as beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies and moths; of these, bees pollinate the largest number of plant species. About 1,000 species of pollinators are hummingbirds, bats and other small mammals (Pollinator Partnership, 2017). Visit Pollinator Partnership and bee inspired with ways to support all our pollinators
This female Yellow-rumped Warbler has been gracing us with her presence this winter. She is hard to capture on camera, as she rarely alights. Today I managed to catch her in action using my "sports" setting, telephoto lens, and a tripod. All photographs posted on BeePeeking ©Tracey Byrne unless otherwise noted
Do you like birds? Do you have curiosity and patience? Can you tell a duck from a songbird? An owl from a raptor? Congratulations! You have the basic skills to be a birder! Backyard Birding 101 You do not have to travel far, nor do you have to invest a lot of time or money to improve your birding skills. Expedite your learning by observing the birds in your backyard and neighborhood and develop a friendly relationship with them. To enhance your budding bird awareness: 1. put up a bird feeder or two: suet and seeds will attract a greater variety of species 2. invest in a decent pair of binoculars (or borrow from a friend) 3. familiarize yourself with a few different birds guides 4. keep a journal for notes, tallies, and nature drawing I suggest that you find a window, hang your feeder(s) outside of it, pull up a comfortable chair, and give the birds a week or two to discover your treats. Then, all you have to do is set yourself down regularly to watch your "bird TV". After a few weeks, you will be amazed at what you have learned. It is helpful to have a list of the birds that are likely to be visiting your backyard, as this will save you time as you begin to record the numbers and habits of the birds you see. You will notice that you get regulars, and these will be your gateway birds-the ones that you can identify by the way they move, sing, and their flight patterns-in addition to knowing them by their color and size. Once you get three or four solid regulars, you will find that you'll use these birds as your basis to compare and differentiate. I have several favorite tools for ID, from my Project FeederWatch poster to Sibley's Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. A good book for novice birders is Birds of Seattle and Puget Sound, which has lovely illustrations of 125 birds and includes ID tips, notes on habitat and food, songs and calls, and similar bird species. For those of you who partake in urban adventuring, I would like to suggest Sibley's folding guides; I have Backyard Birds of the Pacific Northwest and Backyard Birds of the Pacific Northwest Coast tucked in my birding bag (along with binoculars and camera), which you can purchase at either Seward Park Audubon Center or the Washington Park Arboretum gift shop. That should do it: Ready... Set... Bird! To find out more visit BirdWeb, Seattle Audubon's Guide to birds of Washington State
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