Western Washington offers great opportunities for both beginning and experienced birdwatchers

Published 11:20 am Friday, February 26, 2010

Have you ever watched chickadees eat sunflower seeds? How about a flock of Bushtits on a suet feeder? Or, a Goldfinch hanging to get thistle?

A Chickadee will grab a single sunflower seed from a feeder, fly to a fence or tree branch, clasp it between its toes and pound away until the shell is cracked. It takes a while, but this little bird will not give up. Even seasoned bird watchers can’t resist watching these bold and inquisitive birds.

Today bird watching is no longer just for the avid birder. Since 2000, it has been widely reported that birding is the faster growing outdoor activity in the country. It’s a low cost, easy way to experience the outdoors and you might be surprised and delighted by bird behavior.

For example, tiny Bushtits take cute to a new level. They travel in flocks, covering a suet feeder within seconds, their tiny bodies becoming one big pile of disheveled fluff as they feast.

Not to be outdone, American Goldfinches, our state bird, hang upside down to eat their favorite lunch of thistles. And the babies perch precariously, dropping more than they eat as they imitate their parents.

You don’t have to travel far to find birds, either. You can attract an amazing variety right in your own backyard by hanging a few simple feeders.

Start with a sunflower seed tube about five feet off the ground. Before long, nuthatches, Pine Siskins, and a gang of chickadees will be perching in your trees and along your fence.

Add a hopper feeder to attract larger birds such as Purple Finches, sparrows, grosbeaks and crossbills. When the birds hop on the feeder, it releases the seeds. Much of it ends on the ground, but this will attract ground feeders such as juncos, sparrows and towhees.

It’s natural for goldfinches to perch and feed upside down, so you can enjoy their acrobatics with a thistle tube that is especially designed for small beaked finches. Beware though. They are social birds, traveling in large groups and swarming feeders — a wonderful sight.

Who can resist the industrious manner of a woodpecker? To attract these, hang suet in a mesh bag or wire cage from a tree or pole. Suet is an energy-rich, high fat feed that is perfect for cold-weather feeding. Wrens, jays and warblers are fans of suet, as well.

Fresh water is important, too. Every style and size of birdbath is on the market today, but for a simple inexpensive one that works well, choose a round bath with approximately a one-inch lip that can hang in a tree. The foliage cover encourages even the shyest birds to perch on the edge for a drink or take a bath.

Many birds need a place to feel safe and rest when they are not at a feeder, so lots of trees or shrubs around your feeder will help attract birds to your yard.

To bird watch beyond the backyard, but still local, try a walk around Spencer Island. This is a 412-acre wetland in the Snohomish river estuary located in northeast Everett. It is one of the best places to see waterfowl and shorebirds.

Spencer Island is located near Langus Riverfront Park. From Everett travel north on SR529 across the Snohomish River. Turn right on 28th Place and follow signs to Langus Riverfront Park. Continue driving past Langus Riverfront Park until you reach a gravel parking area on the right near the Everett Waste Facility. This is the closest parking to Spencer Island. Park here and walk the rest of the road between two lagoons to the island. For more information, visit www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks.

The island is accessible by walking across a short bridge from a nearby parking lot. Visitors are on their own here to walk all or part of the 3.6 miles of well-maintained dike trails and cedar boardwalks.

Once you cross the bridge, the trail heads north or south and either way is good. The beautiful natural area showcases a variety of birds that frequent the rivers, tidal marshes and ponds. It’s a place for leisurely walking with wide-open views. Wading birds, songbirds, geese, raptors, and ducks are easy to spot. Some year-round residents are Great-horned Owls, Belted Kingfishers and five species of woodpeckers. Along the way are helpful interpretive signs and viewing platforms.

Along the south dike, you might spot Green-winged Teals, Northern Pintails, Buffleheads and other ducks swimming and eating in the ponds especially in the spring. Children can watch for Canada Geese foraging in the marshes. Big birds like Great Blue Herons, Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles are everywhere.

Kids and adults can hunt for Pileated Woodpeckers. Their signs are everywhere. You can find their excavated oblong holes in practically every snag. Their loud call can be heard throughout most areas of the island. In the spring, marsh wrens are another easy-to-spot bird. The marshes are thick with them and their call is unmistakable as they build their nests in the cattails.

If you are patient, you might spy more than birds. A family of river otters can be viewed swimming near the entrance bridge. A nearby bench is a good place to rest and watch. These playful animals entertain adults and children with their comical antics—wrestling, jumping and crawling all over each other.

It’s a good idea to bring binoculars and field guides are helpful if you have them, but not necessary. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

For a half-day birding adventure, plan a trip to view Snow Geese and other wintering birds in the Skagit River delta. Commonly called Skagit Flats, this area is one of the most important waterfowl wintering areas of the Pacific Flyway. Thousands of Snow Geese arrive every year from the arctic regions of Wrangel Island in Siberia to feed and rest for the winter. The geese generally arrive in October and head back to their nesting grounds in April, so you still have time to make the drive.

There are many places to view Snow Geese. A drive through the flats between the north and south forks of the Skagit River, just minutes west of Mount Vernon, will often get you views of large flocks of Snow Geese and swans feeding in farmer’s fields. Other good viewing areas include the end of Fir Island Road and the end of Rawlins Road on the North Fork Skagit River.

The Skagit Wildlife Area headquarters, managed by the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, has a two-mile dike-top loop trail for bird watching. It meanders through the Skagit estuary and offers walkers views of Skagit Bay. Arrive early in the morning ­—sunrise is best— to see dozens of flocks fly from the bay inland for daytime feeding. The spectacular sight and sound of snow geese flocks landing or taking off is one you soon won’t forget.

Snow Geese are not the only reason to visit the Skagit Flats. The area is dotted with nourishing murky ponds, rivers and wetlands that attract Trumpeter and Tundra swans, Bald Eagles, Short-eared Owls, Western Sandpipers, herons, hawks and a variety of waterfowl for the winter. For more information about the Skagit Wildlife Area, visit the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/.

A short walk through a neighborhood with green belt areas can yield anything from a singing White-crowned Sparrow to a large Pileated Woodpecker working its way around a tree. A trip across the sound on a ferry passes hundreds of bobbing and diving ducks such as Surf Scoters and Western Grebes that spend the winter in the Puget Sound. Cormorants and gulls roost on the pilings near the terminals. Woods and parks shelter a variety of migrating and nesting birds.

Before you know it, you’ll be starting your day at the back window or heading out for a walk or drive to experience our great outdoors and along the way, watch a few birds.