The western screech owl is sometimes roosting in the ivy-laden willow west of the central boardwalk. He is very hard to discern, being incredibly camouflaged. On my way to the bus stop earlier this week, I heard a singing white-crowned sparrow. This is one of our common summer breeding residents. The Anna’s hummingbirds are still displaying and delineating their territories. Except for the buffleheads, most of the migrant ducks have departed.

Bleeding heart, red-flowering current, western skunk cabbage, twinberry, tall Oregon grape, violets, cherries, elderberry, salmonberry, and crabapples are blooming at Juanita Bay Park. The trilliums are finishing their season, and turning pink when they are fertilized (by ants), or turning brown if not fertilized. Many of these plants are found in other parks such as Edith Moulton (especially bleeding heart), Crestwoods Park and Woodland Park (lots of skunk cabbage), Watershed Park (trillium along the long loop), as well as at Juanita Bay. I encourage you to visit your local park – this is an extraordinary time of year to be out and about.

City Council Meeting

Representative Jay Inslee addressed the council April 6, reminding them that the House sent 280 different bills to the Senate this session so far, and talked about how some of the bills that passed both Houses of Congress might affect Kirkland residents. I learned that Kirkland is now the largest city in the First Congressional District, due to the annexation. I guess we are no longer a small town, although we are still striving to keep our small town atmosphere.

• The Kirkland Wednesday Market starts Wednesday, May 5 at Marina Park. This is a little later than last year’s start.

Earth Day Events

There are many special events happening in April around Earth Day. One of the big ones for Kirkland is the restoration event at Juanita Bay Park Saturday April 24. The goats helping in this effort are expected to arrive Friday afternoon and leave Monday morning. However, there is still lots of work for people to do in the park on Saturday, too. The goats have their own assigned area, and will be confined with portable electric fencing.

Green Events

• 7:30 p.m., Wednesday April 14 at the Redmond Regional Library. Sustainable Book Club, discusses Lyle Estill’s “Small Is Possible: Life in a Local Economy,” and/or Jeff Rubin’s “Why Your World is About to Get a Lot Smaller: Oil and the End of Globalization.”