Trillium, red-flowering currant, and tall Oregon grape are blooming. The Anna’s hummingbirds are very evident in the park as they set up territories and court, as are the red-breasted sapsuckers, and the red-winged blackbirds. A few early swallows are back. A yellow-rumped warbler was spotted by the third Tuesday bird walk group March 23.
The bald eagle pair are seen frequently in the Douglas firs west of the long boardwalk. Many migrant ducks have left, but we do still have green-wing teal, bufflehead, and hooded mergansers as of the second week of March. There have been occasional sightings of a few swans since the wintering groups left in late February. A migrating male shoveler duck was in the cove the first week of March, and I was lucky enough to be looking over the cove another day when a single log was occupied by a male wood duck, a male hooded merganser, and a large turtle maybe 40 feet away from the observation deck. The pace of migration will pick up as we go through the rest of March and into April.
Juanita Bay Park is looking pretty bare along the wetland buffer due to clearing for restoration work that needed to be completed by March 15 before the nesting season was fully underway. It will be critical to water the new plantings over the summer to revegetate the park, renewing the wildlife cover, and additional volunteers for that task are needed.
Several school groups have already requested group walks for this spring. The first Sunday group had another good turnout on March 7. There will be a first Sunday walk April 4 (Easter) as the rangers voted to provide a walk every first Sunday, including three-day holiday weekends such as Memorial and Labor Days. Walks on holiday weekends were previously canceled, but people tended to show up anyway.
Green calendar
Wednesday, March 24
Annie Leonard on her new book, “The Story of Stuff,” from 7:30-9 p.m. at Seattle Town Hall. The author looks at how the things we buy are created, consumed, and discarded. Cost is $5.
Saturday, March 27
Local ornithologist and author, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, discusses her book “Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom From the Urban Wilderness” at 2 p.m. at Parkplace Books. The author uses crow study to get at a range of ever-deepening concerns about nature and our place within it.
Friday, April 2
Lake Sammamish State Park bird walk from 8 a.m. to noon. This urban park offers a wide assortment of birds and habitats due to its varied ecosystems. The trip involves walking approximately two to three miles. Visit www.eastsideaudubon.org.
Sunday, April 4
First Sunday Walk at 1 p.m., Juanita Bay Park. Spend Easter afternoon in this special Kirkland Park. Meet two volunteer rangers at the kiosk by the parking lot.
Thursday, April 8
Sustainable Kirkland’s monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. For additional information, go to www.sustainablekirkland.org.
Wednesday, April 14
Sustainable Futures 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,” at 7:30 p.m., Redmond Regional Library. No one is expected to read both books, but discussions where some read one book and others read a related book have been lively and engrossing in the past. This book club relies on the books being available in the King County Library System, and gives a choice of related titles where there are fewer library copies, and for discussion from different viewpoints .
Sunday, April 18
Kirkland Watershed Park Nature Walk at 1 p.m. Meet at 110th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 45th St.
Tuesday, April 20
Juanita Bay Park Bird Walk. Join the group for a bird walk at Juanita Bay Park at 8 a.m. Meet at the kiosk next to the parking lot turn-around.
Tuesday, April 20
Author Bill McKibbon speaks at Seattle Town Hall from 7:30-9 p.m. (small admissions charge, $5). His new book is “Earth: Making a Life in a Tough New Planet.”
Saturday, April 24
Earth Day work party at Juanita Bay Park. Goats will be working in the park too, along with (but fenced off from) people! Volunteers will be doing maintenance on recently planted areas, and further clearing. Please pre-register to help with planning refreshments. Wear workclothes and sturdy shoes, bring gloves, and dress for the weather. Visit www.greenkirkland@ci.kirkland.wa.us.
Kirkland resident Janice Johnson volunteers as a Juanita Bay Ranger, and is a WNPS native plant steward.
