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Crossing Paths is a twice-yearly newsletter for Washington

residents enrolled in the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program.

Westside: 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek, WA 98012 / 425-775-1311

Eastside: N. 8702 Division St., Spokane, WA 99218 / 509-456-4082

www.wa.gov/wdfw

Crossing Paths Newsletter

Writer/Editor: Madonna Luers

Contributing Wildlife Biologists: Russell Link,

Patricia Thompson (Seattle-Mill Creek),

Howard Ferguson (Spokane), Michelle Tirhi

(Tacoma). Printing and Graphics: WDFW

Print Shop and the Washington State

Printer Graphics Office.

Backyard wildlife watching

is big business

by Dr. Jeff Koenings, WDFW Director

(Continued on page 4)

Fall 2002

Did you know your avocation is bigbusiness in Washington and that you shareit with almost half of the rest of the state?

Wildlife watching around home isenjoyed by 2,105,000 Washington citizens,according to the recently-released results ofthe 2001 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) recreation survey. Combinedwith 1,065,000 who also travel the state towatch wildlife, overall spending to enjoythese pursuits totals more than $1.3 billion.

That makes your purchases of birdseed,feeders, binoculars, field guides, and other

goods and services a very healthy part ofWashington’s economy.

It also makes Washington the fifthhighest wildlife-watching state in thecountry, based on percentage ofparticipation by the entire population.That’s 49% of Washington residents,compared to a national average of 31%.

The USFWS survey has beenconducted about every five years since1955 and serves as an economic valuemeasure for everything from threatenedand endangered species to wildlife lost inoil spills.

The survey also tracks fishing andhunting participation and economicvalues. In Washington, 938,000 fish and227,000 hunt, making up about 21% ofour population. Recreational fishing putsabout $1billion into our economy andhunting $408 million.

While fishing and hunting continue tobe an important part of WashingtonDepartment of Fish and Wildlife(WDFW) management and the state’seconomy, rates of participation in bothhave declined over the decades.

Wildlife watching, on the other hand,has steadily increased and remains stable.Backyard wildlife watching, (called“residential” in the survey) is the biggestpart of that growth.

If you’d like to learn more about yourfellow backyard wildlife watchers fromthe survey, see

The National Survey of Fishing,Hunting, and Wildlife-AssociatedRecreation at www.fws.gov.

And thanks for your big business!

Save your

sanctuary forever

and maybe

taxes, too

Many Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary(BWS) managers ask, or make incorrectassumptions, about the legal statusaccorded their efforts through thisWashington Department of Fish andWildlife (WDFW) program.

BWS certification does not provideyour property with any new or differentlegal protections or restrictions. Yournatural landscaping efforts may help withproperty appreciation value, and adisplayed certification sign can draw theattention of potential buyers also interestedin wildlife. But there’s nothing in theprogram that ensures your sanctuary ismaintained.

There are, however, some options forpreserving your hard work – and localwildlife homes – into perpetuity, andpossibly even ways to save on taxes. BWScertification won’t guarantee that yourproperty will qualify, but these are worthlooking into:

WITH WILDLIFE IN WASHINGTON TOWNS AND CITIES

2

xx

Living with Washington's Wildlife: Tree Squirrels (Part 2)

(Editor’s note: WDFW’s Seattle-areaurban wildlife biologist Russell Link iscompiling a series of “Living WithWashington’s Wildlife” factsheets fordistribution at regional offices, eventualposting on our website, and part of a newbook, “Living With Wildlife in the PacificNorthwest.” This newsletter regularlyfeatures excerpts from that work. Thissecond of three parts on tree squirrelsfocuses on dealing with problems thatsquirrels create when searching for foodor nesting material; the spring 2003edition will address what to do when asquirrel’s search for a nest site takes itinto your attic or chimney.)

A tree squirrel’s search for food ornesting material may bring it to abirdfeeder, orchard, or flower garden. Themost effective way to prevent conflicts isto modify the habitat around your homeso it will not attract squirrels. Examplesinclude:

Don’t feed squirrels: Squirrels that areartificially fed may lose their fear ofhumans and could become aggressive.Artificial feeding also tends toconcentrate tree squirrels in a small area;overcrowding can encourage diseases andparasites. In addition, these squirrelsmight approach a neighbor who doesn’tshare your appreciation of the animals.The neighbor might even choose toremove these squirrels.

Prevent access to birdfeeders. Thereare many feeder designs on the marketadvertised to be squirrel-resistant. Someare effective, but many are not. One typeis a tube feeder enclosed in a cage thatallows small birds to pass through freely;such cages may also be purchasedseparately for use with existing feeders.However, this style of feeder will blockaccess to large birds and may not excludesmall and immature squirrels.

To prevent squirrels from jumping to afeeder, place the feeder at least 6 feet offthe ground and at least 10 feet from thenearest tall shrub, tree limb, deck, orother structure. To prevent squirrels fromclimbing the wires, poles, or chains onwhich feeders are mounted, suspend acommercially available dome- or cone-shaped “squirrel baffle” above and/orbelow the feeder to prevent squirrels fromclimbing.

A home-made version is to suspendyour feeder from a horizontal wire,placing two, 24-inch lengths of 1-inchPVC pipe around the wire on either sideof the feeder. Two large soda bottlesstrung on either side of the feeder mayalso work.

Use heavy gauge wire to hang thefeeder, squirrels will chew through almostanything else, dropping the feeder to theground.

Another way to discourage squirrelsfrom eating birdseed is to offer birdsfoods that squirrels do not like. Forexample, squirrels will sometimes ignoresafflower seed, millet, and plain suet(without nuts or peanut butter). However,these foods may not be as popular withthe bird species you want to attract, andsquirrels may eat them if they are hungry.

nesting material, apply a commerciallyavailable repellant to the vulnerable areasor loosely wrap them with 1-inch chickenwire. If they are climbing trees to eat fruitor nuts, remove lower branches and installan aluminum flashing cylinder asdescribed above. Seeds and seedlings canbe covered with a temporary wire cage ornetting. Where bulbs are being dug up,chicken wire can be laid down, securelystaked, and lightly mulched. Acommercial repellant, available fromnurseries and hardware stores, can also beused in the area.

Prevent access to your home: Repair orreplace loose or rotting siding, boards, andshingles. Cover vents with 1/2-inchwelded-wire mesh (hardware cloth), andkeep tree branches 10 feet away from thesides and tops of buildings. Note: Dryervent screens need to be cleaned frequentlyor replaced with models designed toexclude animals without lint clogging.Cap your chimney with a commerciallydesigned and engineered chimney cap.(Most hardware stores carry them.)

Squirrels can be stopped from travelingon wires by installing three-foot sections of2-3 inch diameter plastic pipe. Split the pipelengthwise, spread the opening apart, andplace it over the wire. The pipe will rotateon the wire and the squirrel will tumble off.Do not attempt to install pipe over high-voltage wires. Contact your local electricity/utility company for assistance.

Public Health Concerns: Treesquirrels might carry diseases that couldaffect humans but actual cases are rare.Rabies has not been found in any treesquirrel populations in Washington. Ifyou see a tree squirrel engaging inunusual behavior, such as repeatedlyfalling over or circling a small area, suchbehavior may result from an injury,poisoning, or inflammation of the brain(encephalitis) caused by a parasite.

If a person is bitten or scratched by asquirrel, immediately clean the wound bythoroughly scrubbing it with soap andwater. Flush the wound liberally, usingclean tap water. If the person was bitten,contact a physician and the local healthdepartment. If you can place a largebucket over the squirrel and secure thebucket with a heavy object, the animalcan then be held for inspection.

Prevent nesting in birdhouses. Attach apre-drilled metal plate (available fromstores catering to the bird feeding public)over the hole, or attach aluminum flashingto the front and drill an entry hole of thecorrect size through the flashing. Filedown any sharp edges. Boxes with entryholes large enough to accommodate largebirds (and squirrels) should be put outonly when the desired bird species is seen,or during its known nesting season. Toprevent squirrels from climbing up a poleor other structure supporting a birdhouse,install a commercially available barrier. Ahome-made version is a 24-inch-tallaluminum flashing cylinder placed at least6 feet up the tree trunk or other support.The cylinder should have overlappingedges and be secured so that it can expandto allow for tree growth. (This will notwork if there is a tall tree or structurewithin 6 feet.)

Protect plants. If squirrels are removingthe bark of certain trees to use as food or

squirrel baffle

3

Butterfly watching gaining popularity

Tip of the season:

Leave nestboxes up through the

winter. Some of Washington’s

resident species, like woodpeckers

and chickadees, are known to use

them as protected night roosting

spots. Just be sure to clean them

out and repair them in March for

the next nest builders.

(excerpted in part from Cox NewsService and Spokesman-Review stories)

Move over, birders. Trails and pathsthat are filled with bird-watchers onweekends are becoming popular withanother breed of nature observers:butterfly-watchers.

In fact, butterfly-watching closelyparallels bird-watching, and it is rapidlygaining popularity across the country.“Wild Bird” magazine calls butterflies“the next wave of watchable wildlife.”

Some experts say butterfly-watchingnow is where bird-watching was 20 yearsago, but rapidly catching up. The NorthAmerican Butterfly Association wasfounded in 1992 and now has 4,000members and 30 chapters nationwide.

There are no specific figures on thenumber of all butterfly watchers, but thereare about 15,000 butterfly species knownin the world, nearly 200 of them in thePacific Northwest.

Washington’s own butterfly expertRobert Michael Pyle chronicles all ofthose local species in his new (and 15th!)book “The Butterflies of Cascadia,’’(Seattle Audubon, $29.95), a spectacularguide to the butterflies of Washington,Oregon and surrounding areas.

Another new book is available foralmost half the cost and is adequate forcasual butterfly observers. “The Guide ToButterflies of Oregon and Washington,’’by William Neill (Westcliffe, $17.95) is aclear and concise guide with a good photoof each of the 100 species described .

day, you won’t be hallucinating.’’ Pylewrites.

Flower nectar, the adult butterfly’sprimary food, is only one of its habitatneeds. They also like rotting fruit, runningsap, and the honeydew of aphids. Malessometimes get down and dirty, lured inswarms called “mud-puddle clubs” toprobe mud and damp sand for dissolvedmineral salts, especially where someanimal has urinated.

“Butterflies, mostly males, also throngto carrion and scat, attracted by the smellof decomposing materials rich in theamino acids and other organic compoundsthey need,” writes Pyle. “The sight ofethereal butterflies sucking up to roadkill,bear poop or horse pee turns Ms. Millay’sverse on its head,’’ he writes.

In the poem “Mariposa,” Edna St.Vincent Millay wrote, “Mark the transientbutterfly / How he hangs upon theflower.”

But “The Butterflies of Cascadia’’tackles the subject in more breadth anddepth, covering all the species andsubspecies known in the PacificNorthwest. Several photos are shown foreach species to illustrate different colorphases and Pyle includes his personalinsights and essays on what they mean tohim after years of study.

“Butterflies are neither minted likecoins nor printed like stamps: they are theproducts of parents with differing traits,and therefore each one is an original,’’writes Pyle.

Pyle also encourages people to invitebutterflies into their yards bycultivating plants specifically to lurethem.

“At the alpha level,” Pyle said, “thismerely involves growing nectar plantsfor attracting adults. The moresatisfying beta level will lead you toinclude caterpillar host plants, in hopesthat your garden will actually providebreeding habitat for visiting species.’’

Butterflies are really two distinct typesof animals during their lives.

“They begin active life as crawling,chewing, worm-like neuters,” Pyle writes,“and finish as flying, sucking, highlysexual creatures.’’

Their larval needs encompass greenerysuch as leaves. Sometimes the needs arevery specific, as with the Monarch’sdependence on milkweed.

But food is not the only habitatrequirement for any of the butterfly’sstages.

“Most species hibernate as egg, smallcaterpillar, or chrysalis, withstanding thecold through physiological adaptations,’’Pyle writes. But a few species canweather winter in some portions of thePacific Northwest as adults. They rely onhabitat factors we don’t normallyassociate with butterflies, such as the typeof holes cavity-nesting birds require.

“They come out on warm days, so ifyou see a mourning cloak or satyrangelwing on New Year’s or Valentine’s

4

Save your sanctuary forever and maybe taxes, too (continued from page 1)

The rare Townsend’s big-eared batcolony north of Spokane that is featuredon WDFW’s “BatCam” on the website(www.wa.gov/wdfw) is being monitoredby Eastern Washington Universitygraduate student Theresa Mathis under thedirection of Dr. Peggy O’Connell.

Theresa’s latest report provides someinteresting insight into bat behavior andseasonal activity that BWS managers withother more common bats might findinteresting:

“This has been a very exciting year forobserving Washington’s easternmostcolony of Townsend’s big-eared bats.With the first appearance of bats to thematernity colony on April 4th , I thoughtwe were off and running. However, thebats had very different ideas.

Throughout April, May, and June thebats came and went. The most bats

Bat behavior monitored

(continued on page 5)

Land Trusts

Land trusts are local, regional, orsatewide non-profit organizations directlyinvolved in protecting important landresources for public benefit. Depending onthe size and extent of your backyardwildlife sanctuary, your property could beconsidered such a resource.

Land trusts are able to use a variety offlexible and creative conservation methodsthat achieve conservation goals whilemeeting the specific needs of thecommunity and landowner. Manyapproaches offer income, estate, orproperty tax benefits, including:

Donation — An outright donation ofland to a willing land trust releases thelandowner from the responsibility ofmanaging the land can can providesubstantial income tax deductions andestate tax benefits, while avoiding anycapital gains taxes that would haveresulted from selling the property. Someland donations, such a charitable giftannuities and charitable remainderannuities, allow landowners to continue toreceive income during their lifetimes.

Bargain Sale of Land – In a bargainsale the landowner sells the land for lessthan its fair market value to gain severalbenefits, including cash provisions,avoidance of some capital gains tax, andentitlement to charitable income taxdeductions (based on the differencebetween the land’s fair market value andits sale price).

Conservation Easement – Aconservation easement is a legalagreement between a landowner and theland trust that permanently limits use ofthe land in order to project its conservationvalues. It allows the landowner to continueto own and use the land and to sell it orpass it on to heirs. Conservation easementsare flexible land protection tools. ANeasement on property containing rarewildlife habitat might prohibitdevelopment, for example, while anotherone might allow continued farming thebuilding of agricultural structures. Aconservation easement donation canqualify as a tax-deductible charitabledonation and may result in property andestate tax savings. Whether donated during

the landowner’s life or by will, it canmake a critical difference in the heirs’ability to keep the land intact.

To find out more about how land trustswork and if there is land trust in your area,contact the Land Trust Alliance of theNorthwest, (www.lta.org/regionallta/northwest.htm) 3517 NE 45th St., Seattle,WA† 98105-5640, 206-522-3134, or e-mail ltanw@lta.org.

PBRS

Incentive programs for preserving openspace on private property are offered bysome counties and local jurisdictionsthrough Public Benefit Rating Systems(PBRS). These programs provide tax reliefto the landowner if their land containsvaluable open space resources.

It works this way: a “current usetaxation” property tax assessment for theopen space is established lower than the“highest and best use” assessment levelthat usually applies on most land in thecounty. The calculation of the current usetaxation value is based on a PBRS scoringsystem, with a number of points assignedfor specific open space qualification.

This system, established by the stateunder RCW Chapter 84.34, weights thetax incentive toward particularly desirableopen space features. Individualjurisdictions usually adopt their owncriteria to evaluation the public benefit ofthe property. The rating systems usuallyincludes points o land qualifying as high,medium, or low property resources, andbonus points for additional public benefitsuch as public access, extra surface waterbuffer, joint applications, andconservation/historic easements inperpetuity.

In King County, for example, thereduction in taxable value ranges from50% to 90% for the portion of the propertyin “current use.” The maximum 90% taxreduction might be given for property (orportions of property) qualifying as a highproperty resource with public access and aconservation easement in perpetuity.

To find out more about the PBRS inyour county of residence and how youmight apply for eligibility, call yourcounty tax assessor.

present were 52 on June 26th. Many daysthere were no bats present at all.

Then the “season” began with a bangon July 5th with the arrival of 85 bats. ByJuly 7th their numbers had increased to103. The first birth observed occurredmidmorning on July 9th. The entireprocess, from the onset of labor until theyoung was cleaned up andnursing, took approximately1 1/2 hours, at which point,the mother flew off withher young.

Just elevendays later, onJuly 16th, thefirst juvenilewas seenroosting alone.

5

Bat behavior monitored (continued from page 4)

By Patricia Thompson

We at WDFW get calls year-round aboutbig nests, often from people thinking theyhave an eagle nest in their backyard.Usually it turns out to be a nice cozysquirrel’s lodge, a crow’s nest or, if theyare lucky, a red-tailed hawk nest.

Often people want to think that theirlarge nest is a peregrine falcon’s, butperegrines very rarely nest in trees and donot really build nests. If they do nest in atree, it is in someone else’s abandoned nestor a large tree cavity.

We would like to help you identify thelarge nests in your area for several reasons:

• Help us spot and map the raptor(bird of prey, the hawks, eagles andfalcons) nests

• Report potential development aroundprotected nests

• Know whether or when you may ormay not remove the tree

We also want you to call us as soon asyou know of an eagle, peregrine or red-tailed hawk nest; we will map them andreport them to the local jurisdictions forprotection, and advise you what to do ifyou have a problem with the nest or the treeit is in.

To help distinguish nests, even withoutseeing any identifiable birds, ask yourselfthese questions: How large is the nest(diameter), what is the nest made of –branches, sticks, twigs or grass, how big arethe sticks, how high is the nest, what kindof tree is it in, how tall is the tree, is it in a

By July 20th juvenile bats were roosting inclusters together and the first juvenileflights were observed July 24th.

By August 1st some of the juvenileswere emerging with the adults. It appearsthey are staying near the cabin and justtrying out their wings.

Some possible things to see via the batcameras on the website is “allogrooming”or bats grooming each other. This doesn’thappen often but is quite interesting towatch when it does. They bite around theears and the neck, sometimes they bitealong the back and then the belly, but most

Whose big nest is that?

forest or on the edge, how long has it beenthere, have you seen any birds going in orout of the nest?

Nest characteristics of different speciesof birds vary. Even squirrel nests areidentifiable, although some birds such ascrows, sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper’shawks will use squirrel nests.

Eagles

Eagles build the largest nests and thereare both bald eagles and golden eagles inWashington. Golden eagles are almostexclusively on the east side of the state,and most of the bald eagles nest on thewest side of the state.

8 1/2 feet across. West of the Cascades,Douglas fir is used most frequently, argecottonwoods are used a lot, and Sitkaspruce is used occasionally. East of theCascades, Ponderosa pine is mostpreferred, then Douglas fir, withcottonwoods also used. Nest trees tend tobe larger than the surrounding trees. Treesare typically 100 – 200 feet tall and thenests are usually 30 – 60 feet off theground, sometimes higher. Bald eaglesuse their nests year after year; some nestshave been used for more than 35 years.Bald eagles also have alternate nests.Water will almost always be nearby. Baldeagle nests can be very conspicuous. Onthe west side of the state especially, baldeagles have taken to nesting in very urbanareas, even in Seattle. See WDFW’s“EagleCam” on our web site(www.wa.gov/wdfw) to get a great viewof a bald eagle nest.

Golden eagles construct large platformnests usually on cliffs or rock ledges andonly sometimes in trees. Thick branches,twigs and stems of any kind are used toconstruct the nests. Like bald eagles,golden eagles will use their nests yearafter year. New nests are about 2 1/2 feet indiameter; old nests are about 5 – 6 feetacross after they have been added to yearafter year. Nests can be 1 1/2 to 5 feethigh. The nests in trees can be placed from10 to 100 feet off the ground.

of the attention is paid around the neckand base of the ears.

Most of the crawling that is seen isprobably being done by a juvenile bat.They will land and crawl from one clusterto another. Or, if the mother has left itroosting alone, it may crawl to anothernearby bat.

As of August 3rd many of the motherswere still carrying their young and nursingcontinues. Many of the young are gettingquite large and they seem to lag behindduring flight and landings. You may alsocatch a glimpse of a juvenile roosting on

the back of an adult female with a youngunder her wing.

Emergence, or when the bats leave theroost at night to forage, is generallyoccurring between 8:45pm and 9:30pm.Once the adults have left the cabin theyoung bats can be seen flying aroundinside the cabin. Several can be caught inone image at a time on the camera. Onnights when emergence is not being tapedwe will try to focus the camera on a groupof roosting juveniles. However, as theyare very active (think toddler) they maymove out of camera range.”

(continued on page 6)

Bald eagles build the grand daddy ofall nests. They are massive platformstypically 6 feet in diameter made of sticksand branches placed in large trees. Lookfor nests constructed with very largesticks, some an inch or more in diameterand maybe up to 5 feet long. The largestold nests are known to be 12 ft high and

6

Sometimes first year bald eagles aremistaken for golden eagles. Bald eaglesgradually molt into their white heads andtails over the course of 4 – 5 years andlook mottled brown, like very dark marble,in their first and second years. If you havea nest in or near your yard, it is probablynot a golden eagle’s.

Hawks

Red-tailed hawks nest in wide varietyof habitats. They prefer to have openaccess into their nests so nest trees areusually on the edge of a woodlandoverlooking a field or open land orsometimes in a small clump of large treessurrounded by meadow. Nests are bulkyand outside diameter of the nest is about 2– 2 1/2 feet. Nests can get pretty deep,sometimes 2 feet high, and are made oflarge sticks, smaller than what eagles usebut much larger than crows or squirrels,about 1/2 inch in diameter mixed withsmaller sticks.

Red-tails usually place their nests about50 - 60 feet up tree but nest height canrange from 35 – 90 feet. The nest isanywhere in the tree where branches willsupport the nest but most commonly onbranches against the main trunk. Nesttrees will usually be the largest andstrongest trees but nest trees can besurprisingly small. Red-tails normally nestin deciduous trees such as cottonwood andmaple, but will choose evergreens,especially Douglas fir, where the nest isextremely difficult to see. They also neston cliffs where trees are scarce. Red-tailswill be seen perched by and soaring overtheir nests, and if you approach the nest,you will hear them make their defensive

cry. They, too, will nest in the middle ofurban areas where they seem to like edgesof highways.

Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinnedhawks are small, similar hawks who nestin mostly mixed coniferous-deciduousforests, sometimes in groves of trees inopen country, but they prefer thick coverwhen available. Unlike red-tailed hawks,they usually nest in the interior of forestsand woodlots. Sometimes Cooper’s hawkswill nest in wooded areas near edges offields or water openings. Cooper’s andsharp-shinned hawks (accipiters) placetheir nests at a height of about 35-45 feet,but can be 10 – 60 feet up tree.

Nests are broad flat platforms made oftwigs and bark, unlike the large bulky nestof the red-tail, and are usually built on ahorizontal branch by the trunk of the tree.Nests will be much smaller than eaglesand red-tails and the sticks and twigs arevery much smaller in diameter. Nests areabout two feet across and 6 – 8 inchesthick. They will occasionally build on oldcrow and squirrel nests. It’s easy toconfuse these hawk’s nests with crows andsquirrel nests. The lining of the nest maybe several inches deep by the time thechicks hatch because they continually addmaterial throughout incubation. It wouldnot be unusual to see a Cooper’s hawknest in suburban wooded areas.

Crows

Crows build cup nests typical ofsongbirds but the size of Cooper’s orsharp-shinned hawks’ nests. They placetheir nests from 10 to 70 feet high inshrubs and deciduous or coniferous trees;in conifers on the west side of the state

they can be very difficult to see. The nestis made of twigs and coarse stems, linedwith bark strips and fibers, sometimesmud or earth. Crows build their nests in5-13 days and they are often used overagain in successive years. Watch for crowscarrying twigs into trees when they arenest building. Crow fledglings are verynoisy. If you hear noisy crows in earlysuumer, they are probably the young birdsbegging for food at a nearby nest . Crowswill build their nest in urban areas wheretrees are available.

Eastern Gray Squirrels

Eastern gray squirrels typically crawlinto holes of trees during winter and buildnests out on tree limbs during the summer.Eastern gray squirrels will den in treesyear-round, using either natural cavities orleaf nests in mature trees or standing deadtrees. Tree cavities must be at least 12inches deep and have an opening at least 3inches in diameter. On the west side of theCascades squirrels may spend the winterin their snug stick nests. Nests are masses,sometimes round looking, about a foot ortwo in diameter, usually placed on a highlimb, made of leaves and twigs andlooking much like a crow nest. They buildin both conifers and deciduous trees. Inwarm weather areas, such as the desertand hills east of the Cascades, Easterngray squirrels will construct flatter loafingplatforms or cooling beds in the trees withno hole or cavity. Some of the strongwinter nests are permanent and woventogether tightly. Eastern gray squirrels arealmost exclusively an urban/suburbanspecies.

Whose big nest is that (continued from page 5)

WDFW’s annual Backyard Winter Bird Feeding survey starts again in November. If you’ve participated in this survey before,you’ll be receiving your 2002-03 winter survey materials in the mail soon.

If you’d like to join the more than 1,000 volunteers across the state who help collect this valuable data, write to “WinterBackyard Survey,” WDFW, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek, WA 98012, or send e-mail to thomppat@dfw.wa.gov.

The surveying is easy: count birds by species that you see at your winter backyard feeders during several two-week longcount periods from November through March, and fill in the data sheets provided. Next spring you send in your data sheets tohelp WDFW learn more about species population shifts from year to year.

Winter survey coming soon

7

Crossing Paths Electronically?Four years ago, in the fallof 1998 when we wereseeking ways to trim costs,

we asked you about shiftingthis newsletter’s format to an

electronic one via the Internet.At that time, although 51% of you used

the Internet, only 29% said such anelectronic version of the newsletter alonewould be satisfactory. The most citedreason for that difference was the need fornotification of the newsletter’s availabilityon WDFW’s website.

Since then we have maintained thisprinted and mailed newsletter, but haveposted each edition on our website, too,for those who like to scan it that way.

Now we’re considering that all-electronic shift again, since we arebeginning to build e-mail lists fornotifying particular interest groups aboutissues, events, and yes, newly availablenewsletter editions.

We suspect that now, four years later,well over 51% of you use the Internet and

e-mail, whether at home, the office, or atthe public library. We’re guessing thatmany of you are already on “listserves” ore-mail distribution lists for variousinterests. And in the interest of savingpaper and energy, when you need or wanta paper copy of something you see online,you print it out yourself.

That’s what we’re banking on, anyway,if we start producing “Crossing Paths”electronically next year, at least by the fall2003 edition.

Unless, of course, we hear backotherwise from too many of you. If you

Fall "To Do" list from your wildlife familyYou or your spouse/partner may be making those fall “to do” chore lists for or with each other at this time, as daylight hours

shrink and temperatures drop.

Here’s another “to do” list from your local wildlife “family” that you may find easier to check off:

Time for a sign?

If you need a replacement or

additional Backyard Wildlife

Sanctuary sign, you can get one

(or up to two) at the Mill Creek or

Spokane WDFW offices for just

$3.00 each if you pick it up and

$4.00 if mailed (plus postage

if you request mailing.)

• Leave some dead flowers on your floweringplants to provide seeds for some us birds andother animals.

• If you must rake leaves off lawns, just pilethem under some shrubs or other nooks and cranniesto provide homes for insects that we birds love toeat; leaves make great mulch to help store moistureand keep weeds down, anyway!

• Keep that dead or dying tree right where it is(unless, of course, it’s truly a hazard to you)so we can feast on the insects in the rottingwood or make winter roosts or dens in itscavities.

• Give yourself and your mower a rest for atleast a portion of your lawn so we’ve got apatch of taller grass to hide and forage in.

• Save a little of that wild blackberry thicket for us — itmakes great winter cover and we don’t need much!

• Pile up any brush or rocks you clear around your place togive us another option for nests, dens, and shelter.

• Take it easy on yourself and let go of the “perfect” garden image. We wild animals like less tidy,

“fuzzy” places more because there’s usuallymore food and shelter there. Get yourself acomfortable chair, sit back, and congratulateyourself on having made a home for wildlifeand haven of relaxation for yourself!

have strong opinions on this one way oranother, let us know. Either drop a note inthe mail to Newsletter Editor MadonnaLuers, WDFW, 8702 N. Division St.,Spokane, WA 99218, or e-mail atluersmel@dfw.wa.gov.

If you support Crossing Pathselectronically, go ahead and send us youre-mail address now so we can startbuilding a distribution list, if we decide togo that way. (WDFW will not – andcannot – use your e-mail address for anyother purpose.)

8

Tell Your Friends:Personalized Plates Help Wildlife

Washington Department

of Fish and Wildlife

Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program

Westside: 16018 Mill Creek Blvd.,

Mill Creek, Wa. 98012 / 425-775-1311

Eastside: N. 8702 Division St.,

Spokane, Wa. 99218 / 509-456-4082

Personalized PlatesHelp Wildlife

The Washington Department of Fish and

Wildlife will provide equal opportunities to all

potential and existing employees without regard

to race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation,

religion, age, marital status, national origin,

disability, or Vietnam Era Veteran’s status.

The department receives Federal Aid for

fish and wildlife restoration.

The department is subject to Title VI of the

Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits

discrimination on the basis of race, color,

national origin or handicap. If you believe you

have been discriminated against in any

department program, activity, or facility, or if you

want further information about Title VI or Section

504, write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S.

Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240,

or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,

600 Capitol Way N, Olympia WA 98501-1091.

The Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program, along with other non-game functions ofthe Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), is funded by the sale ofWashington state personalized motor vehicle license plates. These distinctive plates— in your choice of unclaimed word(s) up to seven letters — cost an extra $46 forthe first year and an extra $30 for each subsequentyear. You can pick up an application form at anystate licensing or WDFW office, or by contactingthe Department of Licensing at P.O. Box 9042,Olympia, WA 98507, 360-902-3770(telephone menu option #5). BUYONE

Washington

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