Ospreys are also sometimes known as ‘Seahawks‘ due to their ability to hunt fish so well, so this is an appropriate new neighbor to have.

Scott Schaefer managed to take some pics of the large bird, which at one point left its nest and was quickly pursued by crows in a mini-dogfight over the freeway:

According to National Geographic:

Ospreys are superb fishers and indeed eat little else—fish make up some 99 percent of their diet. Because of this appetite, these birds can be found near ponds, rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways around the world. Ospreys hunt by diving to the water’s surface from some 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 meters) up. They have gripping pads on their feet to help them pluck fish from the water with their curved claws and carry them for great distances. In flight, ospreys will orient the fish headfirst to ease wind resistance.

We found it somewhat odd that a creature that makes fish 99% of its diet would be nesting this close to a freeway, but according to Doug Osterman, Green/Duwamish Watershed Coordinator for King County:

“The cell phone tower might incorporate features that are attractive to the ospreys, including that it’s higher than surrounding trees. Doubtful danger to the bird, but to the technology—unsure (sometimes utilities provide nesting opportunities with their tall poles—sometimes required by permitting agencies). Ospreys have pretty big home ranges so it’s not inconceivable that they are fishing from Puget Sound, but the more likely fish sources are the open water wetlands in the vicinity of SR-509 such as the big upper Walker Creek wetland and the wetlands north of the airport in the Miller Creek basin.”

BTB Reader Ed Dacy sent us the following shellphone cellphone pic, which he took last Sunday (Jan 30th) of a dead Seagull that apparently landed on a transformer and knocked out power near Elmer’s Pub, at the intersection of SW 151st and Ambaum Blvd. SW:

“There was a loud pop, then the lights went out at the building in which Elmer’s is located,” Ed said. “City Light showed up in about 30 minutes and said it probably was a crow on the transformer. The bartender told them to look at their feet. They saw the Seagull and said that’s different – it’s a Seagull all right.”

The Seagull’s identity has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin, but there’s a good chance the victim was someone’s Gullfriend, so please be careful what kinds of Comments you leave below.

We’re not sure who cawed this incident in, and City Light would not say whether the bird’s family would be given a Bill for the on-scene crew fees incurred by the outage.

We’re also unsure who disposed of the body, but we are pretty sure that Burien’s new Animal Control did not show up.

No word yet on when or where a memorial service will be held, but expect to see some kind of tribute at Elmer’s Pub.

UPDATE: Some Commenters have identified the bird (thanks!) as a young osprey, which we find very appropriate since they’re also known as “Seahawks.”

Greg said in an email:

I am guessing this big bird is a young eagle.

I was surprised by the white coloring.

Lake Burien is below in the one shot:

The young bird can be seen perched on a branch in the upper left corner of this pic, high above Lake Burien in the lower right.

A closer look reveals distinct white markings...

...and an even closer shot shows elements of...a bald eagle?

What do you get when you mix wildlife habitat advocacy with a fun, FREE, all-day event featuring varieties of entertainment and educational sessions?

You get the Backyard Wildlife Festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary in Tukwila on Saturday, May 8th, from 9am to 3pm at the Tukwila Community Center.

And you also get the very popular Certified Backyard Habitat Garden Tour at 3:00pm.

In honor of its 10th anniversary, the City of Tukwila will also be dedicating its newest park and certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat – Codiga Park!

Brimming with activities, the Backyard Wildlife Festival inspires people to welcome wildlife into their backyards, gardens, and communities. The arts and crafts marketplace, educational talks, kids area, and the garden tour will return to delight attendees. In addition, the Guided Bird Tour with Rainier Audubon Society’s Carol Shulz is back by popular demand.

Here are the details:

WHAT: 10th Annual Backyard Wildlife Festival.

WHEN: Saturday, May 8th from 9am – 3pm.

WHERE: Tukwila Community Center, located at 12424 42nd Ave. South.

SCHEDULE: 2010 Schedule of Events:

• 9:00am: Codiga Park Dedication
• 9:00am – 3:00pm: Festival at the Community Center. Workshops, presentations and events; arts and crafts and nature booths; live music; kids area; arts and crafts station; and food booths!
• 10:00am: Guided Bird Tour with the Rainier Audubon Society.
• 11:30am: Ed Hume – Secrets for Success in Growing Vegetables
• 1:00pm: Linda Chalker-Scott – Miracle or Marketing-Do Garden Remedies Really Work?
• 2:00pm: Seattle Tilth – Composting At Home
• 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Self-guided tour of local gardens certified as Backyard Wildlife Habitats

INFO: Event Hotline: Tukwila Community Center (206) 768-2822.

Also:

An Official Washington State Event – International Migratory Bird Day is also May 8th!

All over the country, IMBD celebrates the return of millions of migratory birds to their North American breeding grounds. As the hallmark annual event, IMBD is turning into Earth Day for birders.

Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with us: www.birdday.org

Thinking of Staying Overnight? Check with the Seattle Southside Visitors Center for more information on area hotels.

Sponsored by:

• City of Tukwila
• National Wildlife Federation
• Puget Sound Energy
• REI
• King Conservation District
• Ed Hume Seeds

Backyard Wildlife Festival Advisory Committee:

• Tracy Gallaway, Shannon Fisher and Karla Lindula, City of Tukwila
• Pam Linder, Tukwila City Council
• Courtney Sullivan, National Wildlife Federation
• Michelle Roedell, Tukwila Wildlife Habitat Project
• Kristen Ragain, REI
• Paul Borne – King Conservation District
• Rebecca Fox, City of Tukwila

For more information, check out the Backyard Wildllfe Festival website here.

On a drizzly Thursday morning (Jan. 14th), officials from Sea-Tac Airport demonstrated some brand new toys – a new, advanced bird tracking system with real-time displays of bird activity on and around the airport – and Photographer Francis Zera got lucky and was invited onto the actual runway.

In partnership with University of Illinois researchers and the Federal Aviation Administration, Sea-Tac is the first airport in the country to begin the use of this technology, which will allow wildlife management staff to access live data as they patrol the airfield to minimize bird hazards.

Sea-Tac Airport has been the demonstration site for avian radar research since 2007, and in fact currently has three avian radars installed, two on the top of the airport’s office building and one in the middle of the airfield between two runways (see photos below for details).

“Sea-Tac is a leader in the evaluation of this technology,” said Dr. Edwin Herricks, the leader of the University of Illinois research program, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. “I don’t know where this program would be without the input and real-life evaluation efforts by the staff and support from the Port of Seattle.”

Through the FAA-designated Center of Excellence for Airport Technology (CEAT) at the University of Illinois, the latest milestone in the research program builds on equipment from Accipiter Radar Inc. that provides geographic displays of bird activity on Google Earthâ„¢ maps.

“This technology will give us situational awareness of the entire airfield day or night – it will be like wearing a huge pair of binoculars,” said Steve Osmek, Sea-Tac Airport’s wildlife biologist. “Rather than depending only on what we can see from our particular location, we’ll be able to know if there are bird issues anywhere around the airfield so we can respond quickly and appropriately.”

Here’s Francis Zera’s Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Francis Zera’s Photo Slideshow

Here’s a reminder from BTB Reader Stephanie Breslin, who sent us the photo above – please refill your bird feeders during winter weather:

This might be a good time to remind people to fill their bird feeders and as is demonstrated here check them to make sure they didn’t ice up over night!

The normal food source for our feathered friends under the ice and snow or frozen on the trees…

The Burien Arts Association (BAA) is holding a decorated birdhouse competition that is open to artists of all ages and abilities.  Individuals and groups are invited to decorate blank birdhouse, or create one from scratch, and submit it to the BAA for judging.

Cash prizes will be awarded according to age, and winners will be announced at the 2008 Strawberry Festival.

Completed birdhouses will be sold to benefit the Burien Arts Association and its community-based arts programming.  Blank birdhouses and entry forms are available at our Burien sponsors: Hayes Feed and Country Store and Wild Birds Unlimited.

Entry forms are also available at the Burien Art Gallery located at 421 SW 146th in Burien, or by calling (206) 244-7808 or e-mailing info@burienarts.org.

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