This slide show takes you through the development of these amazing, tiny birds.  Arleen Stebbins first saw this nest while conducting her Wood Duck survey at Earth Sanctuary.  Many, many birds nest at Earth Sanctuary. 

Photos and slide show by Craig Johnson

Rufous Hummingbird

Above is a female Rufous Humminbird on her nest.  Under her are two hatched chicks.

Two Hummingbird chicks at Earth Sanctuary.

12 days later here are the two chicks!

Here is a web cam of a Black-chinned Hummingbird

Here is a web cam of an Allen’s Hummingbird.

Western Tanager at Earth Sanctuary (Craig Johnson)

Craig and Joy Johnson, Whidbey Island bird experts and authors of Our Puget Sound Birds & Habitat, provided this list of birds they have seen in the past two weeks:

1. Black-throated Gray Warbler
2. Western Tanager
3. Black-headed Grosbeak
4. Yellow Warbler
5. Wilson’s Warbler
6. Pacific Slope Flycatcher
7. Red-breasted Sapsucker
8. Swainson’s Thrush
9. Cinnamon Teal
10. Green-winged Teal
11. Cedar Waxwings
12. Wood Ducks with chicks
13. Hooded Merganser with chicks
14. Rufous Hummingbird
15. Brown Creeper
16. Golden-crowned Kinglet
17. Osprey
18. Tree Swallow
19. Barn Swallow
20. Violet-green Swallow
21. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
22. Northern Flicker
23. Red-winged Blackbird
24. Song Sparrow feeding young
25. American Robin feeding young

Visit their beautiful web site!

Arlene Stebbins discovered a hummingbird nest near the West pond.  Rufus hummingbirds incubate eggs for 15-17 days.  The babies are born naked and they are fed–and grow– for 15-19 days before leaving the nest. 

Arlene Stebbins of Audubon is monitoring duck nesting boxes at Earth Sanctuary weekly.  We have wood ducks and hooded mergansers nesting in the boxes so far.

On the ponds we can see mallards with baby ducklings and hooded mergansers with baby ducklings.  There are also a number of wood ducks and cinnamon teals mating.

Arlene reports, “I noticed a pair of wood ducks near the pull out at the Fen pond.  I turned around and watched.  The male was courting the female.  A bit later the female flew into the duck box attached to the tree stump in the middle of the water.  She only stayed a few seconds before leaving.”

Click here to see videos of nesting boxes in use!

Spring has arrived at Earth Sanctuary (www.earthsanctuary.org)!  The flowers are blooming.  The birds are breeding and the beavers are definitely busy! 

The last volunteer day was a wonderful success.  Great people and camaraderie.

If you are interested, we will have another volunteer day on Saturday, May 16.  Here’s what we need help on:

• Fence Western Red Cedars (beaver protection!)
• Transfer some maple trees into a shaded and fenced area
• Help stack and store unused fencing and poles
• Possible weeding and watering
• Remove drip watering in Sequoia/Western Red Cedar grove by shed
• Cut invasive English Holly and paint stump with Roundup
• Put mulch on some very wet areas of the path
• Other??

We will meet at 9:00 am on Saturday, May 16 by the shed on the East side of Earth Sanctuary.  Coming from the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry, turn right at Newman road and go about 3/10’s of a mile.  The East entrance (a small driveway) is about 100 yards on the right past Emil Road and the Earth Sanctuary Retreat House.  Link to approximate location of driveway into shed: http://tinyurl.com/cqxnrz   

People who put in 5 hours of volunteer time will get an Annual Pass to Earth Sanctuary, enabling them to visit Earth Sanctuary free for the next year.  I will also provide sandwiches and water/soft drinks for lunch.  And, for those interested, I will give a tour of Earth Sanctuary in the mid to late afternoon.

Please RSVP to Chuck Pettis at cpettis@earthsanctuary.org

Questions? Email or call me!  Thank you very much!

Chuck Pettis
Earth Sanctuary
cpettis@earthsanctuary.org
www.earthsanctuary.org
360-331-6667