Update On Eagles At Talaris
This is the latest Uni on Bay Watch blog post by longtime local photographer and observer Larry Hubbell .
Robes are eagles
The Talaris property at 4000 NE 41st Street in Seattle, Washington has been home to a pair of bald eagles for more than a decade. I started calling them Talia and Russ because those names sound like Talaris when pronounced in that order.
The sign below informs passers-by off NE 41st Street that the property will soon be divided up and built on.
The image below shows the plan as it appears on the board. He expressly points out that the plan can change. So far, however, I haven't found anything that suggests a change of plan. (Note: This is a short post due to time constraints, as shown below.)
The Bald Man's Cabin is on the southwest portion of the property -- about halfway between houses #31 and #30 (the cabin is specifically on the cottonwood tree just above the last "n" in the word " representation" on the Photo.)
This photo is from a preliminary forester report dated June 16, 2022.
The second page of the report lists 226 trees to be removed, representing 52% of the 436 trees on the property. (The removal of this large number of trees goes against the interests and needs of our citizens. Click here for proof.)
The red circles in the photo above indicate damaged or dead trees, while the blue circles indicate trees in poor condition. The placement of houses behind low quality trees (in earlier works) was not noticed accidentally.
Although, as you can see, an inferior tree from a human point of view can be a very high quality tree from a nature point of view. Today I'm focusing on the cottonwood trees on the left where a bald eagle is circling the nest.
Poplar branches break easily, even when the tree is alive. In fact, all but one of the several dozen branches bald eagles have seen gathering for their nests are poplar branches.
Typically, eagles focus on breaking small live branches near the tree canopy. I don't think it's just a question of availability as I've seen bald eagles clipping cottonwood branches near their nest. I believe their main motivation is the ease of breaking branches.
Likewise, most of the bald eagle nests I've seen in western Washington are made of cottonwood. Trees climb branches near the third end of the trunk, forming convenient nests. However, this contributes to the trees being heavier than many other tall native trees.
It should be noted that poplars (including poplars) are among the four most popular caterpillar-bearing tree species in our area. ( Click here to learn more about their value.) This makes poplars a showcase species. In other words, arboreal caterpillars may be the most important early food source for most urban and breeding birds.
To update
After writing this article, I remember hearing about bees using quilts. My search led me to this interesting site about bees and their benefits to humans .
Nature is wonderful!
Finally, dead poplars are very attractive as potential nests. If a woodpecker, such as a northern woodpecker, for example, builds its nest in a cottonwood tree the following year, many different creatures can reuse the nest (though not simultaneously). Squirrels and wood ducks are good examples. I've even seen a woodpecker discover an ancient northern flicker nest in a coconut grove.
I agree that cottonwoods are not the best trees to have indoors. As I've seen in the Foster area, when a cottonwood tree dies, especially when infested with beavers, the entire tree can fall over within a few years. The tree trunks on the other bank are mostly dead poplars.
With that in mind, I propose that the new houses be placed on the grounds of Talaris, except for the southwest corner - where the poplar grove and bald eagle's nest are located. It is best for Bald Eagles, North Terns, many small birds and caterpillars, all birds that nest in the area. (This last logic is also very important for the preservation of Quercus, Prunus, and Betula trees as they hold caterpillars well.) This would also be a very safe approach for future residents of the property. Not to mention that there are great benefits in terms of reaching out to nature. The current approach seems unaware or unconcerned about these possibilities.
In the publicly available information about the project that I found, there is no mention of saving any part of the cotton. Also, he seems most concerned about the dangers associated with the plight of bald eagles.
Bald eagles nest on NE 41st St. And so they can't have a problem moving over 120 feet. In particular in the environmental report of 09.08.2018 in Appendix C - "Recommendations for the management of eagle nests".
“Ultimately, the bald eagle cannot affect project activities outside the 120-foot buffer as long as the landscape buffers (trees) and wetlands in that area are preserved. However, to meet City of Seattle requirements and protect the applicant, an Eagle Event Take Permit must be obtained.
In fact, the said license provides that no one is affected or responsible if breeding bald eagles is disturbed. In my opinion, this is not a logical approach. Living in harmony with nature is a responsibility we all share, whether we're developers in Seattle, neighbors, or residents far away.
As a citizen of Seattle, I believe my (and our) only option is to make my choice. An online link for public comments on this project is accepted at:
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