Backyard Babies by Russell Sparkman

What kinds of backyard wildlife experiences do you cherish?

I particularly enjoy seeing wildlife in the backyard which I have not seen there before. One of the most exciting things witnessed in 2004 was the visit by two Bobwhite quail. It is very rare to see quail anywhere in the Puget Sound. I also thoroughly enjoy watching the squirrels chase each other in the springtime.

thanks

Ray Brown

Ray Brown,  Seattle, WA | 12/25/2004

I enjoyed Russell's piece. It put me in mind of a similar experience we had this past spring with an Oregon junco nest in a hanging potted fuchsia on our back deck. (And boy did the mature birds ever freak out, flitting from tree to tree and scolding up a storm, when we went snooping around in there!) The chicks -- four of them -- were wide-mouthed and very vocal! One of my favorite things to do is sit on our deck and watch the wildlife in the backyard and the woods beyond: besides the juncos, there are squirrels, rabbits, pileated woodpeckers, bald eagles and, one night late, a coyote.

Brian Ames,  O'Fallon, MO | 09/15/2002