On Sunday, a second young peregrine from our West Seattle site ended up on the ground. Thanks to a commuter who realized that the bird was in a dangerous location, it is now at Sarvey Wildlife Care Center in Arlington. Like its sibling and a youngster from the I-5 site, it wasn’t quite ready to fly, but it’s in good health and should be released when it’s a little older.
By Monday morning, June 11, a third West Seattle youngster had taken its first flight, but this one made it to a nearby roof, a much safer place than the ground. As of today, June 13, the fourth eyas was still on the ledge.
At the Ballard site, only one egg hatched, and the male eyas was on the nest ledge Monday, with both parents perched close by to protect it if necessary. When an adult Red-tailed Hawk drifted into the area, both adults launched into flight, bombarded the larger raptor in screaming fury and quickly drove it from the area.
Also on Monday, at least two young birds were on the nest ledge at the I-5 site, with both watchful adults nearby. One eyas was at PAWS after leaving the ledge prematurely; an observer was not able to confirm that the fourth eyas was still on the ledge, but could not locate it on the ground or in the bushes. It isn’t possible to see the entire ledge from one vantage point, so it may have been tucked away in a corner out of view.
By Ruth Taylor
