Earth Sanctuary: A Nature Reserve, Meditation Parkland and Sculpture Garden

Craig Johnson, bird photographer extraordinaire, has put together a nice slide show of birds at Earth Sanctuary. 

Note: it features large images, so it may  test your internet connection.  It automatically replays.

Thank you Craig!

Earth Sanctuary Beaver Lodge

The beavers have been building up one of their lodges. This beaver lodge is located to the right of the Wetland Trail, about 100 yards past the Cottonwood Stone Circle.

a) 12 nesting boxes are being monitored. 5 are in use. 2 nesting boxes had Hooded Mergansers in them. 1 nesting box had a Wood Duck. 2 had eggs but no duck.

b) Ducklings on pond as of May 13:Hooded Merganser with 4 ducklings. Mallard with 5.  Hooded Merganser with 10 or 11. Mallard with 5.

c) Birds seen when visited for Whidbey Audubon Bird-a-thon on May 3: Dark-eyed Junco; American Robin; Great Blue Heron; Hooded Merganser; Green-winged Teal;  Yellow-Rump Warbler; Wood Duck; Tree Swallows; Mallard; Violet green Swallows; Osprey; Steller’s Jay; Song Sparrow.  Additional species seen or heard today: Common Yellowthroat; Wilson Warbler; Kingfisher; Ringed Necked Duck. Possibly heard a Virginia Rail.

The frogs are starting to croak at Earth Sanctuary!  (Recorded on my iPhone!)

Chuck Pettis and new Beaver Xing Sign

The beavers have started crossing Newman Road by Earth Sanctuary.  A neighbor called and asked me to put up a “Beaver Xing” sign.  Voila!

Hooded Merganser and Chicks

On Thursday, July 23, at 8:58am PDT, with an Earth Sanctuary dawn bird chorus in the background, you can hear my BirdNote radio interview on KPLU 88.5 FM.  See www.birdnote.org for more info.

Craig & Joy Johnson monitored a Rufous Hummingbird nest at Earth Sanctuary for 34 days and created a slide show from the building of the nest to eggs to fledged hummingbirds!  Click here to see the slide show.

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.