Some cool stuff in my neighborhood. - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

SeattleUte · 04-05-2007, 08:04 PM

The greenbelt behind my house houses a huge blue heron habitat. There is a big oak tree with 49 nests, last count. In the mornings over coffee I see them rise in a column against the sunrise. In sillhouette they look like taradactyls (sp?). I'm pretty sure artists' impressions of flying reptiles were influenced by heron in flight.

The largest salmon run in the 48 contiguous states comes in sumertime up an estuary visible from my house and three minutes away by foot. There's a viewing area below ground but even better is to see the water boiling with them and their sillhouettes and shadows darting around just below the water surface.

Exotic waterfoul abound, heron, loons, cormorants, malards, wild geese, some I can't name, etc.

Sea lions follow the salmon run and breach sunlit waters and croak and bark in the early morning and evening.

We get eagles in the fir trees in our yard. Crows come and dive bomb them and make a terrible racket.

If I hike across the peninusula from my house (30 min.) there is a three mile stretch of beach and a light house. Low tide is best, with the tide pools and birds. Fortunately, no one can drive there save with a special permit.

All this 17 minutes from downtown Seattle. I can cross a little foot bridge and arrive in the urban hip Ballard neighborhood.

MikeWaters · 04-05-2007, 08:05 PM

I hope you have enjoyed your FMCoug moment.

SeattleUte · 04-05-2007, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I hope you have enjoyed your FMCoug moment.

http://www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/

MikeWaters · 04-05-2007, 08:17 PM

I'm just giving you a hard time. We live a couple of miles away from the largest park in Dallas. It has a big lake, and is bigger than central park. I ride my bike around it.

SeattleUte · 04-05-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I'm just giving you a hard time. We live a couple of miles away from the largest park in Dallas. It has a big lake, and is bigger than central park. I ride my bike around it.

Armadillos? I love armadillos. Wish we had those here.

creekster · 04-05-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Armadillos? I love armadillos. Wish we had those here.

All the Armadillos I have ever seen were very flat and on asphalt.

MikeWaters · 04-05-2007, 08:25 PM

Rats can run straight up wooden walls. They don't need trees.

Armadillos carry leprosy.

creekster · 04-05-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Rats can run straight up wooden walls. They don't need trees.

Armadillos carry leprosy.

True about rats, but roof rats prefer to live in trees or attics or other high and dry places. Regular ship rats like dark, wet and dirty.

SeattleUte · 04-05-2007, 08:36 PM

I began this with a poetic description of natural wonders in my neighborhood, and you guys hijack the thread to discussion of city rats and leprosy. This has to rank among the great thread heists.

creekster · 04-05-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

I began this with a poetic description of natural wonders in my neighborhood, and you guys hijack the thread to discussion of city rats and leprosy. This has to rank among the great thread heists.

How can you complain when you pushed the armadillo envelope yourself?

04-05-2007, 08:04 PM	#1
SeattleUte fairlds.org Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,665	Some cool stuff in my neighborhood. The greenbelt behind my house houses a huge blue heron habitat. There is a big oak tree with 49 nests, last count. In the mornings over coffee I see them rise in a column against the sunrise. In sillhouette they look like taradactyls (sp?). I'm pretty sure artists' impressions of flying reptiles were influenced by heron in flight. The largest salmon run in the 48 contiguous states comes in sumertime up an estuary visible from my house and three minutes away by foot. There's a viewing area below ground but even better is to see the water boiling with them and their sillhouettes and shadows darting around just below the water surface. Exotic waterfoul abound, heron, loons, cormorants, malards, wild geese, some I can't name, etc. Sea lions follow the salmon run and breach sunlit waters and croak and bark in the early morning and evening. We get eagles in the fir trees in our yard. Crows come and dive bomb them and make a terrible racket. If I hike across the peninusula from my house (30 min.) there is a three mile stretch of beach and a light house. Low tide is best, with the tide pools and birds. Fortunately, no one can drive there save with a special permit. All this 17 minutes from downtown Seattle. I can cross a little foot bridge and arrive in the urban hip Ballard neighborhood. __________________ Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster Last edited by SeattleUte; 04-05-2007 at 08:07 PM.

04-05-2007, 08:36 PM	#9
SeattleUte fairlds.org Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 10,665	I began this with a poetic description of natural wonders in my neighborhood, and you guys hijack the thread to discussion of city rats and leprosy. This has to rank among the great thread heists. __________________ Interrupt all you like. We're involved in a complicated story here, and not everything is quite what it seems to be. —Paul Auster

04-05-2007, 08:05 PM	#2
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I hope you have enjoyed your FMCoug moment.

04-05-2007, 08:17 PM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I'm just giving you a hard time. We live a couple of miles away from the largest park in Dallas. It has a big lake, and is bigger than central park. I ride my bike around it.

04-05-2007, 08:25 PM	#7
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Rats can run straight up wooden walls. They don't need trees. Armadillos carry leprosy.