Lunds Gulch

Holes made by woodpecker

While on our field trip into Lunds Gulch at Meadowdale beach park, we learned about the importance of birds. Birds are a key element in nearly all ecosystems because of their importance in plant reproduction. Birds do this by filling the roles of pollinator and seed distributer. As with other animal families, birds help maintain population levels of their pray and distribute nutrients through the environment. Birds can also be keystone species. For example, woodpeckers create cavities that are later used by other species as nests.

I was interested to learn that crows can communicate some complex ideas to each other. Studies showed that crows in one area could recognize a human that had agitated crows in another area, causing them to swarm the agitator. Somehow, the crows were able to spread the word about the human looked like, to other populations. 

A Pacific Wren.

One species that we recognized was the Pacific Wren. This small, mouse-sized bird is solid brown with black barring on its wings, tail, and undersides. The bill is dark brown, the legs pale brown, and It has a short tail that it holds upright. Pacific Wren songs and calls are an elaborate series of high-pitched, varied, and rapid musical trills and chatters.