Cormorants at Thornton Creek Park Six

Cormorants Taking up a Post at Thornton Creek Park Six this week.

Cormorant visits Beaver Pond at Park Six
photo credit - Ruth Williams

Just a few blocks away from Northgate is an amazing wildlife habitat. It is Thornton Creek Park #6, located at the intersection of 8th NE and NE 105th.
Beavers have converted this site into an incredibly effective wetland/drainage retention pond. And it has also become a remarkable wildlife refuge. Many species besides beavers utilize the site including, racoons, fish and dozens of birds large and small. Heron, wooducks, merganzers and many others are often sighted. Beyond the wildlife habitat , the beaver ponds provide valuable other
benefits for downstream flood prevention and water quality.

Big Bird Answer!

So, the answer I got from "experts" on my "Big Birds" roosting at Ronald Bog is.......

Cormorants surveying Ronald Bog for fish
photo credit-Janet Way
Double Crested Cormorants!
Family: Phalacrocoracidae Order: Pelecaniformes   
"Double-crested Cormorants, our largest, has an orange bill and thick neck.  While in flight, look for a slight "crook" at the base of the neck. If a perched cormorant is holding it's wings out, it's almost suredly a Double-crested." is the description on the Bird Web site through Seattle Audubon. 

photo credit-Cornell Lab of Ornithology
"All About Birds" copyright - Marie Read
So what is cool about seeing cormorants at Ronald Bog. Maybe they've been hanging out there for a long time, but there has been some question for years about Ronald Bog as fish habitat. But in just a few months, I have personally seen 3 large fish eating birds, visiting Ronald Bog. Great Blue Heron, Osprey and now Cormorants. 

So, I would say that the case is closed. Fish live in Ronald Bog! It's Fish Habitat and it is the headwaters of Thornton Creek! 

Now back to election coverage.