Anna’s Hummingbird | Shravan Sundaram | Audubon Photography Awards

This article was originally published in our Spring 2026 Issue of EarthCare Northwest, Birds Connect Seattle’s quarterly member newsletter. Read the full issue and become a member today. 

by Ariel Shiley

It’s easy to miss a hummingbird nest tucked into a tree branch, and even easier to overlook the spider silk holding it all together. About the size of a walnut, a hummingbird nest is a compact cup carefully built from plant fibers, lichen, moss, twigs, and bits of leaves. What truly binds these materials into a sturdy, flexible home is spider silk. 

Female hummingbirds are solely in charge of nest construction. They deliberately collect spiderwebs, weaving the sticky strands throughout their nests like a natural glue. Using their beaks and breasts, they gather spider silk and stretch it around both the nest and the supporting branch as an anchor. Spider silk is an ideal building material, as it is lightweight, incredibly strong, and elastic. This stretchiness is especially important because hummingbird nests aren’t static structures. As eggs hatch and chicks grow, the nest must expand without falling apart. Spider silk allows the nest to stretch gradually, accommodating growing chicks while maintaining its shape and grip on the branch. 

Anna’s Hummingbird nest stretching as chicks grow.
Shravan Sundaram | Audubon Photography Awards

Beyond its flexibility, spider silk is one of the toughest materials found in nature. Pound for pound, spider silk is considered 5-times stronger than the strength of steel. Its fibers can bend and stretch extensively without snapping, which helps hummingbird nests withstand the wind, rain of the Pacific Northwest, and the constant movement of active chick. This durability ensures the nest remains secure throughout the nesting season (February – April), despite being exposed to the elements. 

Humans have long recognized the remarkable properties of spider silk as well. In ancient times, spider webs were used as bandages to help stop bleeding. Today, scientists study spider silk for applications ranging from medical sutures to biodegradable materials. Hummingbirds, however, figured out its usefulness long before modern research caught up. 

By using spider silk, hummingbirds demonstrate a remarkable understanding of their environment, selecting materials that perfectly suit their needs. Their nests, while delicate, are also engineering marvels. The next time you spot a hummingbird darting through the trees, take a closer look nearby. You may just find a camouflaged, silk-bound nest, holding the next generation of Anna’s or Rufous Hummingbirds. 

References and Additional Resources

• Birds and Blooms: Everything You Need to Know About Hummingbird Nests
• Branković, M., Zivic, F., Grujovic, N., Stojadinovic, I., Milenkovic, S., & Kotorcevic, N. (2024). Review of Spider Silk Applications in Biomedical and Tissue Engineering. Biomimetics, 9(3), 169. 
• Goel, A. Surgical Sutures—A Review. Off. Sci. J. Delhi Ophthalmol. Soc. 2015, 26, 159–162.
• Science: Spider Silk is Five Times Stronger than Steel
• Treehugger: How Hummingbirds Use Spider Silk to Build Better Nests
• Xu, G.; Toh, G.W.; Du, N.; Liu, X.Y. Spider Silk: The Toughest Natural Polymer. In Natural Polymers. 1: Composites; RSC Green Chemistry; RSC Publishing: Cambridge, UK, 2012; ISBN 978-1-84973-402-8.

Birders with binoculars | Anthony Floyd

If you’ve ever gone on a bird walk and heard someone casually say, “Did you see the eye ring?” while you were still trying to spot the bird, you’re not alone. For many people, binoculars are the key that unlocks the joy and subtly of birding—but choosing your first pair can feel surprisingly complicated.

This guide breaks down the basics of birding binoculars so you can shop with confidence and focus on what really matters: getting outside and enjoying birds.

All About the Numbers

Most binoculars are labeled with two numbers, such as 8×42 or 10×42. Here’s what they tell you:

• • The first number (8x or 10x) is the magnification.
    An 8x binocular makes the bird appear eight times closer than with the naked eye.

  • The second number (42) is the diameter of the front lenses (in millimeters).
    Larger lenses let in more light, which means a brighter image—especially helpful in shady forests or on cloudy days.

Weight Matters More Than You Think

Binoculars don’t feel heavy when you first pick them up—but after an hour on a trail or bird walk, weight makes a big difference. Investing in a lighter weight binocular might be worth it if you tend to go on longer outings, or if you are prone to arm or neck fatigue. 

While there are some adjustments you can make if you have a heavier pair (like using a binocular harness rather than a neck strap), if binoculars are uncomfortable, you’re less likely to bring them along. The best binoculars for you are the ones you actually use.

Close Focus: Seeing the Little Things

Close focus is the nearest distance your binoculars can focus clearly. This feature is most helpful if you watch birds at a feeder or in close proximity. Many people are surprised by how often they often use this feature and the many applications. It can be particularly helpful for observing insects and flowers in addition to birds. 

Fit and Comfort: A Personal Choice

No two people are exactly the same—and binoculars should fit you. As you trial a few makes and models pay close attention to how they grip and feel in your hands, how easily you can turn the focus wheel, how the eyecups fit your face (with and without glasses). Trying binoculars in person can make all the difference, especially for a first-time buyer. 

Get Advice You Can Trust

Choosing binoculars is part science, part personal preference. Talking with knowledgeable staff, like those at Birds Connect Seattle, trying different models, and asking questions can save you time, money, and frustration.

Considering Purchasing Binoculars?

Birds Connect Seattle offers the area’s largest selection of binoculars—from beginner-friendly to expert-level models—featuring trusted brands like Swarovski, Zeiss, Kowa, and Nikon, with options at a range of price points. Unlike shopping online, when you visit Birds Connect Seattle you can compare multiple models side-by-side and get a feel for your own preferences. You’ll get personalized guidance from knowledgeable staff, receive help with repairs, and support a local nonprofit dedicated to bird conservation. 

Contact our staff at shop@birdsconnectsea.org to set up an optics demonstration appointment to test some out. 

American Wigeon | Eric Ashman | Audubon Photography Awards 

by Wren Wagenbach, NextGen Councilmember

American Wigeon – Mareca americana

Large flocks of Wigeons have descended on Seattle lakes and coastal areas for the winter! American Wigeons spend the summer on the inland marshes of the midwest and Canadian prairies, but opt for lakes and coastal estuaries during the colder months. These ducks are versatile foragers, they can be found in flocks on land or dabbling in the water, and often steal food from other ducks when they come to the surface. While they’re spending time here the birds will begin to pair off, with most older individuals finding their mate before spring migration (so, keep an eye out for breeding displays)! 

Males are quite distinctive with their prominent, white foreheads, green ear patches, blue bill, and pinkish brown chest and sides. Females are more drab in comparison, but also have a distinct forehead bulge, grey head, and pinkish body. 

When you consider their baby blue bills, adorable name, and winsome face I think it’s safe to say that Wigeons are the world’s cutest duck. They even sound sweet. The males are calling right now, so if you’re near water make sure to keep an ear out for “whee-whee-whee-whew” that sounds like it’s coming from a kid’s rubber ducky. 

Here’s a visual description of what they sound like:

Recording of a male Wigeon wistle by Mike Anderson (2006) via ebird.

American Wigeons are some of the most vocal dabbling ducks, the male’s three-part whistling call also sounds sort of like a high pitched, nasally kazoo. Females don’t whistle in the same way but may be making harsh grunts or growls during courtship. 

Recording of female Wigeon growls by Gerrit Vyn (2007) via ebird.

Sonograms, or spectrograms, are visual depictions of sound that help scientists visualize natural noises. Recordings are measured by frequency, or pitch, (Y-axis) over time (X-axis), and read from left to right. These images can reveal complexities within a sound that the human ears are unable to distinguish. Learning bird calls can feel like trying to learn another language, and I find it super helpful to try to visualize the shapes that the sounds make – especially when there is not a clear phonetic spelling or saying to transcribe the song into. 

I hope you enjoy getting out in the rain with dabbling ducks this winter, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for the ever charming American Wigeon. Happy birding!

Mature trees on a private lot in Seattle

Birds Connect Seattle was named as a stakeholder in an Executive Order from Mayor Harrell calling for more incentives to preserve trees on private property. That Mayor Harrell prioritized this issue during his reelection campain shows that urban forestry is becoming a voting issue in Seattle.

Elevating tree protection onto the political agenda has taken years of sustained advocacy by many individuals and organizations. We’re encouraged by this progress as we continue working to protect mature trees, expand our urban forest, and ensure that the benefits of tree canopy are distributed equitably across the city.

Why this matters now

Seattle is aiming to grow its tree canopy cover to 30% by 2037, but the most recent tree canopy cover assessment shows we’re backsliding: Seattle’s tree canopy cover was 28.1 % in 2021, down from 28.6 % in 2016.

The assessment also revealed a troubling equity gap: communities of color and communities with lower incomes not only had less tree cover to begin with, they also lost more tree canopy over that period.

While this new executive order is a step in the right direction, we’ll need much more to reverse tree canopy loss and address the worsening canopy equity conditions, especially in the face of accelerating climate change.

What we’re celebrating and what we’re committing to

With this executive order in place, we are celebrating:

• A clearer signal from the city government that trees on private property are just as valuable as those in parks or other public lands.

• A reinforcement of our shared commitment to protect mature trees and grow the canopy in neighborhoods that have been historically underserved.

• The result of years of your support: advocacy, planting projects, community outreach, policy work. Without you, our community of advocates and members, outcomes like this would not be possible.

But we also know this is not the finish line. We’re committing to:

• Working with the city and Mayor-elect Wilson to develop new policies for property owners, developers, and public agencies to improve tree preservation on private land.

• Drawing on our firsthand experience to help develop recommendations for a new city-supported urban tree conservation easement program.

• Emphasizing the need for increased tree-planting and protection in communities where canopy cover is lowest to address widening tree canopy disparities.

• Supporting policy and regulatory tools that align growth and housing needs with tree canopy preservation—so that our city can grow and remain green and resilient.

Red-winged Blackbird | Donald Quintana | Audubon Photography Awards 

We all have a role to play in safeguarding birds for future generations. Here are ten ways we can all help save birds. 

Snow Goose | Steve Russell | Audubon Photography Awards 

by Molly Hetherwick, NextGen Councilmember

Fall kicks off hundreds of North American bird species’ long migration to wintering grounds in the southern U.S., Central and South America. While the birds travel, they aren’t concerned about breeding, so all that showy plumage they worked so hard to grow in spring and summer has been shed in favor of, for many, a sensible beige. Unfortunately for us, that means when dozens of cool birds and rare species pass through the Puget Sound area this fall, we’ll have to work a little harder to figure out who they are. But not to worry! Here’s one cool bird for every month this fall that you can identify without an honorary doctorate in ornithology.

Northern Harrier | Warren Hatch | Audubon Photography Awards

October: Northern Harrier

Harriers are a fun species to keep an eye out for because they have distinct field marks and their behavior is unique among raptors for several reasons.

To see a Northern Harrier, try visiting a field with lots of tall grass and interspersed shrubs. Keep an eye out for a medium-sized raptor with a long, banded tail and a very obvious white patch on its rump (the lower back-upper tail area, or tramp stamp real estate). For many raptors, both sexes have the same plumage, but can be distinguished by size; however, harriers are unique in that regard. The males are a ghostly silver, the females are a tawny brown with a streaky chest, and the juveniles (pictured) are a charming pumpkin color.

Behavior is another strong indicator for Harriers. For one, they nest on the ground in big fields, which means they’re often seen standing or running around in the dirt. For another, when flying, they hold their wings in a distinctive “V” shape, similar to Turkey Vultures. They also like to fly low and stare at the ground while moving, which I thought we all learned not to do when we took our driver’s test, but I guess it helps them use their facial disc to hear mice and other prey or something. Whatever you say, Harriers… just don’t let me catch you scrolling behind the wheel.

For more help with raptor identification, check out this video from Badgerland Birding: Hawk Identification Made Easy!

Sandhill Crane | Patrick Dennen | Audubon Photography Awards

November: Sandhill Crane

I hope this one needs no introduction. You know her, you love her, she’s a diva and a track star, she’s teaming up with Sabrina Carpenter for an album called Tall n’ Salty, just kidding but can you imagine, it’s the Sandhill Crane. [applause]

These iconic birds stand four feet tall and travel in the thousands through the wetlands of Washington and much of the central U.S. Hearing their trumpeting calls as a flock approaches is an insane experience that I cannot recommend enough. They’re pretty hard to miss, but if you really need some help, just check to see if it’s huge, grey and has a red forehead. If you see something huge and grey and it does NOT have a red forehead, you’re looking at a Great Blue Heron. Or perhaps an electrical box. Go get ‘em tiger, I believe in you.

There’s a very convenient tool called Sandhill Crane Finder that collates eBird sightings of the species and marks important bird areas that they’re known to be at. In short: Skagit Bay.

Surf Scoter | Matthew Reitinger | Audubon Photography Awards

December: Surf Scoter

Winter is weird duck season, and surf scoters don’t mess around. They also stand out because of their unconventional breeding strategy: Surf Scoters are “molt migrants,” meaning they nest in the tundra and then travel to slightly warmer climes to molt all their flight feathers before officially heading south to their timeshares in San Diego and Baja. For a weird couple weeks when they stop in the Puget Sound, they’re flightless—but the Sound provides protection from predators.

To see this bird, you’ll have to find some saltwater viewing spots, such as the Discovery Point Lighthouse or the Seattle Waterfront. They like to hang out in small groups, bobbing around and diving for fish. Males of this duck species have a very strange-looking orange bill that is thought to help them filter out salt from all the water that gets up their nose; females are brownish and have the same model bill, but in all black.

 This is another one I trust you can find just fine on your own, but if you’re curious about Scoters and other species of waterfowl, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has an interesting map tool with data from aerial seabird surveys from all over Western WA. 

Image courtesy of Seattle Parks Foundation

We are proud to partner with Seattle Parks Foundation, Cascade Bicycle Club, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, and Transportation Choices Coalition to present a Climate Forum at the Bitter Lake Community Center on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. This event will feature a moderated conversation between Seattle Mayoral and King County Executive Candidates, with questions pertaining to some of the most important issues that impact our climate including equity of access to parks and public spaces, tree canopy, climate readiness, transportation, and more. This event will be live-streamed. Learn more and register, we hope to see you there.