High above the Seattle streets a peregrine falcon family thrived. This is Birds Nest 2. It’s located at 1201 3rd Avenue. For years this nest was a spectacle. Peregrine falcons once faced extinction. DDT and other toxins decimated their numbers. Washington State had only one known pair in 1976. But things changed. In 1994 a pair settled on the then Washington Mutual Tower. They were named Stewart and Virginia. They became a media sensation. Sadly Virginia died after hitting a window. One chick died too. Stewart single-handedly raised the others. A new female Bell arrived. She and Stewart nested successfully. Bell fledged 26 young some nesting in Seattle. Ruth Taylor a key figure in the Seattle Peregrine Project discovered Bell’s death in 2005. The project monitors nests counts fledglings and bands chicks. The Birds Nest 2 story is one of resilience. It shows the remarkable recovery of a species. It highlights the power of human intervention. The support from Wright Runstad & Company ensured the birds’ survival. They installed a nestbox and a FalconCam. This allowed researchers to track the falcons. By 2018 84 eggs were laid 66 hatched. Fifty-six young were banded. Nine died near the nestbox. Fifty-seven fledged. Eleven died within two months. Six offspring later bred elsewhere. The Seattle Peregrine Project’s work continues. Birds Nest 2 stands as a testament to their efforts. It’s a symbol of hope and conservation. It’s a thrilling tale of survival right here in the heart of Seattle. Remember Birds Nest 2.
Queen Anne Boulevard
“A scenic loop,” they called it. Queen Anne Boulevard gracefully winds around the crest of Queen Anne Hill. It offers