On one of our first days of training in September, we all watched as a raptor flew to a perch in a tree right outside of our office. It sat there for minute, then flew off just as quickly as it landed. On a short walk this afternoon, a few of us spotted the bird again! Treading lightly this time, we were able to watch it go from perching on a light pole to eating a meal in a nearby tree (it must have caught something earlier). But what was it eating? Rat, pigeon, squirrel, a smaller bird? We scanned the area below the nest and found a few feathers, but many questions remain. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for this park resident in the coming weeks. What birds do you see around your neighborhood?

Victoria Pedrosa spotted this British solider lichen (Cladonia cristatella) while on a hike over the weekend. It is a beautiful photo, amazing organism, and is only the 35th observation of this species in the state of Washington. Thanks for sharing your observations with us and the rest of world, Victoria!

Now for some nerdy nature notes on lichens...

Lichens are the result of a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae. They work together closely in order to produce the lichen. The fungus provides the physical structure, while the algae contributes the nutrients (through photosynthesis). These nutrients are taken up by the fungus in order for the lichen to grow and expand.

The Three Main Structures of Lichens

Foliose: We can think of these as "leafy." They'll often lie mostly flat against their substrate and grow outward from a central point.

Fruticose: These lichens grow in 3D structures, sometimes branching intricately from their substrate, or hanging down from trees.

Crustose: They cling very tightly to their substrate (growing surface), and cannot be picked or peeled off.

Can you correctly label each of these lichens as crustose, fruticose, or foliose?