Support the Montlake Community Club! Please join your neighbors in building our all-volunteer effort to keep Montlake safe and connected.
Give to the MCC in the annual GIVE BIG campaign and share on your social media to encourage your friends to do the same!
Give Big (or small or medium!) to the Montlake Community Club!
Surprise
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210422-AK1I3806-1024x979.jpg)
Nature is full of surprises. Please take a moment and enjoy a few. At:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
On Nesting
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20170727-IMG_0681-768x1024.jpg)
Do you know what bird species built this nest? The answer is in this week’s post on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
On Raptors
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20210330-AK1I7178-1024x683.jpg)
How do hunting styles vary among raptors? More on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Tunnel Vision II
The Montlake Flyer
Family Matters
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Friends and Neighbors,
Many of our common yard birds have somewhat subtle differences depending on their gender or age. Brush up on the differences at:
https://unionbaywatch.blogspot.com/2021/03/family-matters.html
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Sincerely, Larry
A Chickaree Resurgence
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20190501-EB2R7031-1024x685.jpg)
More in this week’s post on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Helping other school communities during COVID
The Montlake community is a generous one! We have rallied to support food banks and our own local school during these extra challenging times. But of course, we are a relatively lucky and affluent community compared to some of our neighbors. One such case is Rainier View Elementary in southeast Seattle.
Rainier View (RV) is about the same size as Montlake Elementary but yet has starkly different demographics. At RV, 70% of students qualify for the Free and Reduced Price Lunch program. In contrast, only 6% of Montlake students qualify. The income eligibility cutoff for this program is $56,459 for a family of eight. Additionally, 7% of students are unhoused, compared to 0% at Montlake.
Rainer View Elementary PTA has been running a GoFundMe fundraiser since the beginning of the pandemic to provide basic vital assistance for 50 school families. Their fundraiser can be found here and this is what their PTA president wrote to the Seattle Public School community via Facebook this week:
Eagles Overhead
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One of the challenges when we see an eagle overhead is trying to understand the who, what, and where is it going. This week’s post tries to take some of the mystery out of our eagle sightings. Find out more on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Winter Waxwings
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/20210211-AK1I1001-683x1024.jpg)
Last week, the Cedar Waxwings were visiting the Arboretum just as the storm moved in. I was lucky to see how they dealt with the snow and cold.
I hope you enjoy the photos on:
Union Bay Watch
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Seeing Spots
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Can we identify individual Red-breasted Sapsuckers? More in this week’s post on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the City and Black Birders are welcomes!
Larry
A Diving Duck
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AK1I5474-1024x683.jpg)
Without a diving board how do ducks dive when sitting in the water? Find out more at:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
L’esprit de ‘escalier
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AK1I2032-1024x681.jpg)
The title of this week’s post looks like a reference to, ‘The Spirit of the Escalator’. Actually, it is bird-related. More at:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Tranquility
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AK1I2929-1024x683.jpg)
Hopefully, a virtual visit with the Trumpeter Swans on Union Bay will increase your feelings of tranquility!
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
It’s beginning to look a lot like MONTLAKE
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We have awesome Montlake hoodies, hats, and T-shirts in a range of colors, designs, and sizes available for the holidays. We also have GAITERS ($5 each) which can keep your neck and warm during the chilly months ahead.
Make sure to buy one for you and all your favorite elves. Easy pick-up or possible delivery options. Sales of Montlake Gear benefit the all volunteer-led Montlake Community Club. The MCC are the folks who host the Montlake Turkey Trot, sponsor the beautiful winter lights in our business district, publish the Montlake Flyer, and more. Click the link below to shop then contact us at treasurer@Montlake.net or text Matt at (312) 515-5070 to get your gear!
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/image-3.png)
Tot Lot – Montlake
Hello All,
Thank you for your responses to the survey. There were over 150. This spot is very popular! We heard that the Treetop and Explore plans were the most desired. In addition to voting, there were constructive comments. We also met with Arboretum staff and incorporated their ideas.
I have attached the PowerPoint that shows the analysis of the work. One thing that you can’t see is that there another slide, wide enough for two people. Also, note how the playground equipment blends into the trees in the shot from the street.
We heard that you wanted more subdued colors and more natural materials. Unfortunately, we can’t use wood: we have had a lot of trouble with termites and have replaced structures in other parks.
However, we have reduced the amount of plastic and increased metal pieces. This is a little more expensive, so we also changed the artificial grass safety surfacing to engineered wood fiber (wood chips). That also has a more natural feel.
The plan also includes a wider path on the left as you enter. This will help prevent maintenance vehicles from driving on the grass and make for a more comfortable walking and biking space. We will be moving the trash cans so that they aren’t next to the bench and adding a bike rack.
Seattle Parks will build the new play area in the early spring. We are using in-house staff. That allowed us to put more money into construction, but COVID-19 has reduced the number of people working, hence the schedule impact.
A charming comment: “We live across the street and spend a lot of time with our kids there. It is the de facto spot in the neighborhood to meet other kids/families and has been an important community builder, so thanks for giving this time and thought.”
Thanks to everyone and stay safe,
Pam
Feeling Lucky
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I always feel quite lucky to observe nature around Union Bay! I hope you enjoy this week’s post on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Calling all Montlake Friends, Families, Neighbors, Alumni and Community Members- The Montlake Elementary PTA Annual Fund is now! Donate Today!
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mural-with-kids-1024x683.jpg)
WHY YOUR DONATION MATTERS TO MONTLAKE ELEMENTARY:
Due to COVID, our in person fundraising opportunities are limited this year, but the need is greater than ever. We hope you will consider helping the Montlake Elementary PTA’s ongoing viability for
- The art teacher
- The school counselor
- Tutors and aids
- Educational programs
- Scholarships for enrichment activities
- Support for families in need.
The Annual Fund runs until December 16, 2020. All contributions, whether $1.00 or $1,000, mean so much and count towards our goal!
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO DONATE:
1 – Mail your check to: Montlake PTA Annual Fund, 2409 22nd Ave, Seattle WA 98112, or
2 – Go to https://montlakepta.org/
3- Don’t forget employer matching, payi
If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact the PTA at fundraising@montlakepta.org
Thank you for your generosity and for investing in our children and community.
Masters of Multitasking
![](https://montlake.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/AK1I8158-1024x683.jpg)
Have you ever wonder how Bald Eagles can survive when they spend so much time sitting around? More on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry