AR-News: Carnation breaks tradition and moves July 4th fireworks to protect ospreys

[jim robertson]

Carnation moves July 4th fireworks to protect ospreys

By Katherine Sather
Seattle Times Eastside bureau

Carnation will break an annual tradition this Fourth of July to protect a 
nest of young ospreys.
The city changed the location of its annual fireworks show at the Tolt 
Middle School athletic fields after grounds keepers discovered ospreys 
nesting on a light pole. The show will be moved to Tolt MacDonald Park in 
southwest Carnation, about half a mile away.

John Mark, maintenance supervisor of the Riverview School District, spotted 
the nest last month and contacted the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. 
Biologists recommended the city find a new location for the fireworks 
because the noise and activity would disrupt the two adult birds, whose eggs 
could hatch around July 4.

"They didn't want the birds abandoning the nest at a critical time," said 
Selim Uzuner, head custodian at Tolt Middle School, who keeps an eye on the 
birds.

Ospreys are protected by the state and federal government, said Ruth Milner, 
a state biologist. In the wild, they nest on flat-top snags and often build 
homes on man-made structures such as piling or cellphone towers. People are 
allowed to move the nests, but only after the birds have migrated south in 
the fall.

Milner said the fireworks would disturb the ospreys: "The noise and 
obviously the flashes in the dark; the birds would have no ability to get 
used to something like that," she said.

The Great Carnation Fourth of July Celebration is the city's largest event 
of the year, said Jim Dorsey, public-works director. Events start early in 
the morning with a fun run and continue throughout the afternoon, including 
a parade and hot-rod show.

The fireworks show, which always has been held at Tolt Middle School, is the 
highlight of the evening. Families congregate on the athletic fields on 
blankets and lawn chairs.

This year, viewers will watch it from Tolt MacDonald Park, at 31020 N.E. 
40th St., and the fireworks will be lit from city-owned property nearby.

Regardless of the change in venue, some viewers will watch the show from the 
same place they have for years.

"A lot of folks just watch from their back yards," Dorsey said. "Carnation's 
pretty small."

Katherine Sather 206-464-2752 or ksather at seattletimes.com


Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company





It should not be believed that all beings exist for the sake of the 
existence of Man. -- Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon  1135-1204)