This past week has been non-eventful, mostly. I did prune grape vines on Thursday from 1 to 4:00. Friday I went to lunch at CWU. This is part of the Ruth Harrington series. Ruth is somewhat restricted in movement after a fall last year. She is only going to a few of these lunches and, more importantly, she – nor anyone – is recruiting new participants. Six folks came to this one. A retired secretary came and brought her mother. I’m and outlier too. That means only three at this lunch – several were not expected, are still officially CWU employees.
I’ve begun calling this the “aging out” phenomenon. The local Audubon chapter is composed of the group that started it 20+ years ago. Several of those have died or no longer attended because of age/health reasons. I’m not a dues paying member and only go if there is speaker with a topic that interests me.
A significant organization of many years ago – The National Grange – has nearly disappeared. When Nancy and I arrived on the Naneum Fan, there was a functioning Grange about 5 miles away. We were invited for an ice cream & strawberry thing and got to watch someone’s grandson tie a horse halter from a rope. Shortly after, the group quit functioning and the building has not been used for 25 years. Farther away, a retiring couple moved to Cle Elum and resuscitated the Grange at Teanaway. By road, this one is 30 miles away. The woman played an instrument and managed to establish a regular set of play dates and other events. I went once after Nancy died – to a bake sale, then quit. The local paper had an obituary of the man, who died late last year. About 3 years ago, some folks got one of the other Grange buildings cleaned up and began functioning. I talked with a person involved, back then, but didn’t get involved. It, too, is 30 miles away.
Well, with nothing interesting happening, I found this:
Latest news about an amazing bird, a Laysan albatross
(Phoebastria immutabilis)
November 2025: Wisdom has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge! She is the world’s oldest known wild bird, and still breeding. Wisdom is a Laysan albatross, first banded in 1956 at Midway Atoll by the US Geological Survey giving her the approximate age of 75. Because she laid an egg at that time, it is assumed she had to have been at least 5 years of age. Like other Layson albatross, she returns to the same nesting site each year to reunite with her mate, and if able, lay one egg. Last year, the world’s oldest known wild bird laid an egg for the first time in four years. It is estimated she has laid between 50-60 eggs and successfully fledged as many as 30 chicks in her lifetime. Wisdom has had several mates and her present one has also arrived on the island, so we wait to see if another egg is in the ‘hatching’. It is estimated she has flown over 3 million miles during her time at sea. This is a guess. Some have been tracked flying for weeks or even months without landing.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John