Date: 7/2/26 12:17 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] evening grosbeaks in urgent trouble on hwy 20
Hi Ronda,
Yes, that was one suggestion which I think is a good suggestion for DOT.
It was also suggested that possibly some Audubon chapters could apply salt
at a safer location for the birds. I'm unfamiliar with where that would be
but it's another good idea I am exploring with other board members.
Ann
On Thu, Jul 2, 2026 at 12:01 PM David Swinford <dgswinford...> wrote:
> Thanks for providing the DOT contact info. If the carnage is ongoing,
> perhaps nature lovers across the state could flood the DOT zone (email,
> voice message) asking them to post a temporary speed limit reduction
> through the area and perhaps a law enforcement presence. I just did and
> wished I had a photo, too graphic for Facebook to attach to it. Having
> graphic photos would be very helpful. If you have those, send them to DOT
> and your local media. If you don't have those and are nearby, go get
> some. Graphic photos, some years ago, of migrating Antelope slaughtered
> on a Wyoming highway helped lead to over and underpass mitigations.
> https://www.nfwf.org/programs/path-pronghorn/better-path-pronghorn >
>
> On Thu, Jul 2, 2026 at 11:34 AM Ronda Stark via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Ann,
>>
>> I think the idea is to remove the salt from the roadway as that is
>> attracting the Grosbeaks and Finches. That said, multiple messages from
>> Board members is likely to carry more
>> weight than random messages.
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Ronda
>>
>> On Thu, Jul 2, 2026 at 10:52 AM Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you for all the suggestions that have been given.
>>>
>>> I copied this email chain with the issues and potential remedies and
>>> just mailed it to my Skagit Audubon chapter board members, of which I'm
>>> one. The North Cascades is close to our region. I asked them for their
>>> ideas to see if we could do anything. I'm not very familiar with Hwy 20
>>> but if there is a way to apply salt or gravel safely, I would appreciate
>>> any direction on how to go about that or if it even is a safe option. We
>>> are willing to get the salt and try to make it up there this weekend.
>>>
>>> I've also contacted WSDOT and was transferred to communications, where I
>>> had to leave a message.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ann
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jul 2, 2026 at 10:33 AM Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I haven’t seen this in the discussion, but does WADOT already have a
>>>> policy statement?
>>>>
>>>> —Jerry Tangren
>>>>
>>>> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> >>>> ------------------------------
>>>> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on
>>>> behalf of Shelf Life Community Story Project via Tweeters <
>>>> <tweeters...>
>>>> *Sent:* Thursday, 02 July 2026 10:26:15
>>>> *To:* David Swinford <dgswinford...>
>>>> *Cc:* Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...>
>>>> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] evening grosbeaks in urgent trouble on hwy 20
>>>>
>>>> My friend at DNR said to flood the phones at the NW Regional WSDOT
>>>> office. Even if they don’t care about the birds, the people who DO care are
>>>> causing traffic hazards by swerving, braking suddenly, running along the
>>>> shoulder. They’re going to end up with a pile up on HWY 20 if they don’t do
>>>> something. Seems like some robust street cleaners could scrub / rinse the
>>>> salt from that stretch of road any/or THEY could create some temporary
>>>> traffic slowing measures.
>>>>
>>>> (206) 440-4000
>>>> <nwpublicaffairs...>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jill Freidberg
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 2, 2026, at 9:31 AM, David Swinford via Tweeters <
>>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> A quick solution might require some old fashioned conservation
>>>> activism. What if local birding clubs, dedicated to conservation and
>>>> informing the public got a few volunteers together to block the road? Not
>>>> to stop traffic but to establish something of an information checkpoint to
>>>> stop drivers briefly and inform them of the natural phenomenon occurring on
>>>> the road ahead so they are aware and can take appropriate action?
>>>>
>>>> While you have your group of volunteers together, inform the local
>>>> media, DOT and State Patrol and/or local law enforcement and tell them what
>>>> you are going to do and why. If it's in the National Park, tell them too.
>>>> I, in my eternally naive state, believe the agencies would likely support
>>>> it. I visualize flashing lights on an emergency vehicle ahead of the
>>>> checkpoint manned by smiling bird club volunteers, appreciative drivers and
>>>> happy birds, if they experience such things. First responders and the
>>>> relevant agencies would love the feel good press they would get from
>>>> supporting efforts to mitigate wildlife slaughter. More durable
>>>> solutions might also follow.
>>>>
>>>> My quick research found a post on June 23 on a large public Facebook
>>>> group with 167K members titled KOMO #SoNorthwest Photography. It's a
>>>> place for Northwest photographers to share their photography. The post
>>>> featured some beautiful photo's of North Cascades nature but noted the bird
>>>> carnage on SR20. Someone submitted a short video in response to that post
>>>> showing mixed flocks of Evening Grosbeaks and Cassin's Finches picking at
>>>> gravel alongside the road. There was another FB post by Nikita trying to
>>>> raise awareness on Facebook by posting a photo that was apparently too
>>>> graphic for Facebook and was blocked! If a photo of bird slaughter
>>>> was too graphic for Facebook, then maybe some real activism is needed.
>>>>
>>>> .
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jul 1, 2026 at 3:56 PM Scott Downes via Tweeters <
>>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I work for WDFW and regularly work with WSDOT on projects. To get a
>>>> solution together it’s likely this needs to get to their regional biologist
>>>> and to the WDFW district biologist to discuss solutions. Both road salt and
>>>> grit (sand) can be an attractant but also used for road projects for
>>>> safety. I’ll send those contacts to you tomorrow from my work email.
>>>>
>>>> Scott Downes
>>>> <Downess...>
>>>> Yakima Wa
>>>>
>>>> On Jun 30, 2026, at 7:45 PM, via Tweeters <tweeters...>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi Tweeters,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I drove to the north cascades on Saturday for a hike, and I saw an
>>>> absolute horror.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Something absolutely horrible is happening right now on the North
>>>> Cascades highway (SR-20). Definitely hundreds, if not thousands of little
>>>> birds are getting murdered. Right after the highway starts to climb up
>>>> after the Diablo reservoir and reaches the sub-alpine areas until it goes
>>>> back down after the Washington pass, these little birds are attracted to
>>>> the road for some reason. Flocks of birds are sitting on the median line,
>>>> rumble strips and sides. There are many birds and they are just getting
>>>> plowed through by the car drivers. I have never seen something so horrible
>>>> before. There are dead birds on the road every few feet. Literally. I have
>>>> also never seen birds being so attracted to the roadway before either. I
>>>> drove this stretch of the highway at 15mph for an hour and made several
>>>> other drivers mad (their problem!), and I didn’t hit any birds, but it is
>>>> just horrible carnage out there regardless.* *Looking online, I found
>>>> out the birds are called evening grosbeaks and several people think that
>>>> most likely birds are on the road because they are attracted to the road
>>>> salt. If that is true, at least we can do something to save them. Why is
>>>> WSDOT still using road salt? Who can we complain to ban road salt??? This
>>>> is unacceptable.*
>>>>
>>>> *I see many other people reported the same situation online, looks like
>>>> evening grosbeaks are getting killed by thousands since Hwy opened.*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 1. *I have already messaged WSDOT on their social media, but they
>>>> didn’t respond.*
>>>> 2. *Is the guess even correct, and the birds are attracted to the
>>>> salt? If so, why I have not seen this problem in years past.*
>>>> 3. *Most important: what can we do to help the birds?*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Nikita*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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