THE PREHISTORIC ANCESTRY is clearly visible in the above pet hen — Trixie — as she is formally known, or Trix, Boakey or a variety of other affectionate nicknames.
Her egg-laying days are behind her, the initial reason she and three other chicks made their way to my sister’s Uptown Port Townsend backyard, but she’s still absolutely beloved.
The former ruler of the roost is now a house chicken living out her days with her feet clicking and clacking on the wood floors inside the main house, gobbling down dried mealworm treats as her keepers make sure her feed is made into mush — because the softer consistency is easier on her digestion.
Spoiled? Certainly, but when one experiences the losses of other long-term pets in quick succession, protecting the remaining furred, feathered or gilled animals becomes the priority.
Both of us took vacations last week — my sister all the way to Portugal and myself to Port … Townsend — and while house sitting a good portion of Trixie’s care was placed in my hands. A friend handled part of the task, putting her to “bed” for a few nights before I took over things entirely over the weekend.
Trixie stayed in the hen house and in an enclosed space meant to keep out the neighborhood’s enterprising raccoon population — but I succumbed one dark and stormy night and brought her into the house to keep warm. Her chicken charms worked a spell on me, I suppose.
Some bird species really give me the creeps — a turkey vulture nearly making contact with a friend’s car windshield on a trip to hike at Lake Ozette is to blame for a lifelong fear of those harbingers of death — but Trixie is a bird of a different feather.
She was splendid company while reading some Richard Brautigan tales on the back porch, and by the end of the week I was even petting her feathers when I checked her food and water supplies.
She wasn’t much for the petting, but she was quite taken by the contents of the nearby mealworm bag.
And I’ll admit to saying a pretty long goodbye when I let her out of her coop and returned to Port Angeles Monday morning.
The best part? People who travel to Portugal need to get picked up at SeaTac, so I’ve got another couple of opportunities coming up for some continued chicken bonding.
I’ll just make sure to remember those mealworms.
Sport fishing advisory group
Applications and nominations for membership on the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group will be accepted until Nov. 30.
Up to 20 qualified individuals will be chosen to serve on the advisory group for 2020 and 2021. Members provide guidance to the department on issues affecting recreational fisheries for salmon, rockfish and other marine fish species in Puget Sound.
Advisors should have firsthand knowledge of and experience in marine or freshwater recreational fisheries in their respective regions and be able to communicate ideas to fishery managers.
Advisors are an important link between the department and the sportfishing community, and are expected to communicate fishery information and policy decisions to local sportfishing groups in their respective regions.
The advisory group meets three to four times a year, with most meetings scheduled February through April during the annual North of Falcon salmon season-setting process.
Additional meetings may be scheduled during sport fishing seasons to advise the department on in-season fisheries management decisions.
Appointments become effective in January.
It’s a volunteer position as advisors do not receive direct compensation for their work.
Advisers do not receive direct compensation for their work. Applicants and nominees do not have to be affiliated with an organized group and current members of the advisory group may be reappointed.
Applications are open to all and any group or individual can nominate a candidate. Applications and nominations must include the following information:
• Applicant or nominee name, address, telephone number and email address.
• Relevant experience and reasons for wanting and qualifying to serve as a member of the advisory group.
• Applicant or nominee’s effectiveness in communication with sportfishing groups and constituents.
• Name and contact information of applicant, or any individual or organization submitting a nomination.
Applications and nominations may be submitted electronically to David.Stormer@dfw.wa.gov or by mail to WDFW Fish Program, Attn: David Stormer, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia WA, 98504.
Appointees will be notified in late December.
For more information, call Stormer at 360-902-0058.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
