In Seattle, birds delight residents, the FIFA World Cup trophy has arrived in the city, and women's hockey set an attendance record at a game in New York.
West Seattle birds: Eight portraits of our feathered neighbors
A true parade of birds continues in West Seattle, and locals are happily sharing their photos with the West Seattle Blog newsroom. This gallery is another collection of moments from the lives of the neighborhood's winged residents, captured at different times of day and in various spots.
In Dan Skiske’s sunset photo, a flock of black brant (Brant) rests on the water in the rays of the setting sun. These sea geese, known for their loud cries, are often seen in coastal waters. Earlier that same day Robin Sinner photographed the same birds in daylight, allowing their contrasting plumage to be seen more clearly. Another shot from Robin shows a Barrow’s Goldeneye, a diving duck with a bright white facial patch on males, which is less common than the common goldeneye. Of special interest is Mark Ria’s photo of a leucistic, or “caramel,” crow. Leucism is a genetic trait causing partial loss of pigmentation, which gives the bird’s feathers a pale, creamy, or mottled coloration, unlike the complete lack of pigment in albinism. Such individuals occasionally appear in West Seattle. For comparison, K. Smith shared an image of a crow with the classic black plumage. The same photographer also submitted a photo of an as-yet-unidentified bird that the editors invite readers to help identify. The gallery closes with touching shots of recently fledged Anna’s Hummingbird chicks, taken by Susanna Krom and Jerry Simmons at the West Seattle Nursery. These tiny birds, among the smallest in the world, are just beginning independent life. As noted in the West Seattle Blog piece, the editors are always grateful to residents for these photo submissions, which help document not only birdlife but other important neighborhood events. This collection not only pleases the eye but also serves as a reminder of the rich biodiversity in the urban environment, becoming a kind of chronicle of West Seattle’s nature created by the city’s own residents.
FIFA World Cup trophy arrives in Seattle
Seattle soccer fans received a rare opportunity: the authentic FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in the city so anyone could see the legendary trophy in person ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This tour is part of a large global roadshow organized by Coca-Cola, a long-time partner of FIFA, designed to energize fans for the upcoming major sporting event.
According to KIRO 7 News Seattle, the famed trophy will be on public display at Victory Hall, located inside Hatback Bar & Grille at 1201 1st Ave S. The trophy will remain in the city only a few days before moving on to its next stop. The World Cup kicks off on June 11, and Seattle’s first match is scheduled for June 15, so the trophy’s appearance is an ideal prologue to the soccer festivities. In its statement, FIFA emphasized that this tour gives fans around the world a unique, once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the original and most coveted soccer trophy up close. The upcoming 2026 tournament promises to be the largest in history: it will be hosted across three organizing countries — Canada, Mexico and the United States — and will feature more teams, more matches and, it is expected, more celebrations. As part of this global tour, the World Cup trophy will visit 30 FIFA member associations, making 75 stops over 150 days, demonstrating the unprecedented scale of buildup to the tournament. For context: the original FIFA World Cup trophy that travels to cities is the one awarded to the World Cup winner since 1974. It is made of 18-carat gold and weighs about 6.1 kg, and its value to the sporting community is unmatched by any other prize. Its brief visit to Seattle is not just an exhibit but part of a global marketing and fan engagement campaign meant to unite millions of people across three continents ahead of a historic tournament that promises to become a new milestone in soccer history.
Historic New York win at Madison Square Garden: attendance record and shootout drama
On Saturday, April 5, women’s hockey in the U.S. experienced a truly historic evening. The PWHL New York Sirens’ debut at the legendary Madison Square Garden ended not only with a dramatic 2–1 shootout victory over Seattle, but also with a new attendance record for women's hockey in an American indoor arena. The crowd numbered 18,006, surpassing the previous mark of 17,335 set in February in Seattle. This game was a vivid demonstration of the growing popularity of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and its stars.
The game was extremely tight and low-scoring. The Seattle Torrent opened the scoring in the second period with a five-minute power play goal from Alex Carpenter. But with just over three minutes remaining in regulation, the Sirens managed to tie the game. Young forward Ann Cherkovski, showing remarkable persistence, drove out of the corner and delivered a precision cross-crease pass to Sara Fillier, who only had to tuck the puck into the net. In overtime Cherkovski had an excellent chance to win it, but Seattle goalie Corinne Schroeder, who finished with 37 saves, stopped her dangerous breakaway. The match was decided in a shootout. Sara Fillier and defenseman Maja Nylén Persson scored on Schroeder, while New York goalie Kail Osborne stopped four of five shots, letting in only Carpenter’s attempt. The win was Osborne’s first career victory in a shootout-decided game.
For context, the PWHL is the leading professional women’s hockey league in North America, founded in 2023. Terms like “shootout” (a postgame series of penalty shots to determine a winner) and “five-minute major” (a long penalty for a severe infraction) are standard hockey terminology. The key insight of the evening is not only the sporting result but the symbolic breakthrough. As Seattle captain Hilary Knight noted in her report on the league’s official site, she wasn’t surprised by the sellout at Madison Square Garden, seeing it as a fitting tribute to the high level of play and fan devotion. Her remarks underscore that women’s hockey has reached a new level of recognition.
This victory has significant standings implications for New York. The team earned points in their second straight game and, with five games remaining, cut the gap to fourth- and fifth-place Toronto and Ottawa to three and two points respectively. The battle for the final playoff spot for the Walter Cup is heating up. For Seattle, now in eighth place, playoff chances are becoming increasingly slim. Individual accomplishments also stand out: Sara Fillier, scoring in her seventh straight game, is in superb form, and Alex Carpenter joined the elite group of players with 60 career points in the PWHL. The night at Madison Square Garden was more than just a game day. It sent a powerful signal about the viability and bright future of professional women’s hockey, where every game can write a new page of history.
