The Backyard Science group regularly publishes The Daily Bucket, which features observations of the world around us. Insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds, flowers and anything natural or unusual are worthy additions to the Bucket and its comments. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located (and photos!). Each note is a record that we can refer to as we try to understand the patterns that are unwinding around us.
The
Nisqually Wildlife Refuge is located two hours north of Portland, OR and just over an hour south of Seattle, WA. I live close enough and pass by it on the freeway often enough to take the place for granted. It's a treat when I finally find the time to head out there and go for a stroll.
Join me below the winding, orange path for an overview of the refuge.
(All photos are in lightbox)
The story of the Nisqually Delta and the Wildlife Refuge is rich with the history of the Pacific Northwest--including tribal history and culture, the impact of white settlement and farming, and a not-so-traditional partnership that has led to a successful and ongoing reclamation and habitat restoration effort.
Back in 1904, a farmer and entrepreneur named Brown had dikes built to hold back the water and the force of the tides of Puget Sound from some of the land in the Delta to make it more hospitable to farming. Brown eventually went bust--a few too many ventures--but farming continued in the area for decades.
The Nisqually Wildlife Refuge was established 1974 and managed by U.S Fish and Wildlife. In 2009, the Refuge partnered with the Nisqually Tribe and Ducks Unlimited, and with funding from Washington's state Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and National Fish and Wildlife, undertook the largest estuary and tidal marsh restoration project in the Pacific Northwest. The Brown Farm dikes were removed, and the tidal waters were rejoined to over 700 acres of land.
A trail that used to circle the Refuge, with the top of the main dike serving as one leg of the trail, has been replaced by boardwalk just beyond the Twin Barns, which were built by farmers who took over Brown's holdings when he went bankrupt. As far as I know the barns have been closed since the Nisqually Earthquake in 2001. They were formally used as education centers and for storage (looks like there's still a lot of junk in them, actually):
Photo by Joe Mabel on Wikimedia Commons
Here's a view out over what's left of the Brown Farm footprint to Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. On the left, behind the tree, you can just barely see a little blue building. That's Nisqually Reach Nature Center and the Luhr Beach boat launch, managed by the WA State Dept of Natural Resources. The DNR holdings add more protected, but multi-use, land and water to the Delta. My daughter attended summer camps at the Reach when she was 9 and 10 years-old. I think the camps helped spark her interest in marine science (getting to play on the beach and observe life in saltwater tanks while you're learning can do that to a kid):
Some ducks in the marshes on the path to the boardwalk:
You can see the boardwalk way back there against the trees:
A closer look at the boardwalk, including the hide for nature watchers. The boardwalk makes a great platform for viewing down into the water and out and beyond. The last 700 feet of the boardwalk--closer to the Reach--is closed from October to January during waterfowl hunting season:
The Refuge is a well-known gathering place for birders. On this particular walk, I was there pretty early in the morning and didn't see too many people on my way out to the end of the boardwalk, but on the way back to the visitors center, there were flocks of bird watchers everywhere. The gear they were carrying was almost as amazing as the birds they were watching. I should have taken a picture of them taking pictures and looking through scopes and backpacking tripods. Instead, I paid attention to whatever they were looking at and got to watch a bald eagle go after a turkey vulture in the sky above us. After a long chase, the turkey vulture got away by grabbing an air current that lifted it out of harm's reach.
A parting shot of the wetlands and some birds that I couldn't identify:
The Refuge provides a seasonal visitors guide to give you an idea of what you might see when you pay a visit (and you should). In addition to the ducks (many), hawks (several) eagles (three), and turkey vultures (one), I also spotted an otter that was too far out in the water to photograph (I'm not equipped like a hardcore birder), but fun to watch as it dove out of sight and resurfaced over and over again before it disappeared altogether. Signs along the trail say that weasels hang out around the barns, but I have yet to see one.
Early morning and just before dusk are the best times to go if you want to see critters. Afternoons will give you the best views of Mt. Rainier, whose glaciers feed the Nisqually River.
If you can't pay a visit to the Refuge, use the links in this diary and the following resources to learn more:
The Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
Nisqually Delta Restoration Project
Nisqually Land Trust--for work being done to preserve land between the Wildlife Refuge and Mt. Rainier National Park.
Your turn: what's going on in your neck of the woods? How's the weather? What's growing on? Whose been to visit? Been out for walk lately? What did you see? Share your observations in the comments.
**
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" is posted every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time and Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. on the Daily Kos front page. It's a great way to catch up on diaries you might have missed. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.