This nature reserve includes some very old logged areas (now with big second growth) but also some old growth forest (> 450 year old trees). Aside from its beauty and diversity, it is remarkable for fact that its maintenance is a multi-agency support effort. The preserve, (The Stimson Family Nature Reserve) now of 388 acres was donated by a long time family in our area and supported and maintained by many entities including The Whatcom Land Trust, the State of Washington, Whatcom County, and the City of Bellingham, among other partners. I reported on this reserve a couple of years ago as an illustration of how many governmental and non-profit agencies can work in concert to maintain valuable tracts of our environment. Click here to get a broader view of the forest.
Not only is the Reserve relatively primal forest, it is close to town, borders on residential development and is only 6 miles from my house which is across town. The Reserve is readily accessible, even by city bus service and/or bicycle. Amid its varied terrain it has a beaver pond. Within minutes from home, one can get the sense of being in “deep forest” with lush flora and a variety of fauna.
THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, WATER AND PLANTS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU AND SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS BELOW. EACH NOTE IS A RECORD THAT WE CAN REFER TO IN THE FUTURE AS WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PHENOLOGICAL PATTERNS THAT ARE QUIETLY UNWINDING AROUND US.
TO HAVE THE DAILY BUCKET IN YOUR ACTIVITY STREAM, GO TO BACKYARD SCIENCE AND CLICK ON FOLLOW.
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This post reports on a volunteer work party that allows this beautiful reserve to survive and thrive while in the proximity of urban development. The Land Trust schedules two “Bio-Blitz” work days per year at this site devoted to taking sample inventory of the many species to keep abreast of its stability or change that might need to be attended to. From those samples they are able to compare year to year and to extrapolate to what’s happening in the whole preserve. The 388 acres are separated into a 30 unit grid. Each year samples are taken from within half of the units.
Procedures.
On each of two days, 20 volunteers separated into 4 work parties of five led by a Land trust employee or intern. Teams were supplied with a shovel, a Pulauski, a tape measure, flora identification sheets, a book of Northwest Plants, and clipboard with forms to be completed.
We then hiked in to our designated sectors, about a mile and a half from the trail-head. At that time we then went off trail, bushwhacking and scrambling to select, more or less at random, an area to be sampled within that sector. Terrain was hilly with gullies and various wet lands in the low areas (we took higher areas).
At a chosen spot, a mark was set in the ground (we used our shovel) to designate the center of our sample area. With the measuring tape, one volunteer held it at the center while another tromped off into the greenery to a distance of 37 ft. Our task was to inventory all flora within the circle described by the measuring tape as it revolves around the center post, that is, within the circle with the 37’ radius.
Within that circle we recorded number and species of live trees, number of snags, (dead but standing), fallen trees, number of nurse stumps and what was growing from them.
Tree inventory:
Our first sample plot had three tree species within the dimensions of our circle sample: Western Hemlock, Western Redcedar and Douglas Fir. Our second sample had these three in addition to Black cottonwood. (Alnus rubra)
Live trees were measured and placed into categories according to a range of diameters.
Under storage
Next we recorded the under storage and the ground cover plants.
Much of this next level of growth was sapling Hemlock and Redcedar, along with lots of Red Huckleberry, Mahonia, Salmonberry, Bleeding Heart, Trillium, Salal, and Devil’s Club.
More Ground cover plants included assorted ferns (Maidenhair, Licorice, Sword, Spiny Wood, Lady, Bracken), Broad Leaf Star Flower, Vanilla leaf, Bleeding heart, Trillium, along with many mosses.
Invertebrates in Leaf Duff
After inventorying the flora our next task was at the center point of our sample. Here we were to scrape back leaf duff in a one foot square and by hand, sift and filter the soil and vegetable matter and describe what invertebrate critters lurked there. We found two invertebrates: some tiny ants, and a wormy creature that were unable to identify. Can anyone ID this critter.
Although not an invertebrate, we also found in the duff a Salamander, a Larch Mountain I think.
Final task - Birds:
The final task of the survey at each sample site was to sit in silence for 3 minutes, listen for bird sounds and count the number of different birds heard. Our group got seven at one site and four the other. Not all identified.
The actual final task was to hike out to the trail head.
I thought I was in decent shape for my age and I had hiked this trail a couple of times before but the pace on the hilly terrain set by the youngsters (I include all those in their 60s and under) in our crew took its toll on these old bones. I swear it was up hill both ways. I made it out alright and am probably foolish enough to do it again, but oh my.
On the way out we encountered a nice specimen of a garter snake slithering across the trail.
Also on the way out, I could not pass up a photo of two trees seemingly living in harmony. The Douglas Fir wrapped its roots around a Western Redcedar. They seem to love it here.
And I leave you there. By this writing I have recovered and am ready to hit the trails again.
Chime in with what you are seeing in your backyard and tell us about any urban forests in your community.