A Pacific Wren in the Arboretum.The Washington Park Arboretum is a wonderful place. Some people view it as a park, others as a gardening oasis or a nature-based classroom. During my first visit, while still a teenager, I remember thinking the Arboretum was like a forest in the city.
The following photos show that the trees of the Arboretum do provide a forest-like habitat for birds, insects and more.
A Bewick's Wren finding food in the Arboretum.
A female Pileated Woodpecker excavating for food in a birch tree.
Webster's Dictionary defines an Arboretum as "a place where trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes".
A Red-breasted Nuthatch on a moss-covered branch south of the Sorbus Collection.
The Washington Park Arboretum is more than a forest of trees and shrubs. For example, it also serves as a genetic reserve for struggling trees that are endangered in their native forests.
The Arboretum is also an educational oasis!
The Fiddlehead Preschool program supplies early education, and a daily connection with nature, that is unique for children in the city.The Summer Programs provide young people, K-12, with access to nature.During the school year, University of Washington students gain hands-on restoration experience in the Arboretum.Plus, the Arboretum offers a multitude of other educational opportunities. Click Here to learn more.These Arboretum opportunities are made possible by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens (UWBG), with support from the Arboretum Foundation (AF), Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), hundreds of volunteers and many generous financial donations.
The Red-breasted Sapsucker is the normal year-round Sapsucker found in the Arboretum, but it can be somewhat challenging to spot.
Western Tanagers, this one is a male, pass through the Arboretum during migration.
The native Rufous Hummingbirds also migrate here during warm weather. I have not seen either of these last two species nest here, but they may.
The native Wilson's Warblers also return in Spring looking for food and potential nest sites.
Chestnut-backed Chickadees are hardy, year-round, nesting residents in the Arboretum.
In the last few years, Common Ravens have resumed nesting and raising young in the Arboretum after being gone for decades. They are now year-round residents.
At about the same time as the ravens returned, Douglas Squirrels also returned to the Arboretum!
For many years, Cooper's Hawks have nested and raised young in the Arboretum. Anna's Hummingbirds thrive in the Arboretum.
I am only aware of two visits by Great Horned Owls in the last 15 years...
... and only one visit by a Long-eared Owl.
Golden-crowned Kinglets are common year-round residents. Although their nests are so small and high that I have yet to see one.
I commonly see Hermit Thrush when the Fall fruit is ripe.
It is also easier to find the fruit-eating Cedar Waxwings (the bird on the right) in the Fall, occasionally, Bohemian Waxwings (the bird on the left) tag along and visit the Arboretum with their Waxwing relatives.
Townsend's Warblers are one of only two warblers that stay in the PNW year-round. Like the Anna's Hummingbirds they enjoy feeding in the the non-native, winter-blooming Mahonia in the Arboretum.
Our other year-round Warbler, the Yellow-rumped, is commonly called, a Butter Butt.
I believe multiple pairs of Barred Owls hatch young in the Arboretum every year, even if I don't always find them.
The photos above are not a complete list of all the birds found in the "forested" portion of the Arboretum. But, hopefully, they demonstrate some of the avian variety and habitat value provided by the Arboretum.
During my initial visit to the Arboretum, I overlooked the waterfront. Not only do different trees grow near water, but a different set of birds and other creatures are often found around the north end of the Arboretum.
Wood Ducks live here year-round. Surprising to some, their instinct is to lay their eggs in trees. Click Here and Here to read about their alternative accommodations on Union Bay.
Canada Geese goslings photographed in the Arboretum.
In addition to Great Blue Herons, Green Herons return here each Spring to mate and raise young.
Cinnamon Teal are more common as Spring visitors to the Union Bay Natural Area, but this one stopped in the Arboretum.
Last Summer was my first and only sighting of a Great Egret on Duck Bay, at the north end of the Arboretum.
Like Mallards, Gadwalls are year-round residents who raise their young here.
Green-winged Teals normally leave during summer.
Northern Pintails are rare during the summer as well.
Northern Shoveler can be found here year-round but are more common during the cooler months.
It may seem odd to include Downy Woodpeckers with the waterfowl mentioned above, but typically, I find the Downy Woodpeckers in Birch, Adler or Willow that grow near the northern shores of the Arboretum. They often excavate nest sites in the soft wood of standing dead trees.
Raccoons seem to prefer to nest near the water as well.
Click Here to read more about the four-legged fauna found in the Arboretum.
There are many other birds and creatures who live here, migrate through, or come just to nest and have young.
In addition to all of the benefits mentioned above the Arboretum also provides:
- A place for Seattleites to experience the healing power of nature on a daily basis,
- A site for the Japanese Garden and its unique suite of cultural experiences,
- A place where individual (and corporate) volunteers can donate their time, see the immediate impact of their work, and get healthy exercise.
- A place where everyone in our society is appreciated, welcome and can work together for a healthier future.
The Future:
In many ways the Arboretum is perched on the edge of its nest, flexing its wings and preparing to soar like never before. Two excellent examples include:
A) During the next decade, the 28 acres of WSDOT/Montlake Peninsula will be reunited with the Arboretum. This will enable expansion of the collections, new pathways and public access, new gathering places, improvements to Lake Washington Blvd, the daylighting of Arboretum Creek, and numerous other, as yet undefined, potential improvements.
B) In addition, due to donor support, volunteer efforts, and strong leadership from the Arboretum's three partner organizations (SPR, UWBG, & AF), the Arboretum is poised to expand its outreach and community involvement.
I noticed that the recent state-funded survey of park visitors inspired two very important goals for the Arboretum.
- Welcoming with open arms all members of our society and
- Expanding our visitor's relationship with nature.
The next step to the future for the Arboretum is the Botanical Bash. This year in addition to the Garden Show there will be music and dance as well! Come join the fun! or...If you are pressed for time, there is even a virtual option!
Please support a thriving future for the Arboretum!
These last three photos were provided by Alasbastro Photography.
To join the Botanical Bash (In person or virtual) Click Here.
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Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Larry
Each of us, who breathes the air, drinks water, and eats food should be helping to protect our environment. Local efforts are most effective and sustainable. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and the local native creatures. Even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape.
I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:
1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.
2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (When native plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)
3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.
4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.
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Keystone native plants are an important new idea. Douglas Tallamy, in the book "Nature's Best Hope ", explains that caterpillars supply more energy to birds, particularly young birds in their nests, than any other plant eater. He also mentions that 14% of our native plants, i.e. Keystone Plants, provide food for 90% of our caterpillars. This unique subset of native plants and trees enables critical moths, butterflies, and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially during the breeding season.
Note: Flowering plants and trees, i.e. those pollinated by bees, are also included as Keystone Plants.
This video explains the native keystone plants very nicely:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cXccWx030
The Top Keystone Genera in our ecoregion i.e. Plants and trees you might want in your yard:
Click Here
Additional content available here:
https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Native-Plant-Resources-10-7-22.pdf
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In the area below, I am displaying at least one photo with each post to help challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.
The following photos show four native plants found yesterday in the Arboretum. Identifying them in mid-winter may not seem like a critical skill. However, if you can ID these plants now, when they are clearly not flowering, then you will essential know (and be able to protect them) year-round. So...Can you guess their names?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Scroll down for the answers.
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You may have noticed that the Salmonberry stem changes direction slightly at each bud juncture.On the other hand, the direction of growth for the Osoberry twig proceeds in the same direct, without any change, at each bud.
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The Email Challenge:
Over the years, I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements. As of 2021, Google has discontinued the service.
In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:
Larry, Please add me to your personal email list.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Thank you!
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The Comment Challenge:
Another common issue is losing your input while attempting to leave a comment on this blog. Often everything functions fine, however, sometimes people are unable to make it past the robot-detection challenge or maybe it is the lack of a Google account. I am uncertain about the precise issue. Sadly, a person can lose their comment with no recovery recourse.
Bottom Line:
If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Sincerely,
Larry
A Pacific Wren in the Arboretum.
A Bewick's Wren finding food in the Arboretum.
It may seem odd to include Downy Woodpeckers with the waterfowl mentioned above, but typically, I find the Downy Woodpeckers in Birch, Adler or Willow that grow near the northern shores of the Arboretum. They often excavate nest sites in the soft wood of standing dead trees.
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