The Feet & Forks' latest adventure was a hike yesterday along the trails of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, WA, in perfect fall weather.
I suggested that they each hide behind a big-leaf maple leaf for a photo, and when they lifted the leaves in place the sun magically shone through. The leaves of the Acer macrophyllum, also known as the big-leaf maple or Oregon maple, grow up to one foot in width and height.
The Nisqually River Delta is formed where the freshwater of the river combines with the saltwater of the Puget Sound to form an estuary rich in nutrients, supporting an incredible variety of animal and plant life. I recognized geese, seagulls, eagles, owls, swallows, buffleheads, ducks and a coyote.
Most major estuaries in Washington have been filled, dredged or developed, but this one was set aside for wildlife in 1974. The estuary was restored in 2009 by removing dikes and reconnecting 762 acres with the tides of the Puget Sound.
The black spot to the upper right of the tree is an eagle that circled with two others before landing on the top branch.
A mile-long boardwalk allows visitors to walk out over the delicate tidelands and marshes.
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| Part of the boardwalk trail. |
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| Lenticular clouds over Mt. Rainier. |
The official name of the area is the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Billy Frank (1931-2014) was a Nisqually Indian, fisherman and civil rights leader. He dedicated his life to protecting and celebrating the traditions of native people and to ensuring that future generations were surrounded by abundant, healthy natural resources. I'm so grateful that his work and that of others gave us this treasure.
Lunch was at McNamara's Pub in DuPont.
Thai chicken flatbread for me.
Have a colorful day
1 comment:
Sounds like a lovely outing!
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