Dave's Pick: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Jul 2, 2020 00:37:36 #
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually wildlife refuge
Last February, I posted photos of two huge, white barns that stand side by side on Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, a wildlife preserve with wetlands all around might seem a curious thing, but before Nisqually Wildlife Refuge came into existence, the land used to be a dairy farm. The barns that were built in 1934, and stand as reminders of the history of the land.
The Brown Farm, became farmland in 1904 when Alson Lennon Brown purchased and drained 1,500 acres of the salt marsh between the Nisqually River and McAllister Creek. He built four miles of dikes to keep the water out.
The Farm sold in the 1960s, and again in 1974. The land was purchased for $1.5 million, and became the wildlife refuge which was created to provide habitat and nesting areas for waterfowl and other migratory birds.
In 2009 the dike was removed and a boardwalk was built in 2011. The boardwalk is a mile long and makes up half of the 2 mile each way trail from the visitor center to the Puget Sound Overlook.
The fresh water of the Nisqually River mixes with the saltwater of the Puget Sound to form an estuary which is home to a variety of sea life, more than 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. It is one of the largest remaining mostly undisturbed estuaries in Washington.
Last February, I posted photos of two huge, white barns that stand side by side on Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, a wildlife preserve with wetlands all around might seem a curious thing, but before Nisqually Wildlife Refuge came into existence, the land used to be a dairy farm. The barns that were built in 1934, and stand as reminders of the history of the land.
The Brown Farm, became farmland in 1904 when Alson Lennon Brown purchased and drained 1,500 acres of the salt marsh between the Nisqually River and McAllister Creek. He built four miles of dikes to keep the water out.
The Farm sold in the 1960s, and again in 1974. The land was purchased for $1.5 million, and became the wildlife refuge which was created to provide habitat and nesting areas for waterfowl and other migratory birds.
In 2009 the dike was removed and a boardwalk was built in 2011. The boardwalk is a mile long and makes up half of the 2 mile each way trail from the visitor center to the Puget Sound Overlook.
The fresh water of the Nisqually River mixes with the saltwater of the Puget Sound to form an estuary which is home to a variety of sea life, more than 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. It is one of the largest remaining mostly undisturbed estuaries in Washington.
Jul 2, 2020 10:33:43 #
Jul 2, 2020 12:03:30 #
I love the estuary areas I have seen in Maine, and these are the first photos I have seen of this area. Nicely documented!
Jul 2, 2020 13:16:07 #
Beautiful! The only place where I have ever seen a Snowy Owl. Several years ago. I used to go to the Nisqually regularly when I lived in Washington.
Jul 3, 2020 05:53:38 #
Dave.Largent wrote:
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually wildlife refuge br br L... (show quote)
Beautiful images
Jul 3, 2020 09:02:02 #
OwlHarbor
Loc: Pacific North West USA
I have not been there but live near. In the picture in the far upper left background the bridge; Tacoma Narrows, right?
Jul 3, 2020 09:43:33 #
Jul 3, 2020 11:05:39 #
OwlHarbor wrote:
I have not been there but live near. In the picture in the far upper left background the bridge; Tacoma Narrows, right?
Yes, you can see Tacoma Narrows Bridge off in the distance.
Jul 3, 2020 13:43:06 #
Jul 3, 2020 13:52:49 #
Jul 3, 2020 19:03:14 #
Jul 3, 2020 20:00:57 #
Dave.Largent wrote:
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually wildlife refuge br br L... (show quote)
Nice and thoughtful compositions, great job, Dave!
Jul 3, 2020 21:53:34 #
Jul 4, 2020 00:43:15 #
Jul 5, 2020 11:43:22 #
Dave.Largent wrote:
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually wildlife refuge br br L... (show quote)
Great shots! Have not visited since 2004. Will visit again soon! Thanx for sharing.
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