Observing The Natural World: Field Guide & Walking Tour for Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA)

The Puget Sound, located in Western Washington is home to many diverse habitats for many native species of plants, birds, invertebrates mammals, reptiles, as well as stunning geography. I have chosen to blog about the phenology of a small patch of land located in North Eastern Seattle, where one would not typically expect to find a great deal of biodiversity. The University of Washington's own Union Bay Natural Area is the site which I will be providing a field guide and a walking tour for, a long-standing landfill turned success story.

http://www.washington.edu/research/field/union.html

Here is our walking tour map for Union Bay Natural Area:

Google Maps

Part 1:
A Brief Description of the Geology / Geomorphology of Union Bay Natural Area

The Puget Sound Region was carved out by multiple periods of glaciation around 17,00 years ago. by 15,000 years ago the glaciers were receding, which led to a glacier free basin about 11,000 years ago. The entire basin was hollowed out, including Lake Washington, which the Union Bay Natural Area emerged from. Lake Washington had continuously held a reputation for fluctuation of it's generally high water levels and often flooded its shoreline. The Union Bay Natural Area's (UBNA) natural history of geomorphology expands far through time and is fascinating. It contains a great deal of shaping by water, as well. This overflowing of UBNA was caused by the water from Lake Washington flowing into Ravenna and Yesler Creeks. The creeks reach UBNA, specifically its marshland, providing a lush and fruitful habitat for various species looking to mate, nest, feed, rest and create temporary and permanent homes. Currently, UBNA is a conglomerate of natural habitats consisting of marshland, prairie, and small forested areas. Throughout the year many ponds thrive, but a few are seasonal and have ever-changing inhabitants as a consequence. UBNA is still a thriving natural habitat today but had to undergo a rigorous process of restoration after misuse for a great part of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Photographs taken recently, showing off UBNA's natural beauty:

Part 2:
Land-Use History of Union Bay Natural Area

The section of Lake Washington that has now Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA) shared a border with Henry Yesler's Union Bay lumber mill (1810-1892) during the 19th century, and emerged from underwater in the early part of the 20th century.

http://depts.washington.edu/ubna/

During the early 20th century Seattle saw many innovative changes to its geology regarding the Puget Sound waters, and Lake Union and Lake Washington share a particularly dramatic alteration. The isthmus between the two was severed, known as the Montlake Cut, and shipping companies profited from the effective decrease in time and resources devoted to sailing around Seattle. The marshlands which now make up UBNA, however, were not visible prior to this alternation to the land. Lake Washington's new-found connection with Lake Union drained much of Lake Washington westward, revealing the marsh underneath. The site was not preserved and put to use by natural historians and nature lovers as we would expect. Instead, Union Bay Dump, aka University Dump, aka Ravenna Dump, aka Montlake Fill became the largest garbage dump in Seattle for over forty years. Every type of garbage occupied the landfill, ravaging the land and rendering it useless, devoid of life. After the landfill reached its capacity the area was closed (1966). Following the halt in garbage pile-up, environmentalists and University of Washington (UW) students, faculty, and affiliates began experimenting with degradation levels and the possibility of restoration. The site has become a story of success, covered by two layers of soil and the land used for a shopping center, UW sports fields, and finally the beautifully restored natural area. Since the 1980's, the site has been used to study land reclamation, and has been a favorite frequented by bird watchers (150-200 species of birds have been spotted in the area), runners, walkers, cyclists, natural history buffs, students, the list goes on... This example of a successful attempt to recover natural habitat for species native to the Puget Sound Region has resulted in the return of our non-human neighbors. Thus, the restoration does not only benefit Seattleites, but many other, native, inhabitants. Loss of habitat can be very destructive to the populations of different species, and many of their habitats are disappearing with rapidity. the restoration process, however successful will be continuously met with disturbance to the natural ecology.

Part 3:
Ecological Disturbances (Orange Star)

Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA) is prone to invasive species, like any other natural habitat. Beginning the walking tour, we set off down Wahkiakum Lane. To the left there are small trails leading into the brush, located where the orange star on your map is. Though you many only see the Blackberry bushes alongside the main trail, see if you can peer into the side trails (watch your step, look out for bird nests) and note how many Blackberry bushes you are immediately surrounded by! Blackberries are invasive species. This means that they were introduced to the area by humans, maybe even many years ago, and have persisted in their new environment, stockpiling resources, taking them away from natural plants. Blackberries are resistant to natural population control in the Pacific Northwest due to their thorns, underground nodes from established vines, and the depth of their roots. To eradicate a Blackberry bush in UBNA is no easy feat, and often overwhelming. Many processes have been attempted at UBNA to remove Blackberries. Pesticides, machines, and manual labor have all been used. While the target may be Blackberries, pesticides can harm other species of plants and can cause a chain reaction that climbs up through the food chain. First, plants and water are contaminated which contaminates the insects, then in turn the birds, then birds of prey, and so on. Machine operated eradication does not effectively penetrate the soil and remove the roots, however it does severely cut back the growth above ground, impeding the plants' photosynthesis. The machines however, operated from behind a wheel, can cause injury to bird nests in the prairie grasses. Human manual labor is the best option for mitigating destruction to the environment. That's right! Pulling weeds. Though the process is time consuming, constant vigilance is key, and being active can help further the success of UBNA and its inhabitants.

Part 4:
Birds (Green Star)

Walking Further down Wahkiakum Lane, take the first right and you will find yourself standing next to small pond turned summer marsh. During the Springtime this pond is alive with the many curious Gadwalls and Mallards poking around for food, lazily drifting on the waters, and inching closer to you before waddling off again. The pond here curves like a boomerang. It holds a great amount of wildlife, the most noticeable being the brightly colored ducks, varying greatly in hue and slightly in size. The brown females (which vary little between the Gadwalls and Mallards are the more adventures of the group, and wander ever closer to visitors, their male counterparts in tow.
Recently, Summer has generously appeared, and during this time of year the marsh is overgrown with rushes and grasses. A Black Cottonwood with upward reaching fingers, complete with fluffy cotton deposits, stands directly across the pond from the trail.

Initially there are few birds here, only the sounds resonate, but look closer into the rushes, being careful not to disturb the birds, and you will find a Marsh Wren nest.

Around to the other section of your pond (a slight left from your current location), observe is a group of birds swooping about and singing furiously.

The small bird in the center is one of the many that occupy the lush marshy area here. This bird is a Tree Swallow, and if you can take a few steps toward the center of the marsh you may be able to watch these birds up close.
Throughout the entire walk you may hear various bird calls greeting you from above and below, there will also be birds far overhead gliding through the air between the trees, so keep your eyes open and don't forget to look up!

List of common birds at UBNA:

Mallard:
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c) Joby Joseph, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
Song Sparrow:
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Bring a pair of binoculars if you can, to get a closer look!

Part 5:
Plants (Pink)

While Union Bay Natural Area is full of diverse plants, and each can find their own favorite spot, favorite plant, or favorite tree for a bit of shade, I have chosen to share the South Pond as the quintessential area for observing the most diverse plant-life. Where there is water, there is life.

This is a site which has not only plants but many animals as well, all whom enjoy the lively habitat created by the pond. While you have been walking through quite a few of these plants all along, here is a list of the plants surrounding the South Pond:

1) Cotton Wood, Populus balsamifera, member of the Willow family. This tree will produce a catkin flower, and sticky, yellow buds which are quite fragrant. The leaves of the Cotton Wood are arrow shaped, ovate, entire, shinny above, and dull gray below. The bark is gray and the trees retain much water which makes them unsuitable for wood burning (they are wetland indicators). The Cotton Woods here are also very tall, and grow alongside the pond in the shallow water.

2) The Rush, Juncus effusus, is the second species I would like to identify, which explains why I had thought I had seen Idaho Fescue (but clearly, did not). It has a single round, long stem and at this point most of the Rush is from last year, but in the center of the Rush, located in the pond, there is new, green color from this season.

3) The Pacific Willow, Salix lucida, also borders the pond. It is pretty tall, but not as tall as the Cotton Woods here, in general. It has oval/elongate, fine toothed, lanceolate, leaves with small hairs, yellowish twigs, and produces catkins. The bark is grayish and furrowed, and it grows in the same shallow water as the Cotton Wood. Interesting fact: the Pacific Willow is prone to hybridization with others.

4) Red Osier Dogwood, Cornus sericea, is a thick looking shrub which is just as abundant in the area. The first thing to noticed about Red Osier Dogwood is the red hue of the twigs, then when we examined the leaves closely; the longitudinal veins of the leaves were noticeable, as well as an opposite leaf pattern, and an elliptical, entire shape. The Red Osier Dogwood grows in the dry and wet areas here.

5) Oregon Ash, Fraxinus latifolia, is a member of the Olive family. It has opposite, pinnately compound leaves that count 5 to 7 on a stem, which are elliptical in shape, entire, and have a hairy underside. The bark is gray, and furrowed in forking ridges. It is growing in the drier area alongside the walking path.

For an extra challenge, see how many of these species you can spot throughout the tour:

6) Sitka Spruce, Picea sitchensis, is a member of the Pine family. The needles surround the twig and are stiff, and the cones hang down and are cylindrical with thin, papery scales. The bark is gray and thin, and there are very bright green buds on the ends of the tree branches here. The tree is growing in the drier grassy areas.

7) Ponderosa Pine, Pin ponderosa, is also a member of the Pine family, naturally. The needles are bundled in groups of three, and the cones are egg-shaped and reddish. The trees' bark is thick and brown-colored, and the tree also grows in the drier grassy areas here.

8) Pacific Madrone, Arbutus menziesii, is a member of the Heath family. The flowers on the Pacific Madrones here are very small, white, and bell-shaped, and bark is smooth and red with dense cold wood ("refrigerator tree"). The leaves are waxy and elliptical/oblong with small tooths, and a simple pattern. The tree is also growing alongside the drier walking path area.

Also keep an eye out for:

Paper Birch
Quaking Aspen
Lodgepole Pine
Garry Oak
Nootka Rose
Snowberry Shrub
Baldhip Rose

Invasive plant species:

Yellow Flag Iris
Blackberry
Scotch Broom

The plants here (excluding the three noted invasive species) are all naturally occurring species in in the region, and when Union Bay Natural Area was restored there was an effort to bring back and cultivate many of these species in order to return the area to her natural beauty.

Part 6:
Invertebrates (Brown)

Along the section of Loop Trail that overlooks the south side of Union Bay Natural Area bordering with Lake Washington there are many small trails leading to the water's edge. Take one or two of these and count how many invertebrates you can spot as you get closer to the lake. When taking these trails, again, be careful not to step off of the beaten path. Though you may like the idea, many of the nesting birds near your feet reserve the right too hatch their young without human feet stomping down upon them.

Here is one of these small trails will take you here, it does not lead directly to the water's edge, but is still a great sight for spotting some invertebrates hanging around the shallow waters.

Along some of the other trails you will most likely see some dragonflies buzzing around and possibly mating. Look closely at the earth and you will no doubt see tiny flashes of movement, to get a closer look take a moment to observe the ground around your feet and you will see many black ants and spiders (don't be scared, it's now you that has invaded their home!).

List of common invertebrates at UBNA:

Green Darner Dragonfly (WA State Insect):
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Spider:
It has eight legs and eight eyes.

Bees:

While it may seem difficult to spot invertebrates due to their size, it is actually quite easy to find them. Turn over stones, peer into the grass, their abundance makes it far easier to find them than you would think!

Part 7:
Lichens / Fungi (Blue)

Seattle is a city in which the air is of better quality than other major US cities and because of this, fungi and lichens litter the trees within the city's limits (dryness is not a factor, but waste can be in densely polluted areas). Fungi include moss, yeasts, lichens, and molds. At Union Bay Natural Area there are lichens at eye level on a few of the tall trees along the trails. Located around the blue star on the map are tall coniferous trees (perfect for spotting lichens). Here is an example of a lichen you may be able to see while keeping your eyes glued to the trees.

Oakmoss:
4169195005_609e7bc3e4

(c) Richard Droker, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)

A lichen is a fungus which has formed a relationship (which is not wholly understood to be symbiotic or parasitic) with a colony of microscopic algae or cynobacteria, and attaches itself to a substrate. The fungus surrounds the algae and provides surface area in order to collect moisture and nutrients from the tree, or soil, etc., and the algae provides carbohydrates from the process of photosynthesis. Humans have used lichens for food, dye, medicine and fiber, but are not the only ones who benefit from lichens. The nutrients that they possess become a nutritious addition to the diet of many animals who reach into the trees, or soil, perhaps just grazing across the earth floor.
Lichens have three main forms 1. Crustose, 2. Foliose, 3. Fruticose.
There are other types of fungus to be seen at UBNA as well. Here are a few examples:

Artist's Bracket (Artist's Fungus), (Artist's Conk):
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(c) Ripton Scott, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

Mushrooms, unlike lichens, are ephemeral. The only part of the mushroom that we can see is the fruiting body (the cap and stem), which produces spores. There are two major clades of mushrooms; most mushrooms are Ascomycota (75% of described fungi, cup fungi, most lichens), and the second is Basidiomycota (gilled mushrooms, some lichens).

Part 8:
Ecological Interaction (Periwinkle Purple)

Between all of the species observed in the Union Bay Natural Area there was a great amount of clear, observable competition and facilitation, especially located at the Central Pond, which is full of ecological interaction.

Facilitation is commonplace at UBNA with the trees, whose ability to provide nutrients and homes to other species in the area when alive and in death allows for these many different species to thrive. During a tree's lifetime, such as those which surround the Central Pond, many birds nest in the Willow and Cottonwood trees to create safe places for their nests away from predators. When the tree dies its nutrients become food for the other plants, fungi invertebrates around it, providing a habitat for even more species. There is also predation, which does not always have to be owls eating mice, but also something as simple as the moss on a tree. Some mosses practice symbiotic relationships, however, the are also many which continuously profit from the tree without contributing to the tree's well-being. This is relationship can be deleterious to the tree if it is not receiving nutrients, water, or other necessary materials for life. See if you can find any growths of fungi or other plants on top of established plants.

Between all of the species and the interactions between them it becomes clear that the ecological patterns here involve continuity and sustainability. Clearly facilitation and symbiosis are not damaging to the ecosystem, however neither is predation nor natural disturbance. Predation, a natural element in the ecological pattern is not an interruption unless an invasive species is introduced and creates a relationship with unrecognizable features (such as the Blackberries, Scotch Broom, and Yellow Flag Iris). The health of some of the native species is compromised when those who are invasive cannot be counteracted or 'kept in check' by other biological forces. Disturbance is natural as well unless caused by humans. Union Bay's long history of use as Seattle's largest land-fill is considered an anthropocentric (human-made) disturbance, which caused damage that took years to reconcile. Without help from humans, the habitat would not have been able to recover on its own accord into the marsh and prairie land that it is today.
Because the Central Pond is home to so many species of bird, perhaps you can catch one feeding, which is an example of predation. Birds usually choose insects and worms for their diet, look around the pond and see if any birds are searching for meal for themselves and their young.

Part 9:
Animal Behavior (Royal Purple)

A great site for animal behavior is where I have placed the purple star, on the edge of Union bay Natural Area facing Southeast. When you approach coming from Shoveler's Pond, you will notice that this area is shaded by tall deciduous and coniferous trees. Taking advantage of the shade, and the wood that has washed up against the land there are many species prone to water which have chosen to rest here.

Here there are many Pond Turtles on a log, there have even been Canada Geese spotted here among the Pond Turtles. Pond Turtles favor habitats that facilitate their need for group aggregation so that they may bask. This log is a fine example of the natural habitat of the Pond Turtles, other sightings are commonly located on logs such as this or upon large boulders. The turtles here are unperturbed by the presence of a few other species as well, such as a female Gadwall.

Survival relies a great deal upon animal behavior. The most easy observed animal behavior at UBNA is that of the abundant birds populations here. The female Gadwall above is one among many of the Gadwalls and Mallards found at UBNA, and have very distinct duck behavoir. If seen on the ground, the Gadwall is often searching for food, grazing for grains. In the shallow waters like above, Gadwalls feed by dipping their head into the water and feed on vegetation, or if their lucky, on some fish, worms, small insects, and aquatic invertebrates. This is common for waterfowl, though there is of course variation.

Part 10:
Personal (Yellow)

This spot is a favorite of mine. Just a personal space where one can go rest, take a breath, and feel a bit like one is dozens of miles way from the University of Washington campus, instead of on it. If you walk straight down the main trail (Wahkiakum Lane) and do not turn right to go to Shoveler's Pond, but continue towards the edge of Union Bay Natural Area there is a small wooded area on the left side of the trail. Take the small path around the short cement structure and wander on into the center of the trees. From the outside, the little haven looks like this:

On the inside though, the trees are more sparse than it would appear, and the ground is bare dirt, without grass. I enjoy this spot because no one can find you there, like a childhood fortress. Others will pass by without taking a second glance and that is what creates such a peaceful atmosphere. Being a shady area, this place was originally sought out for a break from the sun, which can occasionally surprise the unsuspecting Western Washingtonian. The colors here particularly amaze me. This is not a garden filled with an array of flowers or plants at this particular spot, but a scene that allows one to notice the subtle differences between the colors around one. The greens here come in a thousand shades, and the browns are mixed with reds, yellows, and the deep blue of the sky peaking through the tops of the trees.

(Photos with Copyright information gathered from iNaturalist.org)

Observing The Natural World

Field Guide & Walking Tour for Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA)

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