by Cheryl Lowe and Dave Rugh

“January is the perfect balance between winter’s stillness and the new year’s potential.” —anonymous 

Poets write of stark beauty, quiet calm, and an appreciation for the wonders of nature in January. Writers ponder hopes of new beginnings, cozy evenings by the fire, the drama of winter winds, freezing rain, or snow (if we are lucky). As naturalists, we are called to go outside in all sorts of weather. What will we find?

Our January field trip will focus on natural history at two sites north of Sequim. First is birding at the John Wayne Marina (John Wayne Marina | Port of Port Angeles); then we’ll search for more birds and explore coastal uplands at the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (NWR; Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). Our route there wanders through a mosaic of coastal forest zones that provide habitat for a variety of overwintering birds. A bit of geology and an introduction to winter plant ID will round out our exploration. Afternoon low tides (there is a zero tide at 3:30 pm) may tempt you to explore part of Dungeness Spit afterwards on your own. 

With the holiday season upon us, the Natural History Society will not publish a December newsletter, there will not be an outing this month, nor will there be a book club gathering.

Enjoy the outdoors no matter what the weather!

by Richard Lewis

Insects are among the most diverse and abundant organisms on
Earth. They play critical roles in maintaining ecological balance and
function. Their services include pollination, decomposition, nutrient
cycling, food sources, pest control, soil aeration, seed dispersal,
maintaining biodiversity, and environmental health indicators. In
addition they also provide significant contributions to science,
technology, art, and economics.

Despite their immense importance, insect populations are under
threat due to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and
pollution. Protecting and appreciating insects is not just an
environmental necessity but a moral imperative to ensure the stability
and health of our planet.

On an August day in Fort Townsend, we can expect to see numerous
adult and immature insects including representatives from the orders
Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Hymenoptera
(bees and wasps), Heteroptera (true bugs), Diptera (flies), Dermaptera
(earwigs), and Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). Most will be in
the adult stage, but we should also see some immature stages. We will
employ different ways of finding and viewing insects and their signs—
including nests, galls, tracks, webs, feeding damage, and by
association such as predation from non-insect vertebrates— while we
stroll around beautiful Fort Townsend.

by Cheryl Lowe

The Admiralty Inlet Preserve on Whidbey Island, a Natural Area Preserve (https://www.wclt.org/projects/admiralty-inlet-natural-area-preserve/), includes two rare prairie areas in addition to an amazing old-growth forest, three miles of walking trails with interpretive signs, and wonderful views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Less than 1 percent of Whidbey Island’s historic prairie habitat remains. For the last decade, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust (WCLT) has been restoring the prairie areas on this Preserve to help recover rare golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) populations found here. The Land Trust has made enormous efforts to restore the population of this rare species, planting over 100,000 plants and using controlled burning techniques.

Western Washington prairies, a priority conservation habitat, are most often “dry prairies” found within the lowland regions of SW British Columbia and Puget Sound. As glaciers retreated more than 10,000 years ago, broad plains of glacial outwash, glacio-marine sediments, and alluvium were left behind. The porous gravels, in combination with localized climate effects, such as the rain shadows of coastal mountains, created conditions that favored open native grasslands with little or no tree cover.

Prairies, adapted to moist winters and dry summers, are typically located on these well-drained glacial soils. This fire-adapted habitat was historically maintained by Indigenous peoples who intentionally burned the prairies to prevent invading trees and shrubs from becoming established, increase the growth of food plants such as camas, and
improve habitat for game species. Fire suppression in more recent times has allowed for expanded growth of conifers and other woody plants in these open areas, crowding out native grasses and flowering plants of the prairies.

Join the Natural History Society on Thursday, May 15th for an all day outing to the Admiralty Inlet Preserve on Whidbey Island. We will take the 9:30 ferry, then hike through Ft. Casey to the prairie looking for Castilleja levisecta (golden paintbrush). Kyle Ostermick-Durkee, Stewardship Specialist for the Whidbey Camano Land Trust (WCLT) and Project Lead for this prairie restoration, will lead us on a tour of the Admiralty Inlet Preserve. Cleveland Hall, WCLT Prairie Nursery volunteer, will join him.
Please RSVP to Michele for details and signups: charlies1st@icloud.com