by Michele Olsen

The Miller Peninsula State Park is a 2,800-acre undeveloped day-use only Washington State Park property located in Clallam County just east of Sequim.  The north section of the park overlooks Discovery Bay and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with views of Protection Island. Since the property sits in the Olympic rain shadow, it is composed of
relatively dry, open forests.

In the early 1900s, the site was heavily logged for timber.  In the 1970s, Clallam PUD proposed a nuclear power plant at the site! This plan was later abandoned.  Fortunately for us, Washington State Parks acquired the property from DNR in 1993-1994. Since that time, it has undergone review and evaluation by Washington State Parks for
development; however, due to budget constraints, it appears that this portion of the park’s history has been on pause since June 2025.

Explore this gem in our backyard and keep an eye out for the 208 native plant species identified by the Washington Native Plant Society, the 119 species of birds identified on eBird, as well as black bears, cougars, coyotes, bobcats, toads, frogs, and salamanders.

Outing: Explore Miller Peninsula

Join the Natural History Society on Monday, March 30, from 8:30 am –
1:00 pm, for a hike through a lush ravine to a remote beach on the
Strait of Juan de Fuca. This is a 6-mile walk with 590’ of elevation
gain on the Miller Peninsula off Diamond Point Road near Sequim. We
will arrive at the beach when there’s a minus tide, where we’ll have a
snack while enjoying views of Protection Island. RSVP to Michele at
charlies1st@gmail.com.

By Tim Lawson

The West Coast of North America has, possibly, the most complicated geological history in the world. Multiple collisions of small continents and island arcs over hundreds of millions of years have shaped the large mountains and islands we can see from North Beach. Large faults run between Whidbey Island and the Quimper Peninsula, and along the Strait of Juan  De Fuca.

At a smaller scale the glaciations of the last few million years
shaped the Port Townsend area where the bluffs, and the shoreline tell
us yet another story. We also layer (pun intended) in the history of
sea level change.

Our February Outing will focus on some of the broader aspects of the
geological history of the area and invite you to ask questions of the
features large and small that we will see as we walk from Battery
Kinzie to North Beach.

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.