Naturally Madrona: Walking Tour

1. Birds

Mallard in the marsh

Bald Eagle gone fishing

You can plan on having an exciting bird watching experience in the Madrona woods. Because it is so close to Lake Washington you will find mallards at every visit. For an up close look in hopes of some awesome photography or sketching of these water fowl, there is a marsh area with a small pond connected to the park’s walking path that mallards frequent in hopes of food or for a nap. Also a perk of being so close to the water is the easy observation of the bald eagle. The Madrona woods are a hot nesting site for eagles so even if you don’t get to see their young you can “hear” them grow. As you walk higher in the walking trail of the woods song sparrows, black-capped chickadees, crows, spotted towhee, and white crowned sparrows are easily spotted throughout. A bird that is not as common but one that I got to see on more than one occasion was the stellar’s jay. You may catch them in small groups or individually. It is always a pleasant surprise to see the bright blue birds come swooping through the walking trail making plenty of noise. One of the most elusive birds I found here was the woodpecker. I cannot even be sure of the species because I only heard one. Local residents (many of whom are birders) walk the trail regularly are a great resource in helping identify common birds and are great storytellers about some of the rarest species to have visited the Madrona woods.

2. Invertebraes
During the spring as the forest becomes overgrown with plant species you will also find a dramatic increase in the invertebrate of the area. Some of the most common insects you can find along the walking trail is are the millipede, the yellow faced bumble bee, “rollie pollie” bugs, and arachnids. I was a little to scared to do some serious invertebrate hunting but in the fullness of the Madrona woods they are definitely not hard to find. The nearby l

ake and small marsh brings in several dragonflies. Some of the insects I was able to find were fairly common. Due to the amount of fallen trees through the Madrona woods invertebrates are not hard to find. Simply flipping a small piece of fallen wood reveals a whole new world under the forest floor.

Red Osier Dogwood

3. Plants
There is a wide array of plant life throughout Madrona park. You can find nice landscaped areas next to the barbecuing sites and a diverse range in the native species of the natural area. The spectrum of plant life changes as you move up the trail. There are two creeks that run through the natural area and surrounding them are several wetland species such as horsetails, skunk cabbage, and sedges. As you move into the dryer areas of the woods, uphill, you will find an abundance of big leaf maples. There are also several berry and rose species throughout the forest. Snowberry, thimble berry, salmon berry and huckleberry are all abundant along the trail and particularly surrounding "devils ditch" located in the center of the woods. There are a range of native trees in the area. I was thinking that the perfectly even numbers of trees indicated a telling sign of restoration because the people who planted them did so evenly. There are more big leaf maples than anything else but you will find pacific madrones, Doug firs, western red cedar, beaked hazelnut and red alder throughout the area as well. The plant life is abundant and changes with every step through the trail. All species are native and restoration is ongoing so please watch your step!

4. Geology

View of Mt. Rainier from Madrona Park

The Madrona park is along the west side of Lake Washington. The most popular area of the park is along the shore of Lake Washington. The natural area is directly west of the performance theater and barbecue areas. It is directly on a hill with somewhat of a steep incline. There are two creeks that run through and lead underground to the lake. Lake Washington was carved out through the glaciation period of the Vashon Lobe. The lake is approximately 19 feet deep and is a key factor in the geology of Madrona Park. The lake is also directly on the Seattle fault zone and has historically had several earthquakes. For more information on the geological history of Lake Washington please check out

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6ADE9650-8EAF-474B-B38B-6AE3D69242EA/0/SR520_GeomorphologyReport_Final_Aug2011_Part1.pdf

The park is at an upward slope most likely made up of the residue of the glacier. Glaciers carry many different sizes in soil and deposit them as the glacier melts. The heaviest gravels would be on the top, the smaller sands in the middle and the lighest clay materials (silts) on bottom. Because the park is so near the lake you can be sure to find glacial deposits throughout the soil and the nearby waterway makes for the park being a partial wetland. There are small marshes surrounding the lake and several plant and bird species who thrive there.

5. Land Use History

Welcome from restoration team

Prior to 1855 the land was depended upon by the Native American people who have come to be known as the "Hahchuahbsh" people who were known for living on the lake. The Natives on this land were most likely a key transit point in the travels across the lake and through to the Puget Sound. The native species of berry that can be found in the park today were the same berries that sustained the gatherers of the tribe historically. The range of plant species was also medicinally and spiritually utilized by the Native people who lived there. The first settlers arrived to the area in the early 1850s and after the hanging of Chief Leschi and the resulting Point Elliot Treaties of 1855, Native Americans were displaced and the land was developed by the European land owners. One of the first major developments of the area was a trolley car that was used to transport visitors from the Seattle city area to Lake Washington. A hotel and bath house was built in the park that was frequented by visitors in the fall largely due to the beauty of the maples and cottonwoods. The area underwent further development throughout the early 1900s and grew in popularity. During all this activity, several invasive plant species were introduced to the area. In 1996 naturalist groups recognized that the area was in desperate need of renovation and they constructed a plan for removal of the ivy and blackberries that dominated the area and proposed construction of a walking trail. After thousands of man hours, hundreds of volunteers, planning, and funding the Madrona Woods have been restored to their natural state dominated with native species.

6. Lichens and Mushrooms

The natural area of Madrona Park is an excellent place to search for fungi. With a well developed canopy and the moisture of nearby waterways there are several places to spot fungi. Fallen trees are part of the natural area's restoration process so there are prime habitats for different species of mushroom. You can find fruticose, crustose and of lichen in the woods and fairly easily. I like to see it as a healthy population of fungus in the area. It represents a successful restoration and a healthy forest. The fungi contribute so much to the eco system. The fallen trees are most all covered in mushrooms that assist in their decomposition. The lichens on the live trees expand their surface area for increase water and nutrient intake. You can find fungi throughout the forest but one of the easiest (and guaranteed) places to locate it is near all the stumps that have been cut from fallen trees near the "Devils Ditch". However, due to the shady and moist nature of the entire forest a mushroom hunt is always a treat. It is a good opportunity to wander off the beaten path and look around the natural areas that are less known to the trail walkers.

7. Disturbance

An incredibly striking visible disturbance to the area is also somewhat of a tall tale. The infamous car that was driven into the woods (and left there) has been a huge ecological disturbance to the local species. After some research I found that there is not concrete answer for where exactly the car may have come from. There have been many stories told but no one can be certain. The old model car is north of the main trail and is being visibly swallowed up by the forest. The presence of the car causes major disturbance to what species can grow in that area of the forest. There are no trees directly surrounding the car. Upon closer inspection the area is overtaken with insects and arachnids. The layout of a 20-foot radius would not have been what it is without this car crashing into the area. An impossible observational impact of the disturbance is the impact it made to the area when the car first crash landed. What species were killed? How long was the area uninhabitable after the car crash? There are possible answers to these questions upon further scientific inquiry. I’ve been wondering why the locals and the countless volunteers in the area have opted not to remove the infamous hunk of metal? I think that the unique ecological disturbance that is this vehicle in the middle of Madrona woods speaks volumes to the clash of humans and nature as well as to the peculiar tastes that continue appreciate these moments in time for generations.

The infamous Madrona Park car

8. Animal Behavior

Home to the sapsucker family

Get ready to rumble when you visit the Madrona woods. There is never a dull moment when observing animal behavior. I don’t know if it is due to the urban setting of the natural area or simply the springtime but the lively behaviors and interactions of animals will always keep you on the edge of your log. Some of the most dramatic of the area are the Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), the

A squirrel on the move!

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynochos), and the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). These three species seem to be in constant turmoil. As you are walking through the Madrona trail you are likely to hear lots of rustling in and around the trees. The Eastern Grey Squirrel seems to never have a day off. They are almost always working hard storing food for the winter and protecting themselves from their bully bird neighbors. They are not shy in this side of town and may even get a little aggressive toward onlookers who get too close to one of their storage locations. The American Crow is a strong presence in the area. They nest in the forest throughout the year and that makes for a much more vocal group than in more urban settings. They are almost always in the trails and seem to have the most trouble with all the other animals of the area. The Bald Eagle is also a local resident and has prime nesting real estate in some of the tallest Doug firs of the area. I got to watch some all out brawls between the crows and eagles throughout the spring. Nesting so close to one another makes for constant threat and defense of territory. There are several other animal species who have made comfortable homes in Madrona Park. Bring your binoculars and some popcorn because you are in for a treat!

Crow using plants to build a nest

9. Interaction Amongst Species

Due to the large presence of berries and wildflowers in the trail you can plan on seeing lots of busy bees working hard in the springtime! There are several Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Yellow-Faced Bumble Bees (Bombus vosnesenskii) stopping by each flower pollinating as they go. I predict that this is the reason for such a large rosae population throughout the trail. Another common interaction you will find is with the fungi and the snags (fallen trees) of the forest. Most snags that you will find will be providing prime living locations for several mushrooms. Some species of mushrooms are responsible for the biodegration of the snags trailing the forest floor. This relationship extends to the trees and fungi that are all still living together as well. Fungi are excellent additions to a tree because they increase the tree’s surface area and allow for more water intake. Two great partners you can find across a range of species throughout the trails.