In 2016 I’m doing a 365 Nature project. Each day of the year I will post something here about nature. It may be any format, a photo, video, audio, sketch or entry from my nature journal. It could be a written piece. Each day I will connect to nature in some way and share it here by the end of that day. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to the RSS feed or be notified by email. See all the 365 Nature posts.
Today is World Wetland’s Day and I’m reminded of all the hours I’ve spent exploring wetlands in the Pacific Northwest. Above is a selection of photos all taken in wetlands. Below you can find links to other galleries of wetlands.
One of the first wetlands I regularly visited was the West Eugene wetlands. We lived along a path which led directly to and through wetlands and we’d bike there often while I was at school. Closer to Corvallis I frequently visited the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area which had an abundance of dragonflies. That is where I really started learning to identify the various species living in the Pacific Northwest and for that it’s a special place for me. Also in Corvallis I visited the Jackson-Frazier Wetlands a few times.
Here in Seattle the wetlands I visit most frequently are at Magnuson Park where I take many dragonfly photos. To the south I often visit Waterworks Gardens in Renton which has an extensive pond system and wetlands at the bottom. It’s also full of dragonflies in the summer months. The wetlands where I’ve had the most memorable experience in the Seattle area is the Hazel Wolf Wetlands in Sammamish. It was there I watched a dragonfly emerge from its exuvia for the first time, a lucky thing to experience during the day because they usually emerge at night.
Very close to home we regularly walk through Pritchard Beach Park, a tiny wetland in Seattle. I documented all the plants and wildlife I could one spring and now I volunteer to help restore the landscape.
E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area Photos
Magnuson Park 2011-2015 Photos
Waterworks Gardens Park Photos
