Walking Tour

Redmond Watershed Preserve: Tree Frog Loop Trail

Land usage (Station 1):

            Redmond has been an epicenter for logging and agricultural development since the early 1900s. As aggressive logging continued into the 1920s, many virgin forests were destroyed and the timber industry faded away soon after. Since the logging business was no longer bringing money into the city of Redmond, agricultural development began to take place and soon farming would be the mainstay of the city’s economy. Many farmers began developing their land by planting crops, building fencing and cages for livestock, and establishing property bounds. But dramatic change would then come in 1963 when the Evergreen Point floating bridge was built. This allowed residents to move to Redmond and residential housing started to be developed. Suburban neighborhoods sprouted amongst the old farming land and wetlands north of downtown Redmond. With this development, wetlands and old forests were destroyed due to housing construction, chemical usage, and poor resource management. As more people began to live within Redmond, especially the wetland areas, pollution began to rise. Residents use to and still use various consumer fertilizers for their lawns and homes, which ultimately end up in the water supply and cause eutrophication. This process of nutrient runoff makes biodiversity in aquatic environments decrease and creates hypoxic conditions. Along with nutrient runoff causing wildlife destruction, logging and deforestation have also caused many bird and mammal populations to decrease as well.   

Geology (Station 2):
    

Since this area has been developed to hold paved trails and experience human interaction, gravel and cement have been implemented into the surroundings which is not representative of any natural geomorphology in this area. Much of the tops layer of the ground is just decomposing conifer needles and leaf matter while underneath is gravel with some rounded rocks scattered here or there or even engulfed in deep dirt. These rounded stones were not part of the placement of gravel when this natural reserve was developed. So how did these mysterious round rocks get here and how were they formed to be round? Since this area is in the Puget Sound trough it is safe to guess that these larger rounded rocks traveled here through the process of glaciation. About 15,000 years ago the Vashon ice sheet or glacier began it's long melting process and started to recede from the Columbia River basin and the Puget Sound region. Then 4,000 years later, so about 11,000 years ago, the Vashon glacier reaches back to the border of Canada and uncovers Washington state. During this retreat of ice, water from the melting glacier begun to pour through the region carving out various lakes and forming the Puget Sound's unique geomorphology. As for the rocks, they were suspended in the ice until it melted and they were released. Yet the flow of water from the ice melt pushed these rocks along various surfaces thus carving their rounded shape and structure. These stones are not as monstrous as erratics yet they went through the same process to travel where they are today.

Animal Behavior (Station 3):

As you walk through the forest you might notice trees with numerous holes in their bark. Was someone out here for target practice? Does the tree just grow like that? Nope! It is the work of a woodpecker, most likely a pileated woodpecker due to their large presence in this area. These woodpeckers have long sharp beaks that they use to peck at the bark and search for insects in the wood. Woodpeckers also have pointed tail feathers to help support the bird on the side of the tree while it thrusts it's beak. But feathers are not enough to hold this bird up on the tree side for a long time. That's why these birds have sharp talons to grip the bark tightly and hold on while they poke holes into the tree. Although this pecking for food creates a loud hammering noise that is very easily heard, that sound is mainly for territorial and mating purposes. Woodpeckers, especially the pileated woodpecker, makes these distinct hammering noises to attract mates into the area as well as establishing territorial bounds for other woodpeckers and creatures to recognize. All of the organisms in this watershed possess ecological niches that allow them to thrive and they behave in different ways ultimately to further reproductive success and survival.

Invertebrate (Station 4):

            One common invertebrate that I frequently saw while lifting up rocks and scattering dead leafs was the Sow bug or Porcellio scaber. These creatures are often mistaken as insects when in fact that they are land-living crustaceans and they are the only known crustaceans that spend their entire life on land. Sow bugs usually range in size from a ¼ to ½ inch long and about an 1/8 to ¼ inch wide. Their round oval bodies are segmented and convex on their back but flat or concave underneath. This creature possesses seven pairs of legs and two pairs of antennae. Sow bugs also have two tail-like appendages, which protrude from the rear end of the body. The Redmond Watershed Preserve is a perfect habitat for these organisms because of its wet and moist soils and frequent rainfall to maintain that moisture. Also, they tend to live in dense decaying organic matter to shield them from the light during the day. Yet they can usually be found under a variety of objects and material such as mulch, compost, old wood boards, stones, and other items resting on damp ground. As the sun falls and night emerges, so does the sow bug population in order to search for food without being spotted by predators. They usually feed on decaying plant material and various funguses. This little crustacean has many predators though such as spiders, centipedes, ground beetles, and small mammals like chipmunks. Even though many creatures threaten them, sow bugs have foul-smelling and foul-tasting defensive chemicals in order to protect themselves from being eaten.

Plants (Station 5):

            Since this area retains high amounts of water, a wide variety of trees, shrubs, flowering plants are able to grow and thrive in this area. The Redmond watershed is home to major and common trees in Washington such as the Western hemlock and Douglas fir as well as some deciduous trees like the Bigleaf maple, which is usually found near bodies of water. The Western red cedar is also very prominent in this area when it comes to trees. This preserve would be considered a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees but during the time of my observations, the coniferous tree populations seemed to be dominant due to the season and the change in temperature. As we look lower towards the ground level we begin to see a vast array of shrubs and young emerging trees. The wet leaf-littered ground tends to be composed of in decaying plant matter and moist soil, which allows easy growth for ferns such as the common sword fern and the lady fern. These ferns are found here mainly because they can survive acidic conditions created by litter from cedar trees. Another common shrub in this area would be Devil’s club with its large maple-like leaves and numerous spines on its branches. Since the deer population in this area is high, this plant has evolved spines to help protect itself and it’s fruit from herbivore predators like the white-tailed deer.










Fungi (Station 6):
The Pacific Northwest is known for its extensive collection of native fungi they thrive in our conifer forests. Mushrooms and other fungi need damp temperate conditions in order to grow and emerge from the deep mycelium underground. These conditions are all over Washington but wetlands such as the Redmond Watershed make a perfect home for fungal species. First, one should understand the importance of fungi before understanding the large variety of species and structures. Fungi and major decomposers in conifer forests, feeding on leaf litter, dead carcasses, fallen trees, and other organic matter. Although there are vast amounts of decomposing fungi, there are also mycorrhizal fungi that are deep under the soil and interconnected with the roots of trees. Even though these fungi can't be seen, they play an important role in maintaining the health of trees and the forest. These fungi are able to fix nitrogen and other nutrients necessary for the trees survival while the tree supplies the fungi with water and glucose thus making a mutualistic relationship. Fungi grow year round in Washington yet they tend to emerge the most in the fall months and when the temperature begins to drop before winter and rainfall starts to increase.

Ecological Interaction (Station 7):
One of the most common interactions between species would be between plants growing on top of each other. What I mean by this is the ability for smaller plants such as red huckleberry to grow on nurse logs or decomposing stumps. When people see this interaction between the two organisms they usually just walk by and think nothing of it. Yet there are many tactical reasons thee plants begin to inhabit and grow on dead trees. Many people know plants need light to survive but many people don't know that plants compete against each other to gain space and height over others to absorb the most light and thrive. Various plants begin to grow on these elevated stumps and nurse logs in order to be higher up towards the source of light, the sun. Even though these dead tree vary in size, plants will take any advantage they are given to survive and grow. Another reason these plants begin to grow of stumps and trees is to avoid predators that eat them. Many plants that produce fruit tend to grow on these organic platforms to be less accessible to herbivores such as the black-tailed deer. If one plant is more available on the ground then animals tend to not waste their time with more harder to reach food sources. Although plants inhabit much of the space on these nurse logs, many creatures like carpenter ants, termites, and other invertebrates share this miniature ecosystem.
  

Pileated woodpecker (Station 8):

            In the Pacific Northwest, the Pileated woodpecker or Dryocopus pileatus tend to live in mature mixed deciduous/coniferous woodlands. The Redmond Watershed Preserve is home to many large decaying trees that are scattered amongst healthy coniferous trees such as Western hemlock and Douglas fir. This habitat is ideal for this woodpecker due to its choice in food. The Pileated woodpecker primarily feeds on carpenter ants, wood boring beetle larvae, termites, and other various insects. They will also consume wild fruits and nuts such as greenbrier, hackberry, blackberries, elderberries, and sumac berries. Although they maintain a wide variety of options for food and energy, some diet studies have shown that ants constitute 40 percent pf their diet, and up to even 97 percent in some individuals. Yet to obtain these sources of food, this bird must use its ecological niche to get to them. They make large rectangular excavations in decaying wood in order to pursue the tunnels of carpenter ants. This woodpecker also has a long, barbed tongue to extract larger insects deep in the wood. As for appearance, this woodpecker is the largest in North America with a long neck and a triangular crest that sweeps off the back of the top of its head. The bill is very long and resembles a chisel, which is almost the same length of its head. This bird is mostly black with white stripes on the face and neck with a bright red crest. Males tend to have a red stripe on the check whereas females only have the red crest alone. While in flight, the woodpecker reveals white underwings and small white crescents on the upper side. Also, the tail feathers on this woodpecker, and many others, are pointed instead of rounded. The Pileated woodpecker produces a very distinct sound and can be very vocal at times. They tend to make a high yet clear series of calls that last for several seconds. Its call resembles one of a Northern Flicker but with more resonance and less even tone. They also give short calls that sound like wuk, wuk to indicate territory boundary or to give an alarm call. Beside their call, they can also be heard when attempting to catch food. As they excavate in various dead trees, they grip the bark with their feet for support while they thrust their sharp bill into the wood thus making a loud thunking noise that resembles a hammer against wood.

The Importance of Watersheds (Station 9):
While walking through this natural area for a few months, you begin to form a connection to this location and the life that it supports. Since I grew up in Redmond and have been to this site in the past numerous times, this place is very special to me. Yet it is not only important to me, it is essential for the lives of the various species that dwell in the forest. Rainwater and snowmelt drains from these watersheds into a single location such as a lake, stream, or river. These bodies of fresh water supplies drinking water, water for agriculture, and industrial processes. Although this water supply is convenient for human use, many watersheds are threatened today. Wetlands support a diverse and unique ecosystem of different species that are sensitive to ecological impact. During my time there I photographed a vast amount of creatures and had a ton of fun in the process. But while I was doing this I began to truly realize the great biodiversity this area holds. I spotted belted kingfishers, buffleheads, black-tailed deer, and much more. Without this biodiversity we begin to homogenize nature and create similar environments and species. This will definitely impact human life as well and if we don't stop the decline of this planet's species in the next century, the time it will take for evolution to generate the same number of species in the past will take millions of years. But instead of just thinking about human needs, think about all the other life the inhabits the world. We are not so different from these creatures in that we all seek food, water, shelter, compassion, and the avoidance of pain. As humans we have a responsibility to protect and preserve the world in which we live in as well as all other life.

Ecological disturbance (Station 10):

            Since this area is considered a wetland, it’s sensitivity and number of keystone species allows for easy disturbance due to residential development, logging, and agriculture. At this site near the edge of the pond in the Redmond Watershed Preserve, an ecological engineer is at work creating natural disturbances in this watershed. Near the edge of the pond, wood chips of varying sizes are scattered around what is left of the tree with a chewed top. This mammal causes trees to fall due to feeding on the wood or building a dam near a water body. Beavers are ecological engineers because they create opportunities for different species to inhabit an area such as a damed pond or a decomposing tree that has fallen. As various trees fall, they begin to decompose and and pump nutrients back into the ecosystem. Over time these nurse logs begin to harbor different fungi and insects and other creatures as it breakdown. Although there are many positive effects of fallen trees, some habitats for birds and chipmunks can be lost and force individuals to move. Yet these grounded giants play a key role in maintaining the health of these dominant conifer forests. But beavers are not the only natural disturbance that causes trees to fall over. Wind is especially strong during some seasons and when trees become weak with age they start to lean and eventually drop. There are numerous old decomposed stumps and fallen trees scattered around the wetland.