Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape

Golden-Crowned Kinglets and Tree Frog sightings!

2010-09-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Pacific Chorus Frog (AKA Tree Frog) Photo by maxi millipede
What a great week it has been in the Bird-Friendly Landscape! On the evening of Wednesday, September 8th, volunteer Ryan Stickney made the first sighting of a Tree Frog in the landscape while he was mulching near a Evergreen Huckleberry shrub. It took a good look at him and then hopped off into the Sword Ferns....

Then today I made the first sighting of a small flock of Golden-Crowned Kinglets, drinking and bathing in the dish rock of our solar-powered water feature! They moved in and out so quickly I was only able to get a glimpse- click on the photos above and below to enlarge them, then look for the bright orange and gold stripes to see the male version of this tiny songbird. The female is more difficult to spot but she is there behind the rushes below.

Other birds seen and heard today in the Bird-Friendly Landscape were a newly-arrived flock of Oregon Juncos feeding on the Staghorn Sumac seeds, a Northern Flicker calling from one of the Atlas Cedars, a male Anna's Hummingbird "singing" as usual near the top of a snag, and a giant flock of Bushtits in the Birch Trees. These birds are even tinier than the Kinglets, and gather in groups of 30-40 birds during the fall and winter months. They are some of the best aphid-eaters on the planet, and keep all the Birch Trees and other plants in the landscape pest-free year-round. Last but not least, a family group of our resident Chickadees was poking around here and there, finding pest insects to eat and caching seeds in every nook and cranny they could find. Chickadees are one of the only birds in the world that cache food for a winter reserve. We are used to associating this behavior with squirrels and other rodents, but unlike them, Chickadees actually remember where they cache their food! In fact, Chickadees will move their stored food to a new location if they see that another bird has been watching their work... does this remind you of behavior from any other other creature.... such as human beings... isn't it funny how many characteristics we share with the "wild" creatures in the world?

Speaking of humans with great characteristics.... this past week also brought two groups of volunteers from Seattle Works, who gave the landscape a complete weeding and mulching! Wow, what a transformation they made. The thick layer of wood chip mulch will release micro-nutrients and foster beneficial organisms that help the "baby" plants (now in their 2nd year) spread their roots out strong into the surrounding soil, and store lots of energy for next year's growth. It will also protect the soil so that the coming winter rains can be slowly and steadily absorbed, that will enable the plants to become more drought-tolerant when next summer's heat rolls around again. On top of that, the mulch will smother the weed "seed bank" in the soil, and allow these bird-friendly plants to out-compete the weeds that do manage to sprout next spring! The valuable and much-needed work of both groups was led by the intrepid Ryan Stickney, who also led a group at the Magnuson Children's Garden earlier this summer- thank you x 3 to Ryan!

group photos by Joanna Li, Magnuson Community Center staff

Welcome to the Bird-Friendly Landscape!

2010-05-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

Magnuson Park is home to a diverse number of native bird species; songbirds, waterfowl, birds of prey, and more. Over the years, community volunteers and environmental organizations have been involved in many wonderful restoration projects in the perimeter areas of the park, designed to provide habitat for birds and other urban wildlife. The birds that visit and live in the Promontory Point, Flyway, and the Forest Remnant Project areas are benefiting greatly by this important work. But until recently, there were only a few places within the Magnuson Historic District where native birds could find the type of habitat they need in order to thrive.

Research by the National Wildlife Federation, the Audubon Society, the WA State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, and other organizations has shown that increasing the quantity and quality of habitat within urban areas is essential to the survival of resident and migratory birds. As a landscape designer and birder, I have seen ample evidence that even our most developed urban areas can provide excellent habitat for native birds. And there’s no sweeter sound in the world to me than the cheerful song of a bird that has found a public or private landscape that is a “green island” containing the food, water, shelter, and nesting places that it needs in order to thrive.

The Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape is a place that has been designed to be one of those “green islands”, and I am very happy to have coordinated its design and creation. Magnuson Community Center is located right in the heart of the Magnuson Historic District, in the former Navy Recreation Center building. It is a fantastic resource for the community, with a large auditorium, gymnasium, meeting rooms, a great staff, and wonderful programming.

However, the landscape beds around the building were not very attractive or welcoming to visitors, to say the least. Directly in front of the building was a 150 ft. long, half-moon shaped island bed, filled with an 8ft tall thicket of native Nootka Roses that was smothering every other tree and shrub around it.

Even though these roses do provide good food and shelter for native birds, in this location they were a classic case of wrong plant/wrong place. The birds that feed on these rose hips do not inhabit this part of the Historic District, and so the hips were just rotting on the canes each winter, uneaten. Many of the other plants in the bed were natives that provide excellent food and shelter for birds, but being shaded out by the roses meant that they did not bloom or bear well, and some were being killed. On top of all this, any bits of paper, plastic, or other trash that blew into the bed were instantly impaled in the impenetrable thorny thicket, which was nearly impossible for parks staff to maintain.

During the first part of 2007, I began working with Community Center director Karla Withrow and the Magnuson Advisory Council to identify the ways for the landscape to meet the needs of the birds, the public, and the Community Center and Park staff. Then I developed a landscape design and planting plan that would fulfill the following goals.

To fulfill the 4 basic needs of native birds- food, water, shelter, and nesting places- by dramatically increasing the number and diversity of native plants, adding a year round water source, and adding appropriate nest boxes and other features.
To be a backyard-size demonstration garden to inform and educate the public on the benefits and methods of growing a bird-friendly, low-maintenance, low-water-use landscape, on a scale that they can adapt to their own property.
To enhance the beauty of the Community Center landscape in a way that is sustainable long-term by Seattle Parks maintenance and grounds staff.
To engage children and adults from the community in a hands-on project that would create a bond with the park and with the Community Center.
To provide an educational and encouraging starting point for bird-watching exploration by families and other groups who check out the “Birds of Magnuson” Family Explorer Packs from the Community Center.

In the fall of 2007, I began recruiting and organizing volunteers to begin the difficult task of removing the Nootka Rose thicket. Words cannot express the transformation that began as the YMCA “Y-Guides” dads and sons, and the young women and men from Seattle Works dug and pulled until the rest of the plants in the landscape were finally free of the smothering thicket. Most of the Roses that were removed were loaded up onto Parks Dept trucks and taken to the North restoration area where they were re-planted along the lakeshore as a protective thicket for waterfowl. I still think of those first 2 workparties with awe.

In March 2008, the Y-Guides dads and sons came back to build and install 2 Chickadee birdhouses in the landscape.

In the spring, two more Seattle Works groups came to remove the few roses that had re-sprouted, and build a new seating area, solar-powered water feature, and rain garden. The renewed vigor of the trees and shrubs in the landscape that now received all the sunshine they needed was astounding to see; each produced more and larger flowers, which provided an abundance of nectar for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The resulting berry and fruit production almost tripled, providing food for the Chickadees, Wrens, Towhees. Flickers, and other birds that continue to visit the landscape.

In the fall of 2008, the Y-Guides, Seattle Works, Campfire group #912, and other community volunteers installed dozens of native plants throughout the open areas of the landscape. These will provide additional sources of food and shelter for the birds of Magnuson Park each year as they grow larger and bear more fruit. Then volunteers mulched the entire bed with a fresh layer of wood chips, to provide habitat for beneficial insects to overwinter.

Colorful and educational signage was created by graphic designer Robin Hing, along with a brochure to enable all visitors to take a self guided tour and decide which of these plants they want to add to their own home garden.

The Campfire group came back in April 2009 for a 'spring spruce-up", and then it was time to celebrate our success with a big party!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Ciscoe Morris on May 10th, 2009

L-R: Seattle Parks Recreation Director Sue Goodwin, YMCA "Pocket Gopher" volunteer Jesse, TV and radio personality Ciscoe Morris, Shoreline Campfire Group #912 volunteers on each side of Seattle Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, Magnuson Park Planning & Development Coordinator Kevin Bergsrud, and Jr. Nature Explorer/community volunteer Jake

We had such great fun at our Dedication Celebration; seeing all the smiling faces gathered together in the sunshine with the plants thriving, the solar water feature bubbling away, hummingbirds bustling in the flowers, and hearing the Chickadee nestlings peeping away in their new house!

The majority of the celebration was devoted to honoring the many volunteers who helped make this project such a big success:

The YMCA Y-Guides "Pocket Gophers" group
Campfire group #912 “Tanda Kani Ka Ta” from St. Luke's School in Shoreline
Seattle Works TeamWorks leaders and team members
Jr. Nature Explorers program families
Magnuson Advisory Council
Community members from Seattle Audubon and surrounding neighborhoods

Ciscoe with youth volunteers

Also, to recognize the enormous support from the staff of the Magnuson Park Community Center along with the Magnuson grounds crew gardeners and Park Administration staff, who all helped to make this project a big success! Special thanks go to former crew chief Don LaFrance, who provided unwavering encouragement from the very start.

L-R: Seattle Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, Ciscoe Morris, Magnuson Community Center Director Karla Withrow, Seattle Parks Recreation Director Sue Goodwin, and Landscape Designer/Project Coordinator Emily Bishton

In 2009, the Magnuson Community Center began hosting family-friendly classes to teach interested adults and children how to create or enhance their own landscape to provide good habitat for native birds and other wildlife. This has continued in 2010, when our first class was part of the hugely-popular 'Celebrate Urban Nature' event on April 10th.

Sometime in the near future, we are hoping to receive grants and other funding to further our success by creating additional bird-friendly landscaping in all the other beds surrounding the Community Center.

Someday perhaps, we will even be able to expand the concept across the street where there is an identical half-moon bed owned by the University of Washington. This landscape is still in the "before" condition, but certainly has the potential to be a great "twin" to the Magnuson Community Center's beautiful and vibrant Bird-Friendly Landscape!

If you would like to participate in workparty events at the existing or future Bird-Friendly Landscape, please contact me via email at birdfriendlylandscape@gmail.com. For information on my other landscape design and environmental education work, visit http://www.greenlightgardening.com

May Day! Please Show Your Support!

2010-05-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
2010 has the potential to be the best year ever for all Magnuson Community Center Nature Programs and Projects, including the Bird-Friendly Landscape!

Our first nature event of the year- 'Celebrate Urban Nature' on Saturday, April 10th- was a huge success, drawing over 800 adults and children for fun and educational nature experiences. Attendees met live Owls from Woodland Park Zoo, our own resident Chickadees and Hummingbirds in the Bird-Friendly Landscape, plus the whole gymnasium was filled with interactive booths where they could learn about insects, reptiles, marine mammals, and local environmental organizations. Not to mention the concert by Caspar Babypants, whose delightful songs about birds, bugs, frogs, and other creatures started the day- and this whole event was FREE!

However, this spring has brought some very dark clouds to our horizon. The Seattle City Council is considering the idea of closing some Community Centers in order to balance the budget, and Magnuson Community Center may be vulnerable to the chopping block because of its proximity to other, older and more established Community Centers in NE Seattle.

But Magnuson Community Center is incredibly unique because of its location within this 350-acre park, which is second only to Discovery Park in size, and contains some of the most diverse wildlife habitat in the entire region. (Seattle Audubon Society volunteers have counted 185 different species of birds in the park, which is also home to scores of garter snakes, tree frogs and other amphibians.)

Ever since it opened in 2004, Magnuson Community Center has been creating nature programs to educate children and adults, and it has become an Environmental Education Center is all ways except an official title. Each year, its Coordinators and Advisory Council have continued to dedicate time and resources to keeping Magnuson Community Center on the leading edge of the children and nature movement. Its nature programs have grown to include a wide variety of choices for children ages 4-12, their parents and other adults, and teen service learning opportunities. These programs now comprise a major part of their community offerings, so closing Magnuson Community Center would be a devastating blow to overall nature education in NE Seattle.

Here is some of what would be lost:

The Bird-Friendly Landscape: a 3000 sq. ft. interactive and vibrant public demonstration garden for how to create bird habitat in an urban-size yard, built and maintained by Community Center recruited volunteers since 2007.
The Family Explorer Packs: Only $5 per day to rent a backpack full of everything a family needs to explore the park to find the 'Birds of Magnuson' or make "Wetland Discoveries'
Family Nature Explorers Program: FREE classes and wetland walks each month.
Jr. Nature Explorers and Nature Explorers Program: affordable camps and classes for children ages 4-12
BRAND NEW Field Trip Program: affordable and educational, guided park excursions for elementary schools and preschools. scout groups, 4-H and home-schooled children, to learn about the 'Birds of Magnuson' or make "Wetland Discoveries'.

It would be especially unfortunate to have Mayor McGinn and the City Council close Magnuson Community Center during the EPA's National Wetlands Month, wouldn't it?

Please help support Magnuson Community Center by contacting the City Council and Mayor McGinn to encourage them to allow Magnuson Community Center to continue all its program offerings. Most especially to be able to continue its expanding and vibrant Nature Programs, which have shown their value by the dramatic surge in public demand during the entire 6 years of dedicated effort and time.

As long as Magnuson Community Center remains open, here is the schedule of the Nature Programs and events in store for 2010!
FREE Magnuson Family Explorer Wetland Walks
Bring the whole family for an adventure in the new Magnuson Park Wetlands! You’ll see emerging spring growth, the arrival and departure of insects and migratory birds, the seasonal ebb and flow of water in the ponds and swales, lush summer bounty of flowering and fruiting plants, and the quiet times of fall. Each tour will include info on the history and function of the site, but each will also have a different theme with fun, hands-on exploration activities. Binoculars and field guides will be provided, or you can bring your own.

Tour Leader: Children's Educator and Naturalist Emily Bishton, with special guest Wetlands Gardener Miriam Preus.

Starts at this Location: The NE 65th St entry to the Magnuson Wetlands, inside the parking lot just east of Sportsfield Drive. Meet in front of the tall berms at the northeast corner of the parking lot.

Pre-registration requested, but walk-ins are welcome.

Wetland Wake-Up April 10th from 9:00-10:00am (part of the 'Celebrate Urban Nature' event)
Tadpoles and Nestlings May 1st from 10:00-11:00am.
Spring Migration June 5th from 10:00-11:00am
The Growing Season July 3rd from 10:00-11:00am
Songs of Summer Aug. 7th from 10:00-11:00am
Fall Migration Sept 4th from 10:00-11:00am
Autumn Beauty Oct 2nd from 10:00-11:00am
Winter Arrivals Nov 6th from 10:00-11:00am
Family Explorer Pack rental, available year-round
Explorer packs are available at the Magnuson Community Center to check out for $5.00 per day. They are perfect for families, scout troops, campfire, 4-H, and homeschool groups.

Pack #2. NEW! “Wetland Discoveries” Explorer Pack
Explore the new Magnuson Wetlands with everything you’ll need for a fun-filled, self-guided adventure! The pack is stuffed with maps, field guides/charts, binoculars, and other exploration supplies. Includes a delightful activity booklet for each child to keep!

Pack #2. “The Birds of Magnuson Park” Explorer Pack
Explore Magnuson Park with everything you’ll need for a fun-filled, self-guided bird-watching adventure! The pack contains maps, field guides, binoculars. and everything else you’ll need for a bird-watching expedition to Promontory Point, the Community Garden, and the Community Center’s Bird-Friendly Landscape. Includes a delightful activity booklet for each child to keep!

FREE Family Nature Explorer Classes
Bring the whole family to Magnuson Park to learn together! You’ll see and learn easy ways to attract more songbirds and butterflies to your garden, and how to make it more fun for your children to explore and play there. Each class includes free printed materials, and hands-on outdoor activities in either the Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape or the Magnuson Children’s Garden.
Instructor: Emily Bishton
Pre-registration requested, but walk-ins are welcome

Class #1. How to Create your Own Bird-friendly Garden
Date and Time: Fall 2010 TBA
Location: Magnuson Community Center-Windemere Room, and the Bird-Friendly Landscape.
Class #2. How to Create your own Child-friendly Garden
Date and Time: Fall 2010 TBA
Location: Magnuson Brig- Ravenna Room, and the Magnuson Children’s Garden.

For more info on the Wetland Walks or these family-friendly hands-on classes, visit http://jrnatureexplorers.blogspot.com

To register, contact the Community Center staff at 206-684-7026 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson/

Magnuson Community Center is a proud participant in the annual National Environmental Education Week, and hosted several educational events for children at the Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape and Children's Garden during the week!

For more info on National Environmental Education Week, visit http://www.eeweek.org

Major Expansion of Nature Programs!

2010-03-22T17:19:00.001-07:00

2010 brings a major new expansion to all Magnuson Park Nature Programs, starting with an exciting FREE event:
'Celebrate Urban Nature' Saturday, April 10th
from 10:30am-2:00pm at the Magnuson Community Center 7110 62nd Ave NE Seattle, WA 98115 206-684-7026
FREE!

Featuring:

Free music concert for families inside the Auditorium, by Caspar Babypants and Friends! (aka Chris Ballew)
Hands-on interactive booths and resources from local environmental education organizations
Woodland Park Zoo program with live birds!
Nature carnival with prizes
Bug Safari!
Roving Reptiles show!
Nature-based classes for children and families
Refreshments
And much, much more!

Here are some of the other new nature programs and events in store for 2010:
FREE Family Nature Explorer Classes
Bring the whole family to Magnuson Park to learn together! You’ll see and learn easy ways to attract more songbirds and butterflies to your garden, and how to make it more fun for your children to explore and play there. Each class includes free printed materials, and hands-on outdoor activities in either the Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape or the Magnuson Children’s Garden.
Instructor: Emily Bishton
Pre-registration requested, but walk-ins are welcome

Class #1. How to Create your Own Bird-friendly Garden
Sat. April 10th from 11:30am-12:30pm
(part of the 'Celebrate Urban Nature' event)
Location: Magnuson Community Center-Windemere Room, and the Bird-Friendly Landscape.
Class #2. How to Create your own Child-friendly Garden
Sat. May 1st from 11:30am-12:30pm
Location: Magnuson Brig- Ravenna Room, and the Children’s Garden.

For more info or to register for either of these classes, contact the Community Center staff at 206-684-7026 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson/

FREE Magnuson Family Explorer Wetland Walks
Bring the whole family for an adventure in the new Magnuson Park Wetlands! You’ll see emerging spring growth, the arrival and departure of insects and migratory birds, the seasonal ebb and flow of water in the ponds and swales, lush summer bounty of flowering and fruiting plants, and the quiet times of fall. Each tour will include info on the history and function of the site, but each will also have a different theme with fun, hands-on exploration activities. Binoculars and field guides will be provided, or you can bring your own.
Tour Leaders: Emily Bishton and Miriam Preus
Location: The NE 65th St entry to the Magnuson Wetlands, inside the parking lot just east of Sportsfield Drive. Meet in front of the tall mounds at the northeast corner of the parking lot.
Pre-registration requested, but walk-ins are welcome.

Wetland Wake-Up April 10th from 9:00-10:00am (part of the 'Celebrate Urban Nature' event)
Tadpoles and Nestlings May 1st from 10:00-11:00am.
Spring Migration June 5th from 10:00-11:00am
The Growing Season July 3rd from 10:00-11:00am
Songs of Summer Aug. 7th from 10:00-11:00am
Fall Migration Sept 4th from 10:00-11:00am
Autumn Beauty Oct 2nd from 10:00-11:00am
Winter Arrivals Nov 6th from 10:00-11:00am

Family Explorer Pack rental, available year-round
Explorer packs are available at the Magnuson Community Center to check out for $5.00 per day. They are perfect for families, scout troops, campfire, 4-H, and homeschool groups.

Pack #2. NEW! “Wetland Discoveries” Explorer Pack
Explore the new Magnuson Wetlands with everything you’ll need for a fun-filled, self-guided adventure! The pack is stuffed with maps, field guides/charts, binoculars, and other exploration supplies. Includes a delightful activity booklet for each child to keep!

Pack #2. “The Birds of Magnuson Park” Explorer Pack
Explore Magnuson Park with everything you’ll need for a fun-filled, self-guided bird-watching adventure! The pack contains maps, field guides, binoculars. and everything else you’ll need for a bird-watching expedition to Promontory Point, the Community Garden, and the Community Center’s Bird-Friendly Landscape. Includes a delightful activity booklet for each child to keep!

Magnuson Park is a proud participant in the annual National Environmental Education Week, which will be held this year on April 11th-17th. The Magnuson Community Center, Children's Garden, and Bird-Friendly Landscape will host 4 educational events that week for school-age children!

For more info on National Environmental Education Week, visit http://www.eeweek.org

Big Plans for Spring!

2010-01-06T10:59:00.001-08:00

Free music concert for families inside the Auditorium
Displays and resources from local environmental education organizations
Woodland Park Zoo program with live birds!
Bug Safari!
Roving Reptiles show!
Nature-based classes for children and families
Refreshments
And much, much more!

FREE Family-Friendly Fall Events!

2009-09-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

FREE CLASS
"How to Create Your Own Bird-Friendly Garden"
Saturday September 26th from 11:00am-12:30pm

NEW TIME AND NO FEE!
As part of the Grand Opening of the Magnuson Wetlands and Athletic Fields, the Magnuson Community Center will be hosting a great new family-friendly class that will help you add bird-friendly features to your own garden!

Saturday September 26th from 11:00am-12:30pm
“HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BIRD-FRIENDLY GARDEN”
presented by Emily Bishton, landscape designer and educator

The class will include:

A table display with hands-on examples of plants, nesting boxes, bird nests, books, etc. for children and adults to explore.
A brief and colorful PowerPoint slideshow that illustrates how to add wildlife-friendly features to your own garden, to attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. (family-friendly with lots of pictures and very few words!)
A guided tour of the Community Center's new Bird-Friendly Landscape.
Free printed materials such as a Top 10 Native Plants List, The 4 Keys to Success, National Wildlife Federation habitat info, and other educational materials.
Question and Answer time.

Location:
Magnuson Community Center
Building 47
7110 62nd Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206-684-7026

Fee:
FREE!

For more info or to register for the class, contact the Community Center staff at 206-684-7026 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson/

Other Family-Friendly Fall Events:

Sun. Sept. 20th- Fall family workparty in the Magnuson Community Center Bird-friendly Landscape. Join community volunteers from the YMCA "Y-Guides" program as we do a fall cleanup and mulching in this great new garden. Refreshments, tools, and gloves provided for all!
Sat. October 17th- Seattle Works Day in the Magnuson Community Center Bird-friendly Landscape from 10am-2pm. Come enjoy the fun of planting new shrubs and groundcovers, and finishing the mulching in this great new garden. Refreshments, tools, and gloves provided for all!

Family Birdwalks at Magnuson!

2009-08-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

The Family Birdwalk program is an exciting opportunity for families who participate in any of the Magnuson Family Campouts. The campouts take place on selected Friday nights during the summer, when the Magnuson Swimming Beach becomes a tent "village", full of fun such as as singing around the campfire complete with s'mores, nighttime bat walks, breakfast in the park, and the opportunity to go on an early morning bird-watching expedition.

The Family Birdwalks are free, and designed to educate and excite the whole family about fun and successful ways to watch birds in action while exploring the park. The walks wind through the trails in the wooded area just south of Kite Hill, the grasslands near the Tennis Courts, and a gradual climb up the west side of Kite Hill. The 45-minute walks are moderate in distance and topography, to enable even those with small children to enjoy participating, and to allow time for all to stop, look, and listen in some of the most bird-friendly spots.

The program took a giant step forward this summer with two events that each drew a large group of families. We hope you'll be along for the next one in 2010!

On Saturday July 11th, a group of 21 adults and children saw and heard a variety of bird species, including:

Bewick's Wren
Red-Winged Blackbird
White-Crowned Sparrow
American Crow
Rufous Hummingbird
Downey Woodpecker
Barn Swallow
Spotted Towhee

On Saturday August 8th, a group of 17 adults and children saw and heard:

Northern Red-Shafted Flicker
Red-Tailed Hawk
American Goldfinch
House Finch
American Robin
European Starling
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Anna's Hummingbird

The Family Birdwalk program also gives families the opportunity for a free preview use of the Magnuson Family Explorer Backpacks, which are filled with a variety of bird-watching supplies such as:

adult-size and child-size binoculars
bird ID guides, fandecks, and laminated cards
detailed maps to several bird-watching trails within the park, with lists of the birds most commonly seen there
a bird activity book for kids with coloring pages, crossword puzzle, fill-in-the blank pages, scavenger hunts, and more
a bird card game for rainy day fun

The Magnuson Family Explorer Packs can be checked out for the fee of $5.00 per day at the Magnuson Community Center reception desk, anytime that the center is open. For more information, call 206-684-7026 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson

Our Dedication Celebration was a Blast!

2009-06-25T14:51:00.001-07:00

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Ciscoe Morris

May 10th, 2009

L-R: Seattle Parks Recreation Director Sue Goodwin, YMCA "Pocket Gopher" volunteer Jesse, TV and radio personality Ciscoe Morris, Campfire Group volunteers on each side of Seattle Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, Magnuson Park Planning & Development Coordinator Kevin Bergsrud, and Jr. Nature Explorer/community volunteer Jake

We had such great fun at our Dedication Celebration; seeing all the smiling faces gathered together in the sunshine with the plants thriving, the solar water feature bubbling away, hummingbirds bustling in the flowers, and hearing the Chickadee nestlings peeping away in their new house!

Our celebration was kicked off by the New Old Time Chautauqua Marching Band, who paraded up to the Community Center accompanied by jugglers, clowns, and tree-costumed revelers!

The majority of the celebration was devoted to honoring the many volunteers who helped make this project such a big success, including:

The YMCA Y-Guides "Pocket Gophers" group
Campfire group #912 “Tanda Kani Ka Ta” from St. Luke's School in Shoreline
Seattle Works TeamWorks volunteers
Jr. Nature Explorers program volunteers and families
Magnuson Advisory Council volunteers
Community volunteers from Seattle Audubon and surrounding neighborhoods

Ciscoe with youth volunteers

You're Invited to the Dedication Celebration!

2009-02-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

You're invited to the
Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape
Dedication Celebration!

Sunday May 10th,
beginning at 10:00am
at the
Magnuson Community Center
(aka Building #47)
7110 62nd Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206-684-7026
Cost: FREE!

Come celebrate this beautiful new addition to the Magnuson Community Center; a landscape that provides much-needed habitat for native birds and other urban wildlife, as well as a peaceful oasis for bird-watching.

The Dedication Celebration will be filled with lots of fun for the whole family! Enjoy refreshments while you browse through a display of bird nests and other materials, take a tour of the landscape with its designer, then make sure to join the Chautauqua Marching Band Parade and Ribbon Cutting with special guest Ciscoe Morris!

After the Dedication Celebration, join the parade to the Festival of Trees, a FREE family event to celebrate Seattle’s trees with a day of learning and entertainment.

Festival of Trees- Highlights:

Lots of indoor and outdoor nature activities for kids and families; make Mother's Day gifts from recycled paper, help create a tree mural, and explore the acclaimed Magnuson Children's Garden.
Free talks by your favorite famous gardener; Celebrity gardeners include author-columnists Ciscoe Morris, Marty Wingate, Arthur Lee Jacobsen, Linda Chalker-Scott, and others.
The New Old Time Chautauqua will provide a boatload of family fun and live entertainment: music, magic, juggling, comedy, aerial acrobatics and more.
Live tree planting and tree care demonstrations all day.
Tour the secret gardens of Magnuson Park.
Browse education displays from local Environmental Organizations
Shop at booths filled with eco-friendly products, crafts, and healthy-food.

For more info: See festival link on homepage of www.PlantAmnesty.org

The Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape could not have been possible without the energy and spirit of scores of community volunteers!

Directions to the Magnuson Community Center:
Travel on Sand Point Way NE to the stoplight at NE 74th Street, which is the main entrance of Magnuson Park. Turn on NE 74th and go into the park, then in 2 blocks you will see 62nd Ave NE, which is a right-turn only. Turn onto 62nd Ave and in approx. 2 blocks you will see a large brick building on your left, which is the Magnuson Community Center. There is a parking lot just south of the building, and street parking is also allowed.
See you there!

2009 Family-friendly Classes and other Events

2009-02-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

This spring, the Magnuson Community Center will begin hosting family-friendly classes to help you create a bird-friendly landscape in your own yard!

Saturday April 25th from 10:00am-11:30am
“HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BIRD-FRIENDLY GARDEN”
presented by Emily Bishton, landscape designer and educator

The class will include:
• A table display with hands-on examples of plants, nesting boxes, bird nests, books, etc. for children and adults to explore.
• A brief PowerPoint presentation on the topic, that illustrates how to add wildlife-friendly features to your own garden, to attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
• Info on Bird-Friendly maintenance techniques for your garden.
• A guided tour of the Community Center's Bird-Friendly Landscape.
• Take home materials such as a Top 10 Native Plants List, The 4 Keys to Success, and other educational materials.
• Question and Answer time.

Location:
Magnuson Community Center
Building 47
7110 62nd Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206-684-7026
For more info or to register for the class, contact the Community Center staff at 206-684-7026 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson/

The class will be repeated in the fall of 2009,
on Saturday Sept 26th from 10:00am-11:30am
at the Magnuson Community Center

Other 2009 News:

You're invited to the
Dedication Celebration
for the
Magnuson Community Center
Bird-Friendly Landscape
on
Sunday, May 10th at 10:00am
Cost: FREE!
Refreshments, information, tours, and a ribbon cutting,
featuring the
New Old Time Chautauqua Marching Band
and bird-loving garden expert Ciscoe Morris!

For more info, click on the "Dedication Celebration" link of this blog

Also in the news: New collaborations are being formed with Sustainable NE Seattle, Seattle Audubon, and the NE Seattle Community Wildlife Habitat project for this landscape to be an active part of fulfilling our mutual goals!

An Exciting New Landscape for the Birds of Magnuson Park!

2008-12-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Almost everyone who knows me is aware of my passion for preserving and creating habitat for birds, and in educating my clients and fellow gardeners on this topic.

Research by the National Wildlife Federation, the Audubon Society, the WA State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, and other organizations has shown that increasing the bird habitat within urban and suburban areas is essential to the survival of resident and migratory birds. I strongly believe that even our most “developed” urban areas can provide excellent habitat for our native birds, and I have seen much evidence of this in the public and private landscapes that I have been a part of creating over the years. And there’s no sweeter sound in the world to me than the cheerful song of a bird that has found a “green island” containing the food, water, shelter, and nesting places that it needs in order to thrive.

The Magnuson Park Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape is a place that has been designed to be one of those “green islands”, and I am very happy to have coordinated its design and creation. Magnuson Park is home to a diverse number of native bird species; songbirds, waterfowl, birds of prey, and more. Over the years, community volunteers have been involved in many wonderful restoration projects in the perimeter areas of the park, designed to provide habitat for birds and other urban wildlife. The birds that visit and live in the Promontory Point and the Northshore Project areas are benefiting greatly by this important work. But until recently, there were few places within the Magnuson Historic District where birds could find the type of habitat they need in order to thrive.

This project has its roots in 2006 when Karla Withrow, Magnuson Community Center Director, approached me with an idea for a program to enable families to more easily explore the park on a self-guided tour. Over the next year, the “Birds of Magnuson Park - Family Explorer Packs” were developed. Each Family Explorer backpack is chock-full of fun and educational activities for families and other small groups; maps to the trails of Promontory Point and the Community Garden, lists of the birds commonly seen in both areas, identification guides, adult and child-size binoculars, educational games, and a 14-page nature activity book for children to use during their exploration and then take home. They are available at the Community Center reception desk to be checked out for only $5.00/day! They have been well received by all who have used them, and were given a big thumbs-up in a 2007 Seattle Times article.

Soon after the Family Explorer Pack project was completed, Karla and I began work on another idea; to create a beautiful, educational landscape and haven for birds at the Community Center. The Community Center is housed in building #47, the former Navy Recreation Center, located right in the heart of the Magnuson Historic District. It is a fantastic resource for the community, with a large auditorium, gymnasium, meeting rooms, a great staff, and wonderful programming.

However, the landscape beds around the building were not very attractive or welcoming to visitors, to say the least. Directly in front of the building was a 150 ft. long, half-moon shaped island bed, filled with an 8ft tall thicket of native Nootka Roses that was smothering every other tree and shrub around it. Even though these roses do provide good food and shelter for native birds, they were actually a classic case of wrong plant/wrong place. The birds that feed on these rose hips do not inhabit this part of the Historic District, and so the hips were just rotting on the canes each winter, uneaten. Many of the other plants in the bed were natives that provide excellent food and shelter for birds, but being shaded out by the roses meant that they did not bloom or bear well, and some were being killed. On top of all this, any bits of paper, plastic, or other trash that blew into the bed were instantly impaled in the impenetrable thorny thicket, which was nearly impossible for parks staff to maintain.

During the first part of 2007, Karla, myself, and the Magnuson Advisory Council worked together to identify the ways for the landscape to meet the needs of the birds, the public, and the Community Center and Park staff. Then I developed a landscape design, planting plan, and a timeline for installation, that would fulfill these goals:
• To increase the number of native plants, and the variety of food and shelter benefits, to make the Community Center landscape a more bird-friendly habitat.
• To provide a backyard-size demonstration of a bird-friendly, low-maintenance, low-water-use landscape, to inform and educate the public on a scale that they can adapt to their own home garden.
• To enhance the beauty of the Community Center landscape in a way that is sustainable long-term by Seattle Parks maintenance and grounds staff.
• To provide an educational and encouraging starting point for families who check out the “Birds of Magnuson Park” Family Explorer Packs from the Community Center.

Once the plans were given the green light by the Magnuson Advisory Council and Parks Department, I began recruiting volunteer groups to help carry out the plan.

Beginning in the fall of 2007, volunteers began the difficult task of removing the Nootka Rose thicket. Words cannot express the transformation that began as the YMCA “Y-Guides” dads and sons, and the young women and men from Seattle Works dug and pulled until the rest of the plants in the landscape were finally free of the smothering thicket. Most of the Roses that were removed were actually loaded up onto Parks Dept trucks and taken to the North restoration area where they were re-planted along the lakeshore as a protective thicket for waterfowl. I still think of those first 2 workparties with awe.

In March 2008, the Y-Guides dads and sons came back to build and install 2 Chickadee birdhouses in the landscape.

In the spring, two more Seattle Works groups came to remove the few roses that had re-sprouted, and build a new seating area, solar-powered water feature, and rain garden. The renewed vigor of the trees and shrubs in the landscape that now received all the sunshine they needed was astounding to see; each produced more and larger flowers, which provided an abundance of nectar for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The resulting berry and fruit production almost tripled, providing food for the Chickadees, Wrens, Towhees. Flickers, and other birds that continue to visit the landscape.

In the fall of 2008, the Y-Guides, Seattle Works, and other community volunteers returned to install dozens of native plants in the open areas of the landscape, which will provide additional sources of food and shelter for the birds of Magnuson Park.

Then they mulched the entire bed with a fresh layer of wood chips, to provide habitat for beneficial insects to overwinter.

Throughout the entire process, the Magnuson Park grounds crew staff has been an invaluable partner in transforming this landscape, and my hat is off to them. Special thanks go to crew chief Don LaFrance, who provided unwavering support and encouragement each step of the way.

Between now and the spring of 2009, colorful and educational signage will be installed, and a brochure will be created so that all visitors can take a self guided tour and observe birds in the landscape.

In 2009, the Magnuson Community Center will also begin hosting family-friendly classes to teach interested adults and children how to create or enhance their own landscape to provide good habitat for native birds and other wildlife! Click on the links for "Dedication Celebration" and "2009 Classes and other Events" for more info.

Sometime in the near future, we are hoping to further our success by creating additional bird-friendly landscaping in the other beds surrounding the Community Center, and across the street where there is an identical half-moon bed that is still in the "before" condition. This would sure make a nice "twin" to the Magnuson Community Center's beautiful Bird-Friendly Landscape!

If you would like to participate in workparty events at the existing or future Bird-Friendly Landscape, please contact me via email at birdfriendlylandscape@gmail.com. For information on my other landscape design and environmental education work, visit http://www.greenlightgardening.com

Inviting Songbirds into your Garden

2008-12-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

There's nothing quite like waking up in the morning to the sight and sound of birds singing in your garden. Even though my home garden is in the middle of the city and on a busy street, I am happy to say that this is a common occurrence for me, and has benefited my garden and my life in many ways. Besides the sweet music they provide, birds also eat pest insects and weed seeds, making them the best helpers a gardener could wish for!

Just as it's important to build good soil and use the right plant/right place philosophy in order to have success in your garden, it's important to start with the basics in order to have success in attracting birds. The 4 main elements that all birds need are:

1) Water. Besides needing water to drink, birds need to bathe as part of their frequent preening, which keeps their feathers in good condition for flying and insulation. A wide, shallow birdbath that has a gradual, non-skid slope works best for a wide variety of birds to wade into, from chickadees to flickers. A fountain with a gentle spray or a misting attachment attracts hummingbirds, which like to fly though water to drink and bathe. Birdbaths need to be whisked out and refilled with fresh water at least once or twice a week year-round in order to remain clean, and should be located within 5 ft. of a shrub or tree for quick and safe getaway.

2) Shelter. The way your garden is designed and maintained is the biggest factor in this element. Birds need shelter from predators like hawks, who can swoop down on them if they are out in the open for long. They also need shelter from the cold and wind of winter, as well as the heat of summer. Designing a hedgerow into one or more perimeter areas of your garden is the answer. A hedgerow is a variety of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and/or small trees, planted fairly close together. This gives birds good weather protection, and the ability to travel through your garden by taking short flights from branch to branch rather than crossing large open areas.

The pruning done in your hedgerow should enhance the natural form of its trees and shrubs rather than shearing them into a wall, and pruning should be avoided during the nesting season.

3) Food. A well-designed hedgerow also provides a variety of food for birds in the form of fruit and seeds. It is wise to include native plants, as they are lovely to look at and have been a food source for birds for centuries, drawing them into your garden like a magnet. Songbirds will forage for berries and seeds from branches as well as from the ground beneath, and clean plants of annoying insects such as aphids. I grow a few non-native plants that are known for rampant re-seeding, and even those are held in check by the song sparrows, juncos, and other seed-eating songbirds in my garden.
You can also provide bird feeders in your garden, but if you live in an urban or suburban area, use feeders that are specifically designed to exclude non-native birds such as English house sparrows and European starlings, which are well known to displace and even harm our native songbirds. Ground feeders are not recommended, as they can attract unwanted pigeons and rodents. Most of our native Western Gray Squirrels have been displaced in urban areas by Eastern Grays, which also can be aggressive towards songbirds, so squirrel feeders are best avoided.

4) Nesting Places. A hedgerow can also provide nesting places for birds that weave their nests into the branches of trees and shrubs. But cavity-nesting birds have an especially difficult time in urban and suburban areas, since hollow or rotting trees are hard to come by. Most decorative birdhouses are just that- good for decoration only- but nest boxes that are made to the right dimensions will easily attract chickadees and wrens. All year long, but especially when their young are ravenous for food, these insect-eating songbirds will clean your garden of all pests!

RESOURCES: The Audubon Society store at 8050 35th Ave NE in Seattle is the best local place to find proper feeders and food, and nest boxes with the right dimensions. They also have a large selection of books about building nest boxes, bird identification, etc. Visit their website at www.seattleaudubon.org.

RESPONSIBILITY: The responsibility that comes with attracting birds to your garden is to protect what you attract! Position all feeders and birdbaths close to shelter so that birds can make a quick getaway from predators. Don't use any pesticides or herbicides in your garden, and don’t be too tidy. Birds will enjoy the seeds from spent flower heads, and the shelter of spent foliage.

And keep your pet cats indoors, even if you never see them with a dead or injured bird. It is estimated that domestic house cats kill millions of songbirds every year in the U.S., and most of this tragedy is never witnessed by humans. Bells on their collar or being well fed makes no difference. I used to think that indoor cats were miserable until I made the change and found that both of my cats adapted quickly and remain completely content to this day. The joy of witnessing the generations of songbirds that have been safely born and raised in my garden, and who return year after year, more than makes up for the little bit of hassle in remembering to close the screen door. I urge you to consider making this change yourself. Your beloved cat will live longer too! For more info, visit the American Bird Conservancy website at www.abcbirds.org and click on the Cats Indoors link.