[Tweeters] New Oly Resident

[Glenn Johnson]

Hi Marissa, 
Having grown up adjacent to the Dorris Ranch as a kid and also spent time in Olympia, I'm not sure you'll find the perfect replacement for Dorris Ranch locally. However there are some great sites near West Oly. Here are my suggestions for places to explore that might best meet your criteria:
Woodard Point Park/Woodward Bay Conservation Area on Henderson Inlet (trails, some habitat diversity)Evergreen State College Campus (lots of trails--esp if you include the wider campus, organic farm and and backroads, plus beach)
Kennedy Creek Natural Area (Awesome for salmon viewing in the fall, I hear good for shorebirds)McClane Cr. Nature Trail (short but sweet; great for fall salmon viewing but also a nice wetland with an adjacent trail/boardwalk)Mima Mounds (a bit far perhaps, but a great place for more open-habitat/meadow-prairie birds. Loggerhead Shrike and W. Bluebirds recently)
Although it may be far for you, Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR may be the best birding in Thurston Co, and with plenty of trails! There is a regular Wednesday bird walk anyone is welcome to join--though they often go well past noon one can bail anytime if your time is limited. Another good walk just up I-5 a bit is every 3rd Thursday 0800-11 at the Eagle's Pride Golf Course next to JBLM (no pass needed). 
Other good parks for birding and/or walking within quick striking distance of W. Oly: Grass Lake Preserve (not sure re safety, haven't been there in a long time ;).Squaxin Park (formerly Priest Point Park)Watershed Park
Best of luck and have fun! Glenn
Glenn Johnson
Board of Directors, Puget Sound Bird Observatory, &Riparian Stewardship Program Manager, Pierce Conservation DistrictTacoma/Fircrest WA 520-237-8653
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2023 17:12:29 -0700
From: Marissa Gibson <marissagibsonmhs at gmail.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] New Oly resident
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Hi tweets,

I just moved to Olympia and am looking for a new "daily bread" walk spot.
My new home's HOA does not allow bird feeders so I am itching to get my
bird fix in! I'm from Eugene OR and my go-to was a 3 mile loop around
Dorris ranch, an old (but still operating) hazelnut orchard with riverside
forest and prairie trails. And tons of wildflowers! I'm hoping to find
something similar here; multiple habitat types, lots of trail miles, within
10-20 minutes of westside Oly, and reasonably safe. Any recommendations or
suggestions are appreciated.

I'd love to connect with some locals and get on board with some Thurston
county Whatsapp groups.


Thanks
Marissa G
They/them pronouns
Thurston county
marissagibsonmhs at gmail.com

  
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