<html><head></head><body><div class="ydpd971df25yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Hi Marissa, </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">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:</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Woodard Point Park/Woodward Bay Conservation Area on Henderson Inlet (trails, some habitat diversity)</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Evergreen State College Campus (lots of trails--esp if you include the wider campus, organic farm and and backroads, plus beach)<br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Kennedy Creek Natural Area (Awesome for salmon viewing in the fall, I hear good for shorebirds)</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">McClane Cr. Nature Trail (short but sweet; great for fall salmon viewing but also a nice wetland with an adjacent trail/boardwalk)</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Mima Mounds (a bit far perhaps, but a great place for more open-habitat/meadow-prairie birds. Loggerhead Shrike and W. Bluebirds recently)</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">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). </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Other good parks for birding and/or walking within quick striking distance of W. Oly: </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Grass Lake Preserve (not sure re safety, haven't been there in a long time ;).</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Squaxin Park (formerly Priest Point Park)</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Watershed Park</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Best of luck and have fun! Glenn</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div><span style="font-family: new times, serif;">Glenn Johnson</span><br></div><div class="ydpd971df25signature"><div style="font-family:new times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:new times, serif;font-size:16px;">Board of Directors, </div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:new times, serif;font-size:16px;">Puget Sound Bird Observatory, &</div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:new times, serif;font-size:16px;">Riparian Stewardship Program Manager, </div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:new times, serif;font-size:16px;">Pierce Conservation District</div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:new times, serif;font-size:16px;">Tacoma/Fircrest WA 520-237-8653</div></div><br></div> <div><font face="Times New Roman"></font> <span style="color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">------------------------------</span></div></div></div></div><div id="ydpc5dbd7dayahoo_quoted_0457626065" class="ydpc5dbd7dayahoo_quoted"><div style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#26282a;"><div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Message: 3<br></div><div dir="ltr">Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2023 17:12:29 -0700<br></div><div dir="ltr">From: Marissa Gibson <<a href="mailto:marissagibsonmhs@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">marissagibsonmhs@gmail.com</a>><br></div><div dir="ltr">To: <a href="mailto:tweeters@u.washington.edu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tweeters@u.washington.edu</a><br></div><div dir="ltr">Subject: [Tweeters] New Oly resident<br></div><div dir="ltr">Message-ID:<br></div><div dir="ltr"> <CA+jCZ7hV5cmUddA2Xp7QxxCRHw8czsNLefH2drUfm=Vg9884kg@mail.gmail.com><br></div><div dir="ltr">Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Hi tweets,<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I just moved to Olympia and am looking for a new "daily bread" walk spot.<br></div><div dir="ltr">My new home's HOA does not allow bird feeders so I am itching to get my<br></div><div dir="ltr">bird fix in! I'm from Eugene OR and my go-to was a 3 mile loop around<br></div><div dir="ltr">Dorris ranch, an old (but still operating) hazelnut orchard with riverside<br></div><div dir="ltr">forest and prairie trails. And tons of wildflowers! I'm hoping to find<br></div><div dir="ltr">something similar here; multiple habitat types, lots of trail miles, within<br></div><div dir="ltr">10-20 minutes of westside Oly, and reasonably safe. Any recommendations or<br></div><div dir="ltr">suggestions are appreciated.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I'd love to connect with some locals and get on board with some Thurston<br></div><div dir="ltr">county Whatsapp groups.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Thanks<br></div><div dir="ltr">Marissa G<br></div><div dir="ltr">They/them pronouns<br></div><div dir="ltr">Thurston county<br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="mailto:marissagibsonmhs@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">marissagibsonmhs@gmail.com</a><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div></div>
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