Glacial Heritage Preserve on Prairie Appreciation Day

Come celebrate the 24^th annual Prairie Appreciation Day at Glacial Heritage Preserve. Learn about and experience one of the rarest plant communities (and its inhabitants) in the South Puget Sound region located right here in Thurston County. The celebration is full of activities for all ages, including wildflower walks, tractor rides, and butterfly and bee exhibits. There is also a wonderful opportunity to bird the three ecosystems of the preserve (prairie oak savannah, Garry Oak riparian forest, and second growth Douglas Fir edge) before Prairie Appreciation Day activities begin. Join us on a easy two-mile stroll along gravel roads through each habitat where we will identify all species detected and hopefully get a few good looks through our spotting scopes. For the past several years, we have consistently heard and observed Western Meadowlark, Savannah Sparrow, Western Bluebird, White-Crowned Sparrow, Western Wood-Pewee, Olive-Sided Flycatcher, Purple Martin, Osprey, Yellow Warbler, and many other wonderful prairie oak summer residents. 

The Glacial Heritage Preserve is on the Mima-Gate Road, south of Littlerock, a 25 minute drive from Olympia. From Little Rock, travel west on 128th Street S.E. to intersect the Mima Road.  Turn left and travel south a couple of miles past Bordeaux Road until you reach the Weyerhauser tree nursery on the right.  Continuing, you will see a sign on the right with a farm tractor..  The turnoff to the Glacial Heritage Preserve is the first turn on the left after the tractor sign.  Drive for about a mile until you reach the preserve, where you will be directed to park. We will meet in the parking area at 7:30 a.m. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. We will wrap up the walk around 9:30 a.m., but feel free to stay to enjoy Prairie Appreciation Day which commences at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Bob Wadsworth at (360) 561-3317.