Seattle's Union Bay Natural Area - a Quiet Oasis in the Busy City

In Seattle, not far from the monotonous drone of the city's metro buses and the shrill whistle of car alarms lies a magically hypnotic urban oasis known as the Union Bay Natural Area. It's a natural paradise of sorts that doesn't appear all that special at a first glance. It's tucked away quietly behind the University of Washington's Husky Stadium on the shore of Lake Washington. For some, it's a place to go for a quick run by the lake. For others, it's a unique habitat situated within a very densely populated area that attracts an amazingly diverse population of birds and mammals among other things. Birds that are rarely spotted in the Seattle area oftentimes choose to make their appearance at the Union Bay Natural Area.

Many locals refer to this area as the Montlake Fill. It was used as a refuse site from 1926 until 1965. Decades ago, the site was covered with twelve feet of glacial till that was graded and seeded with grasses. The area is now part of the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture and there are many different types of native plants and trees that are planted and studied there. The area is covered with mixed habitat including lake shore, wetlands, ponds, University Slough, open prairie, and mixed forest.

No matter what time of year you visit the Union Bay Natural Area, you will see a diverse collection of birds and other wildlife. It is not at all uncommon to encounter wildlife photographers while visiting the area and rare birds have been spotted and photographed there. You will see everything from people with point and shoot cameras to professionals with enormous telephoto lenses on high tech tripods. Many species of birds call the Union Bay Natural Area home year round, while other migrants pass through for a rest during annual migration. Over the course of the last year there were visits from Red-necked Phalaropes, which are small shorebirds that spend the majority of their lives on the deep ocean, to Trumpeter Swans, which migrate annually and occasionally have extended stays in the area.

Union Bay Natural Area is a great place to bring your children to see native wildlife in a natural setting. Leash laws are strictly enforced and many species nest here, so please be responsible by keeping your dogs on leash and stay on marked trails. Please do not feed or approach wildlife and enjoy nature as it was meant to be-wild and free.

Sources:
University of Washington
Union Bay Natural Area