Marymoor, New Trail Beckons Bird Watchers
Marymoor Park in Redmond Washington - Bird Trail
Feb 11, 2009
Boomers and seniors are becoming bird watchers drawn to Marymoor Park in Redmond Washington to relax, hear the bird's serenades, and watch their feathered friends raise chicks. Bird watching is a year round hobby in the Northwest. While some birders spend solitary hours, ala Thoreau, soaking in the primitive wilderness, other bird watchers greet friends to make it a social outing.
Renewed Bird Loop Trail Near Lake Sammamish Brings Bird Watching Friends Together
Over the past two years, 200 people (ardent Eastside Audubon birdwatchers, local Microsofties, and other friendly volunteers) have spent 2,300 hours destroying invasive weeds, restoring natural habitat, and enhancing the “interpretive nature trail”. It is now a two-mile, suburban birding trek which will soon have an elevated viewing platform. Eastside Audubon is always looking for people who want to leave the city behind and connect with nature through bird tours and volunteer opportunities.
Michael Hobbs Hosts Weekly Marymoor Bird Watcher Walks
- Thursday mornings at 7:30 am
- Parking Lot C (near the off-leash dog park)
- Stay for one hour or up to four hours (depending on one’s inclination)
- Wear suitable clothing
- Wear good walking shoes or boots (sometimes rubber boots)
- Bring a snack and binoculars if possible
- Email Michael Hobbs (birdmarymoor@verizon.net) for more info or just show up.
Eastside Audubon is another resource for birders looking for a group. The individuals at Eastside Audubon are not interested only in birding, but are also a green organization, often lobbying state and local governments on behalf of wildlife habitats. They have a fee for joining, but birders can get on the Eastside Audubon mailing list.
Marymoor for Birders and Year Round Birds
Since most of the 600-plus acre park remains in its natural "farm" state, it has become an undeveloped, overgrown sanctuary for many kinds of birds. The birding area at Marymoor cozies up to Lake Sammamish, Lake Sammamish's neighboring marshland, meadows, forest and the Sammamish Slough (River). The habitat is a prime 300 acre nature conservation area. Here are some of the bird species spotted:
Summer / Spring (many breeding species):
- Orange-Crowned Warbler
- Spotted Sandpiper (in the lily pads)
- Red-Eyed and Warbling Vireos
- Black-Headed Grosbeak
- Cedar Waxwing
- Green Heron (Lake Sammamish and Sammamish Slough area)
Winter / Fall:
- Great Blue Heron (Roosting in the larger trees)
- Greater White-Fronted Geese
- Song Sparrow
- Golden-Crowned Sparrow
- Sharp-Shinned Hawks
- Common Yellow-Throat Sparrow
- American Bittern
- Bald Eagles
According Marymoor expert, Michael Hobbs, "In the winter, ducks are numerous, and sparrow watching can be quite good, with Song, White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Fox, and Lincoln's Sparrows being common. Raptors are also common, notably Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Bald Eagles." Read Marymoor Dog Park and Sammamish River Trail.
Redmond's Marymoor Park is a great place for boomers and seniors to get out of the house and meet people or take great photographs for the walls. Going out into nature is one of the best cheap ways to have fun in Redmond.
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