1. Eye on Nature
Eye On Nature– Field Investigations at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge:
Gaining a better understanding of wildlife at NNWR with the help of student
NatureMapping and Fostering Outdoor Observation Skills activities.
Photo courtesy of Ellen Banner

2. The Nisqually Delta started
forming about 15,000 years ago.

5. The
Nisqually
Indians
were the
first people
to live in
the area.
The Nisqually people were first known as “Squally-absch”,
meaning “people of the river, people of the grass”.
Americans later changed the spelling to Nisqually.

6. Medicine Creek Treaty Tree
Before and after the December 15, 2006 wind storm

7. Early
1900s

8. The Brown Farm – early 1900’s

10. Many plans were proposed for the delta, including a landfill
and
a
deep
water
port.

11. Luckily, there were conservationists and activists who worked with
state and federal officials to protect the Delta from development.

12. In 1974, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
established Nisqually National Wildlife
Refuge to be managed as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge System.

13. Saltwater
Freshwater
Dike
Nisqually Estuary – before restoration

14. Nisqually Estuary Restoration

15. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Restoration
Summer 2012

16. Wildlife that depend on NNWR

18. Founded in 1992 to:
18
• Map and measure biodiversity with
the help of schools and general
public. “What do you see and
where do you see it?”
• Integrate NatureMapping into schools so they become
long-term wildlife monitors
• Help communities develop their
biodiversity “report cards”

19. How does Nature Mapping help?
A measure of biodiversity found
at Nisqually National Wildlife
Refuge!
We can then ask questions
such as:
• Are there any changes in the
types of wildlife we are seeing?
• Are we seeing wildlife not typical
to this area?
• Have migration patterns been
altered by climate change?

20. Invasive species
Reed Canary Grass
Himalayan Blackberry
Scotts broom
Barred Owls

22. Data Collection Form
Nature
Mapping
Nisqually
Group
#
Habitat
codes:
Name
510
Estuary
Loca?on
515
Riparian
Forest
?dal
Date
525
Riparian
Forest
Weather
520
Freshwater
wetland
How
Obs.
H=
Hear,
S=See,
E=Evidence
415
River
Time
Species
Name
How
Observe
d
How
Many
Loca?o
n
Block
Habitat
Code
Notes:
Behavior
informa?on

24. 5 Major Habitat Types
#1- Freshwater Wetlands

25. 5 Major Habitat Types
#2- River

26. 5 Major Habitat Types
#3- Riparian Forest

27. 5 Major Habitat Types
#4- Tidally Influenced Riparian Forest

28. 5 Major Habitat Types
#5- Estuary

29. Most Common Species

30. Most Common Species
Song Sparrow
Common Merganser
Cedar Wax Wing
Wood Duck
Mallard
American Crow
Red Winged Blackbird
Canada Goose
American Robin

31. What to expect when you visit…
• Dress for the weather!
• Please make sure to turn your
NatureMapping data in to your
teacher.
Remember, the best way to see
wildlife is to be very quiet and to
be very observant!

32. What to expect when you visit…

33. Celebrate your connection with your watershed!
Post your “River Selfies” to the
Nisqually River Education Project on Twitter and
Facebook, and we’ll repost our favorites each week!
Search
“Nisqually
River
Education
Project”
on FaceBook,
and
“Nisqually
River Council”
on Twitter.