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John James Audubon Series LbNA #11438

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Oct 6, 2004
Location:
City:???
County:King
State:Washington
Boxes:3
Planted by:Green Guillemot
Found by: ???
Last found:Apr 4, 2013
Status:FFOFFFFF
Last edited:Oct 6, 2004
Somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, there is a county named for Martin, and within that county a slice of green named for Orion, son of Arthur. Orion was one of the first non-Native Americans born in Seattle, in a log cabin in 1853. He eventually became a successful businessman, and bought this waterfront parcel of land for his family home. He called it Klahanie. Eventually this land was willed to the city, and has been available for public use since 1922. In the 1920s, a camp was established here for children from Seattle. In 1968, and again in 2002, it "came under new management," but is still open to all free of charge today.

Notes: Spectacular views, parking and restroom facilities available, leashed dogs welcomed. Total boxing time about 60-90 minutes or so. The last two boxes can be a bit muddy after heavy rains. There has been a bit of damage from last winter's wind storm, but nothing too bad. A compass is very helpful; all readings are magnetic. Bring your binoculars!


Clue


Woody's Box
April 12, 2007 Update: Woody's original box went missing in early 2006, and I have now replaced it in a much different location. You used to be able to find him down near the mouth of the stream, and the clues still begin there - but Woody is now the last box in the series.

At the mouth of the mighty (mite-y?) river is a little wooden bridge. Standing on that bridge on a clear day, Mt. Rainier rises majestically at 140*, and an old airport appears at 180*. From the SW corner of the bridge, face 274* and walk 20 paces until you are standing on a log. Woody's previous roost spot was inside, but he's now moved up-slope!

Near Woody's home, scan for bald eagles, osprey (late spring and summer), grebes, dabbling ducks and mergansers (especially in winter), and coots.


Perry's Box
Find the north end of larger wooden bridge. At 20*, a path leads a short distance to a double column of miniature soldiers. The soldiers are commanded by a pair of 10-ft tall yellow lieutenants. Salute the lieutenants, and then from this point scan for the Elephant-sized E. [Update: the "E" may have lost half of itself and turned into a "C".] When you spy the E, go stand at its middle prong.

Standing at the middle prong of the E, face 228* and walk 39 paces. Note the heron in the tree. Then face 342* and walk 26 paces to the multi-maple. Now you are close. Face 318* and walk 21 paces to a shady spot to sit. Once you are seated, Perry will be on your right hand side just underneath the board.

Near Perry's roost, watch for song sparrows, black-capped chickadees, robins, and kinglets.


Harry's Box
When you've had a rest, stand up and walk back to the multi-maple. Then turn left and take the path into the forest. If you've been riding your bike, you'll have to leave it here. You will walk for a ways, through the moist forest and under the mossy limbs over-arching the trail. After you slip between the narrow wooden crevice sawed for you, walk 37 paces to the end of the boardwalk. Seventeen paces beyond that you will be standing on a small cement square, with a giant stunted tree to your right, and a cedar/maple triple-trunked hybrid on your left.

This little square used to hold a plaque certifying that the monster tree in front of you, a 600-year old Douglas fir, was the largest tree in King County. It's trunk is almost 30 feet in circumference. While much of the tree was lost in a powerful wind storm over a decade ago, the hulking base remains.

To reach the box, look back at that cedar/maple hybrid on your left. In between the three trunks, Harry will be resting. Stamp in, and then re-hide him carefully.

Around Harry's place, listen for chestnut-backed chickadees, noisy Steller's jays, insistent nuthatches, and in early summer check for pacific-slope flycatchers.


Woody's New Home
Return to the cement square, face NE, and continue on the trail.

Just after you start making Footsteps Through Time, turn right onto a main trail. Read about the coho re-introduction efforts on signs along the fence. Then climb the hill.

When you reach the top, you have a peak-a-boo view of the lake straight ahead. Turn right onto another path (remember that the park closes at dusk).

Down the hill a ways, you will pass a six foot tall stump on the right, and a little later a small trail goes off to the left, but stay the course. 33 steps after that little trail, you will be in the midst of a grove of about six mature cedars. Check the cedar on the SE side of the path. Around back, at ground level, there is a vertical slot hidden by bark and needles. This is Woody's newest roosting spot.

At Woody's new home, listen for Bewick's and winter wrens, towhees, and pileated woodpeckers. There is an active bald eagle's nest at the top of the hill (where you peak-a-booed the lake!).


Return to the Footsteps Through Time, and turn left to go home, and right for more adventures.

I hope you enjoy the walk, the birds, and my hand-carved stamps. Email me to tell me of your find, or if the boxes need attention: degrys@verizon.net

All three boxes are alive and well as of April, 2007.


The Green Guillemot