Prairie Appreciation Day

The Prairie Appreciation Day is a learning experience for the whole family on the entire prairie ecosystem, from geology to ethnobotany, to the plants and animals.

Events include bird walks with information provided on recovery efforts of the Vesper Swallow, Great Horned Lark, and bluebirds. Visitors will see nesting Ospreys, western Purple Martins, bluebirds, and several species of swallow. It is an opportunity to meet with researchers from the University of Washington and Evergreen State College who are discovering fascinating relationships between the plants and animals of the prairies.

The Glacial Heritage Preserve is a unit of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area and part of a larger complex of conservation and recreation lands that encompass Mima Prairie and the Black River. The unit was acquired in 2005 for the purpose of perpetuating the rare south Puget Sound prairie ecosystem that benefits many threatened and endangered species. The Glacial Heritage Preserve is open to the public once a year on Prairie Appreciation Day, offering a great opportunity to view wildlife and enjoy nature, along a network of maintained trails and roads surrounded by the beautiful Mima Prairie. This unit is located 4 miles southwest of Littlerock in Thurston County.

The gate will open at 10 am and close for new visitors at 2 pm, allowing everyone to go through the Activity Stations before they shut down at 3 pm.

This year’s event is dedicated to the memories of Dan and Pat Montague who spent countless hours documenting the plant species to be found on the prairies and helping to restore them.  Their gentle souls are sorely missed.

Contact:
Gail Trotter
getrotter@comcast.net