Yearling, treed by Maggie, Rubi and Taz, July 3, 2003
Bobcat
Lynx rufus, In relative abundance, about as tall as a large dog -- might be much larger than western Bobcats -- not seen as frequently since the arrival of dogs
In abundance, significant population increase in last 5 years, possibly related to domestic cat population dropping from 4 to 0.
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus nuttalli, introduced
Northern Flying Squirrel
Galaucomys sabrinus, Nocturnal, seen very rarely
Mountain Beaver
Aplodontia rufa, the most primitive surviving rodent species. Very reclusive, found along the Pacific Coast from California to Canada, mostly in second-growth forests.
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Spermophilus lateralis, looks like a chipmunk
Raccoon
Seen early on trying to raid the chicken coop
Opossum
Seen early hiding in a pipe, not seen since arrival of dogs.
Rat
Periodically appear, colonize starting in chicken coop, are wiped out, then a new population appears some time later.
Generic house mouse
Or -- to Preston -- an Armadillo without its shell
Falco peregrinus, seen summer 2003 chasing chicks in garden area. Appeared to be a male.
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias, a regular on both ponds.
Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor, swallow-like bird, flies over trees chirping followed by a fast dive for an insect. The air rushing through the primary feathers produces a very unusual sound, described on some web sites as a sonic boom; a booming whoosh; something like the sound produced by blowing across the opening of a bottle; a booming, zipping "whoosh"; etc. None of those are accurate -- you have to hear it for yourself. :)
Common Raven
Appear anytime large carrion is available, seen frequently in spring regardless of carrion.
Northern Pygmy Owl or Northern Saw-whet Owl
Pair appears to nest or frequent Hemlock near upper pasture
Steller's Jay
Likes dog food, can mimic other bird calls, including birds of prey.
Bufflehead
In upper pond, one female with ducklings 1998 and 2002. Male is a striking black and white.
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris, Female with ducklings in upper pond spring 2004, two ducklings moved to lower pond and stayed into August 2004.
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos, stop in both ponds Spring to Fall, rarely stay more than a day.
Red-naped Sapsucker
Woodpecker, at least two pairs nest on property, enjoy alder and a non-indigeonous tree near house
Pileated Woodpecker
Large (to 17 inches), seen rarely
Winter Wren
Very tiny, seen, um, in Winter
Rufous-sided Towhee
Hangs out with black-capped chickadees
Black-capped chickadee
Hang out with Rufous-sided Towhee
Hummingbird
Specific species not yet identified
Crow
Northwestern or American?
Swallow
Specific species not identified
Pigeon
Probably from a neighboring farm. Browse freshly-planted pasture seed.
European Starling
Very irritating bird -- noisy, messy and nests in eaves -- originally introduced to North America by a Shakespearean fan New York in 1890. The Lacey Act of May 25, 1900 outlawed such introductions in the US.
Others
Many other common birds not yet ID'd
Reptile
Northwestern Garter Snake
Black with red stripe, to about 2.5 feet, enjoys swimming, also found in rock piles and under dead stumps
Water Snake
Possibly Northern Rubber Boa, Light blue or green, to maybe 1.5 feet, seen only in upper pond
Amphibian
Rough-skinned Newt
Skin secretions from this genus are among the deadliest natural toxins yet discovered.
Hyla regilla, Tiny, very bright three-tone green, size from less than one inch to two inches
Fish
Rainbow Trout
Planted
Crappie
Probably originally arrived as eggs aboard Bufflehead
Flora
Plants of interest
Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata, our cash crop. Mature trees date from approximately 1915, average 110-feet tall and are 2-3 feet in diameter at the base. Remains of old-growth stumps are up to about 10 feet in diameter.
Sitka Spruce
Picea sitchensis, the world's largest spruce, a favorite of Northern Flying Squirrel. Largest tree on property is 133 feet tall and 4.5 feet diameter at base. Wood is light and strong, making it ideal for airplane construction before the advent of metal airplanes.
Douglas Fir (Coastal)
Pseudotsuga menziesii, The first choice for replanting in this region because they grow straight and grow quickly, but requires much sun and so is more suitable for replanting in a cleared area.
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla, our tallest tree is approx. 130 feet. Only value is to enhance biodiversity. Needles can be toxic to livestock.
Mountain Hemlock
Tsuga mertensiana, also known as black hemlock
Grand Fir
Abies grandis, no mature trees, small number of young trees, grow exclusively at the base of old stumps.
Pacific yew
Taxus brevifolia, rare and slow-growing
Big-leaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum, Largest diameter tree clump is 8 feet, tallest tree is approx. 85 feet.
Vine Maple
Acer circinatum, Very hard little trees. Similar appearance to larger Japanese maples.
Red Alder
Alnus rubra, Susceptible to rot or woodpecker damage, always find alder down after any significant wind. Decent heat value for firewood, and alder leaves are what make Black Pond the color black.
Water Birch
Hazelnut
Corylus cornuta
Sitka mountain-ash
Sorbus sitchensis
Deer Fern
Blechnum spicant, Nice little fern for landscaping
Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum pedatum, rare, mostly found on cliffs and waterfalls. Found on steeper portions of ravine on edge of upper 5 acres.
Licorice Fern
Polypodium glycyrrhiza, Grow in moss on live and dead trees and on rocks.
Western Sword Fern
Polystichum munitum, A Pacific Northwest standard
Bracken Fern
The weed of the fern world. Somewhat interesting in that it will grow to about 8 feet in a season. My lovely wife used these as stick horses when she was a little tyke in Longview.
Salmon Berry
Rubus spectabilus
ThimbleBerry
Rubus parviflorus
Coast Strawberry
Trailing (Pacific) Blackberry
Rubus ursinus, mostly identifiable as a trip-hazard when your feet become entagled in a vine. Small, tasty berries.
Himalayan Blackberry
A nuisance plant -- takes over and wipes out all other plant life and creates an impassible barrier. Can engulf a vehicle or shed in a season if left unchecked. Introducted to North America by horticulturalist Luther Burbank in California in 1885, has since colonized the west coast from northern California into British Columbia.
European Blackberry
Not nearly as intrusive as the Himalayan. Has smaller but tastier berries.
Red Huckleberry
Vaccinium parvifolium, not as large or flavorful as Montana huckleberries.
Evergreen huckleberry
Vaccinium ovatum
Oregon Oxalis
Oxalis oregana, look like a giant clover, mint flavor
Sweet Woodruff
White Trillium
Trillium ovatum, Nice wild lily, blooms early spring
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Dicentra formosa, Much smaller than the cultivated varieties
Wild viola
Probably Viola epipsila, or Dwarf Marsh Viola
Monkshood
Aconitum columbianum
Magenta Butterfly Flower or Hedgenettle
Stachys chamissonis (syn. S. cooleyae). Looks like a nettle but does not seem to have any of the negative side-effects. Likes water, shade, and rich soils.
Fireweed
Epilobium angustifolium
Foxglove or Digitalis
Favorite of humming birds, can be toxic, used in heart medications.
Creeping buttercup
Ranunculus repens, spreads readily and takes over grasses if left unchecked.
Devil's Club
Oplopanax horridum, a Ginseng, a very spiny plant indigeonous to swampy areas.
Skunk Cabbage
Lysichiton americanum, Giant leaves up to 4 feet tall. Some think they stink.
Reforestation
Replanted 700 trees to date, with most being Western Red Cedar due to the lack of sufficient light for Douglas Fir and because they're great trees. Breakdown is approximately 550 Western Red Cedar, 50 Douglas Fir, 50 Coastal Redwood, 25 Sitka Spruce, and 25 oak, maple, incense cedar, and other landscaping trees.
Geography
Black Pond Farm is at a 520- to 640-foot elevation, with most of the variation being in a 60 percent sloped ravine at the west edge of the property. Latitude is 47.965 and longitude is -121.93.
Property is approximately 40 percent wooded, 50 percent cleared, 6 percent water, and 4 percent Salmon Berry brush.
Two streams, Snohomish County category 4 and 5, with approximate peak flows of 200 and 400 gallons per minute. Water comes from an unnamed hill that peaks at a 1020 foot elevation directly west of Lake Roesiger.
Annual rainfall is approximately 60 inches.
USDA hardiness zone 8 (along with the rest of Western Washington below the mountains) although we're borderline zone 7.
