When you think of school, you never think that the campus would have it’s very own wetlands included with a lake, creek, and a salmon spawning site. Nevertheless, fall quarter is the perfect time to witness nature’s most legendary phenomena: Spawning Salmon.
If you ask any biology or environmental professor here, they can tell you all about how we (the school) kept their population here alive and what we are still doing to keep them coming back. And the best part? We have a very rare species of salmon called Kokanee!
UW Bothell professor Dr. Jeffery Jensen is currently leading research on the life history and conservation of the local fish that are present in our waters. I am also currently taking his course that is specifically on salmon called Salmon and Society. My class and I get to learn how to help these fish and get to go on field trips to other salmon used rivers in Washington state. The class is very fun and engaging and has been my most awesome college class ever. I highly recommend taking the class!
But what are these so called Kokanee?
Well, Kokanee are just a small species of Sockeye Salmon. Like Sockeye (scientifically named as Oncorhynchus nerka), they are a beautiful bright red color! They are a bit smaller than the average day Sockeye and they have small black spots on their back. Here’s a picture of one down below:
Although this is a Kokanee in Montana, it looks very similar to the Kokanees you might find here in the wetlands.
You also don’t have to venture far into the wetlands to see them, if you just follow the public trail that is next to the soccer field and pass under the 522 bridge, you might find some spawning salmon like Sockeye or Kokanee, swimming around. Sockeye and Kokanee that come here in particular spawn around the first half of fall quarter, by late November the chance of spotting a Sockeye in the waters greatly decreases. Keep in mind that different species of salmon have different spawning times and there is variation even among the same species. Additionally, there are a couple other species of salmon that use this river as well as other fish.
I greatly admire salmon for their tenacity and ability to swim up such long tiresome rivers, they’re such champs! Salmon are a big part of the Pacific Northwest culture, I’m sure we have all seen pictures of them jumping up waterfalls and accompanied with a picture of a grizzly bear. Salmon are a big part of the Washington identity and a major food source for humans, animals, bugs, and even plants! Salmon sustainability and awareness is important in order to keep them coming back. The salmon population in general is in grave danger and conservation is extremely necessary for their future. I recommend everyone to learn about the major adversities that salmon have to go through.
I have enjoyed Dr. Jensen’s class on salmon and his field trips, I got to see things that I would have never been able to see on my own. For example, I was able to hear talks from very influential people in the salmon world, and I got to see private waterfalls like Sunset Falls. I also got to personally see a couple hatcheries in different parts of Washington. One of our field trips was also to see the aftermath of the biggest dam removal on the Elwha River, which was an amazing sight to see. I learned a lot on what it means to be a salmon in the world and would highly recommend this class to anyone who has the time for it. And if you want to see salmon on your own, just drop by the little spawning area below the 522 bridge and you might be lucky enough to spot a Kokanee.
It is now time in the season where winter withers away to spring and new buds grow back to start a new cycle of growth. But new plants also means new critters and animals. Despite being small, these little guys are very important in maintaining our ecosystem. However, they are often times overlooked by humans.
Our school takes pride in finding ways to make this campus more green and hospitable to nature. But, it is up to us to make sure we are doing our part no matter where we are. These little guys have a huge impact on nature and deserve the recognition. Here’s a list of all the “Little Ones” that I find important on campus.
Butterflies
What do they look Like?
This is a Washington’s Swallowtail, one of the most common species of butterflies you will see here. Hanks, Shelly. “This Tiger Swallowtail’s Tail Was Probably Snipped off by a Hungry Bird. .” Q13 FOX News Butterfly Boom! Why Washington State Is Seeing More Swallowtails This Summer, WSU Photo Services, 30 July 2018, q13fox.com/2018/07/30/butterfly-boom-why-washington-state-is-seeing-more-swallowtails-this-summer/.
Why are they important?
Butterflies like several other flying insects are important pollinators. Butterflies consume nectar and therefore are easily able to transfer pollen from one flower to the other.
Where can I find them?
You can find them among the plants, especially around the flowers. They try to hide away from their predators by camouflaging so they might even be a challenge you even you to see. However, there is a very beautiful garden by the Truly House that I love going to and I sometimes spot Swallowtails flying around along with Monarchs and other butterfly species.
How can I protect them?
Plant flowers that are friendly to butterflies! Also, Picking blooming flowers will not only hinder the plants ability to pollinate, but it also hinders the butterflies and bees that depend on them. You can still enjoy the flowers without picking them, just remember that those flowers have jobs too. Butterflies also need plants to host their eggs, planting milkweeds for example are main hosts for monarch butterflies and can help protect their population.
This spider is a very important predator, It controls the populations of butterflies, flies, and mosquitoes.
Where can I find them?
Their other name is called the European Garden Spider, and they most certainly live up to their name. You can find them in all buildings, among the trees and plants, and their numbers can be quite overwhelming in the fall time. But do not fear, they are completely harmless and non aggressive, not to mention non toxic, so their venom is completely harmless to humans.
How can I protect them?
If you ever find one indoors, (which is highly likely that one day you will) please do not kill it. Instead, trap it using a paper and cup or something of the sort and set it free outside!
Wasps
What do they look like?
Although this guy looks like a typical yellow jacket, it actually is a paper wasp
They are very good pest controllers. They will eat caterpillars, beetle larvae, and flies. Unfortunately thy also hurt the honey bee populations along with hummingbirds and butterflies.
Where can I find them?
You can find them anywhere from the deep forests to urban city life.
How can I protect them?
Wasps perhaps do not need much protection overall. Their population size depends on the weather in spring time and there is little we can do for them. Wasp populations are not in a dangerous low so they are perhaps low priority. However, please do not harass wasps because they can be very aggressive when threatened and please do not try to destroy an unwanted hive. It is best to call a professional to get the hive removed.
“Costa’s Hummingbird Life History.” Allaboutbirds.org, Cornell University, Cornell Lab of Ornithology , 2019, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Costas_Hummingbird/lifehistory.
Mature Male “Costa Hummingbird.” Featured Birds: Hummingbirds, Pennington, 2019. https://www.pennington.com/all-products/wild-bird/resources/hummingbirds
Frankly I was most excited to talk about Hummingbirds in this blog. They are both beautiful and important. Hummingbirds are very important for gardeners because they are very good pollinators. Hummingbirds only drink nectar from flowers and are completely harmless for plants, animals, and humans.
Where can I find them?
You can find them amongst the tall trees and around the flowers and fruit trees, on campus we also have a hummingbird feeder by the subway, they are always hanging out over there. But please make sure not to disturb them, they are shy but can be aggressive if threatened. You can hear them if you are quiet enough, they don’t always make chirping sounds, instead they make an aggressive humming sound only by the fast beating of their wings. Fun fact, Hummingbird wings can beat up to 60 times per second. But hummingbirds do in fact chirp and sing just like any other small bird.
Here’s a video that I took of a bright green Hummingbird that was using the Hummingbird feeder just in front of the school’s Subway
Bright Green Hummingbird
How can I protect them?
Make sure to plant flowering plants outside and do not pick their favorite flowers. Also please make sure to illuminate pesticides that can harm them.
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS!!!!
Please please please make sure that when you fill your hummingbird feeders, to ONLY USE CANE SUGAR (but beet sugar is okay too). DO NOT use raw, brown, or organic sugar; also no honey or other kinds of sweeteners. You can also use tap water too. The reason for this is that the wrong type of sugar can harm if not kill hummingbirds. The ratio for the feeders must be 1 cup sugar, 3-4 cups water.
Chickadees
What do they look like?
Black Capped Chickadee Mandel, Missy. “Black-Capped Chickadee.” Audubon , National Audubon Society, 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-capped-chickadee.
Why are they important?
They are extremely important pest controllers. According to naturemappingfoundation.org, “Black-capped Chickadees eat large quantities of insect eggs, larvae and pupae (insects in the torpid stage), weevils, lice, sawflies, and other insects. They also feed on centipedes, snails, slugs, and spiders. The chickadee is one of the most important pest exterminators of the orchard or forest.” However chickadees love bird feeders.
Where can I find them?
You can find these guys all over campus however they like to stay closer to the trees than near us. They also love the wetlands so you might catch them over there. Chickadees are named after their famous call, which sounds like their name. Here’s a video I found on YouTube that depicts their famous sound, when you go out to look for them, make sure to look for their calls.
Chickadees Famous Call
Lesley the Bird Nerd, director. Chickadee-Dee-Dee Call. YouTube, 24 Mar. 2015, youtu.be/d8oW5DqPGCA.
How can I protect them?
Speaking from experience, Chickadees love sunflower seeds! Chickadees mainly eat seeds, berries, suet, and little bugs. Please make sure not to feed them bread unless it is whole wheat so that they can pick out the seeds themselves. They are similar to the Sparrows and Dark Eyed Juncos in where they are quite adapted to urban life and know when to get out of the way. But please make sure not to actively chase them (however they are too quick for human hands).
Although they have no qualms about hopping around by our feet, they are very good at flying out of our way as mentioned before. However if you one day see that this little bird doesn’t eventually flying away, it might be hurt. If you come close to one and doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. It might have flew into a window and need a minute to get it’s bearings straight. Additionally, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
Now here’s a video that I took (yes using snapchat) in where a Dark eyed Junco was making a typical call just outside of the library’s doors. 5/11/2019
With their little bodies but big voice I find them and Sparrows to be quite endearing. They come to be quite amusing when they hop around, just the other day, I was watching a Junco hop up a whole flight of stairs. These birds are important for seed dispersion and insect control just like sparrows and chickadees.
Where can I find them?
These little guys are (what I found) to be the most social and least shy bird on campus. They have no problem coming close to you and even the most likely bird here to pick up crumbs by your feet when you’re eating outside. Dark Eyed Juncos and Sparrows are always wandering around hopping everywhere and making the most noise on campus. But I love it when they keep me company outside. But it’s not hard to find them, they are always everywhere.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. Feeding birds processed wheat (like bread) is also not good for them, the best option for them would be worms or seeds.
Although they have no qualms about hopping around by our feet, they are very good at flying out of our way as mentioned before. However if you one day see that this little bird doesn’t eventually flying away, it might be hurt. If you come close to one and doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. It might have flew into a window and need a minute to get it’s bearings straight. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
Like the chickadees and Dark eyed Juncos, they are important for seed dispersion and controlling insect populations. They are also important prey for big birds like eagles and hawks. (sparrow)
Where can I find them?
These little birds are also found everywhere on this campus, they are very used to us and know how to get out of our way when we’re rushing to class or just just strolling though campus. These guys are very social and love to sing and do it often. If you take a moment and step outside you will most likely hear them, especially when it finally gets warm outside.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. Feeding birds processed wheat (like bread) is also not good for them, the best option for them would be worms or seeds.
Although they have no qualms about hopping around by our feet, they are very good at flying out of our way as mentioned before. However if you one day see that this little bird doesn’t eventually flying away, it might be hurt. If you come close to one and doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. It might have flew into a window and need a minute to get it’s bearings straight. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
This can be the case for any bird. For more information on what to do if you find an injured sparrow, please make sure to check out birdwatching-bliss.com for more information.
They are also among the group of birds that are seed eaters, they are good dispersers of pine tree seeds. They also eat berries, bugs, nuts, and even small animals (including bird eggs). You can check out allaboutbirds.org for more information on Stellar Jays like their life history and overview.
Where can I find them?
You can find them in the trees, big or small. Their nests are cleverly hidden so if you find a jay perched up on a branch it’s probably hunting for food. Blue Jays are quite loud when they are alone but they tend to stay quiet when they know that you are looking at them. Some of their callings can be mistaken for a crow’s, so you might be surprised like I sometimes am when I turn to see that it is actually a Blue Jay. I get many blue jays by my house and they are loudest in the mornings, (it can sometimes be a bit obnoxious when there’s a whole group of them cawing).
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. Feeding birds processed wheat (like bread) is also not good for them, the best option for them would be seeds. They love bird feeders and messing around with squirrels. If you want to get them a bird feeder, you can add in some fresh nuts like peanuts and suet. But do not get mad at them if they start taking a bunch, they’re probably saving up for the winter.
If you come close to a Blue Jay and it doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
This can be the case for any bird. For more information on what to do if you find an injured bird, please feel free to check out birdwatching-bliss.com
They are very important tree eating insect population controllers. They usually look for the insects that are hiding in trees such as termites, carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles, etc. They also eat tree sap and suet. However woodpeckers can be harmful to trees when they make too many holes in the trunks.
Where can I find them?
There aren’t many on campus but they are most likely between the tall trees if you are lucky enough to spot one.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. They are too shy to accept any food from humans, be that as it may, the best option for them would be worms, termites, or any insects.
Please do not make a grab for these guys, if one is truly hurt it would be unable to fly away. But if one is truly hurt, please do not touch them. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
This can be the case for any bird. For more information on how to safely deal with hurt birds please check out birdwatching-bliss.com
Beavers
What do they look like?
Beaver Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. “Beavers – Wildlife Conflict .” Wildlife Conflict, Purdue University, 2016, wildlifehotline.info/identification-control/beavers/.
Why are they important?
Now I’m sure you would have hear the rant about the significance of beaver when you were taught about the story of the reintroduction of the Bothell campus wetlands. Believe it or not, beavers are important for salmon because they carve rivers and streams however they like, slowing down the water enough to not stress out the salmon. However, beavers can be troublesome when they dam the whole width of the river and make the river flow too slow for salmon and/or other misfits.
Where can I find them?
In the wetlands or little creeks. However they are shy so they will not come to say hi when you do find their impressive homes.
How can I protect them?
When you do find their homes, please do not step on or climb them because you can destroy the dams and can hurt the beaver or yourself. The first time I saw a beaver, it was actually dead on the side of a road, as always please be cautious and away when you are driving. It will also be a huge help if you do your part in keeping the waters healthy by not littering and do not take branches out of the rivers and creeks unless they are very big and are cutting off water flow.
Here’s a video I took of a beaver dam in the UWB wetlands accompanied by UWB faculty. I made sure not to disturb the dam and took appropriate precautions, please do not venture into the wetlands alone unless you have appropriate faculty with you.
Beaver Dam at UWB Wetlands
Beetles
What do they look like?
Darkling Beetle
Evans, Arthur V. “Darkling Beetle.” NationalParkService.gov, US Department of the Interior , 2011, www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery-item.htm?id=81C26A56-1DD8-B71C-078B1FA8D8D5237C&gid=8236AA69-1DD8-B71C-07E436D10BB9D011.
Why are they important?
Most beetles are actually near the very bottom of the food-chain which means that they aren’t like the common predator. They are important as a food source for birds etc. Most beetles are decomposers like snails and slugs so they eat dead plants and animals. Decomposer are important because without them dead matter would pile up and harm us.
Where can I find them?
You can find them among the plants and dirt, I personally find many walking across the pavement and they don’t have eyes so they don’t always know where they’re going. But you can find them anywhere on campus crawling on the ground.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to step on them and do not physically pick them up. Bugs can carry diseases but beetles are not known to, however you can potentially harm beetles if you handle them incorrectly.
Mosquitoes
What do they look like?
Freeborni Anopheles Mosquito
Moore, Jim. “Freeborni Anopheles .” Bugguide.net, Iowa State University Department of Entomology , 2011, bugguide.net/node/view/593478.
Why are they important?
They are an important food source to spiders, grasshoppers, frogs, fish. They are not directly beneficial to humans other than being food for other critters.
Where can I find them?
Everywhere and anywhere. The females tend to come out after sunset to prey on humans and other animals for their blood. However I never had the problem of mosquito bites when I stay for some time after dark on campus, Perhaps they are only prominent by the wetlands because wetlands are their ideal environment.
How can I protect them?
They honestly don’t need protection, just make sure to use proper pesticides with no ill effects for whatever reason you need it for.
snails are important decomposers, they eat rotten plants, fungi, and dirt.
Where can I find them?
You can find them amongst the plants, however when it’s raining, the dirt gets too much for them so they tend to hang out on the pavement. Unfortunately not a lot of people look where they’re stepping and many snails end up getting crushed and killed.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure to look where you’re stepping when it’s raining. Almost all of my classes end up in the discovery building so I always park by the Truly house, on my way out or into discovery the pavement sometimes is filled with snailed and I absolutely hate it when I’m walking and I hear the horrifying crunch of someone else stepping on a snail’s shell. I find so many dead snails and it can all be avoided if people would just look down to see where they’re stepping.
Grasshoppers
What do they look like?
Redlegged grasshopper
Brunner, J. “Redlegged Grasshopper Adult.” Treefuit.wsu.edu, treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/opm/grasshoppers/.
Why are they important?
These guys are extremely important for plants that even I was surprised to find. According to How are Grasshoppers Beneficial, grasshoppers are important for plant decomposition, fertilizing soil, feeding predators like spiders, birds, and lizards, and preventing overgrowth. For more information on how grasshoppers are beneficial, you can check out mom.me.org
Where can I find them?
They are most prominent on the trail path by the wetlands below by the courts. You can find dozens if bot hundreds on the paved path.
How can I protect them?
When you are walking on the designated pathways, please make sure not to step on them. Unfortunately there are just so many on the sidewalk that they are constantly stepped on, but please make sure to be mindful that this is their home too.
they are an important food source to big birds and cats, along with coyotes which are very much prominent on campus.
Where can I find them?
You can recognize them by their little white tail, it pretty much looks like a cotton ball hence the name. You can find them amongst the grass, or near the trees by the truly house, you can probably find them running around everywhere around campus. In spring quarter you will find dozens throughout the day if you look out of a tall window. I once counted 28 rabbits within 1 hour running around at the discovery parking lot and near the truly house while I was looking outside of the windows on the fourth floor. When nobody is around, you will find them playfully zooming around and chasing each other across campus.
How can I protect them?
Please don’t chase after them, they are very afraid of humans and make effort to maintain high grasses and not step on patches of dead grass because that is where they usually build their nest of baby rabbits.
These little guys are very important in order to maintain our day to day lives along with the lives of other species of plants, animals, and insects. Next time when you stop them, stop to appreciate what they do.
Works Cited
Ryan, Tom. “How Are Grasshoppers Beneficial?” Animals, Mom.me, 11 Aug. 2017, animals.mom.me/grasshoppers-beneficial-5185.html.
“Steller’s Jay Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, 2017, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/lifehistory.
Bose, Debopriya. “How Do Sparrows Serve in the Ecosystem?” Animals, Mom.me, 26 Sept. 2017, animals.mom.me/how-do-sparrows-serve-in-the-ecosystem-12353998.html.
