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WELCOME TO RAVENNA PARK!
FIELD GUIDE
Explore Ravenna Park with this beginners field guide!
STATION #1 (BIRDS)
There are several places to spot birds at Ravenna Park although some places are better than others. In station #1 you will find a variation of birds. Some of the birds that you can expect to see in this specific area include the following: The American Robin, The House Finch, Rufous Hummingbird, Tree Swallow, American Bushtit, Black-Capped Chickadee, Song Sparrow, and the House Sparrow.
LOCATION: SE side of the park right next to the little league baseball field. There will be a narrow walkway to your left that overlooks the baseball field.
STATION #2 (PLANTS)
At station #2 you will find several common plant species to the Pacific Northwest. These include: Thimbleberry, Salmonberry, Twinberry, Lady Fern, Sword Fern, and the Bleeding Heart.
LOCATION: As you enter the huge clearing as you pass the baseball field, there is a brown information area. Keep walking past it until you are on the main trail. The station will be located on your right hand side about 150 feet along the trail.
STATION #3 (LICHEN/FUNGI)
Lichen and Fungi can be difficult to spot if you do not know where to look. Lichen and Fungi are most commonly found on the trunks of trees, branches/bark, rocks, and sometimes on ground cover species. They key is to look low! In station #3 you will find a few types of fungi and lichen. You will not find a large amount of species in this station but there is a variety present. Here is what you can expect to find: Artist's Bracket, Oyster Mushroom, Turkey Tail Mushroom, and Oakmoss Lichen.
LOCATION: This station is about 100 feet South of station #2. A hidden trail will be on your right hand side. Take the off-beaten trail and follow it until you go up a slight hill. Once you are on top of the hill, walk about 50 feet. The Fungi/Lichen will be on a downward slope on your left-hand side.
STATION #4 (TREES)
You do not have to be a tree expert, but it is good to know some of the common trees in your backyard. In station #4 you will see two very abundant trees in the pacific northwest. Ravenna Park is heavily populated by both of these species. They are: Big Leaf Maple and Douglas Fir.
LOCATION: If you are starting out from the main clearing by the baseball fields, this station is located about 1/2 mile into the Park. Stay on the main trail until you reach a second clearing. At this second clearing you will see a river, a bench, and a garbage can. Once you hit this spot the trail forks into different directions. Take a slight left at the fork and continue on the trail for about 200-250ft. The trees within the field guide will be on your right-hand side.
STATION #5 (LAND-USE HISTORY)
In the early 1800's what today is known as "Ravenna Park" was once known as "Ravenna Natural Park". Before the city of Seattle bought the area, Ravenna Natural Park was occupied by old-growth species. Today, much of the old growth has disappeared but it is becoming more lush like it was back in the old days. Station #5 will allow you to stand in a space that was once inhibited by old-growth and lush forest but is now an open and maintained space.
LOCATION: This is located at the main clearing. If you are confused at where the main clearing is, it is about 200 feet east of Kidd Valley.
STATION #6 (GEOLOGY/GEOMORPHOLOGY)
STATION #7 (INVERTEBRATES)
Station #6 is where you will see a granodiorite erratic! This erratic most likely came from the Vashon Ice sheet.
LOCATION: This station is off the main gravel trail. After the second clearing, stay straight on the trail until. It will be shy of the first major bridge. This station is rather easy to spot, it will be on your left-hand side.
Invertebrate locality can sometimes be a hit or a miss. If you actively look under rocks and fallen trees you have a better chance of spotting common invertebrates. In station #7 (depending on where you look) you may find the following: Hobo Spider, Woodlouse, and various types of fly species.
LOCATION: These invertebrates can be found almost anywhere but if you are following this guide closely, this station is shortly after station #2. It will be off the main trail, on your right-hand side. Follow the trail up the hill. Eventually the trail will flatten out, once it does, that is when you stop.
STATION #8 (ECOLOGICAL INTERACTION)
During your walk through Ravenna, try and spot ecological interactions between species. One of the most common interaction you will see is facilitation. An example of facilitation would be a nurse log. Nurse logs "nurse" other species. This facilitation relationship can be one-sided, mutual, or negative. By negative this means; invasive species taking over a native species.
LOCATION: This station is a good 1 1/2 into the park. Follow the main trail 1 1/2 and then branch off to your left whenever you get the opportunity. There is actually more than one tree like this in this area. Don't be worried if you are not exactly where you need to be, as long as you keep left you will run into this station.
STATION #9 (ECOLOGICAL DISTURBANCE)
Unfortunately, ecological disturbances are present everywhere. They just happen. If you take a thorough walk around Ravenna Park you will notice that ecological disturbances are everywhere, not just in station #9. Station #9 will allow you to see an area that is highly disturbed by fallen trees.
LOCATION: Although this station is clearly marked on the map, this station is located EVERYWHERE within Ravenna Park. As long as you keep your eyes open, you could make this station be wherever is convinient for you.
STATION #10 (ANIMAL BEHAVIOR)
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This station is unlike the other stations. Here you will be able to see something magical! At this location, an American Bushtit nest is present. You will be able to spot the nest because it will be hanging rather low from the tree in which it resides. Do not hesitate to get close to the nest, the Bushtits are so busy that they will not even notice your presence. Note: Do NOT touch the nest.
LOCATION: Head South on the main trail. This station will be 50 feet short of the second clearing. Keep your eyes looking up though as this station is located in a tree!
STATION#11 (CONES)
The last station of this guide serves as a station that is fairly versatile. This station could almost be located in every corner of Ravenna Park. Cones are fun features to the conifer trees that take over Ravenna Park. If you look on the ground floor at station #10 you will be able to find multiple types of cones present. It can be fun to try and identify which tree they fell from!
LOCATION: This station is marked on the SE side of Ravenna, towards the big grass field. If you walk all the way through the main trail and branch left, you will run into trail markers, these markers will lead you towards the station. This station is actually located right next to the bathrooms!
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