The Flyway Spring 2021 Quarterly newsletter for Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually and Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuges Contents Western Skunk Cabbage: Skunk Cabbage Lysichiton americanus in Bloom in Bloom .............. 1 By David True Western skunk cabbage is part of a On the Wing ......... 2 Park Ranger, Nisqually NWR Complex family called Araceae, or the arum fam- ily, most of which grow in the Ameri- Conservation Corps I love scientific names! When Carl Lin- can tropics. These groups of plants start Crew Breathes New naeus formalized the use of a binomial to grow with a stem called a spadix Life ....................... 3 nomenclature for taxonomic specializa- and are surrounded by a bract called tion, it helped to modernize the way Refuge Seeks Student a spathe. In skunk cabbage the spa- scientists could Art to Celebrate dix is a green stem classify species. For Watershed! ........... 4 with many brightly instance, there are colored yellow flow- Shorebirds don’t many species of rob- ers crowded around understand social ins found throughout the top with a bright distancing. ............ 4 the world, but many yellow spathe sur- of them are not Exploring the rounding it, earning closely related. But if Nisqually Watershed, it another name, you see the scientific Virtually! ............... 5 Swamp Lantern. But name Turdus mi- this color is not the What’s Black and gratorius, you know only reason why White, Flies, and that we are speaking the plant stands out Calls its Name about the American early in the season Constantly? ........... 6 robin. And many when most other scientific names are Join Friends of flowering plants quite beautiful in Nisqually NWRC! .. 7 are still dormant. their own way! Shorebird and In the sap and the Nature Festival ...... 8 Take for instance the flowers of the plant plant species called comes an odor that Lysichiton ameri- can permeate your canus. The genus senses, a smell that name Lysichiton some people say can is a Greek defini- resemble a skunk. tion coming from Skunk Cabbage in early spring Skunk cabbage re- Photo credit: USFWS, i’ina van Lawick two words, Lysis quires certain species Save the dates! which means to dissolve, and Chiton, of flies and beetles to help pollinate which describes armor. What kind of it, and its stinky smell helps to attract Grays Harbor plant has armor like a knight only to these creatures to the plant. wither away as the season goes on. The Shorebird and In late March through April, walking in western skunk cabbage, of course! In a wet wooded area such as parts of the Nature Festival additon, the americanus species name Twin Barns Loop Trail will likely provide describes that this species is native to April 24–30, the opportunity to find these beauti- North America, which in this case is ful plants in bloom, but the brightness 2021 the Pacific Northwest. Continued on page 2 programs to ensure we could still provide resources On the Wing for those on a different mission. These projects could By Glynnis Nakai be completed outdoors with minimal concerns about Project Leader Nisqually NWR Complex keeping physically apart; however, the visitor services program, which is all about personal interactions, was One-year anniversaries always seem to be significant impacted the most. As we look forward, this is the points in time whether it’s personal or work-related. program that requires the most planning to ensure we It’s a time when one reflects back on what happened reopen the facilities and resume the volunteer program during that year and is a gauge for the present and a in ways that keep everyone safe and healthy. We’re guideline for the future. We just passed a year under too close to be over-ambitious and though it may seem pandemic conditions and although it continues, there is overly cautious, we want to do this right. We are mak- a sense of anticipation as we see the number of cases ing preparations for a phased reopening but implemen- decrease and vaccinations increase. This gives us a tation is reliant on the continued decrease in cases and glimpse of what’s to the rollout of vaccines come and a sense in the next phases. I of anticipation. It am unable to predict makes it a little easier when this will occur to look forward. but want to keep you When we were in iso- informed. Until then, lation this past year, we hope you stay some things didn’t healthy and find time change – vegetation to visit the refuge. still grew and birds Learn from yesterday. still migrated – and Live for today. Hope the Refuge staff and for tomorrow. the Washington Con- –Albert Einstein servation Corps. crew kept up pace with the habitat and wildlife The Refuge’s Washington Conservation Corps crew members. Skunk Cabbage From page 1 fades away quickly, and as summer rolls around, instead to melt snow and ice around them as they grow early in of bright yellow flowers and bracts, what will remain are the season, while Lysichiton americanus does not gener- some of the largest leaves found in the Pacific North- ate heat. So let’s hear it for scientific names! west. The leaves can sometimes rise over three feet high and be over 50 inches long and 25 inches wide! Published quarterly by the Friends of Native Americans have a variety of traditional uses of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex. western skunk cabbage. Medicinally the plant heals Phone: 360.753.9467 burns, sores and other injuries to the skin. The leaves Fax: 360.534.9302 also help aid with cooking and storage, such as wrap- www.fws.gov/refuge/billy_frank_jr_nisqually ping them around salmon while baking in a fire. Dur- www.fws.gov/refuge/grays_harbor ing times of famine, the plant could also be eaten if Volume 13, Number 2 steamed or roasted. However, western skunk cabbage Editor: Susie Hayes is not a plant to eat freely, as much of the plant con- Editorial Advisors: David Clark, tains a chemical called calcium oxalate, which can be poisonous in high amounts. Jennifer Cutillo, David True Graphic design: Lee Miller Going back to the importance of scientific names, there is also a skunk cabbage species that grows in eastern Save trees, think green. North America. That species is Symplocarpus foetidus To receive The Flyway electronically, email which is not related to the species found here. Species [email protected] in Symplocarpus actually can release heat which helps 2 The Flyway Refuge’s Washington Conservation Corps Crew Breathes New Life into Nature Explore Area By Davy Clark The Washington Conservation Corps Crew constructed Education Program Manager Nisqually NWR Complex new benches and chairs made from a cottonwood The Nature Explore Area is a unique part of the Refuge tree that fell across the Refuge entrance road during a adjacent to the Environmental Education Center. Here, storm. They took time to reclaim overgrown trails, re- kids are encouraged to explore, play, and learn all at the furbish activity tables, construct balance beams, repair same time. This outdoor classroom provides a network fencing, and much more. of trails that connect spaces where young children can This project was just one of the many tasks that make have experience interacting with nature and natural up the incredible amount of work that crew members materials. The do around the Refuge. This adventure starts at six person crew works closely the gathering area with Refuge staff to main- where families and tain boardwalks and other groups can plan facilities, conduct invasive their activities. Ac- plant removals, and assist tivity areas include in habitat management. dirt digging, nature Modelled after the Civilian art, music, move- Conservation Corps from the ment, and action. early 20th century, the Wash- Kids can climb ington Conservation Corps through a hollowed was created in 1983 and has out cottonwood log, been an AmeriCorps program test their balance on since the 1990’s. Human visi- a wooden balance tors and wildlife alike benefit beam, play drums, from all the work our Wash- build structures in ington Conservation Corps the “Messy Materi- crew takes part in. Our crew als” area, and much is one of over 50 around the more! state who all share an admi- The Nature Explore rable commit- Area was constructed ment to conser- in part by the Refuge’s vation and play Washington Conser- an important vation Corps crew in role in manag- 2010. This year, while ing vital habitat the Nature Explore for wildlife and Area has remained keeping public closed due to the CO- spaces clean VID-19 pandemic, our and maintained current Washington for visitors. The Conservation Corps Nature Explore crew has been hard at Area reopens work making repairs to the public and improvements to on April 12th, all parts of this unique 2021. space that is well loved by the Refuge’s youngest visitors and their families. Photo courtesy USFWS Spring 2021 3 Refuge Seeks Student Art to Celebrate Nisqually Watershed! Crafty with crayons? Partial to paints? Both realistic and imaginative Marvelous with Markers? Then con- interpretations are encouraged. The sider putting your skills to paper and deadline for entries is Friday June making art for this year’s Nisqually 11th, 2021. Watershed Poster Contest! An awards ceremony will be held From Mount Rainier to the Nisqually during the 2021 Nisqually Water- Estuary, the Nisqually watershed is a shed Festival on Saturday Septem- wondrous place full of wild creatures ber 25th 2021. All entries will be that call this special place home. The displayed during the festival and Refuge invites all first through sixth the “Best in Show” poster will be grade students to share their own used on all festival publicity! personal celebrations of these amazing If you know a student who might creatures by creating a poster to con- be interested please email us at tribute to conservation through the arts! [email protected] to Each year a theme is chosen to high- receive a copy of the poster contest light a special part of the watershed.