Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge	xxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxx
HABITAT:	USFWS and WDFW 4,000-acre river delta w/ forest, salt- and freshwater wetlands, meadows, deciduous riparian woodlands, salt marsh, and Puget Sound mudflats.
BIRDING:	Spring foliage shelters Western Tanagers; and Orange-crowned, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, MacGillivray’s, and Wilson’s Warblers, while Bushtits and Spotted Towhees sing in brush and Rufous Hummingbirds flit in wildflowers. Meadows attract Song and Savannah Sparrows, Short-eared Owls, and Northern Harriers. Great Horned Owls sleep in trees near Twin Barns. American Bitterns and Marsh Wrens skulk in wetlands year-round. In winter, watch for Peregrine Falcons, Merlins and Bald Eagles, as 6,000 waterfowl gather in freshwater ponds: Northern Pintails, American and a few Eurasian Wigeons, Canada and Cackling Geese, and Green-winged Teal.
VIEWING:	Walk 1.1-mile ADA Twin Barns Loop and 5.5-mile Brown Farm Loop on outer dike (closed hunting season Oct-Jan).
ACCESS:	From I-5, take exit 114 (Nisqually). Turn north onto Nisqually Cut-off Rd. Drive 0.1 mile. Turn right (east) into Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Drive 0.5 mile to parking areas.
MORE BIRDING:	From I-5, exit 114 (Nisqually). Drive southwest on Martin Wy 1.1 miles. Turn right (north) onto Meridian Rd. Drive 0.4 mile. At roundabout, exit right (east) onto Meridian Rd NE. Drive 2 miles. Turn right (east) onto 46th Ave NE. Drive 0.2 mile. Turn left (north) onto D’Milluhr Dr NE. Drive 0.5 mile to Public Access Area boat landing and park. Aug-Nov, use scope to see Dunlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Least and Western Sandpipers, Short- and Long-billed Dowitchers on mudflats, plus deep-water birds: Brant, Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, Marbled Murrelets, Red-throated and Common Loons, Eared and Horned Grebes; and Surf, White-winged, and Black Scoters. (Avoid hunting season Oct-Jan.)

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