Union Bay Natural Area — Saturday, Apr. 26, 2025

This morning's visit to Union Bay was a bit emotional for me. Over the past twenty three years I've ridden my bike through this nature area literally thousands of times. My work commute, over the past quarter century, has been blessed by riding to-and-fro through Union Bay. Three days a week, every month of the year. In pouring rain, under starlit skies, watching the first hews of color as winter recedes, capturing animals going about their business. 

This morning, per usual, I rode to work for the last time. Spring is full blown and the six AM ride was spectacular. Three little goslings, still puffy and yellow in their newborn down were out nipping at greenery with protective parents watching my every move. A wood duck, with it's flashy coloring was out in the open slurping down an enormous worm in the bike path. The first time that I've seen one so brazenly out in the open. A couple of beavers, a few cottontails, several ducks, and small passerines rounded out my morning sightings. 

Over the years I've been fortunate to see coyotes, deer, muskrat, and beavers, so many beavers. I've also had a fly-on-the-wall perspective to watch the growth of the UW's commitment to the area. I've learned the history of what was once a marshland, and then a city dump until 1963, and now very slowly returning to a natural(ish) state. I've been lucky and blessed. 

Tonight, at 7:30, I'll saddle up and ride home one last time. I'll probably take one of the slightly longer loops out along the water. I'll stop and marvel at Mount Rainier, my Merlin Bird App will ID bird calls for me, the rejuvenation of life will recharge my batteries. Thank you Union Bay Nature Preserve for being there.