A Place of Peace: Reflections from the Sanctuary
“My dreams that the Beaver Lodge Sanctuary is a sanctuary for so many from the neighborhood and well beyond are realized. The beavers seem fond of it as well.” - Liz
The Beaver Lodge Sanctuary is settling into Fall. Gold leaves of are appearing. Usually, I am blowing them off the pathways at this point, but the trees have decided to hold them for just a bit longer. Even the Dawn Redwood, has deemed it more important to display some fresh needles in their best green vs starting to look dormancy dead. It seems to be rejoicing in the arrival of the rain and cooler days. The baby Oak is following suite with a burst of new growth. They are not yet ready for a winter’s sleep.
Our resident landscape arborists, local beavers, have completed taking down the remaining Black Willow. Looking back into the Sanctuary, the view has certainly opened. It seems they have selected their next project.
“Busy as a beaver,” is more than a saying.
The American Coots are gathering in their amazing display of ‘rafts’ on the lake. This year the rafts are huge! A coot is a duck? Nope. It is a member of the Rallidae family. Not a duck at all. Fun Facts Below
- The feet of the American Coot have “lobed” skin between their toes. This adaptation helps coots swim better and walk on land.
- Coots look like ducks but are more closely related to the majestic cranes and rails.
- In winter, American Coots can form flocks of thousands of birds…. in lakes and other places with extensive open water.
- They plan an important role for marsh habitats by eating large amounts of excess vegetation.
Here’s who else makes Lake Washington and the Beaver Lodge Sanctuary a home in the winter:
Trumpeter Swans Bufflehead Duck
Tundra Swans Caspian Tern
Snow Geese Green Heron
Northern Flicker Black Brandt Duck
Common Loon American Widgeon
“For our family, the Beaver Sanctuary is so many things. As a mom I love that it's a place where time passes more slowly and we can watch leaves slowly turn, baby ducks learn to swim, beavers chomp down trees. All of us spend so much time with life moving at the pace of our computer processors. The Beaver Sanctuary gives everyone a place to slow down and breathe at a pace more in line with nature…as a homeschooling mom, the Beaver Sanctuary is my favorite classroom. Where else can you watch a major engineering project while watching a great blue heron scope out its next meal?” - Colleen
"For me the Beaver Sanctuary is my early morning mental health fix for the day.” - Jana
“I first stumbled into the beaver lodge sanctuary the day we moved into the neighborhood… I’ve been coming here almost daily ever since and always appreciate the magic of stepping out of the city and into a beautiful natural habitat. The beaver lodge sanctuary is a unique and special place.” - Mike
“The Beaver Sanctuary is a great escape close to home. It’s a great place to walk the pups and take a break on the dock. Never know what you will see, but I’m sure it will be a special moment.” - Gregory
“The Beaver Sanctuary is a quiet, peaceful refuge carved out of the concrete of the city; a place where I can slow down, reflect, and journal. I love how beautifully maintained it is, and it always makes me smile to see the beavers, ducks, geese, frogs, and turtles going about their day. It feels like a little pocket of gratitude right here in the neighborhood.” – Scott
“The beaver lodge is a magical escape, a place where I can step back and take a breath while becoming completely absorbed by a heron or wood duck or kingfisher. I’m so grateful to Lauri and all the other volunteers who help protect it and keep it special.” - Alice
“The Beaver Sanctuary is special to me because its beauty is the work of many neighbors giving it a place to relax and take a deep breath.” - Mikel
“For me, the Beaver Sanctuary is…. AMAZING!”