Date: Saturday, April 11th, 2026
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 7-10 am (birding outing) and 10-1 (optional restoration opportunity)
Co-leaders: Rachel Holland and Lisa Genuit
Contact: Please contact Rachel Holland to register for this trip at lightningdash09@yahoo.com
What to bring: Binoculars, water, lunch/snacks, jacket, camera (optional), garden gloves (if attending restoration event).
Description: Birding and Volunteer Restoration Day at Glacial Heritage Preserve located in Olympia, WA. We will walk a loop through the beautiful Mima prairie, oak woodland, and riparian area of the Black River. This guided walk provides an opportunity to see prairie birds at a preserve which is normally closed to the public. The habitat provides opportunities to see raptors, meadowlarks, Savannah Sparrows, Western Bluebirds and other migrant birds. We should also see a number of other resident birds. Wildflowers such as camas and golden paintbrush may be in bloom. There is also an optional prairie restoration event after the birding walk.
Trail Conditions: We will be walking approximately 2 – 3 miles across a variety of trail environments, including rocks, grasses, dirt, and sometimes taller vegetation.
Restoration Help (Optional): 10:00 – 1:00 (snack break around 10:00 before restoration)
What to bring: Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, water, and snacks. CNLM will provide tools for the restoration and extra gloves if needed.
To help with ongoing south Puget Sound prairie restoration, an optional volunteer opportunity offered through the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) will be available after the bird walk. AmeriCorps members with CNLM will be in attendance to lead the restoration portion of the event as well as joining in on the bird walk. Those attending the bird walk are welcome to stay for the restoration portion of the day or leave after 10 AM. Restoration activities include scotch broom removal, planting native plant species, and other miscellaneous restoration activities. This event will provide an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in supporting restoration at this rare prairie ecosystem.
Meeting location: Meet a few minutes before 7:00 a.m. at the grassy parking lot just inside the entrance at Glacial Heritage Preserve to meet up with the CNLM and AmeriCorp Crew at 15044 Mima Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512. Directions (note that Google Maps does not do well with address given; best to follow directions below):
Glacial Heritage Preserve (15044 Mima Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512) from I-5:
⦁ Take exit 95 (about 10 miles south of Olympia) and head west on Maytown Rd. toward the town of Littlerock.
⦁ At the stop sign by Littlerock Elementary continue straight onto 128th St.
⦁ 128th street will ‘T’ at Mima/Waddell Creek Rd. Take a left at the ‘T’ and follow Mima Creek Rd. for about 2.7 miles.
⦁ You will see a small sign with a tractor on it followed by a brown sign marking Glacial Heritage Preserve.
⦁ At the brown sign turn left onto the unmarked gravel road and follow it through the white gate.
⦁ After the white gate, you will see a route on the grassy area to the right for parking – CNLM and AmeriCorps will be there to greet you upon arrival.
Photo of Glacial Heritage Preserve by Rachel Holland.
