Walking Tour

This walking tour will provide you with basic knowledge of common Pacific Northwest plant, animal, and fungi species around Carkeek Park. Start the tour at the Carkeek Park entrance. Head to the trails, there should be a sign that says Piper's Creek Trail and informational signs about salmon. Start taking the South Trail route and continue to all of the stations. Enjoy!

Station 1: Land Use History
               The namesake of Carkeek Park was a prominent developer in the Pacific Northwest Region. In the 1920’s, the City Council and Mr. Carkeek bought Piper’s Canyon and Matthews Beach for a new park location after a previous Carkeek Park in Sand Point became the place of a Naval base in 1926. Originally, a dusty county road existed along the ravine across from the railroad tracks. A sawmill was in operation on the beach in the 1920’s as well, but later was replaced by Whiz Co. fish trap until 1932. In 1929 the community, led by Greenwood-Phinney Commercial Club, made a dedication program to honor Mr. Carkeek and finally open the park. The first improvements to the park were removing shacks and planting vegetable gardens for zoo animals. 
               Later a concession contract in 1931 led to improvements and work projects in the park. The unemployed of 1931 through the Civilian Conservation Corps and the WPA in addition to the Nation Park Service constructed trails and a stove shelter at the park. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed camp buildings, but removed all but one and in 1942 the US Army reactivated the camp for encampment. A sewage treatment plant was established in 1949 and bought by Metro in 1954 and the proximity and construction of feeder sewer lines through the park plus subsequent washouts by pipe breaks have significantly changed the park from what could be considered a “wilderness” area to an “urbanized” park. In 1953 the loop road around the park was developed and paved while a Carkeek Garden Club planted rhododendrons at the park entrance.
               Many developments were made from 1928 to the present, by the CCC, WPA, Boy Scouts, and contractors who all worked to establish trails, picnic areas, and roads, making the park what it is today. The park has continued to expand and in 1976 the southwest area of the park was acquired, the lower picnic area was created, and the site of the South Trail Bluff and my walking tour, Pipers Creek Trail, was constructed (History: Carkeek Park).

SStation 2: Invertebrates

A common species that can be seen sliding along the trail is the Rufous Garden Slug from the gastropod class. This slug is slow moving across the path, leaving shiny, slimy trail behind it. The slug is about an inch and a half long with a slimy, soft body and reddish brown coloring. It was narrowest at the ends and on the head the slug as two long antennae. Slugs and snails are decomposers for the ecosystem.

An easy species to identify here is the Common Pillbug from crustacean class. I've seen this species several times and found this particular Pillbug motionless inside of a hollowed

tree. The body had grey plates or layers and was about a centimeter long. It had two short black antennae and appeared to have legs that extended from the back.

Other insects like beetles from the Coleoptera order can be seen around this site. I’ve found a beetle had a hard wing covers, was a dark brown and reddish color with black legs, pinchers, and a spiny extension from the back. I found this beetle in the shrubs at my site moving quickly and pausing occasionally, staying very still. I also found a number of flies, of Diptera, zooming around the trails.

Especially near the creek, Mayflies and Mosquitos flock to the moist environment for habitats and breeding grounds. Water Skeeters can also be spotted on the creek. Take a moment to look for insects near Piper’s Creek. There is a large variety of terrestrial and aquatic insects at types at this particular location. Another common species to observe is the Western Tent Caterpillar which can be distinguished by their furry, stripped bodies. Lastly look for Bumblebees and other important plant pollinators as they zoom around from bud to bud on small shrubs and flowering plants.

Station 3: Ecological Interaction

                 The fallen snags visible throughout the trail system in Carkeek Park provide an interesting habitat for plant and animal communities. Lichens cover the decaying log, providing important cyanobacteria and forage materials for mammals. The lichens’ material can be used as nesting material by birds. Fungi act as major decomposers to the decaying log, as fungi are the only organisms that can digest lignin in wood. Decomposers return important nutrients to the forest in a form that can be taken up by plants. Mosses also cover the log, providing important nutrients and soil layers for small pioneering plants to colonize the log. Some of these early plant and scrub species could be the Lady Fern or Red Huckleberry. Insects like

ants and Carpenter Ants also use the decaying log, aiding in the deterioration through eating material within the fallen tree. Animals also contribute to the community, using the holes in the decaying food for shelter or the plant, insect, and fungi species that colonize the log for a source of food. The Eastern Grey Squirrel can often be seen exploring dead logs and the Pileated Woodpecker is a species that commonly looks in dead snags for food. 

    Station 4: Canopy

                There are many tree species that can be spotted from the South Trail Bluff. The Carkeek forests are primarily in a maple-alder successional stage. Red Alder is a common tall tree with light green serrated leaves and light colored bark. The Big Leaf Maple are evident by the big fallen leaves surrounding trees everywhere. The maple has opposite leaf structure with thin, green leaves that are five lobed. Additionally, the Western Red Cedar has scale-like leaves in opposite pairs and striped, papery, redish brown bark. All of these can be seen in the canopy of the forest at Carkeek. Look up or around you for characteristic bark and leaf shapes or look to the forest floor for fallen cones and catkins. Western Hemlock easily identifiable from the irregular needle sizes, but is less common to spot than the Red Cedar. Look for Madrone, with broad, dark, thick, oblong green glossy leaves and orange-red bark with a smooth texture and dark brown bark peeling in some areas. Tiny white flowers form in clusters. The canopy species observed toward Piper’s Creek and at higher elevations is different. Towards Piper’s Creek I observed many Pacific, Willows, Red Osier Dogwood, Cascara, and even a species of pine, which are suited for moist environments. At higher elevations, the assortment of species changes. Near my location Red Alder, Big-Leaf Maple, and Western Red Cedar dominate the canopy structure. Standing at this station, look down below the trail to see canopy trees from a distance at a high vantage point. Notice the bird and mammal species that utilize the tall trees for protecting territory and searching for food.
 Station 5: Ecological Disturbance

                The fallen snags in the foreground are evidence of past disturbance events, like wind gusts or wood rot, which have caused the vegetation to fall to the forest floor. Since these species have fallen, new species like mosses and small shrubs have since colonized the fallen snags. By observing this tree I would
hypothesize that this is a legacy tree which has survived an event of prior predation. Wildfires do not hit every tree in the forest, but can damage the vegetation unevenly. Sparse areas around this tree may be evidence that trees died due to wood rot or disease while many trees like this legacy tree still survive and have managed to
recover from the inflicted damage. Insects, especially bark beetles, can produce wood rot and damage trees. This is a form of predation because the beetles consume the tree while harming the tree system. However, some species like Douglas Fir have mechanisms to protect them from the destructive effects of insect predators. These trees can produce resin, a thick liquid which rushes to the wounded tree area and heals the afflicted region of the tree, preventing further harm and the death of the tree. This Western Red Cedar shows evidence of past predation from other species, the interior of the tree is holey and decaying, while the exterior of the tree appears to be recovering from the effects of prior predation. The mix of dead and live trees in the forest provides a unique habitat for species. The dead portion can be home to insects and small mammals, while the live portion of the tree is home to numerous lichen, fungi, moss, plants, and animal species.

Station 6: Animal Behavior

Some interesting animal behavior that I observed at Carkeek Park at my spot on the South Trail was a female Pileated Woodpecker. Woodpeckers have long tongues that extend from the back of their right eye. The woodpecker I observed was looking for food and insects by pecking on the dead tree and foraging within the holes in the dead tree. The woodpecker probes into the holes with the long, barbed tongue. They do not excavate all of the holes in the tree to find insects; rather they reach into some holes with their long tongue to search. This female may have been searching for food for her and her young. This interesting feeding behavior is unique to the

woodpecker and their long tongue adaptation. In contrast, many of the other bird species find there food in other ways. I’ve seen the American Robin looking for food on the forest floor, finding worms and small insects to feed their young. The American Crow primarily scours for food in the developed areas of the park where people often leave food scraps. The woodpecker I spotted was in a high elevation area of Carkeek Park, but my classmate Kiana observed a similar female Pileated Woodpecker near Piper’s Creek displaying similar behavior at a different dead snag by the creek. Kiana’s video on her blog shows the female woodpecker excavating holes in the tree looking for food like I observed at my spot on the South Trail.

Station 7: Fungi and Lichens

Fungi and Lichens can be found in a number of spaces. They can be seen on trees, the forest floor or on rocks. Lichens are a symbiotic combination or fungus and green algae, fungus and cyanobacteria, or fungus, green algae, and cyanobacteria. Lichens cover the decaying log, providing important cyanobacteria and forage materials for mammals. The lichens’ material can be used as nesting material by birds. There are three types

of lichen, crustose, foliose, and fruticose. Look for all three lichen types at this location. Lichens can be easy to spot on trees and the abundance of lichens found in an area can often be a bioindicator for air quality. Based on the amount of lichen found at this location compared to other regions of Seattle, how do you think the air quality is here? Fungi act as major decomposers to the decaying log, as fungi are the only organisms that can digest lignin in wood. Decomposers return important nutrients to the forest in a form that can be taken up by plants. My explorations of the fungi at Carkeek show that at this time of year Ascomycotas are most common. I observed mostly cup fungi and shelf fungi during my walks through Carkeek. What do you find? Check the forest floor for cup fungi and the surface of decaying or standing trees for shelf fungi.

Station 8: Small Plants and Shrubs

             Look for these species while walking the South Trail Bluff. The Sword Fern have thick, long fronds with dark leaflets. Leaves taper towards the ends with finely toothed leaflets with a sword hilt shape towards base. The leaves are slightly glossy with brown spores on the underside of the leaves and the young shoots form curly shapes where leaves curve inward. The Dull Oregon Grape has pinnately compound leaves that are strongly opposite and dull, waxy with spikey edges. The Tall Oregon Grape is also found here and can be distinguished by the dark, glossy leaves. The Indian Plum is a small tree with alternating simple leaves, soft to the touch. When the leaves pull apart they are held together with small fibers and when crushed small like cucumber. The leaves are oval with smooth edges. Salmonberry has compound leaves of 3 with serrated edges with bright pink flowers and spiny brown or green stems. Thimbleberry is also commonly seen in this location, identified by the white flowers and large five-lobed leaves. A wildflower, the Western Bleedingheart has pinkish purple drooping heartshaped flowers. The tips of the flowers have little green seedpod structures. It has fern-like leaves with pinnately compound structure and fine leaflets. Another beautiful flower plant, the False Solomon's Seal has clusters of fragrant white, fuzzy flowers from a single stem with many branches. Leaves meet the stem with an opposite formation. Elliptical leaves with long parallel veins extending the length of the leaves and the leaves feel thin and rubbery. Snowberry and

Twinberry can also be spotted, though if berries are found on either plant, do not eat them. Stop and try the Salmonberry or Red Huckleberry instead. Oceanspray and Nootka Rose are commonly spotted near clearings and towards the beach, near the end of the South Bluff Trail. As you look for small tree and shrub species, think about how the berries and flowers are used by insect and animals. Think about how shrubs can be an important habitat and food source for birds and insects and see if you can observe some ecological interactions occurring between the small plant species in Carkeek Park and the animal communities. 

Station 9: Birds

              An uncommon bird at Carkeek Park, the Golden-Crowned Kinglet can be spotted occasionally. This bird was small, with a yellowish green back and wings. It was slim and had darker wings and face. The bird’s song a short “click” sound and reacted to my attempt at bird calls by moving between the large shrubs in the forest. The bird was mostly seen perching on the small forest trees and large shrubs, staying hidden in the light green leaves. Occasionally the bird would take flight and move from the larger trees or hover above the shrubs, but at most points in my observations, the bird remained fairly visible, perched in the outer branches of the shrubs. When he flew his wings fluttered quickly, exposing the large yellow bellow and dark wings. The bird was seen alone and appears to be territorial towards predators.

            A bird which is much more common to spot, the American Robin, can also be very fun to observe. Two robins were seen together, taking flight occasionally, but mostly remaining deep in the large

shrubs and trees. They would sometimes walk on the forest floor and would hop from branch to branch in the large shrubs. The robin I saw most frequently had the characteristic white circle around the eyes, red belly, large beak, and brown body. They were fairly large, but still smaller than a foot high. They did not seem to be alarmed by my “bird call” and would stay in the area, but they would flap their wings soon after I spoke with them. The robins remained low to the ground in a shady area, apparently searching for something in the bushes, most likely food. It appears from my observations that they are social with their own species and remain together while looking for food.

             Another bird I closely observed at Carkeek was the Black-Capped Chickadee. I found a pair of Chickadees together on a small shrub by the trail, hopping amongst the branches. They made their characteristic “dee” call and had black coloring on their heads. 

              Look for birds in the highest canopies. American Crows and Pileated Woodpeckers can be seen in the tall foliage, Crows in the tall Red Alder and Woodpeckers in the tall dead snags. In the small shrubby plants, look for Bewick’s Wrens, Song Sparrows, American Robins, and Golden-Crowned Kinglet who thrive in the densely-covered forest environment along the South Bluff Trail.  Shorebirds like Western Seagulls and Mallards can be seen at this location through the trees when looking out into the Puget Sound at a distance. 

Station 10: Geology/Geomorphology

The geomorphic conditions at Carkeek Park tell the story of glaciation around the Puget Sound region. The Vashon Ice Sheet started melting about 50,000 years ago, receding and form Lake Russell in the Pleistocene time period. At the glacier receded, Piper’s Creek and the adjacent drainage system developed from the outwash plain. Plants did well in the region long ago, as evidenced by the peat bogs and low relief topography. When Piper’s Creek was still young, it cut a V-shaped valley into the region, draining the marshy uplands and cutting through the Vashon glacial till, revealing the underlying pre-Vashion Salmon Springs claystone and mudstone soil complex. Sea levels rose from the ice age melt off in the Post=Pleistocene era, so the ability for the creek to cut a ravine was reduced and a small delta formed where the creek enters the Puget Sound. The delta has increased in size since cedar logging operations contributed more eroded material in the early 1900s. As the size of the delta continued to increase and the creek bed matured, water started to cut laterally in constantly changing channels in a flattened valley floor because of the damming effect caused by the construction of a railway roadbed. Later, when a sewage treatment plant was installed in 1949, the feeder sewers led to washouts and pipe breaks, polluting the water and “urbanizing” the creek. Looking from the beach near the delta, you can see the southern tip of Whidbey Island, the Kitsap Peninsula, and the Olympic Mountains (History: Carkeek Park).

Works Cited

"History: Carkeek Park." . Wisley and Ham, Inc., n.d. Web. 5 June 2014. <http://www.seattle.gov/parks/history/Carkeek.pdf>.