Magnet for Birds | Magnolia Historical

Magnet for Birds and Birders: Magnolia’s Discovery Park

By Penny Rose

Discovery Park is one of the best places to bird in the Seattle area, with almost three hundred species seen and recorded. Although located within the city limits, its large size—550 acres—and varied habitats provide many places for birds to nest, find shelter, rest, and feed during migration. Due to its high diversity of species, this park has long been a destination for birders, bird-watching, a citizen science project, and the education and enjoyment birds can bring. Programs hosted by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Environmental Education staff have welcomed people from all walks of life to learn about birds and engage in bird-watching since the park’s inception in 1972.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about birds is the ever-changing picture presented by their distribution and abundance. Not only do different seasons bring different species, but, because birds are winged and disperse rapidly, changes in abundance in a local area take place within a few years. These changes of avian movement and population trends have been monitored closely at Discovery Park over the years through a combination of organized surveys, group bird walks, and individual birders.

Because of their ability to move long distances, birds will turn up in places normally not frequented by their species, and this makes bird-watching at Discovery Park exciting—you never know what you might find! Over the fifty-plus years since the park’s creation, a multitude of rare birds have been seen and recorded, many of which are highlighted in this story.

The constantly changing landscape and habitats at Discovery Park ensure changes in populations of species over time. Large urban footprints have been replaced by young and maturing forests. Blackberry and Scotch broom thickets have been replaced by native plantings. Tall grass meadows have come and gone depending on the current management of mowing or growing, which also impacts ground-nesting species such as Savannah and song sparrows. When mowing was conducted during or before nesting season, nests were destroyed, and tall grass meadows essential for nesting were eliminated. When grasses were allowed to grow, sparrows could nest successfully. The landscape of birding in this premier park is one of change—recorded and shared with birders of all ages by dedicated volunteers and environmental education staff.

Surveys

Dr. Dennis Paulson and associates conducted the first bird surveys in Discovery Park between January 1974 and May 1976. A small, dedicated group of volunteers continued a monthly survey until 1982. Their interest and dedication kicked off a decades-long tradition of surveys conducted by volunteer birders. As of 1979, 217 species had been recorded. No additional species were recorded on these surveys after 1979, but over time, with new surveys and changes of habitat additional species were recorded.

Discovery Park Environmental Education staff partnered with Seattle Audubon Society (now Birds Connect Seattle) in 2003 to begin a citizen science project recording the presence of birds on selected routes throughout the park. This Neighborhood Bird Project was conducted by thirteen teams doing five-minute point counts. Volunteers walk the route, stopping every 100 meters to count all bird species seen and heard during a 5-minute interval in a 50-meter radius. This survey was designed to gain an understanding of the species and fluctuations of bird populations within the park. The volunteers were supported and coordinated by city education staff. Although staff are no longer involved, the survey continues with teams of volunteers from Birds Connect Seattle.

Fig. 1. The Early Neighborhood Bird Project team in 2004.

Courtesy of City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, by Discovery Park staff.

This type of citizen science, along with those who indulge in bird-watching in the park, has developed a very complete picture of residents, migrants, and rarities. As of 2024, almost 300 species of birds in Discovery Park have been officially observed and documented.

Bird tours and classes

Beginning in the spring of 1984 until the fall of 2019, Discovery Park Environmental Education staff and knowledgeable, skilled volunteers led free bird tours for the public. Many of the guides were Master Birders—graduates of the intensive Seattle Audubon Society two-year-long course on the birds of Washington state. Each Saturday morning during the spring and fall peaks of migration—March through May and September through November—families and adults had the opportunity to explore the park with engaging and skilled leaders who provided education, helped with identification, and shared the excitement of new avian discoveries.

Environmental Education staff based at the Discovery Park Visitor Center offered fee-based bird classes including Beginning Birding, Birding by Ear, and full-day trips to Eastern Washington in the spring and the Skagit Flats in winter to witness the magic of migrating waterfowl and raptors.

The visitor center also hosted the Falcon Research Group’s raptor class for many years. This class was instrumental in creating many raptor enthusiasts in Washington state.

Fig. 2. Birds of the Columbia Wildlife Area class led by Penny Rose, October 10, 2008.

Courtesy of Penny Rose.

The Big Sit

There are many ways to enjoy bird-watching in the park; one of the most unique and enjoyable ways is to participate in the Big Sit. Teams compete nationwide to see how many different species they can view from a 17-foot circle within a 24-hour period. The intrepid team called the South Meadowlarks has won the Discovery Park competition each year since 2009. In addition to being a very fun way to enjoy birding, the Big Sit has also become a vehicle for fundraising to purchase native plants for habitat restoration in Discovery Park. On the remarkable bird front, during the wee hours of the morning in 2023, the team discovered a common poorwill in the South Meadow. This very rare nocturnal bird is normally found in Eastern Washington and caused quite a stir among the birding community.

Fig. 3. Left to right: Kathy Slettebak, Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman, Neil Zimmerman, and Arn Slettebak, “the South Meadowlarks.”

Courtesy of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, October 13, 2012.

Christmas Bird Count

The Christmas Bird Count is an international event for individuals and groups to fan out across the globe and count every single bird they see or hear within a designated 24-hour period. This is the nation’s longest-running community science bird project. Discovery Park Environmental Education staff have hosted groups of birders at the park from 1989 to 2019, braving rain, sleet, snow, and high winds to continue this important census. King County graciously allowed a group to enter the West Point Treatment Plant each year to count waterfowl, primarily the hundreds of short-billed gulls that dominate the plant during the winter months.

Fig. 4. West Point Christmas Bird Count team watching a horned lark.

Courtesy of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, December 30, 2014.

Research

Bald eagles: Bald eagles successfully nested in Discovery Park from 1989 through 1999. To ensure the construction noise and traffic from the expansion of the West Point Treatment Plant did not adversely impact the nesting eagles, King County contracted with Parametrix, a biological research company, to monitor a nesting pair beginning in 1989. The study focused on how disturbance in an urban park would affect these special birds. The bald eagles continued to nest and thrive, raising two young almost every year until 1999. This pair of eagles were only the second pair to nest within Seattle. The excitement surrounding these accessible rarities proved to be an incentive for the public to attend walks and classes led by City of Seattle Environmental Education staff. At one point in the late nineties, over a hundred members of the public attended a bald eagle program. In addition, volunteer Seattle Urban Nature Guides provided bald eagle stations on weekends to ensure the public could enjoy viewing and learning about these magnificent birds.

Fig. 5. Bald eagle.

Courtesy of Gregg Thompson, February 19, 2010.

Song sparrows: Michael Beecher’s laboratory at the University of Washington conducted studies of song sparrows in Discovery Park beginning in 1988 that continued for over two decades. During that time, they discovered, in addition to many other interesting facts, that female song sparrows demonstrate mate infidelity, often visiting nearby territories to mate with other males.

Fig. 6. Song sparrow.

Courtesy of Gregg Thompson, April 7, 2020.

Cooper’s hawks: In 2004, Jack Bettesworth, a licensed bander, began trapping and banding Cooper’s hawks in Discovery Park to discover trends in their population. Jack was generous with his knowledge and time; he invited members of the public, from seniors to children attending the Discovery Park preschool Nature Kids, to see these beautiful hawks up close and to learn firsthand about these urban predators. The population trend of Cooper’s hawks has been upwardly mobile over the years. From 2004 to 2024, 45 nests have been observed and 89 young have fledged just in Discovery Park. As the number of Cooper’s hawks has grown, so has this research project. It has expanded to include parks and green spaces throughout Seattle. The project is now coordinated by Urban Raptor Conservancy under the guidance of Ed Deal.

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Jack Bettesworth with a Cooper’s hawk.

Courtesy of Penny Rose. August 23, 2008.

Bird habitats

Forest: Mixed forest is the largest and richest habitat in the park from the standpoint of birdlife. Coniferous forest predominates the lowlands of Western Washington. However, Discovery Park’s forests are relatively young, as the park and its habit restoration began just over fifty years ago. Initially, the forests of Discovery Park were composed of broadleaf species (red alder, willow, big leaf maple), and the birds characteristic of this type of habitat are more widely distributed. Species include those common to much of Seattle—familiar backyard birds, and a few that are uniquely common to Discovery Park such as the Hutton’s vireo. As the park has aged and its forests have matured, conifers have become more common and larger. The maturation of the forests has encouraged species such as the hairy woodpecker and purple finch.

Thickets: Discovery Park’s early years had large swathes of thickets where Scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry dominated. These have mostly been removed through large- and small-scale restoration efforts. They have been replaced with predominantly conifer trees, although in some cases shrubs were incorporated. The broom, and particularly the blackberry, provided predator-proof retreat for many small birds that forage and nest on the ground. Wintering sparrows enjoyed the safety of thickets. In June of 2012, a black-throated sparrow, a delightful rarity normally found in the Southwest US and Mexico, spent a few days in the park foraging on the edge of a thicket on the North Bluff. Today, thickets remain in small edges of the forest, parking lots, and interior roadways.

Fig. 9. Black-throated sparrow.

Courtesy of Gregg Thompson, May 16, 2012.

Open areas and meadows: Scattered throughout the park are open areas and meadows. Over time, the grassland areas have expanded and contracted depending on the mowing and planting management practices of the time. During the 1970s, species such as ring-necked pheasant, killdeer, western meadowlark, and Savannah sparrows nested in these areas. With the changes in management, increase in human visitation, and presence of off-leash dogs, Savannah sparrows are the only species still nesting within the park, and in very small numbers.

The South Meadow has undergone dramatic changes over the years. The Scotch broom that dominated this area was removed, and the area was treated with biosolids and sludge from the West Point Treatment Plant in the early nineties. During this time, the area was fenced off. The fencing allowed short-eared owls, a ground-dwelling diurnal bird, to find refuge during the winter months. The owls did not return after the fencing was removed (1).

Fig. 10. Short-eared owl.

Courtesy of Gregg Thompson, January 14, 2023.

Freshwater: Freshwater is available to birds near Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, where three ponds of varying sizes exist. The largest pond supports mallards, wigeons, and on occasion hooded mergansers. One small, forested pond is located on the south side of the North Parking Lot, but few, if any, species utilize it. On the North Beach, King County expanded an existing pond that initially supported a few waterfowl species. As the trees have encroached on the pond, fewer ducks can be found there. During the Shoreline Park Improvement Funds habitat restoration from 1991 to 1993, a wetland pond was built in an area just north of the historic district. This pond has seen a variety of waterfowl, but is primarily a rich magnet for passerines, particularly during migration (2).

Human habitation and buildings: As Discovery Park has become less urbanized with the removal of houses and buildings, bird species often found in association with humans have decreased. For example, house sparrows, rock pigeons, and European starlings are almost nonexistent within Discovery Park. The large neighborhood that once existed in the center of the park, Capehart Housing, was removed after the City’s acquisition in 2010. Restoration work by a group of volunteers utilizing a City of Seattle Neighborhood Matching Grant (now Neighborhood Matching Fund) allowed a forest to reclaim the site.

Fig. 11. Hutton’s vireo.

Courtesy of Gregg Thompson, April 12, 2016.

The current visitor center in the park was completed in 2000, replacing the Fort Lawton infirmary, which served as a visitor center for many years. The area around the center was designed to be the only high-recreation area in the park, with a playground, recreation courts, and open fields for playing ball. The large quantities of edge near the parking lot, playgrounds, and fields yield a rich variety of species. Hutton’s vireo, found commonly in this area, is a target species for many visiting birders. According to eBird records from 2024, 88 different species have been observed and recorded in the area surrounding the center (3).

Saltwater and West Point

West Point is an incredible destination for bird-watchers, as the extension of the land mass allows visibility far out into Puget Sound to the north, south, and west. This attraction for birders has increased the number of species recorded “in” Discovery Park in recent years—however, as none of these species are dependent or found within the park boundaries, they do not actually add to the list of Discovery Park species. Discovery Park Environmental Education staff often brought bird tour groups to West Point and the beaches during the fall months. Western grebes, marbled murrelets, and common terns were frequently on the list of species enjoyed by the participants. As open-water habitats and food availability have changed, these species are rarely, if ever, seen off the shores of Discovery Park.

Since its inception in 1972, Discovery Park has been a magnet for birds and birders alike. Dedicated City of Seattle Environmental Education staff have ensured that the public has access to observe and learn about the unique species that utilize the park’s varied habitats. Citizen science projects have tracked population trends of species dependent on the protection of park lands. Scientific research has brought new and interesting revelations about urban birds, from song sparrows to Cooper’s hawks. The path forward for birding will continue to evolve as habitats grow and shift.

Penny Rose discovered her passion for birds and nature early in life, with her formative years spent living in a national park, and later a state park. Her professional career with the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation began as a naturalist on the Environmental Education team. Much of her career as an education specialist was centered at Discovery Park. She coordinated the Saturday Morning Public Birds Tour and Classes, as well as the Neighborhood Bird Project.

In addition to her career at Discovery Park, Penny has also shared her love for birds and birding through leadership positions with the Washington Ornithological Society and Seattle Audubon Society (now Birds Connect Seattle) and by leading numerous field trips. In addition, she has taught continuing education classes focused on avian species for Washington state colleges. An advocate for citizen science, she participates monthly in a bird survey in King County and yearly for the US Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey.

Editor’s note: The Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation closed the Discovery Park Visitor Center at the onset of COVID-19 in March of 2020. All environmental education programming stopped. As the site planned reopening in early 2022, the Environmental Education staff was reorganized and given different priorities that did not include support of visitor center programs or operation. The visitor center opened for eight months in 2022, in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Discovery Park, then closed again as it underwent ADA retrofitting; once construction was complete, the closure was extended due to arson. It flooded in January of 2025 and will remain closed through the end of the year. The City of Seattle Environmental Education team (including all Discovery Park Visitor Center staff) has been cut from the City’s budget, effective January 2026. There will be an opportunity for the mayor to restore funding and then a vote by City Council in November 2025 to determine the outcome.

Notes

“Projects – Discovery Park Habitat Project,” Swift Company, https://swiftcompany.com/projects/discovery-park-habitat-project/.
“Overview of Facilities and Programs,” Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, 2010, https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/FinanceDepartment/1015adoptedcip/dpr_overview.pdf.
“Overview of Facilities and Programs.”