Refuge friends visit the ‘Sentinels of Long Island’

Published 12:20 pm Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Somewhere near the center of the southern part of Long Island stand the ancient cedars, sentinels and guardians of the forest. Together they have contributed long-term stability to wildlife habitat. While individual trees have come and gone, the Cedar Grove has existed “for the past 4,000 years,” according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Cedar Grove is 274 acres of shear beauty. It is awe-inspiring and quiets the souls of all who go there.

Long Island is the largest estuarine island on the Pacific Coast. It is rich in wildlife because of its wide diversity of habitats. It is comprised of damp coastal forest, salt grass tidal marshes, mud flats, and sandy beaches. This 5,000-acre island is surrounded by Willapa Bay with its rich marine environment including oysters, salmon, crabs and clams.

Nature is at its finest on Long Island. It is home to dozens of animals species, including river otter, black bear, raccoon, Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, rough-skinned newt, Pacific tree frog, Bald eagle, pileated woodpecker, Pacific wren, Stellar’s jay and red-tailed hawk. These are only a few of the wildlife species that live there.

The Trail of the Ancient Cedars gave us more than the stately giant trees. It generated a view of the future and thoughts of the past. Marbled murrlets have been recorded there. Are they still nesting in the old-growth forest? What about the spotted owl? Could it still be found? Red cedars of the past hold the dominant position in the forest, but hemlocks are co-dominant because they have a high rate of growth even though they experience higher mortality than red cedar. This truth is right before one’s eyes.

Over 100 lucky members of the Friends of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge were treated to a “barge trip” to visit the unique old-growth forest. The refuge itself donated time and personnel to this worthwhile venture. Thank you to all. It was a privilege to be able to experience the awesomeness of the sentinels. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!