Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Welcome to the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge page!
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Today, the Wednesday Birders spotted a large flock of white pelicans at the refuge! Must be stormy out on the Pacific......
09/02/2026

Today, the Wednesday Birders spotted a large flock of white pelicans at the refuge! Must be stormy out on the Pacific...

Photo credit: Mary Ellen Havens

The red and brown colors of a red-tailed hawk are fitting for the first month of autumn. We've had good looks at a coupl...
09/02/2026

The red and brown colors of a red-tailed hawk are fitting for the first month of autumn. We've had good looks at a couple of these birds in the last week. Join a nature walk this week to look for them with knowledgeable volunteers. Our schedule includes: 8 a.m. birdwatching on Wednesday, Sept. 2; 10 a.m. nature walks on Thursday, Sept. 3 and Saturday, Sept. 5; and 5:30 p.m. birdwatching walk on Thursday, Sept. 3. All walks meet at the covered pond overlook by the visitor center.

Photo credit: Taryn Sutton/USFWS

Join Steven and Kseniya for birding after work, this Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m.!
09/01/2026

Join Steven and Kseniya for birding after work, this Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m.!

08/28/2026

Vegetarians like this muskrat have to eat and eat and eat to get enough nutrition! But there's plenty of aquatic plants to keep them happy in our ponds, including tasty cattails.

Video credit: Andrew Mobley

Nests and fledgling barn swallows can fall for a variety of reasons. Park Ranger Carole has had to dispose of many birds...
08/27/2026

Nests and fledgling barn swallows can fall for a variety of reasons. Park Ranger Carole has had to dispose of many birds who did not survive. But when a nest fell recently, she decided to intervene. She slid the remains of the nest and its still-living youngsters into a paper bowl and put it back on the rafter. The parents were unfazed by the weird new nest, and the little ones survived. It brings to mind Emily Dickinson's poem: "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; if I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain." Thanks, Ranger!

Photo credit: Gena Uuereb

Sea lions and harbor seals may look alike at first glance. But look again! Sea lions have external ears, long front flip...
08/27/2026

Sea lions and harbor seals may look alike at first glance. But look again! Sea lions have external ears, long front flippers that allow them to sit up on land, and are bigger overall. They're also newcomers to southern Puget Sound, an area they have not occupied in the past. They're drawn here by salmon, just like a lot of other wildlife. Seeing them in McAllister Creek and the Nisqually River is a sure sign that salmon are nearby.

Photo credit: Anthony Mobley

Frogs aren't the only food great blue herons like to eat. They also eat plenty of fish, like this starry flounder. Dozen...
08/26/2026

Frogs aren't the only food great blue herons like to eat. They also eat plenty of fish, like this starry flounder. Dozens of herons can sometimes be seen along the banks of McAllister Creek, hunting for fish.

Photo credit: Andrew Mobley

We have a dedicated team that works to remove invasive American bullfrogs from our sites. But they're not alone! Local w...
08/25/2026

We have a dedicated team that works to remove invasive American bullfrogs from our sites. But they're not alone! Local wildlife like this great blue heron is learning to appreciate a bullfrog meal. But bullfrogs still eat far more than their share of native species, including the state-endangered, federally-threatened Oregon spotted frog. Come hear from the team that works on defending native wildlife at our final installment of the Summer Lecture Series, August 26, 7 p.m., in the visitor center auditorium, 100 Brown Farm Road, NE, Olympia. This event is free, but seating is first-come, first-served and limited to 100. More info here: https://www.fws.gov/event/summer-lecture-series-6

Photo credit: Andrew Mobley

08/21/2026

Biologist Ryan Munes has been getting out on the Delta to accomplish a long list of projects, from checking sediment deposition to fixing signs to trapping green crab. But today's task was to pull highly invasive purple loosestrife from the sandbars of the Nisqually River. He and his crew gave our ranger a wave this afternoon!

Video credit: Carole Holmson/USFWS

We are seeking volunteers for the Nisqually Watershed Festival on Saturday, September 26! Tasks include event set-up, cl...
08/21/2026

We are seeking volunteers for the Nisqually Watershed Festival on Saturday, September 26! Tasks include event set-up, clean-up, and running activity stations for visitors throughout the day. If you'd like to volunteer, email us at [email protected].

Photo credit: Julia Pinnix/USFWS

Address

100 Brown Farm Road NE
Olympia, WA
98516

Telephone

+13607539467

Website

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