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Mileta Creek Parcel Map
Great Blue Heron nests
Great Blue Heron nests
Mileta
- click picture to enlarge -
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Mileta Creek Wildlife Refuge
The Mileta Creek Wildlife Refuge was purchased in 1993 to protect one of the largest nesting sites in the Puget Sound area of great blue herons. Herons nest atop alder and fir trees, and they apparently found this 15 acre alder forest to have just the right location and conditions for a nesting site. At one point there were over 100 nests in the reserve, and it is thought that as many as 60 heron chicks per year were hatched here.
Unfortunately, however, the herons are no longer using the Mileta Creek Wildlife Refuge as a nesting site. There has been a precipitous decline in the blue heron population throughout the Puget Sound area, and Mileta Creek has suffered the same fate as many other former nesting sites. Scientists are not certain why this decline in population has taken place. The most likely theory is egg predation in the nests. There has been a marked increase in the population of bald eagles which prey on heron eggs and chicks.
However, the Mileta Creek property remains a good example of lowland Puget Sound red alder forest with understory of elderberry, salmonberry, salal, Oregon grape. Under the mature alders, hundreds of western red cedars have been planted. So, whether the herons ever return or not, it will forever be forested open space.
Part of a wider watershed, the Refuge's intermittent creeks occupy four valleys that dissect the westerly sloping topography. The Refuge's main creek joins other branches to flow into Quartermaster Harbor. The Refuge is a link in the wildlife corridor that includes private and protected properties starting at Puget Sound shore at King County-Maury Island Marine Parks Madrone forest, then up westerly into the Refuge's forest, and then west into Quartermaster Harbor.
In 1993, Vashon Parks purchased the Mileta Creek Wildlife Refuge using private donations and Washington State Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) grant. Vashon Parks owns the property, and Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust stewards it.
Mileta Refuge is located on Maury Island along the south side of SW 240th between Docton Rd SW and SW Point Robinson Road. An unmaintained trail with camouflaged entry exists across the street from 6702 SW 240th. The route runs east to southeasterly to the heronry.
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