Blue Heron Rookery

A heron rookery on Samish Island provides one of the largest concentrations of blue herons in the Padilla Bay area, and perhaps Puget Sound. We respect our heron population and protect their privacy during the breeding season.

Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

The Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve near Samish Island comprises 11,600 acres of marsh, marine waters, tideflats, beaches, estuary lands and uplands with 3-miles of trails, near Bayview, WA. The Breazeale Padilla Bay Interpretive center offers exhibits of tideflat, shore and upland life, as well as many wildlife and seasonal bird classes. Along the reserve you will find black brants, eagles, hawks, and123 other shorebirds on the interpretive center checklist. The Center is located at 1043 Bayview-Edison Road. Phone: 360-428-1558. TDD (360) 757-1549.

Diurnal Raptors: Eagles and Hawks

If you've driven to Samish Island between November and March, you've noticed huge birds sitting on the poles and wires. These are part of the 13 daylight species of birds of prey that are our winter-time neighbors, numbering about 600 individuals during the winter.

You'll spot the American bald eagles, and their children, the immatures in varying tones of black but without the white head. You'll also spot rough-legged and red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, and other numerous raptor species which migrate south to make Western Washington their winter home.

Samish Island Playground

Skagit County Parks sponsors a small playground on the island for day use only. Rules are posted on the county parks web site.

DNR Park

The Department of Natural Resources Park on the north side of Samish Island has a picnic site of .5 acres, with 1400 feet of

shoreline on Samish Bay. There are three picnic tables and vault toilets. No water is available at the site. There is an 80-ft. bank with a steep trail and stairs descending to the public beach which extends to the west from the bottom of the stairs. At high tide there is no beach. At low tide, you will see the Samish Bay tideflats and a rocky shoreline. Check the shellfish regulations of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife for details on shellfish harvesting.

Island Gravestone:

Harry Samish, a Samish Nation tribal member, is buried at Scott Point on the island.

He was a wealthy and influential Samish fisherman, known to his tribe as xw?lxwált?n (“xwuhl-xwhal-tun”) and to white settlers as Harry Samish. He owned reef-net sites on south Lopez Island.

He died June 6, 1899, age unknown, according to his marker. His descendants live throughout coastal Skagit County and as members of the Samish and Swinomish Tribes.

Pacific Madrona (Arbutus menziesii)

The Latin name for these beautiful native trees, was contributed by Dr. Archibald Menzies, the naturalist and surgeon with with George Vancouver's voyage to the northwest coast of America (1791-1795).

The natural range of the madrona is from SW British Columbia south to Western Oregon and in the coast ranges of S. California. It is also found in the Sierra Nevada range of central California and Santa Cruz island. The trees love coastal fog and well-drained slopes.

Some additional madrona information (pdf) is made available to us by James Causton, a Consulting Arborist, who presented at a Samish Island community club dinner. Also, article on Madrona blight in the Skagit Valley Herald.

The Samish Bay Sports Club

The Samish Bay Sports Club is a private, long-established hunting club located on a small island just south of Samish Island. The hunters are good neighbors and assure us via letter of their respect for nearby residents of island, and their intentions to maintain a good relationship with us.

		Open Space Property for Recreation Several property owners on Samish Island have requested open space tax agreements on their properties of several acres or more. For the privilege of paying low taxes ($3.00 per acre per year), landowners must assure "the use and enjoyment of natural resources and scenic beauty for the economic and social well-being of the state and its citizens." All open space property must indicate with a sign that the property is available for public recreational access. "No Trespassing signs" may not be posted on open space land. More on classified land use, at the Department of Revenue.
Skagit Land Trust Property Many properties on the island are part of the Skagit Land Trust. Here are some of them: 14 wooded acres on Samish Island Road 6 acres on the north end of the island 7.5 acres on west side of the island 6 acres at the north end of the island 6 acres on the northwest tip of the island

Blanchard Mountain Blanchard Mountain is the small mountain directly in front of us as we look at Mt. Baker from Samish Island. The Friends of Blanchard Mountain Group was formed to protect the interests of all who love and use Blanchard Mountain for recreation, walking & other nature activities. Students in our schools also benefit from the products of logging the mountain's resources.

Farmland Fields

Between Samish Island and just about anywhere else, are 15 miles of farm fields. Nurseries, potatoes, dairy and beef production top our list of agricultural industries. These account for about 67% of all farm income in Skagit County.

Top crops in 2000 were alfalfa, barley, oats, small grains (22,650 acres), potatoes (9,500 acres), peas (7,233 acres), vegetable seeds (2,800 acres). Apple acreage and seed crops have fallen in the past seven years. Blueberry production has steadily increased. Red raspberries in Washington state (75% of the nation's crop is produced in Washington state). Cucumbers, which love our maritime climate are also great crops in the Skagit Valley.