Willapa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to protect migrating birds and their habitat at a time when many estuaries and shallow water bays were being destroyed in the name of progress. The refuge has grown to encompass diverse ecosystems including salt marsh, muddy tidelands, forest, freshwater wetlands, streams, grasslands, coastal dunes and beaches. This rich mix of habitats provide places for over 200 bird species to rest, nest and winter, including over 30 species of waterfowl (ducks and geese) and over 30 species of shorebirds. Other animals such as chum salmon, Roosevelt elk, and over a dozen species of amphibians benefit from the protection of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge offers abundant opportunities to watch wildlife, including over 200 species of birds. One common species in grasslands is the grouse. These chicken-like birds are highly designed for walking, which will fly when flushed but will quickly come back to ground. The two species of grouse at the refuge are sooty and ruffed.
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