Pilling's Pond
Encyclopedia
Pilling's Pond is a privately owned, urban waterfowl reserve and breeding ground, located in the North Seattle Licton Springs neighborhood. It was created by lifetime resident Charles A. Pilling and has been the site of notable bird breeding feats, as well as acting as a roadside attraction since the 1920's. Coordinates are 47o41'40"N 122o20'17"W.
The history of Pilling's Pond began in the 1880's when a member of the Denny family
built a house on North 90th Street and Densmore Avenue North in Seattle, Washington. James and Marietta Pilling purchased the property in 1909, and converted it to a dairy farm. In 1924, their twelve year old son Charles A. Pilling (October 6, 1911 to October 24, 2001) , was given three injured mallard ducks, and in order to care for them, dug a small pond. Thus began what has been referred to as the neighborhood treasure known as Pilling's Pond, as well as Pilling's lifelong interest in breeding waterfowl. Over the years, the size of the pond was expanded to 100 x 50 feet on the half-acre lot, and fed fresh water by diverting Licton Springs. It is bordered by bamboo stands, and yet with a viewing area on North 90th Street, it still remains part of Seattle's urban landscape. In the 1950's Pilling created a manually operated flood control system that is still in use today.
Pilling gained international fame when in 1955 the International Wild Waterfowl Association (IWWA) awarded him the first to breed the hooded merganser
in captivity. He received the female merganser as an injured duck, nursed her to health and then found a male partner for her. This was followed by similar awards in 1964 for the bufflehead and in 1977 for being first to breed the harlequin duck. He was then awarded the Grand Master Breeder Award from the American Game Bird Breeders Cooperative Federation. Charles Pilling's most prestigious award was received when he was inducted into the IWWA's Hall of Fame. "In 1990, he was the fourth person ever to be inducted into IWWA's Waterfowl Breeders Hall of Fame, an award that he and his wife, June, traveled to Nova Scotia to accept." All of these achievements occurred while managing the activity on Pilling's Pond.
As Pilling became well known in the bird breeding community, he was sought out as a mentor. In 1972, Paul Dye moved to Seattle for the purpose of learning the art and craft of bird breeding from the master. Pilling mentored Dye, and Dye went on to establish his own duck reserve near Lake Stevens, Washington
, known as Northwest Waterfowl Farm.
In May, 2001, Seattle Community Access Network (SCAN) produced a documentary video about Pilling's Pond. On the video one can see the various inhabitants of the pond: green-winged teals, blue-winged teals, wood ducks, mandarins, hooded mergansers, red heads, goldeneye, buffleheads, ring-necks, and northern shovelers, as well as some exotic Syberian geese, black-necked swans and Australian black swans. The pond has been home to over 100 waterfowl in its peak Autumn season. Interviews with Pilling, biologists Peter Lortz and Ellie Cauldwell, and other local pond experts, are also presented in the documentary.
But later that year in October, 2001, Chuck Pilling died at 90 years of age. In 2005, David Kunkle, a long-time neighbor, purchased the property with the intention of preserving the pond's legacy. Since then, family members and neighbors, organized under the non-profit corporation, Pilling's Pond Preservation Society, have maintained the pond and have continued to preserve it as an educational resource, with the support of Puget Consumers Coop, who for over a decade has donated lettuce trimmings as a healthy staple diet for the birds.
Pilling's Pond as a non-commercial enterprise continues as a historical and educational resource for the Licton Springs neighborhood.
The history of Pilling's Pond began in the 1880's when a member of the Denny family
Denny Party
The Denny Party is a group of white pioneers credited with founding Seattle, Washington because they settled at Alki Point on November 13, 1851.A wagon party headed by Arthur A. Denny left Cherry Grove, Illinois on April 10, 1851...
built a house on North 90th Street and Densmore Avenue North in Seattle, Washington. James and Marietta Pilling purchased the property in 1909, and converted it to a dairy farm. In 1924, their twelve year old son Charles A. Pilling (October 6, 1911 to October 24, 2001) , was given three injured mallard ducks, and in order to care for them, dug a small pond. Thus began what has been referred to as the neighborhood treasure known as Pilling's Pond, as well as Pilling's lifelong interest in breeding waterfowl. Over the years, the size of the pond was expanded to 100 x 50 feet on the half-acre lot, and fed fresh water by diverting Licton Springs. It is bordered by bamboo stands, and yet with a viewing area on North 90th Street, it still remains part of Seattle's urban landscape. In the 1950's Pilling created a manually operated flood control system that is still in use today.
Pilling gained international fame when in 1955 the International Wild Waterfowl Association (IWWA) awarded him the first to breed the hooded merganser
Hooded Merganser
The Hooded Merganser is a small duck and is the only member of the genus Lophodytes.Hooded Mergansers have a crest at the back of the head which can be expanded or contracted. In adult males, this crest has a large white patch, the head is black and the sides of the duck are reddish-brown...
in captivity. He received the female merganser as an injured duck, nursed her to health and then found a male partner for her. This was followed by similar awards in 1964 for the bufflehead and in 1977 for being first to breed the harlequin duck. He was then awarded the Grand Master Breeder Award from the American Game Bird Breeders Cooperative Federation. Charles Pilling's most prestigious award was received when he was inducted into the IWWA's Hall of Fame. "In 1990, he was the fourth person ever to be inducted into IWWA's Waterfowl Breeders Hall of Fame, an award that he and his wife, June, traveled to Nova Scotia to accept." All of these achievements occurred while managing the activity on Pilling's Pond.
As Pilling became well known in the bird breeding community, he was sought out as a mentor. In 1972, Paul Dye moved to Seattle for the purpose of learning the art and craft of bird breeding from the master. Pilling mentored Dye, and Dye went on to establish his own duck reserve near Lake Stevens, Washington
Lake Stevens, Washington
Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States that surrounds the lake bearing the same name. It is southeast of Marysville, north of the city of Snohomish, and east of Everett...
, known as Northwest Waterfowl Farm.
In May, 2001, Seattle Community Access Network (SCAN) produced a documentary video about Pilling's Pond. On the video one can see the various inhabitants of the pond: green-winged teals, blue-winged teals, wood ducks, mandarins, hooded mergansers, red heads, goldeneye, buffleheads, ring-necks, and northern shovelers, as well as some exotic Syberian geese, black-necked swans and Australian black swans. The pond has been home to over 100 waterfowl in its peak Autumn season. Interviews with Pilling, biologists Peter Lortz and Ellie Cauldwell, and other local pond experts, are also presented in the documentary.
But later that year in October, 2001, Chuck Pilling died at 90 years of age. In 2005, David Kunkle, a long-time neighbor, purchased the property with the intention of preserving the pond's legacy. Since then, family members and neighbors, organized under the non-profit corporation, Pilling's Pond Preservation Society, have maintained the pond and have continued to preserve it as an educational resource, with the support of Puget Consumers Coop, who for over a decade has donated lettuce trimmings as a healthy staple diet for the birds.
Pilling's Pond as a non-commercial enterprise continues as a historical and educational resource for the Licton Springs neighborhood.
Further reading
- "Rare birds win world renown" by Dick Lilly, The Seattle Times, February 16, 1990
- "Group signs agreement to purchase historic Pilling's Pond" by James Bush, Seattle Sun, February 2003
- "On Pilling's Pond" by Calin Taylor, Seattle Magazine, May 2004
- "Preserving a Pilling's Pond Legacy" by Julie Reinhardt, The Seattle Press, May 9-22, 2002
- "Charles Pilling dies within sight of his beloved pond" by Ruth Teichroeb, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 29, 2001
- "Licton Springs, Environmental riches at heart of historic area" by Michael Barber, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 1, 1998
- "Chuck Pilling's Legacy lives on" by Wanda Fullner, Licton Springs Currents, Spring 2002
- "Residents seek way for area to endure -- Licton Springs eternal" by Gordy Holt, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 13, 1998