Damian Fagan

Damian Fagan is a freelance writer, outdoor enthusiast and avid birder. He is the author of several wildflower field guides including "Wildflowers of Oregon" and "Wildflowers of North America." Fagan lives in Bend with his wife, Raven, and a pollinator-friendly garden.
Posted inOutside

Go Clean Energy Conference Coming in September

Upcoming gathering covers solar power, EVs and other clean energy options
by Damian Fagan

It’s appropriate that the Go Clean Energy Conference, slated for Friday, Sept. 18, will be held at the OSU-Cascades Edward J. Ray Hall, because the building is a “North Star” for sustainability. In green building, “North Star” means prioritizing energy efficiency and incorporating sustainable principles in the phases of construction and operations. Hosted by 350 […]

Posted inOutside Features

Motus Comes to the Crooked River Wetlands

Recently installed antenna will be used to help solve the mystery of migration
by Damian Fagan

A newly installed Motus antenna in Prineville’s Crooked River Wetlands will help biologists and the general public better understand the migratory patterns of small wildlife species such as birds, bats, butterflies and dragonflies. “Migration is a mystery in many ways,” said Kalysta “Kaly” Adkins, regional diversity biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. […]

Posted inNatural World

The Buzz on the Sunriver Wildflower and Pollinator Festival

The 35th annual event will showcase native plants, pollinators and habitats
by Damian Fagan

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Central Oregon Wildflower Show and Pollinator Festival, sponsored by the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory on June 27. This annual event highlights the beauty of native wildflowers and flowering shrubs, and their relationships with a diversity of pollinator species, and coincides with National Pollinator Week, June 22-28. […]

Posted inOutside Features

Know Your Home Waters

Upcoming lecture series to focus on Deschutes Watershed
by Damian Fagan

In their book, “On the Loose,” Terry and Renny Russell write, “One of the best-paying professions is getting ahold of pieces of country in your mind, learning their smell and their moods, sorting out the pieces of a view, deciding what grows there and there and why, how many steps that hill will take, where […]

Posted inOutside Features

The Iconic Osprey

Share your passion through OspreyWatch
by Damian Fagan

If the Seattle Seahawks lived up to their namesake, they would be known as the Seattle Osprey. Inspired by these magnificent birds of prey, the team unveiled their team sea hawk logo in 1976, which was a stylized inspiration paying homage to artwork of the Kwakwaka’wakw people who lived along the Pacific Northwest coast, primarily […]

Posted inNatural World

Winter Waterfowl Watching

Central Oregon has numerous options for winter birding
by Damian Fagan

As winter settles in to Central Oregon, rivers and managed wetlands offer excellent areas to view waterfowl. “Central Oregon is a great place to see a wide variety of winter waterfowl, including ducks, geese, swans and grebes,” said Duke Tufty, East Cascades Bird Alliance Birders’ Night coordinator. “We are lucky to have the Deschutes River […]

Posted inOutside

Phase II of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge Restoration

Restoration project has come a long way since its inception
by Damian Fagan

When Susan and Dwight Sheets toured the defunct Santiam Pass Ski Lodge on a rainy October day in 2016 with Willamette National Forest Ranger Terry Baker, they were saddened with the condition of the historic lodge that had been unoccupied since 1986. “The archaeologist wouldn’t come in because it was horrible,” said Dwight. “We were […]

Posted inNatural World

Western Rivers Conservancy buys in to preserve lands, protect wildlife

Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it
by Damian Fagan

If you haven’t heard of Western Rivers Conservancy, you’re not alone. The organization engages in purchasing private lands along Western rivers to conserve habitat, protect wildlife species at risk, and to provide public access. WRG’s motto is Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it, Way more than a slogan; it’s the core […]

Posted inNatural World

Are Porcupines in Peril?

ODFW kicks off study with volunteer effort to answer the question
by Damian Fagan

Porcupines, which are the second largest member of the rodent family (Rodentia) and in the Beaver State (named after the largest member of the Rodentia), are classified as an unprotected species. But this status may change depending upon a new study of North American porcupines being initiated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. […]

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