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 inNews

Canoe Trails in the Klamath Basin

Exploring Upper Klamath Lake and Klamath Marsh by canoe or kayak can be a path to environmental stewardship
by Damian Fagan

Upper Klamath Lake is the largest body of water in Oregon by surface area—approximately 25 miles long by 8 miles wide, but with an average depth of only 14 feet. The lake is the remnant of Lake Modoc, a Pleistocene-aged lake (11,000 years ago to about 2.5 million) that covered over 1,000 square miles, stretching […]

Posted inOutside

ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar

Last call for photo submissions for the 2022 calendar
by Damian Fagan

Photographers are encouraged to answer ONDA’s call for submissions for the 2022 Wild Desert Calendar which runs through June 12. “Oregon Natural Desert Association wants to see the desert’s special lands, waters and wildlife protected,” said Lace Thornberg, ONDA communications manager. “We know that people protect what they love, and the Wild Desert Calendar shows […]

Posted inOutside

ONDA’s Independent Stewards Program

Volunteer projects designed for individuals or households to safely undertake during the pandemic
by Damian Fagan

This past year was a rough one, even for volunteers. Many nonprofit organizations canceled group volunteer projects to minimize exposure during the pandemic. One local described that experience. “I tried to volunteer last year, but COVID derailed that,” said Jess Beauchemin, a volunteer with the Oregon Natural Desert Association. This year, she’s signed up to […]

Posted inOutside

Return of the Vaux’s Swifts

View this nightly aerial spring spectacle as the birds come back to Bend to roost
by Damian Fagan

The Vaux’s (rhymes with foxes) swift is a 4½-inch long, fast-moving bird (it’s a swift after all) that resembles “a cigar with wings.” The smallest of all North American swifts, these aerial acrobats put on a nightly show during their annual migrations through downtown Bend. From their winter range which is the tropics of Mexico […]

Posted inNews

In 2020, Messes and Crowds Defined Many Forest Trails

National Forest use was up 40% last year in our region. This year, the planned permit system moves forward for some of the most popular trails—and hopefully, volunteer crews will return
by Damian Fagan

Many are happy to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. With a raging coronavirus pandemic, a contentious election, devastating wildfires, a crashing economy and stay-at-home orders, it was a no-brainer that when the light turned green, explosive recreational use would follow. Recreating and being out in nature was about the only game in town, so […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Neighborhoods: Southwest Bend and Southern Crossing

Neighborhoods connect to the heart of Bend
by Damian Fagan

Howdy, Neighbor! If I was to define the Southwest Bend neighborhood, I’d have to say that it’s a friendly place to be. Why? Bounded by the Deschutes River, Highway 97, Deschutes River Woods and the Old Mill District, Southwest Bend is known for its beautiful homes, quiet nature and plethora of parks. Predominantly a residential […]

Posted inOutside

A Midwinter Retreat to Anthony Lakes

Ski, snowshoe, and soak in the tranquil beauty of Eastern Oregon
by Damian Fagan

“The mountains are calling and I must go” is one of my favorite John Muir quotes. Written in a letter to his sister in 1873, his words echoed in my mind during a recent visit to the Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort outside of Baker City, named for William “Doc” Anthony, a farmer and doctor, who […]

Posted inOutside

Exploring Oregon’s Outback One Step at a Time

The Oregon Desert Trail connects people to place
by Damian Fagan

The Oregon Desert Trail, better known as the ODT, is a 751.7-route that traverses eastern Oregon, connecting the Badlands Wilderness to Lake Owyhee State Park. The trail slips through dense sagebrush steppe and ancient juniper forests, across lava flows and through canyons incised deep into an old land. There’s wild and wilderness and plenty of […]

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