Damian Fagan

On a quiet night in June, about 20 of us volunteers with the OSU-Cascades Audible Bat Project sat on the rim of the Crooked River as it wound its way beneath the towering cliffs of Smith Rock, listening intently for the audible echolocation calls of spotted bats as they hunted for insects. The amazing part […]

What happens when you empower students to undertake a project of their own design and implementation? Multiple possibilities. Such is the case with Crook County High School students, who recently took on an Earthwin Challenge along the Crooked River in Prineville. But let’s start at the beginning. “One of the first things when I came […]

What’s a good way to learn about butterflies? Join a butterfly count sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association. That’s exactly what my wife, Raven, and I did this past month. We volunteered to “help out” on the 34th annual Ochoco Butterfly Count, organized by lepidopterist expert Sue Anderson through the Lane County Butterfly Club. […]

The importance of pollinators is often overlooked. Bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles play a huge role in pollinating agricultural and horticultural plants, while bats and hummingbirds also get in on the pollination action, too. This year’s theme for National Pollinator Week 2024 is: “Vision 2040: Thriving ecosystems, economies, and agriculture,” which shines a spotlight on […]

Central Oregon is known for its magnificent landscapes, colorful history and, if you’re into birds, its great diversity of woodpeckers. “Central Oregon is one of the few places where it’s possible to find nearly a dozen species of woodpeckers,” said Chuck Gates, Prineville Bird Club president and field trip leader. “This is made possible by […]