Natural World

Put the Leaves to Work in Your Yard

Fallen leaves provide wildlife habitat and free mulch

Every autumn, in the few months between our short growing season and our long winter, Central Oregonians must contend with another challenge: leaves. So many leaves.

By LeeAnn Kriegh Oct 13, 2021

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Adventures with Osprey

On banding birds in the sometimes-treacherous waters of Crane Prairie

Doug Beal's spectacular Osprey photo in the Sept. 8 edition of the Sisters Nugget Newspaper brought back some wonderful—and at times frightening—memories. Back in the early '70s I was placing federal wildlife bands on baby osprey as part of an effort to determine the winter destination of the birds when they left Crane Prairie Reservoir.

By Jim Anderson Oct 6, 2021

It's Leaf-Peeping Season

Soak in fall colors with the glorious vine maple

With fall officially here, the time has come to head out to catch some seasonal displays of color! Leaf peeping is a pastime for many people who revel in the changing of the seasons and nature's last burst of color before winter.

By Sarah Mowry Sep 22, 2021

A Spying Mission Gone Awry

A pair of night vision goggles inspired a mission to watch the happenings of a local barn owl... ending with a trip to the hospital

Recently, Mary Webster, a longtime pal and resident of Central Oregon—and whale of a fine photographer—sent me images of Sauvie Island, located on the Columbia River, north of Portland. It has a beautiful wildlife management area on it, operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, nestled in amongst several hundred acres of private farmland.

By Jim Anderson Sep 8, 2021

Bobcat Business

The tale of rehabbing a wild cat, and catching hares to do so

Way back in the mid-'50s I was living in the old George A. Jones house in Bend located on Dean and Lily Hollinshead's place. My great pal and superb helper in punishing raptor killers, Oregon State Police Officer Avon Mayfield, called me and asked if I would go with him to collect a bobcat held illegally in a sporting goods store in Bend.

By Jim Anderson Sep 1, 2021

Recent Climate Report is a Call to Action (Again!)

How local restoration efforts are climate actionsyou can get behind

Two weeks ago, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released the first part of its most recent climate change assessment. The physical science basis of Sixth Assessment Report painted a grim picture of all that we are doing to our planet—including that the fact that planet is warming faster than we thought and that our actions are driving extreme weather (e.g., two heatwaves this summer!).

By Sarah Mowry Aug 25, 2021

Got Injured Wildlife? Think Wild

The feathered and furry wild creatures get help at the region's new wildlife rescue center

Have you ever found an injured wild animal and wondered what to do or who to call? Maybe wondered about deer-proof plants or wildlife-friendly fencing?

By Damian Fagan Aug 18, 2021

Ya Just Never Know...

On Pygmy horned lizards and other surprise creatures in Central Oregon

Well, it's happened again—another mystery: Why are there Pygmy horned lizards in Sun Mountain (where I used to live), between Bend and Sisters, and none in my pal Al St. John's backyard just down the road (where he used to live)? Could it be he had different ants than I did, and the horned lizards didn't like 'em?

By Jim Anderson Aug 8, 2021

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Invasion of the Ants

A tiny brigade confounds a pair of naturalists committed to natural eradication

Well, our move to Eugene has opened up a new challenge for us: an invasion of tiny ants. And, oh boy, have they moved in!

By Jim Anderson Jul 21, 2021

Hot Birds Are Not Happy Birds

A heat wave is tough for those without the option of going indoors

Well, good people, the heat is upon us. We've been warned it was coming, and here it is. The impact(s) of Climate Change we can feel and touch.

By Jim Anderson Jul 14, 2021

Get to Know the Common Nighthawk

At dusk or dawn, look for these swooping, diving hunters on their constant mission to devour flying insects

Ahh, summertime in Central Oregon—days that seem to stretch on forever, dusk walks around town as the sun dips below the Three Sisters, and then there's the diving flight of common nighthawks. These unusual birds are fascinating on so many fronts, from their nesting behavior to their diving displays to their annual migration.

By Jana Hemphill Jul 7, 2021