Natural World
A case for removing lead from hunting—whether it's required by law or not
The negative issues connected to lead used in sport hunting go back to the Year One, and it's taken over 100 years to really understand what a horrifying impact that stuff has on wildlife resource as well as the world around us. A photo I once took of a lead-filled duck gizzard is just one example of how lead gets into the life and times of waterfowl.
By Jim Anderson
Jan 5, 2022
Natural World
Why yes, there is a massive migration of robins—aka Turdus migratorius—going on right now
A rash, a hood, a riot—all collective nouns for a group of robins. And boy, are there ever groups, big groups, of them around central Oregon this fall!
By Debra Merskin
Dec 22, 2021
Natural World
What to feed the birds you love seeing at the window
Those Bushtits in Sue's photo, pigging out at our suet feeder, always bring the thrill of feeding wild birds alive in our souls. Don't know about you guys, but if you're having a slow and not-so-fun day, Bushtits will bring joy into your life!
By Jim Anderson and Elise Wolf
Dec 15, 2021
Natural World
Take the feeders in at night when it's freezing
The topic of a lot of my phone calls, emails and text messages this fall has been about hummingbirds and feeders in winter, and to be perfectly frank about it, it's a worrisome conundrum. Right off the bat, sugar water is not the only food for hummingbirds; sure, they get an instant shot of energy from it, but (as far as I know) there's not enough nutrition in it to keep them alive and healthy.
By Jim Anderson
Nov 24, 2021
Natural World
The ups and downs of swinging from the trees
Hang on, good people, we're headed back to the days of Johnny Weissmuller, who was a magnificent Tarzan of the '30s, keeping company with his beautiful film-version mate, Jane, portrayed by Maureen O'Hara as they met in "Tarzan the Ape Man," filmed in 1932 with a pet chimpanzee named "Cheetah." In 1932 I was only four years old, and had not yet seen a movie.
By Jim Anderson
Nov 10, 2021
Natural World
Golden needles shout fall and mark the turn of the season
Fall is a fleeting thing in Central Oregon. One minute you are lamenting the loss of summer and then before you know it, winter arrives and you didn't get a chance to soak in the delights of the season.
By Sarah Mowry
Oct 27, 2021
Natural World
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
bend oregon leaves
Natural World
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
Natural World
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
Natural World
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
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