It’s an early spring morning, pre-dawn. The air is still, not a breath of wind stirs the sagebrush. The waning moon is a bright sliver in the eastern sky, but soon to be obscured by the dawn’s early light. The thermometer reads 25 degrees Fahrenheit but it feels colder in the morning darkness. I’ve been […]
Some birds are showier, more colorful and arguably prettier than others. And while experienced birders get excited about all sorts of gray-coated, similar-sounding, hard-to-identify birds — the avian equivalent of deep tracks — others might prefer to focus on the greatest hits. For those folks, it’s time to look to the trees and the sky, […]
Eastern Oregon’s high desert is a land of striking contrasts — sunbaked plateaus meet rugged rimrock, deep canyons surround rushing rivers and green meadows and marshes thrive next to miles of sagebrush. It’s a place of untamed beauty, where wildlife moves with the seasonal rhythms of the land. Capturing compelling images here requires more than […]
Central Oregonians today are navigating a difficult balance between home fire protection and local wildlife habitats. Stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife were why many of us relocated to this unique area. Those who love insects and birds take it further by planting and retaining wildlife-nurturing native shrubs and wildflowers. Research shows native plants support significantly […]
In June 2021, a devastating heat wave scorched the Pacific Northwest, with temperatures soaring from 108° to 121°F. In Central Oregon, Pelton Dam on the Deschutes River reached 119°F. The impact devastated wildlife, with birds among the hardest hit. Babies leaped from nests in droves, overwhelming wildlife rehabilitation centers across the region. As climate patterns […]
Oregon is home to more than two dozen species of lizards and snakes — many found in our high desert. These reptiles range from legless to four-legged with five toes. Most lay eggs, yet some give birth to live young. Some eat insects and small animals, but others love plants. Many can swim in water, […]
Poaching impacts all fish and wildlife across Oregon,” said Yvonne Shaw, Protect Oregon’s Wildlife’s Turn In Poachers (TIP) campaign coordinator. “The illegal killing of fish and wildlife not only complicates biologists’ ability to maintain species populations across the state, but it removes opportunity from hunters and anglers who harvest and from residents, recreationists and others […]
Brisk air and dark shadows cast over the lake while the sun makes its daily journey up Abert Rim. Western meadowlarks sing and distant chukar calls echo through the air. Coyotes stride across dry lakebed and juvenile birds drink from fresh water streams while a northern harrier glides above. An entire ecosystem rises for another […]
I’m with photographer Nancy Floyd in Old Bend on Congress Street, lined with trees fronting stately homes dating to the early 1900s. As part of her long-term project “For the Love of Trees,” she’s focusing on a ponderosa pine lofting above all others. The upper trunk arcs slightly to the northwest. The long branches swirl […]
Flu season is upon us and it’s not just restricted to humans. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as avian influenza or bird flu, is a spreadable virus that affects wild birds, poultry, livestock, pets and, in rare cases, humans. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the current strain of the […]
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