What is so tiny that you can hold hundreds of them in a single handful, yet holds the key to restoration and climate resiliency in Oregon’s high desert? A seed. Or rather, millions of tiny seeds, each of which holds the potential to grow into a native bunchgrass and help restore resilient, thriving desert grasslands. […]
Natural World
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The Earthwin Challenge in Crook County
Crook County students complete Phase 1 of the Crooked River Project, aiming for a new recreation area along the river
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 […]
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Contributing to the 34th Annual Ochoco Butterfly Count
Volunteers flit about the Ochocos, in search of butterflies
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. […]
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Bringing Back Storied Sheep
Oregon’s high desert is home to fickle populations of stately California bighorn sheep
Climbing to the top of 8,017-foot Warner Peak in the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, my legs shake when I look over the edge. Cliffs and crags descend more than 3,000 feet to the valley floor from which I just climbed. From this perspective, I gain a new appreciation for the rugged habitat of one […]
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Celebrate Pollinators During National Pollinator Week
34th Annual Wildflower Show & Pollinator Festival are highlights of the week
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 […]
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Becoming a Master Gardener in Central Oregon
Basics of the program, ahead of the organization’s annual plant sale June 1
Just what does it mean to be a Master Gardener? No, the “Master” doesn’t imply these individuals know everything there is to know about plants and gardens, but people who become one certainly have a strong desire to learn. They love to spend time outside, discover new plant types and get their hands dirty in […]
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Woodpecker Wonderland Weekend
The Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival starts May 30
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 […]
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An Avian Oasis
Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands is a seasonal home to rare and spectacular migratory birds
When one sets out in search of birds in eastern Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, they’re likely on the lookout for the usual suspects: species such as the greater sage-grouse, sagebrush sparrow and golden eagle. The landscape’s vast sagebrush sea provides vitally important expanses of intact habitat for these and other sagebrush dependent species year-round. But the […]
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Birds Headline Upcoming Festivals and Field Trips
Explore the wonderful world of birds this spring in Central Oregon
If you have not caught on to the amazing world of birds and birdwatching, perhaps this is your lucky year. Not only can these incredible creatures fly, but their ability to migrate thousands of miles through adverse and ever-changing conditions, is a feat worthy of a hero’s welcome. So, here are a few selected birding […]
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Recovering Essential Desert Waters
Working with tribes to restore the lifeblood of desert ecosystems
Oregon’s high desert is an arid landscape, defined by the scarcity of water. A mere 2% of the high desert is wetland or riparian habitat, and nearly all of the wildlife in the region depend on these oases to survive. While mighty desert rivers like the Owyhee and the John Day are critical pieces of […]
