Upriver towns in the valley depended on the Willamette River for a connection to the outside world for decades before the railroads were built. Today much…

The earliest signs of spring can be observed at the marsh. The return of Turkey Vultures, Tree Swallows and the amorous croaking of Pacific Tree Frogs…

Extreme weather events define which plants and animals can live in a place. Last week's big freeze defined the limits of cold weather in our area. The…

As the fierce, icy heart of winter approaches plants and animals find shelter and food in newly created spaces. The leaf litter in the Cottonwood forest…

Winter weather has arrived in the Willamette Valley. These new conditions are welcome by a great variety of plants and animals that are adapted to thrive…

Summer birds have left the valley and winter birds are beginning to arrive. Finley Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful place to experience the change of…

Stonefield Beach Wayside is an isolated section of beach south of Cape Perpetua. Because of an abundance of food, areas like this were densely populated…

Recent Rains have created perfect conditions for mushroom gathering. The forests of the Coast Range and Cascades are yielding an abundance of fungi. The…