bicycling

Bring your bike and your friends for a tour of Portland's drinking water wells! Experts from the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council will lead this 16-mile trip on easy terrain. Learn about the safety, functionality and history of Portland's underground drinking water system, which supplements the main supply from the Bull Run. Helmets required; light refreshments provided; recommended for ages 12+. Meet at Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station. Free. Pre-registration required at www.columbiaslough.org or 503-281-1132.

Annual event celebrates birds of prey

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9

Explore Sauvie Island in search of magnificent bald eagles, hawks and falcons that spend the winter on the island. On this special day devoted to raptors, experienced naturalists and hawk experts host activities and answer questions at four locations around the island. Enjoy guided bird viewing, meet live raptors up close and sharpen hawk identification skills. Hot drinks and doughnuts are available in the morning. Have breakfast with the birds!

How does the road trip work?

Begin at Kruger's Farm Market and pick up an event map and raptor identification guide. The event fee is $10 per vehicle, cash only, and includes a Sauvie Island Wildlife Area parking permit, which is needed to park at the sites. To reach Kruger's, take Highway 30 to the Sauvie Island Bridge and go straight on Sauvie Island Road 1.5 miles (past Howell Territorial Park). Kruger's Farm Market is located on the right. Carpooling is encouraged. Three of the four event locations offer wheelchair access.

Spotting scopes help with raptor identification and are provided, with naturalists on hand to point out the birds. Field guides are available. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. This event takes place rain or shine. The road trip is suitable for birders of all ages and skill levels, and families are welcome. While you don't have to be an early bird and get up at the crack of dawn to see these birds of prey, allow approximately three hours to visit all four locations.

What will you see?

It all depends on what nature has in store. Regularly sighted raptors include bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, American kestrels and Northern harriers. With a little luck, you might spot a rough-legged hawk, Cooper's hawk, merlin or peregrine falcon. Beautiful snow geese, sandhill cranes and great blue herons are commonly seen at this time of year, as well as abundant waterfowl.

Sponsored by Metro, Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and HawkWatch International. For more information, www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar.

Join Willamette Riverkeeper, Patagonia, and REI for the 2012 Wild & Scenic Film Festival!

Don't miss this outstanding evening of INSPIRATION and ENTERTAINMENT, all while supporting a worthy cause- a clean and healthy Willamette River!

Considered one of the nation's premiere environmental and adventure film festivals, the Wild & Scenic Film Fest is a call to action. Enjoy award-winning films that illustrate the Earth's beauty, the challenges we face, and the work communities are doing to protect the environment.

Featuring 11 invigorating films including the exclusive premier of Wild & Scenic's People's Choice Award Winner: "Rock the Boat" a story about Los Angeles and the little river that could, with cops in helicopters, civilians in kayaks, and fish stranded on concrete.

When: Thursday, December 6th

Where: Bagdad Theater, SE Hawthorne & 37th, PDX

Time: doors @ 5:30pm, films begin @ 7pm

Who: all ages

Tickets: advanced tickets sales available at the Portland REI: $8 for students/youth, $10 for adults ($12 for adults at the door)

And there is more...

LIVE music beginning at 6:15pm from Flat Rock String Band

FREE entry into the RAFFLE drawing with your festival ticket! Everyone will have a chance to win prizes from Patagonia, REI, Keen, Osprey and more!

Wear or buy a Willamette Riverkeeper t-shirt and receive an additional raffle ticket!

Spicy scents of autumn trees, giant golden leaves on maples and the silvery chatter of American dippers in the river. These are the smells, sights and sounds of Oxbow Regional Park in the autumn. Witness the return of wild salmon to one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier rivers – the glacier-fed Sandy – just 45 minutes from downtown Portland.

Naturalists are on hand at the river’s edge to help spot spawning salmon and interpret their behavior and life cycle. Special salmon-viewing glasses are available on loan. Salmon viewing proceeds rain or shine. The trail is unpaved and fairly level; wear good walking shoes. Inquire at the entry booth for starting location of the salmon viewing then follow the signs to the salmon! Suitable for all ages.  Free with a $5 parking fee per vehicle and registration is not required. Leave pets at home. For more information, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22

Oxbow Regional Park is rich in tracks at this time of year, when mink, beaver, otter and black bear often leave clear footprints in the sand. Learn to read the ground like a book. Metro naturalist and tracker Dan Daly introduces you to basic track identification and interpretation, and the stealth skills needed to watch wildlife up close. Suitable for adults and children 10 and older. Bring water and a snack and meet at the floodplain parking area. Leave pets at home. Registration and payment of $11 per adult or family required in advance. There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle payable at the park. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro’s online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. For questions or to register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.