walking

http://www.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org

wildlife watching

Celebrate birds and wildlife during this family-friendly festival.

Early morning bird walks begin at 5:30 and continue to 7:00 a.m. Bird banding demonstrations will take place from 8 a.m. - noon. Morning canoe rides on the Tualatin River with Tualatin Riverkeepers. Other activities: pond study; build a bee board, bat or bird house; scavenger hunt; archery; fishing clinic (casting); migration putt-putt golf; gyotaku fish printing; live Portland Audubon bird show; wood carving demonstration; nature and plant walks; behind the scenes of refuge management talk and walk; twilight walk and talk begins at 4:00 pm.

Explore exhibits and activities of conservation partners promoting wildlife and conservation.

There will be free hands-on childrens' activities, stories, and a special chindren's nature walk featuring bugs and slugs from 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Preregistration required for Tualatin Riverkeepers canoe rides and the children's nature walk

Music and food. Free nearby off-site parking with frequent shuttle service.

Event details: www.tualatinriverbirdfestival.org.

Contact Name:

Bonnie Anderson

Contact Phone:

503-625-5944 x227

Contact Email:

birdfest@friendsoftualatinrefuge.org

Contact Website:

Venue:

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

Venue Details:

Follow signs on Pacific Highway (99W) for free near-by off-site parking and frequent shuttle service to the Refuge. All activities take place on the Refuge.

Cost:

Free

Behind the Seasonal Curtain: Tryon Creek Forest

Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Tryon Creek State Natural Area (OPRD)

Address:

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd.

Portland, OR 97219

United States

Park/Trail:

Tryon Creek State Natural Area Trails

Categories:

walking

Discover what is happening in the forest of Tryon Creek State Natural Area and Tryon Life Community Farm this season. Join a park naturalist and a resident of permaculture-based Tryon Life Farm for a joint hike from the Nature Center through the forest to the farm. In addition to discovering what's happening in nature and on the farm this season, find out how permaculture and protected natural areas support each other.

Contact Name:

Deb Hill

Contact Phone:

503-636-9886 ext. 225

Contact Email:

deborah.hill@state.or.us

Contact Website:

http://www.tryonfriends.org

Venue:

Tryon Creek State Natural Area Nature Center

Cost:

free

The Good, The Bad, and the Unforgettable: Thru-hiking the Pacific Coast Trail

Tuesday, April 16, 2013 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Tryon Creek State Natural Area (OPRD)

Address:

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd.

Portland, OR 97219

United States

Park/Trail:

Tryon Creek State Natural Area Trails

Categories:

walking

Every year, hundreds of people dare to step outside their "normal" life; leaving behind their jobs, families, and creature comforts, in an attempt to hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail. Less than half finish this 2669 mile expedition, but for the ones that do, it changes them forever. Join Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser for a candid glimpse into the world of thru-hiking--the glamour, the guts, and the tears. From her first steps at the Mexican border with her never-been-backpacking cousin, to her final hobbles past the Canadian border with her dad, she'll share stories and photos that shaped the journey and, now, her life. Whether you are planning your own long-distance trek, just getting into hiking, or simply enjoy the tales of travel, there is something for you in this one-hour presentation.

Contact Name:

Christal Florin

Contact Phone:

503-636-9886 ext. 225

Contact Email:

christal.florin@state.or.us

Contact Website:

http://www.tryonfriends.org

Venue:

Tryon Creek State Natural Area Nature Center

Cost:

free

Metro's Winter twigs of Graham Oaks Nature Park

Sunday, February 24, 2013 - 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Metro

Address:

Southwest Wilsonville Road

adjacent to Inza R. Wood Middle School

Wilsonville, OR

United States

Park/Trail:

Graham Oaks Nature Park

1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24

Have you ever wished you could tell one evergreen from another, or identify a tree in winter by its bark or buds? Can you read the history of a piece of land by looking at its forest? Join Metro naturalist Deb Scrivens for a walk in the woods to unravel these mysteries and more. The forest at this natural area is a living laboratory of Northwest trees. Suitable for ages 12 and older.

Registration and payment of $6 per adult or $11 per family required in advance. You can register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar, find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. For questions, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Contact Name:

Metro Parks

Contact Phone:

503-797-1650

Contact Email:

parks@oregonmetro.gov

Contact Website:

Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area

Venue:

Graham Oaks Nature Park

Venue Details:

Explore trails, restored oak woodlands, a conifer forest and rich wildlife at Metro's new Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville. Ride your bike on the Tonquin Trail, stroll through a conifer forest or spot birds from a wetland overlook at Metro's Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville.  This 250-acre destination is a playground not just for people, but also for wildlife. With restored oak woodlands growing bigger every year, Graham Oaks provides important habitat for native birds and mammals. Bring your family, bring your camera, bring a picnic to the sustainable new picnic shelter. Bring your curiosity, and learn how voters helped renew this special landscape.  Three miles of trails traverse Graham Oaks, allowing visitors to explore several habitats in a single park. Cyclists and joggers can take the paved Tonquin Trail, which eventually will connect Wilsonville, Tualatin and Sherwood. A spur trail leads to a wetland overlook, perfect for bird-watchers; Coyote Way meanders through young oak woodlands. For a bit of shade, follow the Legacy Creek Trail through a rich conifer forest where thousands of species thrive. Be sure to visit Graham Oaks’ five plazas – perfect spots to rest, reflect and learn about the park. Be on the lookout for native wildlife such as white-breasted nuthatch, Western bluebird, orange-crowned warbler and Western gray squirrels.  A historical landscape Graham Oaks has a long and storied history, from the Kalapuyan tribes who gathered food here to the family that farmed the land – and the voters who helped purchase the site, restore its habitat and open it as a nature park.   Greening Graham Oaks Did you know Graham Oaks is one of the region’s greenest parks? At Graham Oaks, pervious pavement in the parking lot manages stormwater and removes pollutants. Solar panels on the restroom feed into the City of Wilsonville’s electric grid, and the beautiful stonework at the plazas and overlooks is Columbia River Gorge basalt stone. Find out about sustainable strategies used in the design, materials and construction.   A living laboratory Graham Oaks serves as an outdoor classroom for Inza Wood Middle School, Boones Ferry Primary School and CREST, the environmental education center operated by the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. Students study the rich wildlife, habitat and cultural history of Graham Oaks – an undertaking that helped create artwork and books showcased at the grand opening.  Access Graham Oaks Nature Park is free and open from 6:30 a.m. to legal sunset. Many of the park features are wheelchair accessible, although some trails offer a higher level of challenge. There is limited parking at the park entrance. Parking is not allowed at any of the schools. There is a permanent bike parking structure at the entrance of the park, accommodating a total of six bikes. Bikes are permitted only on the Tonquin Trail.  Typically, dogs are not allowed at Metro parks and natural areas in order to protect sensitive habitats, local wildlife and plants. Metro is making an exception by allowing dogs on the Tonquin Trail at Graham Oaks because it is a regional throughway. Dogs must be on-leash at all times, and are not allowed anywhere else in the park.

Cost:

$6 per adult or $11 per family, required in advance

Metro's Winter birds at Smith and Bybee Wetlands

Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 10:00am to 12:30pm

Metro

Address:

5300 N. Marine Drive

Portland, OR 97203

United States

Park/Trail:

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Saturdays, Feb. 16 and March 16

Winter is an active time at the wetlands with lots of water birds - ducks, geese, coots and grebes. Raptors such as red-tailed hawks and bald eagles are common; sightings of falcons and other hawks are possible. The wetlands' year-round residents as well as a few winter songbirds are easier to see because all the leaves are gone. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair on site; spotting scopes provided. Suitable for ages 9 and older. Meet Metro naturalist James Davis in the parking lot at 5300 N. Marine Drive. Registration and payment of $6 per adult or $11 per family required in advance. You can register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar, find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. For questions, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Contact Name:

Metro Parks

Contact Phone:

503-797-1650

Contact Email:

parks@oregonmetro.gov

Contact Website:

Venue:

Smith and Bybee Wetlands

Venue Details:

Home to beaver, river otter, black-tailed deer, osprey, bald eagles and Western painted turtles, this 2,000-acre natural area offers accessible wildlife watching, a canoe launch and more.  At nearly 2,000 acres, Metro’s Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is the largest protected wetlands within an American city. This beautiful natural area is one of the region’s best-kept secrets, hiding in a part of Portland surrounded by port terminals, warehouses and other commercial developments. Most visitors to the natural area are surprised to find beaver, river otter, black-tailed deer, osprey, bald eagles and Western painted turtles living only minutes from downtown Portland.  Recent improvements at the wetlands include a new canoe launch area and improved access for paddlers as well as restrooms, interpretive displays, a covered shelter, parking for 40 cars, a bus drop-off and public art.  Wind your way through the wetlands on the Interlakes Trail, a paved, accessible trail that includes two wildlife viewing platforms. Another great way to explore the natural area is by boat.  Another interesting feature of the natural area is the now-closed St. Johns Landfill, a former wetland that was filled and served as the region’s primary garbage disposal site from 1940 to 1991. Since then, Metro has been implementing environmental protection measures to safely reintegrate the 238-acre landfill site into its natural environs.

Cost:

$6 per adult or $11 per family, required in advance

Metro's Native Plant Center seed scout training

Saturday, March 16, 2013 - 9:00am to 3:00pm

Metro

Address:

2661 SW Borland Road

Tualatin, OR 97062

United States

Categories:

celebration

seasonal natural interest

preregistration required

Interested in tracking phenology of native wildflowers? Would you like to learn to identify flowers from their seed heads? Volunteering as a seed scout with Metro's Native Plant Center may be a good fit for you. Volunteer requirements: a field application, two training days and a commitment to 40 volunteer hours, March through September. To register, call Marsha Holt-Kingsley at 503-701-7554 or download the application online at www.oregonmetro.gov/nativeplantcenter.

Contact Name:

Metro Parks

Contact Phone:

503-701-7554

Contact Email:

parks@oregonmetro.gov

Contact Website:

Venue:

Metro's Native Plant Center

Venue Details:

Metro's Native Plant Center provides an essential supply of rare native seeds and plant stock to support Metro's restoration projects.  Metro’s Native Plant Center, located near Wanker’s Corner in Tualatin, provides an essential supply of rare native seeds and plant stock to support Metro’s restoration projects.  In its first year more than 4,650 native trees and shrubs grown at the plant center went into the ground at ten different Metro natural areas. A long-term goal of the project is to be able to share stock and seeds with other organizations working on restoration throughout the region.

Cost:

free

Metro's Native Plant Center volunteer venture

Saturday, February 2, 2013 - 9:00am to 1:00pm

Metro

Address:

2661 SW Borland Road

Tualatin, OR 97062

United States

Categories:

celebration

seasonal natural interest

preregistration required

Volunteer at Metro's Native Plant Center in Tualatin and help care for the rare native seeds, bulbs and plant materials that support regional restoration projects. Winter activities include harvesting and planting native bulbs, planting seeds, transplanting seedlings and nursery maintenance tasks. No experience necessary. Gloves, tools, water and snack provided. Advance registration required; call 503-797-1653.

Contact Name:

Metro Parks

Contact Phone:

503-797-1650

Contact Email:

parks@oregonmetro.gov

Contact Website:

Venue:

Metro's Native Plant Center

Venue Details:

Metro's Native Plant Center provides an essential supply of rare native seeds and plant stock to support Metro's restoration projects. Metro’s Native Plant Center, located near Wanker’s Corner in Tualatin, provides an essential supply of rare native seeds and plant stock to support Metro’s restoration projects. In its first year more than 4,650 native trees and shrubs grown at the plant center went into the ground at ten different Metro natural areas. A long-term goal of the project is to be able to share stock and seeds with other organizations working on restoration throughout the region.

Cost:

free

Raptor Road Trip

Saturday, February 9, 2013 - 9:00am to 2:00pm

Metro

Address:

Kruger’s Farm Market

17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd

Portland, OR 97231

United States

Park/Trail:

Howell Territorial Park

Categories:

bicycling

celebration

seasonal natural interest

wildlife watching

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.

Contact Name:

Metro Parks

Contact Phone:

503-797-1650

Contact Email:

parks@oregonmetro.gov

Contact Website: