Oregon Field Guide Season 24

Cranberry Farming Oregon cranberry farmers call the south coast the NAPA valley of cranberry farming in the US. A longer growing season produces sweet berries. But don’t believe the myth that they grow in watery bogs. Cranberry fields are flooded only two days a year to help the farmers get the berries off the vine at harvest time. Grebes Walk on Water How on earth do grebes dance on the surface of the water? Thanks to high speed cameras we see just how grebes can propel themselves as if they walk on top of the water in the Upper Klamath Lake. It is an amazing sight. North Umpqua Geology Join us on a journey to another Oregon location that is unique in the world. Southern Oregon’s North Umpqua River is one of our more dramatic landscapes: a place where rivers collide and three distinct mountain ranges meet. It is an incredible trip into this geologic wonderland.

Citizen Science Scientists are increasingly turning to citizens for help gathering data. Ice Diving Why would anyone intentionally dive into a frozen lake? Field Guide follows ice divers from the Klamath County Dive Search & Rescue Team into a dangerous world of freezing temperatures and surprising beauty. Time-lapse Photography We follow photographer Ben Canales to find out how he gets his stunning time-lapse imagery.

Cattle Drives A historic cattle ranch in southeastern Oregon moves cows every day. In many ways, cattle drives there have changed little since a century ago. The ranch herds cattle from one end of a million acre range to the other over the course of a year. Gorge Weeds The Columbia Gorge is one of our favorite playgrounds. But recreational use brings in noxious weeds that crowd out native species and upset the area’s ecological balance. We take a look at the challenges state agencies, land managers and non-profit groups face in trying to control the influx of these invasive “game-changers” and their efforts to coordinate these efforts. Timberline 75th Oregon’s Timberline Lodge was part of FDR’s Works Progress Administration - a program that not only put people to work, but also preserved some of the finest of the Northwest’s indigenous arts. Despite the museum-quality art and hand-made furnishings, Timberline is still open to the public today.

Mt. Hood's Volcanic Past Mt. Hood is an active volcano with a history of relatively recent eruptions. Warren Falls A man-made waterfall in the Columbia Gorge blocks a natural fall. One man wants to end that. Yellow Tuft Alyssum A new invasive species from Europe has been introduced in the Illinois River valley.

Cloud Cap Inn Cloud Cap Inn on Mt Hood’s north side endures as the oldest alpine lodge in the US. Drift Diving Take a dive into the chilly Wilson River as we hunt for Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout as part of a research project to see how well they're doing. Jim Rogers Jim Rogers helped create two wilderness areas on Oregon’s south coast along the Elk River.

Aerial Fish Stocking Oregon uses helicopters every other year for aerial fish stocking in high mountain lakes. Hiking from Portland to the Pacific Coast A Portland man finds a way to hike from Portland to the coast without building new trails. Stormwater Stormwater is a toxic cocktail of sediment, grease, road grime, tire wear and any litter small enough to slip into storm drains. And that’s just what can be seen. There’s much more.

Autumn Rivers Photo Essay A beautiful tour of Oregon's rivers in Autumn. Condors and Lead Bullets Endangered condors released to the wild get ill and die from lead poisoning. Outdoor School Outdoor School has been part of life in Oregon for more than 40 years. We look at the past and present of this beloved institution.

Christmas Bird Count The Christmas Bird Count provides the nation’s best record of the rise and fall of bird populations. Forest Park BioBlitz Follow an army of wildlife experts and volunteers as they scour Portland’s Forest Park for every animal species they can find in twenty-four hours. Llama Backpacking Like the backcountry but can’t carry a heavy pack? Try a llama.

Backpacking the Olympic Coast Three women backpack along the rugged Olympic Peninsula wilderness coastline. Columbia River Toxins Tests show the mid-Columbia river shares the same contamination as the lower river. Portland Fruit Tree Project Learn how one non-profit is turning Portland’s many fruit trees into a community resource.

River of the Rogues River of the Rogues tells the story of the people and events that shaped the Rogue River.

Diving for Science Science divers brave hostile waters & see a world of life and beauty off the Oregon coast. Hanami Each spring, Portlanders are treated to a spectacular display of Yoshino cherry blossoms.

The White Salmon River Runs Free: Breaching the Condit Dam The Condit Dam removal helped endangered salmon.

Dory Builder Pacific City, Oregon owes its identity, and its fishing industry, to dory boats. The flat-bottomed, no-keel boats take off from dry sand directly into the surf. When they return, fishermen throttle up full blast to slide back in using the beach as their brakes. A group of students from Linfield College are making a major effort to preserve the unique history of the dory boats and the community that relies on them. The Tuesday Crew Since the early 80s, one group of dedicated volunteers has shown up, rain or shine, snow or ice to help maintain Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum. Thanks to efforts, this 187-acre tree museum and its 12 miles of trails stay in good condition year-round. Willamette Greenway One of the boldest plans ever proposed in Oregon called for a park 200 miles long, lining the banks of the Willamette River all the way from Springfield from Portland. The plan hit opposition from farmers when the state started seizing farmland.

Classroom at Crater Lake Through the Classroom at Crater Lake program, Ona’s students get a special outdoor learning experience, bringing them face-to-face with fallen log ecosystems, Central Oregon geology, species unique to high alpine forests, and autumn weather. Photographer Bill Wallauer Oregonian Bill Wallauer grew up hunting and enjoying the outdoors in Joseph and Grants Pass. But when he joined the Peace Corps in 1989 and befriended renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, his life changed forever. 20 years later, Bill himself has become an internationally known wildlife photographer and behavioralist. We go along with Bill to a closed and protected natural research laboratory at Mt St Helens to photograph some of the Northwest’s most camera-shy inhabitants, elk. Wolf Haven International For many people the opportunity to learn more about one of nature’s most efficient predators, the wolf, only comes from TV, books and the Internet.