A closer look at high desert flora and fauna.
See the World from a Butterfly’s Point of View
I wonder if butterflies might get annoyed by all the poetic language they attract. They’re “tiny rainbows,” “flying flowers,” or “ephemeral angels.” We use them as metaphors for transformation and […]
Read More
Species Spotlight: Burrowing Owl
A Funny Little Owl By LeeAnn Kriegh Pronghorn are perhaps the most graceful animal native to the high desert country of Central and Eastern Oregon. Golden Eagles are the most […]
Read More
Three Tiny Creatures of Oregon’s High Desert
Racing pronghorn. Soaring golden eagles. Charging salmon. Oregon’s high desert pulses with the movement of these great creatures, but it’s good to remember that the desert’s iconic animals, birds and […]
Read More
Oregon: The Beaver State
You may have heard Oregon referred to as the “Beaver State.” The American Beaver, Castor canadensis, is Oregon’s official state animal and the Oregon State University mascot. And, there is […]
Read More
Species Spotlight: Bluebirds
Bluebirds of Happiness By LeeAnn Kriegh Is there any bird that inspires more passion and poetry than bluebirds? Henry David Thoreau, for one, wrote eloquently of the bird that “carries […]
Read More
In Search of the
Elusive Long-nosed Snake
UPDATE: Long-nosed snakes confirmed in the Owyhee! On August 19, 2018, ONDA shared this blog article about the possibility of Long-nosed Snakes in southeastern Oregon, requesting documenting photos of sightings […]
Read More
Migratory Birds of the High Desert
Author: Scott Donahue | Published: May 23, 2018 | Category: Species Spotlight Every year, dozens of beloved bird species migrate from their part-time homes around the world back to the […]
Read More
Species Spotlight: Black Cottonwood
Where There’s Cottonwood, There’s Water. We recommend listening to this Cottonwood Canyon Riparian Soundscape while you read this Species Spotlight. At the new Riley Ranch Nature Reserve in Bend, a […]
Read More
Species Spotlight: Mountain Mahogany
By LeeAnn Kriegh Trees live their lives on a different timescale than ours, so it helps to slow ourselves down to fully appreciate them. Certainly, a shrubby little tree like […]
Read More