Ecologue

It’s time for the sixth annual Natural Areas Celebration Week, a celebration of the incredible natural resources in our community. Join the celebration for a hike, walk, workshop, or lecture! Every event is family-friendly, free and open to the public, so come and spend some time exploring the natural world around us. Below are a few of the events happening the first weekend, click here to see the full calendar!

Saturday, May 2

Marys Peak Interpretation Workshop
Saturday, May 2 – 8am-5pm
Participants will be trained over two full days to be Marys Peak Interpreters of the cultural and natural history of Marys Peak. Registration is limited to 25 people. Information pertaining to the workshop will be provided upon request.
Meeting Location: Registration Required
Contact Information: Dave Eckert maryspeakinterpreters@gmail.com
Sponsor: Alliance for Recreation and Natural Areas (Marys Peak Alliance), US Forest Service

Work Party at Fiechter House & Cabell Barn
Saturday, May 2 – 10am
This is the annual fluff ‘n buff before the Open House the following weekend. Come sweep out the 1910 barn and gather owl pellets, or vacuum the 1850s Fiechter House and clean the windows!
Meeting Location: Fiechter House. South on 99W to mile marker 93; follow signs for Finley Refuge. After crossing Muddy Creek look for Fiechter House on the left. Park by the picket fence.
Contact Information: Finley Wildlife Refuge: 541.757.7236
Sponsor: PreservationWORKS

Raptor Conservation Program @ Chintimini Wildlife Center
Saturday, May 2 – 10am-2pm
Come meet the Chintimini Wildlife Center’s live educational birds of prey and learn about Chintimini’s new weekly Raptor Conservation Program.  This program will feature hawks, owls, falcons and vultures and will include free-flight demonstrations with some of the birds.
Meeting Location: 311 NW Lewisburg Ave, Corvallis, OR
Contact Information: Zach Heesch: (541) 745-5324
Sponsor: Chintimini Wildlife Center

Wildbird Wetland Walk
Saturday, May 2 – 1-4pm
Family Fun Bird Adventure along an easy boardwalk trail include Hands on stations for Bird ID, Nest Building, Food searching,  and wetland habitat Investigation. (Bring your own Binoculars or borrow a pair at welcome table) Suggested donation $10. Details at www.corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org
Meeting Location: Sunset Park Board walk (45^th and SW Country Club Drive)
Contact Information:  www.corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org
Sponsor: Avery House of the Corvallis Environmental Center

Sunday, May 3

Marys Peak Interpretation Workshop
Sunday, May 3 – 8am-5pm
Participants will be trained over two full days to be Marys Peak Interpreters of the cultural and natural history of Marys Peak. Registration is limited to 25 people. Information pertaining to the workshop will be provided upon request.
Meeting Location: Registration Required
Contact Information: Dave Eckert maryspeakinterpreters@gmail.com
Sponsor: Alliance for Recreation and Natural Areas (Marys Peak Alliance), US Forest Service

Spring Garden Festival
Sunday, May 3 – 9am-4pm
Mark your calendar for the 28^th Annual Madison Avenue Task Force’s Spring Garden Festival on The Arts Center Plaza, 7th and Madison. Each year the Festival features dozens of vendors and information booths offering gardening products, advice and inspiration that will help you limber up your green thumb. We hope to see you there!
Contact Information: www.madisonavenuetaskforce.org
Sponsor: Madison Avenue Task Force

Forest Health Post November Ice Storm @ Peavy Arboretum
Sunday, May 3 – 9am-12pm
Steve Pilkerton, a forester and forest engineer with the OSU College of Forestry’s Research Forests, will discuss the types of damages sustained, what the forest community can learn in the aftermath from the type and pattern of damage, what and when to salvage, and to what extent forest practices might change, if at all. The route will most likely be along the first 1.25 miles of Davies RD 580, starting at the Lewisburg Saddle, with little or no elevation gain. Limited to 25 participants. Contact leader for meeting time and place when pre-registering.
Meeting Location: RSVP for Meeting Directions
Contact Information: Robert Verhoogen: at rverhoogen@mac.com or 541-745-5185
Sponsor: Marys Peak Group of the Sierra Club

Oak Creek Aquatic Ecology Experience
Sunday, May 3 – 2pm-4pm
In our special Aquatic Ecology class, we will explore Oak Creek and learn about the basic environmental quality of the waterway through the various life that makes Oak Creek its home! We will do our own water testing and learn about environment interactions within the riparian zone near Hesthavn . We will spend part of the time learning about food webs and ecosystem health while hiking around Hesthavn and Macdonald Forest. The second half of the session we will carefully be exploring Oak Creek, collecting macro invertebrates, and enjoying some aquatic testing and fun data collecting! *Geared towards 4th grade and older.*
Meeting Location: Hesthavn Nature Center, 8590 NW Oak Creek Drive
Contact Information: Jessica Brothers: educationaudubon@gmail.com
Sponsor: Audubon Society of Oregon

“12 Easy Steps to a Sustainable Garden” Presentation
Sunday, May 3 – 6.30pm
Hear from Lane County Master Gardener Jody Fairchild as she leads a presentation on ‘The 12 steps to a Sustainable Garden’, a quick synopsis of a 2 day class offered in the Lane County Master Gardener class. This presentation will also cover components of the ‘Wildlife in the Garden’ program discussing the importance of backyards for wildlife and suggestions for gardeners to think about wildlife in their garden design and examples on how to do it.
Meeting Location: Corvallis-Benton Library – Main Meeting Room, 645 NW Monroe, Corvallis
Sponsor: Natural Areas Action Team