Newsletter Archive

  • Eusocial wasps: There’s so much to learn about yellowjackets and paper wasps. They are elegant and ecologically important insects. Their complex social lives are overlooked and the threat they pose is sometimes misunderstood. In addition to the article, we feature a thorough identification guide to Willamette Valley species.

  • Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum) is a hardy and cheerful wildflower that thrives in sunny and sometimes harsh places. It’s is easy to grow in a flower or a rock garden.
  • In Western Oregon, Savannah Sparrows live in prairies, pastures, agricultural fields and other open areas. Here we encounter them all year. They are migratory and it is likely that we see different summer and winter populations. Watch a video featuring Savannah Sparrow songs https://youtu.be/r9JKZuAtoew.
  • Forktooth Ookow (Dichelostemma congestum) is found in prairies and sunny meadows. Ookow corms are edible and there’s a harvest tradition among the Kalapuya and other Northwest tribes.

  • Douglas-Fir is a dominant force in the Northwest's ecology and forestry. This conifer is an amazing species in so many ways, and there's so much to learn about it, that we dedicated an entire issue to it.

  • The familiar Red-breasted Nuthatch is common in conifer forests and at backyard feeders, but they have some extraordinary abilities that are not as well known. Watch a video featuring Red-breasted Nuthatches and their sounds: https://youtu.be/f1Q0Q5tFm94
  • The strange, white fruits of Common Snowberry are a winter survival food for birds, the shrubs are used for native landscaping and the tiny flowers are extremely popular with pollinators. Winter is an ideal time to plant some of your own.

  • Gumweeds are native plants whose cheerful yellow blossoms persist through late summer and early fall. Learn about their ecological role, their traditional use as medicine and their potential industrial uses.
  • Assassin bugs are venomous, ferocious predators of insects, and their presence is a sign of a healthy, balanced insect population. Entomologists place them in the "true bug" order, Hemiptera, whose mouthparts pierce the tissues of plants and/or animals and suck up liquids.

  • Rufous Hummingbirds rule backyard feeders and mountain meadows from spring through late summer. Their aggressive behavior is entertaining, but is also necessitated by the demands of their biology.
  • Watch a video featuring the sounds of Rufous Hummingbirds. https://youtu.be/GRRScDWl_PA
  • Gray Hairstreaks (Strymon melinus) are common butterflies that have remarkable lifestyles. They mitigate predator attacks with trickery and have a mutualistic relationship with ants. Compoared to Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas).

  • Though small, the Merlin is a fierce, fast and powerful bird hunter. In western Oregon, Merlins live in towns, farmland and wild areas.
  • Merlin video
  • Nuttall's Toothwort (Cardamine nuttalli) blossoms appear in late winter and early spring and often grows underneath Oregon White Oaks. Compared to California Toothwort (Cardamine california) and Angle-leaved Bittercress (Cardamine angulata)

  • Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) is scraggly, unusual little native conifer that grows in the understory. As the deciduous trees and shrubs go bare, the Pacific Yew and its cloak of emerald moss can finally stand out. It has extremely hard wood, has provided an important cancer treatment and has sweet, fruit-like arils with highly toxic seeds. Compared to Grand Fir (Abies grandis) and Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla).
  • Fork-tailed Bush Katydids add to the chorus of singing insects, even though they aren't very loud. But this common katydid is one of the last insects you'll hear in the fall.

  • Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) – This newcomer to the Willamette Valley looks like a large meadowhawk but it's actually a kind of king skimmer. Compared to Autumn Meadowhawk, Red-veined Meadowhawk , Cardinal Meadowhawk, Striped Meadowhawk and Variegated Meadowhawk
  • Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – It's a weed, a garden favorite, ancient medicine, it's used in ecological restoration and pollinators love it, but is it native? Yes, but it's complicated.

  • Blue Orchard Mason Bees (Osmia lignaria). There are hundreds of native species. While Honey Bees and many Bumble Bees live in hives, the majority of native bees are solitary nesters. The Blue Orchard Mason Bee is one of these native, solitary nesters and it's one of the few that are used in agriculture and in gardens on a large scale.
  • Meadowrue. In the Willamette Valley, there are two species of Meadowrue, Western Meadowrue (Thalictrum occidentale) and Tall Western Meadowrue (Thalictrum polycarpum) and are found in shady forests. Their inconspicuous spring blossoms attract plant lovers with their subtle and delicate beauty but these low-key flowers are linked to their unique reproductive strategy.

  • Ponderosa Pine is common in the western U.S. but the Willamette Valley population is unique and there are conservation efforts to make them common here once again.
  • The Downy Woodpecker is small and nimble and often forages among twigs. While it looks similar to the Hairy Woodpecker, it's not as closely related as it appears

  • American Wigeon are charming small ducks that breed in the boreal forest and the upper Midwest of North America. Millions migrate to more temperate climates for the winter, and by mid- to late October, many find their way to western Oregon.
  • Vine Maples are like living flames, with scarlet bursting from the dark conifer forest. They also contribute to forest ecology.

  • Featuring Tree Crickets (Oecanthus sp.), Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus), Prairie Tree Cricket (Oecanthus argentinus), Riley’s Tree Cricket (Oecanthus rileyi), Snowy Tree Cricket (Oecanthus fultoni), Western Tree Cricket (Oecanthus californicus)
  • Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)

  • Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
  • Red Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)

  • Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) compared to Red Fox and Cross Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
  • Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum) compared to Sessile Trillium (Trillium albidum) and Giant Purple Wakerobin (Trillium kurabayashii)

  • Cooper's Hawk (compared with Sharp-shinned Hawk)
  • Blue Elderberry (Sambucus  mexicana ssp. cerulea); compared to Red Elderberry (S. racemosa var. arborescens)

  • Red Baneberry
  • Colorful and Showy Moths
  • Common Ringlet

  • Henderson’s Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii): Compared to Tall Mountain Shooting Star (Dodecatheon jeffreyi).
  • Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor): compared to Violet-green Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow

  • Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis): Oregon Junco compared to Slate-colored and Cassiar Junco.
  • Snow Queen (Synthyris reniformis): compared to Columbia Kittentails (S. missurica var. stellata).
    NOTE: Snow Queen is now Veronica regina-nivalis and Columbia Kittentails is now Veronica missurica ssp. stellata

Fall 2017, v15#3
  • Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) (compared to: Mule Deer: Odocoileus hemionus, Columbian White-tailed Deer: Odocoileus virginianus leucurus, Roosevelt Elk: Cervus canadensis roosevelti)

Summer 2017, v15#2
  • Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) (compared to: American Lady: Vanessa virginiensis, West Coast Lady: Vanessa annabella, Red Admiral: Vanessa atalanta, Satyr Comma: Polygonia satyrus, California Tortoiseshell: Nymphalis californica)
  • Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia)

Spring 2017, v15#1
  • Lesser Goldfinch (compared to: American Goldfinch)
  • Coralroots (Striped Coralroot: Corallorhiza striata, Western Coralroot: Corallorhiza mertensiana, Spotted Coralroot: Corallorhiza maculata)
  • Other non-green plants in Western Oregon (Phantom Orchid: Cephalanthera austiniae, Pinesap: Monotropa hypopitys, Indian Pipe: Monotropa uniflora, Broomrape: Orobanche sp., Candystick: Allotropa virgata, Pinedrops: Pterospora andromedea, Dodder: Cuscuta sp.)

Winter 2016-17 v14#4
  • Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) (compared to: Licorice Fern: Polypodium glycyrrhiza, Lady Fern: Athyrium filix-femina, Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant)
  • Pacific Wren (compared to House Wren, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren)

Fall 2016, v14#3
  • Red-breasted Sapsucker (compared to: Williamson’s Sapsucker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker)
  • Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) (compared to: Pacific Dogwood: Cornus nuttallii, Bunchberry: Cornus unalaschkensis)

Summer 2016, v14#2
  • Cuckoo Wasp (family Chrysididae)
  • Western Wood-Pewee (compared to: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Black Phoebe, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher)

Spring 2016, v14#1
  • Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)
  • Fairy Lanterns & Fairybells (Smith’s Fairy Lanterns: Prosartes smithii, Hooker’s Fairybells: Prosartes hookeri)
  • Waterleaf (Pacific Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum tenuipes, Western Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum occidentale)

Winter 2015-16, v13#4
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet (compared to Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet)
  • Western Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum) (compared to: False Lily-of-the-Valley: Maianthemum dilatatum)

Fall 2015, v13#3
  • Fox Sparrow (compared to Song Sparrow and Hermit Thrush)
  • Fly Agaric Mushroom (Amanita muscaria)

Summer 2015, v13#2
  • Black-throated Gray Warbler
  • Jumping Spiders (Phidippus sp., Zebra Jumping Spider: Salticus scenicus, Platycryptus californicus)

Spring 2015, v13#1
  • Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
  • Broadleaf Bluebells (Mertensia platyphylla)
  • Tolmie's Cats-Ear (Calochortus tolmiei)

Winter 2014-15, v12#4
  • Bewick's Wren
  • North American Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus rubidus) (compared to: Pacific Jumping Mouse: Zapus trinotatus, Meadow voles: Microtus sp., House Mouse: Mus musculus)

Fall 2014, v12#3
  • American Crow
  • Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

Summer 2014, v12#2
  • River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)
  • Coastal Manroot (Marah oreganus)
  • Morning Glories (Night-blooming Morning Glory: Calystegia atriplicifolia ssp. atriplicifolia, Hedge Morning Glory: Calystegia sepium, Field Bindweed: Convolvulus arvensis) (compared to: Kickxia elantine)

Spring 2014, v12#1
  • Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
  • Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa)
  • Owl-Clovers (Hairy Owl-Clover: Castilleja tenuis, Rosy Owl-Clover: Orthocarpus bracteosus, Dwarf Owl-Clover: Triphysaria pusilla)

Winter 2013-14, v11#4
  • Anna's Hummingbird (Rufous Hummingbird for comparison)
  • Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Fall 2013, v11#3
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Mixed-Species Flocks (Black-capped Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Townsend’s Warbler, Hutton’s Vireo, Downy Woodpecker)
  • Cross Orbweaver (a.k.a. European garden spider: Araneus diadematus)

Summer 2013, v11#2
  • Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon)
  • Downingia (Downingia elegans, Downingia yina)
  • Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) and Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Spring 2013, v11#1
  • Rice Root (a.k.a. Chocolate Lily or Checker Lily, Fritillaria affinis)
  • Pacific Bleeding-Heart (Dicentra formosa)
  • Violet-green Swallow. Compared to Tree Swallow

Winter 2012-13, v10#4
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus) (compared to: Eastern Gray Squirrel: Sciurus carolinensis, Eastern Fox Squirrel: Sciurus niger)

Fall 2012, v10#3
  • American Beaver (Castor canadensis)
  • Golden-crowned Sparrow

Summer 2012, v10#2
  • Swallowtails (Pale Swallowtail: Papilio eurymedon, Western Tiger Swallowtail: Papilio rutulus, Clodius Parnassian: Parnassius clodius)
  • American Goldfinch (Lesser Goldfinch for comparison)

Spring 2012, v10#1
  • Hoverflies (Hadromyia pulchra, Eupeodes americanus, Platycheirus, Scaeva pyrastri, Melanostoma sp.)
  • Monkeyflowers (Tricolored Monkeyflower: Mimulus tricolor / Diplacus tricolor, Common Monkeyflower: Mimulus guttatus / Erythranthe guttata, Musk Monkeyflower: Mimulus moschata / Erythranthe moschata, Woods Monkeyflower: Mimulus dentatus / Erythranthe dentata)
  • Honeysuckles (Orange Honeysuckle: Lonicera ciliosa, Hairy Honeysuckle: Lonicera hispidula, Black Twinberry: Lonicera involucrata)

Winter 2011-12, v9#4
  • Douglas Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  • California Beaked Hazel (Corylus cornuta californica)

Fall 2011, v9#3
  • Greater Yellowlegs
  • Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia)
  • Fall Caterpillars (Banded Woollybear: Pyrrharctia isabella, Spotted Tussock Moth: Lophocampa maculata, Polyphemus Moth: Antheraea polyphemus)

Summer 2011, v9#2
  • Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) plus these for comparison (Common Ringlet: Coenonympha tullia, Propertius Duskywing: Erynnis propertius, Woodland Skipper: Ochlodes sylvanoides)
  • Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor)
  • Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris lanceolata and Prunella vulgaris vulgaris)

Spring 2011, v9#1
  • White-crowned Sparrow
  • Camas (Camassia quamash, Camassia leichtlinii)

Winter 2010-11, v8#4
  • Lichens (Hypogymnia physodes, Evernia prunastri, Parmelia sulcata, Pseudocyphellaria anomala, Usnea, Lecanora, Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia, Ramalina dilacerata, Ramalina menziesii, Xanthoria polycarpa, Cladonia macilenta)
  • Red-tailed Hawk

Fall 2010, v8#3
  • Harvestman (order: Opiliones)
  • Bushtit. Compared to Wrentit.
  • Fabulous Fall Fungi: Where to look and how to prepare. Featuring Fky Agaric (Amanita muscaria) and Clublike Tuning Fork (Calocera cornea), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Hemlock Varnished Conk (Ganoderma tsugae), Scaly Chanterelle (Gomphus floccosus),  Western Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis radicata)
  • Recipe: Crisy Fried Mushrooms

Summer 2010, v8#2
  • California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
  • Beaver Pond Dragonflies and Damselflies (Western Pondhawk: Erythemis collocata, Eight-spotted Skimmer: Libellula forensis, Widow Skimmer: Libellula lactuosa, Twelve-spotted Skimmer: Libellula pulchella, Common Whitetail: Plathemis lydia, Cardinal Meadowhawk: Sympetrum illotum, Striped Meadowhawk: Sympetrum pallipes, Emerald Spreadwing: Lestes dryas, Tule Bluet: Enallagma carunculatum, Pacific Forktail: Ischnura cervula)
  • Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini)

Spring 2010, v8#1
  • Spring Bird Migration
  • Tall Larkspur (Delphinium trolliifolium)
  • Camas comparison (Camassia quamash, Camassia leichtlinii)

Winter 2009-10, v7#4
  • Belted Kingfisher
  • Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii)
  • Ducks in Winter (American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, Norther Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Mallard, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail)
  • American Beaver (Castor canadensis) vs. Nutria (a.k.a. Coypu: Myocastor coypus)

Fall 2009, v7#3
  • Western Bluebird
  • Fall Mushrooms: Shaggy Mane: Coprinus comatus, Black Jelly Roll: Exidia glandulosa), Carbon Forks: Xylaria hypoxylon, Witch’s Butter: Tremella mesenterica, Sulfur Shelf: Laetiporus conifericola, Sessile Earthstar: Geastrum saccatum
  • Western Poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)
  • Hairy vs. Downy Woodpecker

Summer 2009, v7#2
  • Mantids
  • Summer (Raccoon) School
  • Cedar Waxwings
  • Young Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawks

Spring 2009, v7#1
  • Northern Harrier
  • Spring Butterflies (Pale Swallowtail: Papilio eurymedon, Western Tiger Swallowtail: Papilio rutulus, Sara Orangetip: Anthocharis sara, Red Admiral: Vanessa atalanta, Painted Lady: Vanessa cardui, Gray Hairstreak: Strymon melinus, Common Checkered-Skipper: Pyrgus communis, Silvery Blue: Glaucopsyche lygdamus, Lorquin’s Admiral: Limenitis lorquini, Mylitta Crescent: Phyciodes mylitta)
  • Tough-leaved Iris (Iris tenax)

Winter 2008-09, v6#4
  • Oregon-grape (Berberis aquifolium, Berberis nervosa)
  • Song Sparrow
  • The Promise of Spring
  • Northern Shrike

Fall 2008, v6#3
  • Wrentit
  • Townsend's Chipmunk (Neotamias townsendii)
  • Coyote Fun (Canis latrans)
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet vs. Hutton's Vireo

Summer 2008, v6#2
  • Spotted Towhee
  • Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
  • Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

Issues below (Spring 2003 through Spring 2008) are in black and white

Spring 2008, v6#1
  • Vernal Pools
  • Willamette Valley Swallows (Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Norther Rough-winged Swallow, Vaux's Swift)

Winter 2007-08, v5#4
  • Raccoons (Procyon lotor)
  • Ice Age Flood (Missoula Flood)

Fall 2007, v5#3
  • Killdeer
  • Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti)

Summer 2007, v5#2
  • Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata)
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Naturalist's Calendar

Spring 2007, v5#1
  • Prickly Lettuce (Wild Opium: Lactuca serriola, Wall Lettuce: Lactuca muralis)
  • Naturalist's Calendar
  • Native Lilies (Sessile Trillium: Trillium albidum, Western Trillium: Trillium ovatum, Fawn Lily: Erythronium oregonum, Columbia Lily: Lilium columbianum, Large False Solomon's-Seal: Maianthemum racemosa, Star False Solomon's-Seal: Maianthemum stellata, Wild Lily-of-the-Valley: Maianthemum dilatatum, Tolmie's Cat's-Ear: Calochortus tolmiei)

Winter 2006-07, v4#4
  • Western Scrub-Jay (Note: As of 2016, the species is called California Scrub-Jay)
  • Moles (Coast Mole: Scapanus orarius, Townsend's Mole: Scapanus townsendii, Shrew Mole: Neurotrichus gibbsii)

Fall 2006, v4#3
  • Rabbits (Brush Rabbit: Sylvilagus bachmani, Eastern Cottontail: Sylvilagus floridanus)
  • Acorn Woodpecker
  • The Age of Soil Bugs: Peudoscorpion

Summer 2006, v4#2
  • Osprey
  • Tarweeds (Madia elegans, Madia gracilis, Madia sativa)
  • Stargazing This Summer

Spring 2006, v4#1
  • Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)
  • Glow Worms (Pterotus obscuripennis)
  • The Age of Soil Bugs: Springtails
  • Le Printemps: A Spring Soliloquy by Melissa Matthewson

Winter 2005-06, v3#4
  • Oak Mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum)
  • Rabbit Thoughts by Susan Leach
  • European Starling

Fall 2005, v3#3
  • Fall Mushrooms
  • California Ground Squirrel (Gray Digger, Spermophilus beecheyi, note: named changed, since the article was written, to Otospermophilus beecheyi)

Summer 2005, v3#2
  • Common Blackberry Species (Rubus ursinus, Rubus armeniacus, Rubus lacinatus)
  • Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis)

Spring 2005, v3#1
  • Wild Plant Gathering Ethics and Precautions
  • Wild Mustard (Brassica campestris, a.k.a. Brassica rapa)
  • Pacific Chorus Fog (Pseudacris regilla)

Winter 2004-05, v2#4
  • Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)
  • Salamanders Without Lungs
  • Winter Poetry by Beth Russell

Note: some of these earliest issues have errors or outdated information.

Fall 2004, v2#3
  • Long-legged Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides)
  • Bird Feeder Guide
  • Note: Stewart Lake at HP is no longer open to the public as the article suggests. Only HP employees and their guests or HP contractors are allowed at Stewart Lake

Summer 2004, v2#2
  • Common Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus, Pituophis catenifer catenifer)
  • Tansy Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) and Cinnabar Moths  (Tyria jacobaeae)
  • Woolly Bear caterpillars (Pyrrharctia isabella, Platyprepia virginalis)

Spring 2004, v2#1
  • Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
  • A Comparison of Animal Tracks (Bobcat, Domestic Cat, Domestic Dog, Red Fox)
  • Cloud Types
  • Poetry by Jorah Reinstein and Beth Russell

Winter 2003-04, v1#4
  • Growing Season for Ferns (Polypodium glycyrrhiza)
  • Varied Thrush
  • Simpson Park in Albany

Fall 2003, v1#3
  • Willamette Valley Oak Galls (Andricus quercuscalifornicus, Besbicus mirabilis, Neuroterus saltatorius)
  • Oregon White Oaks in Corvallis (Quercus garryana)
  • New Birds for Autumn (Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Varied Thrush, American Robin)
  • Landscape poetry by Beth Russell

Summer 2003, v1#2
  • Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
  • Birds Reveal the Presence of Other Wildlife
  • Ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens)
  • Goldfinches and Thistle
  • Summer Doldrums
  • E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area

Spring 2003, v1#1
  • Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica)
  • Accipiters: Our Stealthy Bird Hawks (Accipiter cooperii, Accipiter striatus)
  • Blackbird or a Black Bird?

Newsletter

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Corvallis, Oregon  •  Contact us: email: donaboucher@gmail.com