Oregon’s coastal wetlands, estuaries and forest lands are some of the most threatened, landscapes in the state. These fragile areas provide critical habitat to many of Oregon’s most threatened and endangered species. In partnership with others, The Wetlands Conservancy is getting closer to conserving and restoring over 10,000 acres of Oregon’s coastal forest, river, wetland,
Amphibians are a key indicator species of ecosystem health. Their presence or absence can tell us a lot about the general health of a wetland or riparian area in addition to giving us a sense of site water and habitat quality. When climatic and hydrologic changes occur in an ecosystem, amphibians are often the first to react. Their thin skin makes them vulnerable to temperature increases, chemical pollutants, disease, and radiation. The combinations of pollutants, habitat fragmentation and development in urban areas have had a negative impact on amphibian populations. In the Portland Metro area, everything from mutations of extra legs to complete absence of native amphibians has been documented.
TWC is improving forest health and wildlife habitat quality of the forest lands of our Upper Yaquina Preserve, in Poole Slough, Newport Oregon. This exciting project that began in June includes thinning the over abundant conifers and creating snags and wildlife trees in portions of the preserve forest lands. By removing some Douglas-fir, other conifers
Over the last few years I have become an avid birdwatcher. A friend of mine who is also a birdwatcher would talk at length about his “local patch.” I decided I needed to get a local patch too. A patch is a term for a spot that a birdwatcher can frequent regularly and get to