It’s spring!
Although it officially became spring over a month ago the wildflowers have just recently begun displaying their beauty on the hillsides of the Gorge. The bright yellow of the Balsam Root and the deep purple of the Lupine have been capturing the eye of our camera lens lately. They have also captured the mind and [...]
“Ribbit – Ribbit!”
Spring is lurking just around the corner. Not only does that mean warmer temperatures, wildflowers blooming, and more hours of light in each day but at CGEI it also indicates increased time spent in the field! Spring is also a special time in our ecosystems as they burst back to life with sounds and smells [...]
Why do leaves change color?
While the seasons are shifting, the Columbia Gorge has turned into a spectrum of colors that is sure to impress anyone with an eye for beauty. Spending much of my time outside I have been able to watch the sources of this display slowly transform into their winter state. The question that has remained on [...]
Fire in the Forest
With the recent haze of smoke from wildfires lingering throughout the gorge it may be beneficial to understand how fire affects our local ecosystems. The image that comes to mind most often while thinking about wildland fire is one of destruction. While it is true that fire has the potential for destroying homes, wildlife, and [...]
Salmon Spawning is Happening!
There are many spots within the Gorge to view this iconic display. One popular and easily accessible area to witness this incredible Pacific Northwest event is on the Eagle Creek trail between the trailhead and the hatchery, especially if you cross the wooden footbridge labeled “Gorge Trail.” If you don’t find any reddish-pink flashes or [...]
Wildlife Week
Wildlife week has come and gone so fast! We started off the week talking about the web of life, and if one organism in an environment dies such as a lady bug many other organisms follow suit and also die or disappear from that area. It’s amazing how many organisms depend on something so small [...]
Pika Watch!
Did you know that there are Pikas in the Gorge? The furry little cousin of the rabbit that you typically see at high elevation is a neighbor of ours on talus slopes in the heart of the Gorge. Extinction rates of American pikas in other localized areas have increased nearly five-fold in the last 10 [...]
We’re Composting!
My parents were taught Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. I was taught to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The generation on the rise now has had one more component brought into the equation and although it doesn’t have such a catchy ring, or even an “r” in the mix, it is equally important – composting! Composting is the [...]
Nature Notes: Grass Widows
Attention Gorge-lovers! Polish up those camera lenses, dust off those hiking boots, and prepare yourself for the onslaught of Portland wild-flower enthusiasts, because the grass widows are starting to bloom. Sisyrinchium douglasii, also called Olsynium douglasii, is everyone’s favorite sign of spring. This member of the iris family flowers as early as February in dry, [...]
Watching the Weather
Weather for Hood River, OR 39°F | °C Tue Wed Thu Fri Overcast Wind: NE at 12 mph Humidity: 75% 43° 31° 41° 29° 43° 31° 47° 36° With a relatively dry forecast I have become anxious about when we’ll be receiving some precipitation in the gorge. I’ve been reminiscing about our last storm cycle and the hardship [...]
