Waterfalls 10-18-08

Time: 1730-1840

Date: 18 October 2008

Climate: Chilly, about 54 degrees slightly windy

Location: going west on route 30, Horsetail Falls, Multnomah Falls

I went to Mount Hood today and then I went to go see the waterfalls.  I never expected them to be so huge! The first waterfall I saw was Horsetail Falls.  It was 176 feet and actually looked like a horsetail.  It was the perfect shape, I was shocked.  It was so cool to watch the water just shooting off the edge of the rocks and making this waterfall.  As we kept going we stopped at Multnomah Falls, which is so big and there are 2 parts to it.  There are also 3 different kinds of volcanic rock that makes up the fall.  It is about 620 feet, which is unbelievable.  Being there I learned that it is the second largest year round waterfall in the United States.  It is also fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain.  There is a bridge that you can hike up to and get a closer look at the waterfall and that was so cool.  The water was falling to fast and it looked so light but I know if I were to stand under it I would probably get hurt and it wouldn’t be a good idea.  I read something funny while I was there.  A rock that weighed the same as a school bus filled with cement fell all the way down the waterfall in 2005 and drenched an entire wedding party.  That was a bit unfortunate for the wedding party however they were extremely lucky that all they had to deal with was being wet.  That could have been even more of a disaster. 

 

Lewis & Clark 10-18-08

Time: 1215-1245

Date: 18 October 2008

Climate: chilly, about 55 degrees, cloudy, windy

Location: Lewis and Clark Campus

I am walking around the Lewis and Clark campus in Portland, Oregon.  This school is so pretty because there is so much nature surrounding you.  There are little paths that are filled with different species of plants and they look so real and not artificial.  Like they weren’t planted there on purpose.  I like the feel I get from here because it feels very secluded and peaceful.  As I walk along this little path I notice some mushrooms.  I haven’t noticed any mushrooms on Willamette’s campus yet, there may be some but I have not personally noticed any.  I have seen some across the street in a little park but none yet on campus.  These mushrooms are not like any that I have seen before; they may only be native to the west.  There were two types of mushrooms, or so I thought.  After being able to identify them as Shaggy Mane mushrooms, I discovered that they curl up and become what I thought was a completely different mushroom.  I was very interested by this because I thought they were 2 completely different types of mushrooms, but they were in fact, the same.  As I look around some more I am reminded of parts of a forest I used to hike in back home.  There are no blackberries in this path that I can see and that is surprising because they are so invasive that usually whenever I am walking around in wooded areas, I see them.  

Friday bliss

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 10-17
Location: South of Eaton Hall’s main entrance
Time: 1424-1441
Weather: 66˚F, overcast skies, morning fog

A woman strolled by with a black, shorthaired medium-large dog. In front of Eaton, they stop often, the woman patiently waiting for the dog to finish sniffing at the base of plants. Finally, it decided to halt in front of an oak tree and mark its territory. After spraying the ground with urine, it used its back legs to kick up the dirt to spread out the scent and followed the woman, who had given a quick tug on the leash. Was she in a hurry that she performed so, or was she somewhat worried about being chastised for allowing her dog to urinate in front of a building? No one seemed to notice but me, who had turned my attention to the students playing Frisbee on the Quad. They all interacted in twos. Even people walking along the paths were in couples: the one person and his/her iPod or cell phone, or in the rare occasion, another human being. Crimson and gold banner blew gently in the zephyr to the east. All was silent for a moment save for a bird whistling a tune and a white cabbage butterfly passing near the horse chestnut trees. Suddenly, the theater awoke with machinery sounds, a bike passed noisily by, students were proudly showing off their college to their benefactors. A brown hummingbird flitted into a mass of brown (red and green) Japanese maple. Magenta and scarlet fuchsias bloomed in the square of soil, their blossoms half the size of those found north of York building. Another dog passed by, a black and white border collie, but there was not time for sniffing the ground; he was completely obedient. Chestnuts fell steadily with a loud crash to the east. They would be cracked open, yet no squirrels took them otherwise there would have been none left on the ground for me to view. The nuts must have less oil in them than other preferred nuts.

Tyler Starr: 10/17, Star Trees

Tyler Starr

17 October 2008 from 1500-1515

Location: The Star Trees

Weather: 62 ̊ F, no wind, sunny

General: I realized that I had not yet done an observation on the Star Trees, which seemed odd considering their imposing presence on campus. I walked into the middle of the 5 Giant Sequoias, and began observing. I first noticed the ground, littered with long, brown pine needles, as well as small, about 1-2 inch pinecones. I find is surprising that such a gigantic organism produces such small pinecones. Many of them had an interesting texture (see picture), while others had the classic pinecone type feel. I next went up close to the trunks of one of the trees. Its bark is actually very soft and spongy, perhaps because it is so large and the outer layers are so old. It has many grooves, which are filled with various insects and cobwebs. I wonder how deep into the soil the roots must extend in order to support such a tall, massive structure. Next, I looked up. I noticed that 4 of the trees focus nearly all of their growth to the outside of the ring in order to capitalize on the open sunlight. The tree on the North, however, doesn’t receive as much sunlight via this method, so it has been growing branches toward the middle of the ring as well. One tree had a fairly large branch, maybe 8 inches in diameter, which hangs pretty low down. I decided to feel how sturdy the branch was, and was surprised to find that it was very bendy and flexible. It seems strange to me that trees as massive as these ones are, at the same time, so fragile feeling.

Observation Oct 17th

Phil Colburn
17 October 2008
Location: Salem State Capital Park
Time: 1100 hours- 1120 hours
Weather: Cloudy

I decided to observe one of the trees in the Salem capital. David said that they are created by one tree growing upon another tree. These mutant trees have huge growths that make it quite obvious where the two types of DNA on each tree are warring with each other. The most interesting thing about these trees is the fact that the battle between the DNA is the only thing that keeps them alive. If one side wins, the other side will be robbed of nutrients and will die, thus killing the entire tree. I can also see the Gold Man from here. He probably has a lot of birds that perch on him during the day.

Picture Courtesy Of http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2286544599_bc74410a07.jpg?v=0

Observation Oct 16th

Phil Colburn
16 October 2008
Weather: Cloudy
Time: 1100-1120 hours
Location: In front of Collins
I am sitting on the main steps of Collins to take this observation. I am facing outwards across the Quad, and on my immediate left is a small grouping of flowers. The flowers look a little like the snapdragons behind Collins, but they are on much larger bushes, and the bushes have huge, platter-sized leaves. Just beyond these flowers, there are a few trees with maroon-colored leaves. They seem to be starting to lose their leaves because of the autumn weather.

Observation Oct 15

Phil Colburn
15 October 2008
Weather: Foggy
Time: 830-850 hours
Location: Japanese garden

When I woke up this morning, I saw the fog outside my window and immediately thought of the Japanese garden just outside Olin. I resolved to go there and see how it looked in the fog, because I thought it would be really quiet and peaceful, just like one would think of a typical Japanese garden enshrouded in fog early in the morning. I really like the sand garden. It would be really relaxing to spend some time there early in the morning creating patterns in the sand. There are several honey bees that wander around the garden, which surprises me early in the morning, but it is probably because there is a nearby hive.

Observation Oct 14

Phil Colburn
14 October 2008
Weather: Clear and sunny
Location: In front of Waller Hall
Time: 1420-1440 hours
I decided to sit in front of Waller hall for this observation so I could write some things about the chestnuts that drop from the trees around that area. They are green and spiky, with a solid brown nut in the center of the shell. The nut is exactly the same as the one in the picture, but the shell is different from the one in the picture. The shell in the picture is brown with many hair-thin spikes, while the shell on the real chestnut is bright green with a few large spikes. The spikes on the chestnut are not sharp enough to cut on casual contact, but they can cause severe discomfort if gripped tightly. It is plausible that they could draw blood under extreme circumstances.

Picture courtesy of http://web.ticino.com/multilingual/chestnut.jpg

Observation Oct 13

Phil Colburn
13 October, 2008
Location: Behind Collins in the garden
Time: 1020-1040 hours
Weather: Clear

I happened to see an interesting-looking garden behind Collins today, and I went over there to investigate it. It is right next to the rose garden along State Street. There are many flowers that look like Snapdragons in the garden. They have long, thin stems with series of bright red flowers that are a red tube ending in a bloom coming off of each stem. There are about forty flowers per stem. However, they are dying because of the changing of the seasons, or they have some sort of problem. Many of the flowers entire bottom half of flowers are dead or dying.

Picture courtesy of http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/flowers/images/large/snap2.jpg

Squirrel on a wall

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 10-16
Location: Japanese Garden north of Olin's
Time: 1125-1141
Weather: 54˚F, clear skies

A sudden sharp bark pulled me away from my contemplations. I noticed an eastern grey squirrel perched on top of a wooden wall of the Japanese Garden staring intently over at the shrubs lining the north wall of Olin’s. I was barking at an unseen object, not even aware of my presence. As it cried out, it’s long furred tail twitched vertically in the intervals of the barks, ending in a slight gentle wave due to the force of the effort. Barking seemed more as a call to an enemy but not one its necessarily afraid of. For instance, each time I went into a squirrel’s territory, barking would be directed at me. However, the one day I heard a high pitched scream was when there was supposedly some threat nearby, and the shriek was used to warn others around it of the danger. Curious as to what its foe was this time, after the squirrel seemed to eat something out of its paws and left the area, I searched through the shrubbery. The vegetation had 4-inch long leaves with parallel venations. Small white flowers grew, approximately 5 petals per blossom with a red mite scurrying around. Several bubble flowers that I mentioned in a previous blog, grew intermittently. I heard a rummaging underneath. Was it another squirrel? In a flash, a small brown bird flew low across the path into the garden. Following its general direction, I saw another squirrel with a nut clutched in its paws yet no bird. I noticed the garden was in a bit of disarray, with an incongruous orange safety cone in a corner. The wilderness seemed to be trying to claim back the land while man was fighting back.

Mill Stream 10-16-08

Time: 1512-1540

Date: 16 October 2008

Climate: in the 60s, a bit overcast

Location: Mill Stream between matthews and botanical garden

I am sitting between the Botanical Garden and Matthews Hall.  I am alone and sitting on a tree stump facing Matthews Hall on the opposing side of the mill stream.  A bridge is on my left but now many people have walked by yet.  A western red cedar is to my right.  I love the way the branches drape down.  The bark is also very rustic looking.  It gives me the feeling of being out in the woods.  There is a tree to my left that has leaves about a foot and a half wide in some spots.  They are huge and very interesting to look at.  I think more trees like this should be planted around campus.  It is huge and its branches sprawl across the stream to the other side and completely over the bridge.  This part of the stream should have more indigenous plants planted around it on both sides of the stream.  If not on the side with the botanical garden then definitely on the side with the parking lot and Matthews Hall.  This area is very secluded and peaceful but one huge factor that i do not like is the noisy parking lot.  They should move the fence back and take away part of the parking lot.  I like the rocks in the water here.  They give the water a different faster flow.  When I look to the right however, the water almost looks completely still.  The water is disturbed by the rocks sending the water rushing down stream much faster than it was originally moving.  I like hearing and listening to the rushing water.  It is so peaceful.  I would like to also see some of the sides of cleared out a bit.  There are all of these wooden planks and what looks like pieced of fences that take away some much beauty of the stream.  

Ducks! 10-15-08

Time:1550-1615

Date: 15 October 2008

Climate: about 60 degrees, partly cloudy with slight wind

Location: Between the back of Goudy Commons and the side of Doney Hall

As i move east along the Mill stream i see 6 mallards, 3 male and 3 female.  They were in that exact spot last Saturday at brunch as I recall and I believe they like it there because it is quiet, shallow, half in the shade and half in the sun.  They are almost on the rocks just wading on the side of the stream.  I like this area and i hope it doesn't change because it is nice to see ducks at a certain place multiple times because it shows that there is something they particularly like about that spot and if we change it, then they would have to adjust and why should we mess up a good thing? As i continue along the stream i sit and settle on a bench facing the back of Goudy and with my back to Doney hall.  I am sitting under a large oak tree.  Looking around i am shocked by the fact that there are barely any acorns on the ground.  I think about the oak tree i pass every day next to Lee House and there are hundreds of noticeable acorns on the ground.  This tells me that there must be a lot more squirrels around this area than that one because they must be taking all of the acorns.  This oak tree is very peaceful and adds a lot to this spot because it provides a place for birds and squirrels to nest, food for squirrels, shade and shelter.  It might be nice if a few more trees were added to this area, and maybe some bushes to keep some of the traffic noise down from the people going in and out of Doney and the little Willamette golf carts going by.  As i am sitting here the ducks swam about 10 feet away from me.  They walked up on to the side of the stream closer to Doney hall.  They were pushing their beaks into the ground as if there was food or something they wanted but i am not sure of what.  Two more ducks came down the stream and now all of them are up on the grass pecking around on the ground.  The ducks stay on the ground for a while until a man came a cut a branch on a near by tree scaring them off.  

Mill Stream- 10-14-08

Time:1401-1423

Date:14 October 2008

Climate: about 61 degrees, chilly, partly cloudy

Location: The "W" of the stream with back to UC building

I am sitting in a white chair looking at the "W" of the Mill Stream with my back to the University Center and when i look across the stream i see the back of Smith Auditorium.  I have decided to observe here because during an environmental science assignment we have had to observe the mill stream.  I have come to the conclusion that i am not a very big fan of this area.  A lot of people love it, but there are many other spots on the Mill Stream that i prefer.  This spot is nice because it is open and a lot of people hang out here, eat, and meet up here but i do not feel like it has a natural vibe to it.  I much prefer the side that is closest to Smith because of the big trees but i still do not like it very much.  They are lots of pretty flowers to make the area look nice and welcoming which is a very good idea, but i think that there should be more big trees planted and maybe some bushes along the sides of the stream.  The sides of the stream look so sharp and cut at such a 90 degree angle and i think it would look better if the sides were angled on a diagonal a bit.  I also think the whitish/grey cement walls on the side of the stream to my right look so bad that they should do something to make it look a little more natural.  I think it really takes away from the beauty of the stream itself.  I have also heard things that Smith Auditorium will eventually be torn down and i think it would be so cool and wonderful to put a small forest type thing there with little paths for people to walk through.  There could be picnic tables, and other places for people to eat.  It might also help bring other species to the area and provide more homes for squirrels, birds and other animals that would bring another aspect to campus.  

Mysterious bird calls

H. R. Waller
Date: 16 October, 2008
Time: 1006
Location: In front of Kaneko, just before the skybridge.
Weather: somewhat cloudy, mild, 57 degrees.

The past few days as I have been walking out the front doors of my new home in Kaneko, I have heard a peculiar sounding bird cry. Shrill and loud and clear, the call rings throughout the area and almost brings me back to a call like a few of the ones I heard while in Hawaii this past March. Upon looking up to attempt to spot the bird whose call this was, all I could see was the web of tree branches directly above me, and when I stepped out to the side, I still could not identify any movement or bird like animal. This reminded me of a few days ago when I was walking back to Kaneko for lunch after colloquium let out and as soon as I stepped off of the sky bridge and on to the sidewalk leading in to Kaneko, I noticed a tiny little black bird swooping swiftly through the air and then I watched in fascination as it dove into a little round hole on the side of the builing about 2 and a half stories up. I never would have noticed the hole in the all white wall had it not been for this little birdie. Perhaps the call I heard today came from a similar bird hiding out in a wall somewhere.

Tyler Starr: 10/16, North Side of Campus

Tyler Starr

16 October 2008 from 1635-1650

Location: The Stairs on the North side of the art building

Weather: 64 ̊ F, partly cloudy, no wind

General: I went by the squirrel carcass to see if there was any change. It was more decomposed than when I saw it last weekend, it seemed like all of the meat was gone. The only part that remained unchanged was the tail, which was still furry. I could see what I thought was its skull and jaw as well. I then went and sat on the stairs of the art building under a tree. The tree had very dark green, waxy, ovate-shaped leaves. At the end of each branch was a small ball that looked like a bud that would bloom into a flower, although I am not sure why it would be flowering right now before the winter. There was a spider in the tree, approximately ¾ of an inch long. I believe that it was a Banded Garden Spider. It is the third one of these that I have seen on campus. Also, right next to the spider’s web was another green worm like the one I saw the other day, hanging from a thin strand of silk. I wonder what would happen if a gust of wind blew the worm into the spider’s web. On the walk back to my dorm, I saw a bunch of mushrooms in a pile of dirt that didn’t have grass or anything growing. It reminded me of when I first learned about fungi, and how there is just one fungus under the ground, and all of the mushrooms above ground are part of the same organism.

Painter's Canvas

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 10-15
Location: East of Fine Arts East, North of Jackson Plaza
Time: 1125-1140
Weather: 54F, overcast, air smells like cilantro all around campus (must be the fog)

Bubbling whirl of water softly churned over unseen rocks. Hints of green growth coated the shallow bottom. The olive green seemed to stream down the course of the Mill Race, merging seamlessly with the shadows, not unlike paint flowing down an empty canvas. At the end of the bridge and the front of Fine Arts East’s side entrance, there lied an inconspicuous rectangle of flowers, easily missed by the busy passers. There, crimson honeysuckles lined the edge in a cascade of trumpet flowers. The long stamen protruded out, edged with a wave of lace, imploring the few passing honeybees to visit. A few dandelion greens grew in an empty spot between the flowers. A strand of hairy vetch shot up in between, showing a small rose-violet colored blossom. Two dark slender pods barely a millimeter in diameter dangled off the grabbing, curling shoots. The odd pinnate leaves contrasted sharply with the other cultivated leaves. In the midst of the contrasting reds and greens, small, fine white fibers grew at the junctions of the sweet honeysuckle. In observing the art of the landscaping, both intentional and unintentional, people sped briskly by in their attempts to reach their unknown destinations. One man dumped his drink out with a thunderous splash. Quietly, a wide ellipse of barely visible webs decorated the corner, where a mayfly dangled helplessly.

Ducks on the river

H.R. Waller
Date: 15 October, 2008
Time: 1742
Weather: sunny, crisp, cooler, 56 degrees
Location: The WU Crew boathouse

Today at the boathouse we began practice in the normal, routine way. But today was different for me because I was the coxswain, which is the person who sits at the front of the boat and directs which rowers to row and how hard and is also responsible for steering the boat. This meant that I had extra chances to look around me as we were cruising through the water while my rowers were doing their thing. I began to steer the boat a bit too close to the shore on my left side, and noticed a huge flock of ducks, probably consisting of about 30 individuals. I have seen a wide variety of birds on this river in the past few weeks, but never yet have I seen ducks. I watched as they paddled around occasionally bobbing down to search for some food. I wonder where this big group came from and why I have never seen them before. I am unsure if ducks fly south for the winter and if we are going to lose our campus ducks. That would be an interesting thing for me to look up. I enjoy when nature presents questions for me and little puzzles like this one to solve.
Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Jailbirds

Observer: Eloise Bacher

Date: 15 October, 2008

Time: 1500-1525

Location: State Street, across the creek from the State Penitentiary.

Weather: Overcast, cold.

On State Street, a line of Canada Geese is crossing, stopping traffic. It's comforting to see that people are sticking hands and heads outside their vehicles and stopping other cars so the geese don't get hurt. Luckily, they all proceed to the other side, still in their stately line, like traffic stops for them every day. Which, actually, it probably does, considering the number of geese here right now. The other species of goose has taken up residence in the tiny parking lot here, and settled down, most of them apparently to sleep. Further down the stream there is a rock bar, and a bunch of crows are bathing there. I've never actually seen crows bathe before. When I passed most of them flew up into a tree on the State Penitentiary side of the creek. Since then they've gone back down to the water and resumed their baths. On the gravel bar right in front of me the Mallards are dominating, although there is a Gull sp. there as well. The sidewalk is populated by the pigeons and the occasionally goose, duck, and gull. The pigeons seems to have no regard for where they're going, and a few almost careen into my feet. There are two female mallards doing something in the water...playing? It looks like they're chasing each other, and it involves what looks like them using their wings to swim. Whatever it is, there's a lot of splashing involved. Every few minutes they stop and groom their wings, then go right back to it. As I walk back towards State St., I pass by the huge group of geese. One starts screaming, which prompts all the others to do the same and stand up. A few closer to me hiss, but they all move away. I notice one with what looks like a broken wing; it was here the last time I was here. Once I've walked far enough away, I look back; they've all settled back to where they were before I disturbed them.

Vampiric creeper

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 10-14
Location: Capital grounds, west of Gold Dude standing on top of a tower structure
Time: 1327-1349
Weather: 57˚F, overcast

Spiders creep me out to no ends. Maybe it’s due to their multitude of eyes, their engorged torso, the pincers I imagine at their mouths, or maybe it’s because of my brother’s trickeries with a toy tarantula when I was a child. Nevertheless, I usually get shivers just by looking at one, but this time, I felt frozen underneath a warm windbreaker. Among a copse of manzanita trees, I found clusters of small, ½-inch urn flowers with a slight pink blush over primarily white blossoms. Curiously, there were 1-inch round berries hanging. They seemed almost hairy but the green balls were firm to the touch and rough, similar to a litchi peel. A few of the fruits were progressing from green to yellow to rose in color. The leaves were dark green and radially arranged. The trunk and bark was smooth and either auburn or mahogany colored, with some of the newer growths a light pink. Three or four honeybees were visiting the upside-down vases of nectar when one seemed caught in something. It fluttered its dark wings powerfully but could barely move a few centimeters at a time, slowly progressing across an invisible tightrope. Finally, it arrived at its destination and crawled about the flowers. I thought that was odd, until I witnessed a queer grey looking insect. A glint of sunlight illuminated a 12-inch diameter web that I had nearly walked into. A spider web, and sure enough, a spider laid faithfully next to its prey. It was brown with small white dots of white along its underside. The slender toothpicks of legs were decorated with horizontal stripes in black, brown, and white. Slowly, the dead honeybee was engulfed in a layer of white webbing, becoming a cocoon of death. The spider calmly brushed its eight pricks over its food as I experimentally blew a hard breath onto the leaves to watch its reaction. I turned away before it started digesting its meal. It unnerved me to imagine the vampire drinking the bee’s life away.

Barking up the wrong tree

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 10-14
Location: Northeast of Sparks, entrance to Botanical Gardens
Time: 943-959
Weather: 53˚, sunny

I won’t have you think I’m obsessed with the Botanical Gardens. I just happen to pass by the area daily between classes and it just happens to have some sort of interesting event occur at those times. Today was no exception. A bench was tucked in a corner of the verdant growth, with 6-foot high ferns cradling the wood. I found reddish spore to line the undersides of the leaves in a perfectly organized fashion, two rows running down each leaflet. Several trees had opposite, odd pinnate, and ovate leaves. They were of a light green hue and had serrated edges. The trunk supporting the growth was slender and smooth tan-brown. I was originally drawn to the spot by bird calls and hoping to identify them, I instead encountered a vicious eastern grey squirrel. I was stopped by a series of hoarse barks intermittently with squeaky door=like sounds. As it made its noises, before each cry, I noted that its abdomen inflated with air. It seems that most humans take in air through their chest, making their shoulders lift up and down due to the action. However, as taught by yoga instructors and voice instructors, it seems that the correct way was the method with the squirrel was exhibiting; breathing deeper into the center of the body rather than shallow breaths through the chest. Anyways, the squirrel went on to bark for another few minutes, at which point I wondered if it was mainly due to my presence. It was didn’t seem to feel threatened otherwise it would have issued the high-pitched squeak that I heard near the front of Eaton. It almost seemed territorial or perhaps protective of its home. When it left and jumped onto a nearby branch, I felt the impact as surely as I saw the branch curve and support the extra weight. It was with a different sense that I heard the chalkboard scratching sound made by a tree scratching on the brick wall of Sparks. With each gust of wind, it seemed to almost protest against the obstruction and cried out in annoyance with a harsh grating scratch.

Tyler Starr: 10/14, Botanical Gardens

Tyler Starr

14 October 2008 from 1615 to 1630

Location: A walk through the Martha Springer Botanical Gardens

Weather: 61 ̊ F, no wind, mostly sunny skies, slight humidity

General: It seems like every time that I walk through the gardens I see some new interesting plant that I had not noticed before. On this occasion, I noticed several of these hidden “gems.” The first one that caught my attention was a plant with brilliant orange flowers (see picture). It was about knee-height, and was covered in these stunning flowers. I could not even attempt to classify another plant I saw. It looked like a giant cluster of very small artichokes, pointed upwards. They were fairly sturdy and sharp to the touch, and a grayish green color. Another plant had pink flowers that clearly evolved to accommodate pollinating bees and other insects. The flowers were long and narrow, just enough space to allow a bee to crawl in to collect the nectar, while inadvertently transferring pollen between plants. I was watching as a bee crawled into each successive flower to pollinate, and I was able to snap some great pictures. It was very fascinating to watch. In addition, my prior assumption that the ducks had left was at least partially incorrect; I saw 8 mallards that had not yet taken off for migration, and I’m sure they were enjoying the weather today.

Unidentified projectiles

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 10-13
Location: West of Art Building, North of Collins
Time: 1105-1125
Weather: 56˚, clear skies

I witnessed a barrage of projectiles gliding between the magnolia or rhododendron shrubs and a fir. On closer analysis, they were small birds of a brown coloration. No more than 3 inches in length, they resembled a ball of fuzz, reminding me of a kiwi. The majority of them were these bushtits but a couple of larger, white colored birds joined in the mix. A sudden movement in front of me provided me the opportunity to look at a chickadee barely one foot away from where I stood. At eye level, I noticed the sharp contrast of black head and white body, deep dark eyes, a white streak at its cheeks, and with that it disappeared before I started to register the sight. The call had a bit of a repetition, sounding similar to chi chi dee dee (big surprise). The fir tree on which the aerial display occurred had 5-inch long elliptical cones with small horizontal lines created by the scales. On the tree trunk was a 3-foot high line of squirrel scat. At the base of the trunk laid a small pile of dark dung, perhaps laid by squirrels that inhabited the nest in the branches. The tree’s profile tended to lean toward the west and then returned to a vertical form, creating an odd curvature as an overall result. The lower branches appear bared of leaves and cones. Some of the birds hung along the ends of the branches and pecked at the cones. At 1120, the chirps diminished and the birds fled to the nearby sequoias and Star Trees. As I left, two squirrels appeared and started digging holes to hide their new cache of vitals. I wonder if the squirrels and birds have some sort of schedule planned out?

*Note: the image was taken at the Botanical Gardens near the rose bushes in front of the windowpane overlooking the Spark's pool. The bird was identical to the one I saw near the art building.

 

October 10, 2008

1600

The millstream in between Goudy and dony hall.

            So once again I am at the millstream, I have finally decided that I am so unoriginal and that I will go to the millstream every week. This is also a good idea because for my environmental science class I need to do a field notebook on the millstream so this is quite nice. This new angle on the millstream is relatively the same. There is the stream with out the decorative rocks in the ‘main part’ of the millrun and it is much thinner here than it is from where I usually observe. Other than that there are various plant that I can’t identify from this distance but are most defiantly landscaped there. I would be interesting to find out what type of plant they are and if they are even native to this specific area. One thing that I have noticed all week is the lack of ducks.  I still see them sometimes bit there is a definite decrease in their numbers. I am going to assume that the ducks are flying south since Oregon is much too cold!

 

October 7, 2008

1730

In a crew boat on the Willamette river about two miles from the Willamette University campus.

            Sometimes I get bored while rowing the boat I we are doing a drill where the whole boat is not rowing. So today I have seen two great blue herons. There are most defiantly the most spectacular creatures on the river. The first heron that I saw was flying overhead. I then saw another one in a grassy patch of the riverside near the boathouse. This was really interesting because last Friday I believe I saw a heron in this same patch. So I wonder if it is the same bird or a different one. Also when I first saw the heron by the grass patch I was near to the other side of the river so it took me a moment to decide it the animal I was seeing was a heron or some sort of a dog. There are also quite a few swallows flying about but they are not nearly as glorious as the blue herons. 

Odd creatures

 

October 6, 2008

1547

Lawn of the capital in the park with the rider and the big trees.

            My new favorite thing to do is watch the squirrels on and around campus. I decided they are super silly and fun to watch. Today I walked over to the capitol because there are always tons of these little creatures there. The way they run is most entreating, they hop about from place to place. The best thing about this is when they have a nut in their mouth they tend to run a bit off balance and cannot seem to hope straight. I have also decide that their coloring when they appear t be healthy can be really pretty. They reddish brown tones are quite nice upon their mainly gray bodies. So I will give the squirrels another chance in my opinion, since I used to think they were just like nasty pigeons.  

Kaneko watching

October 12, 2008

1631

In the atrium of the second floor of kaneko sitting at a table.

            I’m sitting in the kaneko atrium watching people. I’m starting to feel kind of weird like a borderline stalker. So on my lefts there are a few boys in the second floor lounge watching a football game. These boys occasionally yell out when there is a good play in the game. People come in out of the A wing halls to finish laundry or do kitchen like things. There are a few other people like myself studding at these tables mainly keeping to themselves. Meanwhile there is a constant flow of people who come up and down the main stairs in Kaneko. Over all this is not the most interesting way and place to observe people. The only really interesting factor about all this is that I know or have met almost all the people that I have seen since I have been sitting here. So it is odd the really see what a small environment Willamette university really is. 

Birdness

October 9, 2008

0930

Outside the Olin science building on the side facing away from campus toward the law school.

            Today I was leaving my environmental science class and about to go do a field notebook for that class when I ran into my colloquium professor out side Olin science building. Here he was catching some of the local birds from campus to do some sort of experiment that I don’t really understand that well. Anyway I was there with two other girls from my class and Professor Craig was releasing one of the netted birds and we were able to touch it. It was really interesting because the birds have a very rapid heartbeat that one can feel while touching the bird. The best part of this experience was that as I was about to leave two humming birds flew into the net and I was able to hold one! I was probably in like the top twenty coolest experiences of my life. I was so small and to keep it from flying away one must hold it on its wing joint. This was terrifying I was so scarred that I was going to squish it. Luckily I didn’t. But the whole holding of bird aspect was glorious. Humming birds are so small and their heartbeats are even fatter that the other slightly larger birds. Also it was interesting to see one of these birds up close since they are always like a blur when one see them flying about. So this bird was molting sadly this meant that its head was not as brightly colored as it usually is. Bit otherwise it was incredibly cool and something I would be interested in helping my professor out with another time. 

10/12/08-Purple flowers

Date: 10/12/08
Time: 1500 hours
Location: By Jackson Plaza about to cross the bridge
Weather: Very sunny and crisp

I was walking back from getting a drink at the bistro and a large hedge of purple flowers caught my eye. I had never noticed them before. Did the buds just open today or maybe these past couple of days? I like to think that the plants are opening for that last bit of sunlight that they can get. I even saw some remnants of spring and summer as a couple of bees flew around the open faces of the flowers. It was enough to put a smile on my face. The weather today was just as immaculate as could be.

10/11/08-I was wrong.

Date: 10/11/08
Time: 1700 hours
Location: Montag
Weather: Sunny and crisp

Well there went my last hypothesis for the rest of the fall and winter. It was so cold and rainy before but now the sun's out and it's just beautiful. I'm told this is kind of a wierd year of weather for Oregon so maybe this is adding another tally to the board of wierd occurances. I kinda hope that this is how it's going to be. A few days of rain and then a day or two of sun. Back and forth. I kinda would like that a lot.

12 October 2008: Sunny Weather

Rose Dickson

12 October 2008

1605 – 1616 hours

White garden chair facing the Bistro, next to the mill stream on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

61 degrees, clear

What a beautiful day!  Yesterdays chilling absence of clouds really paid off. The sun is out and the skies are bright blue! I relax by the stream as I notice all the students basking in the warmth of the sun. This gratefulness is such that only the passage of cool weather could bring. I have become increasingly more aware of Oregon’s flexible weather patterns. These patterns that used to annoy me, I now find I appreciate more and more. Without the dull weeks and months of rain, how could we enjoy a day like today so sincerely?  Without the dry summer months how could we all welcome the rain with excitement and love? Today reminds me that Oregon’s weather is not consistent, it is constantly changing. Watching the students of Willamette University soak up the sun reaffirms the comforting presence weather can have on humanity. It is important to recognize and experience weather in all it’s forms. 

11 October 2008: Stars and Clouds

Rose Dickson

11 October 2008

2305 – 2329 hours

Middle of the quad on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

39 degrees, clear

            Brrrrrr. It is freezing outside tonight. The absence of the clouds creates a bone chilling freshness affecting all who inhabit the surrounding area. I sit bundled up with a few friends in the center of the quad on Willamette University campus.  I wonder how strange it is to think that the lack of clouds actually creates a cooler temperature. Clouds seem, in my opinion, to give an automatic hint towards cold weather. However, they really act as an insulator to earth. Besides the chilling weather, the lack of clouds also creates a clearer view of the stars, something that seems completely foreign to campus life. Taking a moment to gaze at the stars, I notice the way they cluster above my eyes and disperse father and father as my vision extends. I want to see more. I become annoyed with the light pollution Salem produces. I long to gaze at the stars in a secluded, natural environment. This annoyance reminds me of the importance of escaping into nature, my goal for the next month is to take a weekend and completely immerse myself into nature. Schedule a time a few friends and I could take a camping trip. A more elaborate, detailed observation on the stars should be expected.  

9 October 2008: Four-leaf clover

Rose Dickson

9 October 2008

1631 – 1709 hours

Outside Collins science building on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

52 degrees, mostly cloudy

            Sitting outside on the quad I examine the grassy area. Yesterday my friend Tory found a four-leaf clover in this spot and I have made it my goal to do the same. As I search I wonder how four-leaf clovers are created. Is it a mutation from the regular three-leaf clover plant? Or is it a different plant entirely, simply one that is just a more uncommon species? Do all flowers of the same type have the same amount of petals? Why is four-leaf so much higher glorified than three-leaf? I figure it is the rarity that makes this, what seems to be, mutation so desirable. As I search I remain unlucky, no four-leaf clovers in sight.  I remember my friend Tyler Starr telling me about a part of the campus that the four-leaf mutation was extremely common. The longer I search the more I long to find one of these popular specimens. Finally giving up the hunt, I recognize that I will have to explore greater territory if I expect to find my lucky four-leaf clover.

Photo courtesy of:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Four-leaf_clover.jpg

(image would not upload?)

10/09/08-Absence of life.

Date: 10/09/08
Time: 1120 hours
Location: The Quad
Weather: Cold, overcast

With the weather looking and acting like it is, I see no animals around. I hear no songs. Everything is settled in for the cold and I feel like fall and winter are finally coming on. Is the weather that people keep warning me about in Oregon? The cold and rainy and wet days. I wonder if the rest of winter is going to be like this too or what's going to happen. I kind of enjoy it actually. A break from what I'm used to in Idaho. Who knows?

10/08/08-Horse Chestnut

Date: 10/08/08
Time: 1800-1830 hours
Location: My dorm room
Weather: Chilly

We had a chestnut throwing contest today. After all was said and done I emerged champion so I took my winning chestnut with me. I had forgotten that I put it in my pocket. When I got back to my room from dinner, I was emptying my pockets and I found the nut. It's definitely hard. The color, however, is such a rich brown. To me it looks like a very large hazelnut. The top is chalky white and the shell is very woody. There's a concentric pattern coming from part of the shell that look like the rings on the inside of a tree. It reminds me of when you see exposed roots in the ground that have been weathered and stepped on. Honestly I find a lot of beauty in this insignificant nut. Also,I find it quite fascinating how this little thing can make trees so huge.

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 12 October, 2008
Time: 1730-1745
Location: Kaneko
Weather: Sunny, chill in the air, very few clouds.

It feels much colder than it did when I left...is that why the chicken fountain is drained? Have freezes started happening down here? There are a lot of fallen leaves, and they're still very crunchable, so it hasn't rained much if at all this weekend. But it also doesn't feel like the death grip of summer heat that we were in for most of September, and I'm always in favor of it being too cold rather than too warm. I don't see any here, but there have been squirrels running around burying things all over campus, not paying much heed to the humans. In front of the courthouse I saw one squirrel eating the inside of a stalk/stem of an unknown plant that had been cut down. They must feel more cold coming.

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 11 October, 2008
Time: 1115-1130
Location: Evergreen Dorms
Weather: Sunny, still a little cold, some wispy white clouds.

There are crows flying around in the cedars, silent for the most part, but occasionally they'll come down and yell at each other for trying to steal food. They're incredibly sleek and glossy, very, very healthy birds. There must be a lot of people food dropped around here, and probably roadkill too. I can also hear more birds, less than there would have been a few hours ago, but still: some juncoes, a chickadee, I think. I remember hearing a coyote last night. The air smells wonderful too; I can smell the duff and the cedars and firs, and there's just a little bit of a sea smell in the air from the sound. It's a weird contrast...you don't really think of a college campus as being right in the middle of nature as completely as this, but it is.

6 October 2008
3:15
Along the mill stream between the library and auditorium, Willamette University, Salem, OR
As I was walking along the sidewalk between the library and auditorium I looked over to the mill stream and saw some of the most beautiful and intricately woven spider webs I have ever seen. The strings were stretched across a gap of trees and bushes binding the two like needle and thread. The geometric workings of the web glinted in the sun so delicately showcasing the effort this small creature put into its home. It is such a shame that a web, so gracefully put together can simply be wiped away by one swipe of a hand or by a sudden burst of wind. As I kept walking I noticed more and more of these webs each different, each unique. It is such a simple concept, but also unbelievable to think that these webs can never be recreated in the same way, each is a unique work of art never to be seen again. There are several solitary strings of webs stretched across from tree trunk to trunk acting as natural clotheslines. The creators of these webs are just as intricate as their work. As I walked further on I saw one of the spiders sitting, waiting directly in the center of its web, its feet were curled in and I could see the bands on its illuminated by the sun. The design on its abdomen was also a delicate spiral shaded with browns. These creatures are so beautiful in their own way and it’s a shame that we don’t appreciate their existence.
8 October 2008
12:50
The Quad, Willamette University, Salem, OR
Today during colloquium we decided to have a chestnut throwing competition, so we walked outside past the trees transitioning into their autumn colors to the quad. Once at the quad everyone found four chestnuts to use and we started. The rules were simple, stand behind the pavement, throw 3 of the chestnuts with your dominant hand and 1 with your non dominant hand. It was definitely much more fun to watch everyone throw with their non dominant hands. As I stepped up closer to the grass I looked down into a patch of clovers only to immediately find a four leafed clover. I picked it up and looked at the design on each of its tiny leaves. The emerald green was disrupted only by smooth streaks of a very light white, almost mint green. This intricate pattern amuses me and I wonder why the clover needs these streaks, what are they for? I look back into the patch of clovers hoping to find another but scan the ground only to find clovers with 3 leaves. I pocket my lucky clover and we head back inside.
10 October 2008
1:15ish
Behind Olin, Willamette University, Salem, OR
As we were walking to the museum we encountered a family of squirrels behind Olin. There were 3 little baby squirrels that ran amongst us unafraid of what might happen. It was apparent that they had obviously not learned to fear humans yet. As we watched them they would run to and fro, at one point I thought one was about to climb up my leg. We seemed to be just as afraid of them as they were of us, neither was running away, but neither was being overly aggressive. Soon we began petting the squirrels and Rose and I even went as far as picking them up. Their fur was soft and they seemed to be about the size of a large hamster. I have never seen such a small squirrel. The squirrels in Wisconsin are far larger and bushier than the squirrels here in Oregon. These squirrels seem almost rat like. When winter rolls around the squirrels in Wisconsin are large and their fur becomes plush and protective, their tail becomes almost the size of their body. Last week we learned that squirrels were introduced to Oregon by a man previously from the Midwest. It is interesting to see how different and yet similar these squirrels are due to their environment.
12 October 2008
5:46
Hatfield Library, Willamette University, Salem, OR
As I look out the window in front of me the light seems to transcend from a sky that looks as though it has been painted on a canvas. The clouds blend perfectly with the pale blue and it is hard to tell where one transitions to the next. Through my picture frame of a window I can see the branches of trees jutting in closely to the red brick building. One of the trees has branches of vibrant green leaves that seem to be falling off at a much quicker pace than the tree just beyond it. This tree has leaves that have already been touched by autumns hand and has begun to fade into reds and oranges, the leaves further away from the building transition from bright vibrant red to a cool green where only the edges of the leaves have tinges of color. The light beyond the edge of the building seems to mist the sky with a faint glow. The clouds continuously change and every now and then a light streak of purple mixed with pink will blend in with the passing clouds. The branch of a tree I am watching turns into a silhouette as I switch my focus from foreground to background. Streetlights switch on in the background illuminating the ground with their false glow and I think of all the creations people have created to combat nature.
9 October 2008
6:15
Adirondack Chair below the maple, Willamette University, Salem, OR
My friend and I sit together in an Adirondack chair along side the mill stream. It is a sad moment and we watch leaves floating slowly down the stream, each so helpless, their shape being contorted by the current. As they pass by their usually vibrant autumn color has been concealed by the dark water. Each leaf is buffeted here and there as the current pushes these leaves past rocks that jut up from the depths of the stream.

10/07/08-Horse Chestnut Tree

Date: 10/07/08
Time: 1005 hours
Location: The Quad
Weather: Overcast, cool

As I walk to class I've noticed that one of the horse chestnut trees isn't doing so hot on one part of it. There are few leaves and the branches don't look healthy. I'm curious as to why this is happeneing but can't quite explain it on my own. The rest of the tree seems quite healthy so it's not as if the entire tree is sick. Quite the conundrum. I feel bad for it almost. It's quite a large tree so it must have gone through a lot to get to where it is and now it's got something wrong with it.

Dead Barnacles

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 11 October, 2008
Time: 0004-0030
Location: Puget Sound beach.
Weather: Cold, a little foggy out on the water.

I'm on a rocky beach that is (maybe?) still on the Evergreen campus, that goes into Puget Sound. It's too dark for my camera, but there are tons of stars, and the faintest bit of the Milky Way, and there are lights from houses across the sound. Everything is faintly shiny because of the moon, but if you squint the rocks in the water can become something else, seals or people. We met some people earlier that said they caught a crab, but the only animals life I see right now are barnacles. My feet are crunching them as I walk down the beach, and I feel a little guilty.

Fearless Raccoon

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 10 October, 2008
Time: 2115-2130
Location: Evergreen Dorms
Weather: A little foggy, no rain.

The air is cold, but humid in that it feels like it could rain any second. I can see some wisps of mist clinging to the cedars up ahead, and I can see my breath. There aren't very many noises other than human ones, although now creeping out of the shadows is a raccoon. S/he doesn't seem very scared, but still wants us to stay away. S/he looks small, maybe s/he's a baby or adolescent? How big do raccoons get around here anyway? I used to see one skulking around at home that was humongous, but I haven't seen his tracks in a while. Perhaps he got old, or someone shot him. Now the raccoon has galloped away into the underbrush, and I can hear hir rustling around in there.

8 October 2008: Horse Chestnut

Rose Dickson

8 October 2008

1215 – 1240 hours

Outside Collins Science Building on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

56 degrees, scattered clouds

Walking to class casually this Wednesday afternoon Tory and I discuss our field journals. What could we write about to change up the static observations about the Millstream? Monotonous posts we have read what seems an infinite number of times. We want something exciting, a change. In the middle of our conversation we were shockingly interrupted. A chestnut nearly took Tory out! This “so called” asset to the Willamette University campus just about injured a student! This is the kind of excitement we were looking for. I am surprisingly thankful for this occurrence; I sit for awhile to observe this threatening tree. A Horse Chestnut Tree, Aesculus hippocastanum, This tree aggressively drops chestnuts on students all day long ! A process that seems to me completely random, no selection for its target, just an unfortunate passerby like my friend Tory. This is yet another example of how the environment displays itself to humanity. A simple way for people to remember that we cannot control or predict all of our surroundings. Nature provides us with exciting unknowable experiences everyone has the choice and opportunity to explore. If you choose not explore, watch out, nature may just smack you over the head with them.

 

Photos courtesy of:

http://www.trainingreference.co.uk/free_pictures/gallery_3/horse_chestnut.jpg

http://mirror-us-ga1.gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/leaves/_more2006/_more08/Horse-Chestnut-conker-closeup-23-DHD.jpg

10 September 2008: Baby Squirrel

Rose Dickson

10 September 2008

1250 – 1310 hours

West side of the art building on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

50 degrees, mostly cloudy

            Since I was young I have been haunted by an extremely irrational fear of squirrels. In my colloquium class, Willamette Naturalist 2.0, we have spent many afternoons observing and experimenting with squirrels. Just my luck! Today I decided to face my fear, as our class walked to the Native American exhibit at the Hallie Ford Museum in Salem, OR, we noticed a bizarre visitor. A baby squirrel, still living in ignorance, approached our class with curiosity and wonder. At first this little visitor undeniably freaked the living daylights out of me. However, as I observed it longer, I noticed how harmless and interesting this young squirrel really was. He was not approaching our class to hurt us or bite us, as I had so often imagined. Rather, he was just as interested and curious about me as I was in him. This experience reminded me that Willamette University campus, a territory we so often claim as our own, belongs just as much to this youngster as it does to me. We need to learn to live together with a mutual respect. As he approached my feet, I began to feel more and more empathetic towards this individual. I waited for him to feel comfortable and I reached down to pet him. To my surprise he accepted it! Unfortunately, my excitement scared him away, however, I was not ready to give up. I followed the young squirrel and as we became more aware and accepting of each other I reached down and actually was able to pick him up! This engagement only lasted moments before he realized he didn’t want to be a part of it and scurried away. I, however, was very excited about this experience and feel I now have a better view and greater respect for squirrels. Firsthand experiences really do give you another side to the story.