My maple leaf!!

Time: 1607-1700

Date: 3 November 2008

Climate: slightly raining, not too heavy right now but has been 

Location: Walking on State St. towards Liberty St. from Willamette University campus

Walking down State St.  towards Liberty St. there are few people right now.  There are a few groups of people who look to be about 15 years old all huddled around benches and traffic light poles.  They do not look like college students; they look more like local high school kids.  They are usually in groups of about 4 or 5 when I see them around town, unless they are in huge groups and I’ve noticed that’s usually at night.  As I keep walking I notice a HUGE big leaf Maple leaf.  I got so excited because I remembered the contest for our class so I hid the leaf so I could get it on the way back from town.  As I continued walking I notices 2 trees that were not very tall but the trunks were absolutely huge! They were also very strange looking.  They were not very smooth, and did not look like trunks I had ever seen before.  They had bulges all over them and they reminded me of those trees that had half one kind of tree and then another tree grown on top of it.  But there wasn’t just one bulge, it was like one massive bulge.  I stopped to get a closer look at the bark and it was very hard, and solid, and not like I could pull it off.  While I was looking at the bark people were walking by staring at me like I am crazy. I don’t really mind though because I did look a bit crazy.  When I was returning to campus I almost forgot to get my leaf but I did remember.  It was right were I left it, which I was very happy about because it is huge and will be a good leaf for out contest.  

Leo Castillo
9 October 2008
Location: Art Room
Time 430-500
Climate 75
Looking a painting, I can’t help noticing the hidden images in this picture. It’s a person is next to a tree. The tree has a smooth outer texture and seems to be in the jungle its in a tropical place. The hidden images I can se are a tree in the shape of a women’s body in the far back. On the right side of this girl there is a hand in the side of the tree as if it were coming out as if it were part of the tree. In the bottom of the tree where the roots come out there is feet as if they where the roots of the tree. In another painting the tree behind the girl is a tree but you can see an elephant in the background. If you were to look past the tree you see a dolphin in the back. Last a crocodile being tainted by a human that gets blended in. A monkey’s face carved in the trunk of this log she is laying on. Last a bird by her head and not so noticeable like the rest I almost missed it.

09 November 2008: Rain Drop

Rose Dickson

09 November 2008

1646 – 1700 hours

In front of Matthews Dormitory on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

53 degrees, overcast

            A sparkle catches my eye and I am distracted from my walk to dinner to observe a shimmering rain drop, resting at the tip of a leaf.  The drop has come from such a long way, I am in awe that is lays before me so gracefully, during this brief interruption in its journey to the earth’s surface.  I look around to see thousands of similar drops on all the surrounding leaves. Without hesitation I shake the bush sending all the drips collectively to the ground, completing their long awaited finish line. 

photo courtesy: http://www.free-slideshow.com/stock-photos/rain_drops/big-leaf-rain-drop.jpg

06 November 2008: Low Water Levels #2

Rose Dickson

06 November 2008

1423 – 1447 hours

In front of the UC, facing the Mill Stream on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

60 degrees, overcast

            In an earlier blog post I wrote about the low water levels of the Mill Stream. As I look out on the stream today I notice the stream is no longer, it now looks like a trickling of raindrops in an open ditch. Dave Craig told our colloquium class that the low water levels is controlled by the city and is due to the construction going on near by. There are a few select individuals who have the ability to shut down the water flow of the stream for important circumstances. What gives humans the right to manipulate the natural process of the stream? One could argue that the stream is originally manmade so man’s ownership deems any manipulation acceptable. However, I would argue that when turning off the water flow, many processes besides water flow are affected.  What happens to the animals and habitats that call this manmade structure their home? Do the animals and plants die in response to sudden transformation of their environment? Does man have the right to cause so much instability for so many life forms? One may argue again that the reason the stream is turned off is due to construction that they don’t want polluting the stream. However, I would argue it is not our job to change natural processes to fit the needs of humanity but instead we must change our lifestyle to adapt to natural process. We need to establish ourselves as a positive influence on our environment. 

09 November 2008: Spider Guts

Rose Dickson

09 November 2008

1100 – 1122 hours

The corner of 12^th St. and State St. on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

62 degrees, overcast

            Walking to breakfast this brisk but beautiful morning, I make a similar mistake that I did in a past entry. Brushing my hand casually against the bushes on the corner of 12^th and State, I felt a tickling on my palm. A tickling that was neither a branch nor a leaf. I subconsciously tightened my fingers in hopes to scratch the disturbance, however, to my shock the tickle was a spider that now lied dead in my hands. In nervous fright I attempted to brush off the smashed mess, but instead rubbed in the guts even further. Even though this unfortunate event was an accidental mistake, the ill-fated spider left a sad impression on my mind. Where is his family? Have I disturbed the peace of this quite little creature? What effects does this event have on the surrounding environment? I calm my distressed mind with the thought of a world in constant motion, death and life in infinite abundance. My manipulation on the environment is only a small influence on nature overall. A circle of change and creation. 

08 November 2008: scattered leaves

Rose Dickson

08 November 2008

1223 – 1230 hours

Sidewalk along the Mill Stream, near the library on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

55 degrees, light rain

            The rain on the multicolored leaves of autumn, create a glossy, painted look to the sidewalk. The fallen leaves are a tie-dyed red, orange and yellow. They are gracefully sprinkled across the pavement and torn by the many passersby.  The rain melts the leaves like watercolor and the once drab sidewalk becomes a beautiful sight. As I walk over the leaves I am careful not to ruin the artwork of nature, not to tear or brush the beauty beneath my feet. As I walk on, however, I think back on our last colloquium class and our discussion of humans’ relationship to nature or the natural world. I want to see myself as part of nature, a small piece interacting and manipulating like any other factor. I am, whether I see it or not, contributing to this artwork just as much as the leaves or the sidewalk beneath it. How could humans be considered on a separate plain than nature? Humans are animals and animals are part of nature, where would the line be drawn? The leaves have fallen off their tree due to the change of season, and like the influence of weather the leaves have been broken and torn by the influence of man. Man is an influential factor on nature, just as all components create influence. 

07 November 2008: Map

Rose Dickson

07 November 2008

1140 – 1232 hours

Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

61 degrees, mostly cloudy

            For our colloquium class on Friday the 7^th, Tory and I decided to draw a map of campus in hopes that our direction would lead the class. We drew the campus from bird’s eye view, adding important landmarks to indicate placement. I noticed that many of the important parts of campus are not classrooms or dormitories, instead they are natural attractions like the mill stream, the botanical gardens, the quad and the star trees. These four are only a few examples of Willamette’s natural settings, and they are also the four places I enjoy the most. I am so thankful I go to a school where environment plays a large role in the landscape. I think many people can forget how important nature is when going about their busy everyday life. However, Willamette campus makes overlooking nature almost impossible to do. The accessibility of these four landmarks and others, shows the importance Willamette places on environment and reminds everyone of nature’s significance as soon as one steps outside. 

H.Waller
Date: 7 November, 2008
Time: 1500
Location: The soccer field by the skybridge
Weather: misting, 55 degrees.

Today I was walking back to Kaneko from the main part of campus and I passed a family who were all huddled together watching a spot on the ground in the grass. Curious, I craned my neck to try and see what they were so intently looking at. I was delighted when I discovered it was a pudgy little yellow lab puppy!! I haven't seen nearly enough dogs around since I've been here, which makes me miss my own even more. The little critter was frisking around, his paws appearing 3 sizes too big for his little baby body. It is amazing how much joy a little animal can bring to people.
Image courtesy of Google Images.

Leo Castillo
8 October 2008
Location: Dorm Desk
Climate: 70
Time 3:30 to 400
Just received my new runners world magazine and I saw a page with a place that I could do a naturalist observation. This page show where the lagoon creature could or lives here the trees spread throughout the lagoon and a couple of plants growing out the lagoon monster. The trees reflect of the dark black water and so is the sky. The first tree has a brown outside texture with a fungi growing in the outside of the tree. On the other tree from top to bottom it seems to be covered as if it wear attacked by it. Branches hang out of the lagoon. The leafs in these trees are little and light on the tree, they are long tress and thin, but not redwoods. Behind the trees there are more trees that jus layout in the far there are more tress the lead to pretty much nothing I guess. The bottom of the page is dark and the top tends to lighten up and show the change in color with the jungle attributes its as if the land was mostly water.

Leo Castillo
7 October 2008
Location Room
Climate 54
Time 3:30-400
Sitting in my desk, working on some homework I can’t help the sound of rain hitting my eardrum. The ran is nothing new to me, where I live it rain most of the time like it dose here. It rain and it pours like it dose here and the clouds come and go and the sun comes out from hiding and the mood you in changes. Looking out my window and hearing the rain it will start out slow and then suddenly start to pick up the pace and it pours. You can see the people who are prepared for it and the ones who where unprepared and get socked in water. The window is filled with multiple dots of water molecules tat slowly vaporize. Today they rain has left but the cloud is still in the atmosphere and are moving slowly toward wherever they are going. At night the rain shines in the light, when it starts to sprinkle in the air. During 70 degree running in the rain feels great and warm in a way that if feel free. The roof of a building is covered in rain.

Leo Castillo
6 October 2008
4:00-430
Location: Trees outside Doney
Climate: 64
At the state of the school year the tress that reside outside the main entrance of my dorm have been through some natural changes as everything on campus. These threes were full of leafs at one time and now they are empty and the view from my window is more open then before. As you walk into the building you notice it seems more open and free space. The tree on the left coming from the east seem to have lost all it’s leafs and the one on the right still has the majority of it’s leafs. Everyday as I would walk to my dorm I would notice at the other end of the hall, the window. In this window there is a tree that seems to be two stories high and everyday I would see it’s bright leafs and now I look and its empty. The only thing you can see is the branches and the rain but I will com back in the spring with bright green leafs but for now you are just going to have to see the in the spring.

November 2-9

Observer Name: Kaitlyn Rice
Date: 5 November 2008
Time: Various times through day (see in blog for specifics)
Location: Trips across the Skybridge
Weather: Overcast, high of 50, rain on and off
Post Election Exercise
The skybridge is one of those things that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love it not only because it keeps me safe from the busy 12th Street, but also because it provides me with a form of exercise. I hate it for that same, later reason. After timing my trips in one direction, I have estimated each trip across to be about 3 minutes in length. On this post election Wednesday, I have made 3 round trips, or 6 back and forth treks across the skybridge. This morning, westbound, I looked across to the park that is at the museum. I am pretty certain that I have spotted the reason as to why the Mill Stream’s flow has been minimized. There are small bulldozers that have moved large boulders onto the sides of the stream. The dirt on either bank has been disturbed and replaced by a green, I do not know, spray maybe?
Upon my return from this first trip, I am accompanied by Emma. Interrupting our conversation, a large black crow finds a perch on the beam at the top of the skybridge. It’s black feathers appear sort of glossy, but not shiny since there are not any very strong sun rays shining through the cloud cover. Inside the crow’s beak is his lunch, an enormous chunk of someone’s left over sandwich. Although it appears to me that the sandwich is a bit soggy, the crow does not care: he is just happy to have some nourishment. He did not stay in one spot for long though and I watched him fly to the east, over Mill Street.
The crow was my inspiration in documenting my trips across the skybridge for a day and so it made me take a closer look at things. There is not much life to be found here, and in fact, before I did this, I did not really think that there was any at all. The things closest to life found on the skybridge, I used to think, was the humans that walked across it every day and the fallen leaves that have not yet found their way to the ground. Upon closer inspection though, I have noticed small tufts of moss growing up from the sides. They are a vibrant green and do not grow tall, but are stronger in little balled up areas. Talk about an allusion to Wilson’s, “The Creation”.



Date: 6 November 2008
Time: 1730 Hours
Location: Smith, facing south side of the Quad
Weather: Warm wind, getting dark, misting rain
Shelter at Smith


I have waited to make my nature observation for today until after work. Upon getting ready for work, a glance out of my window would have suggested that it was rather cold outside because the wind was blowing the trees about so much. There was no rain though, and once I finally made it outside to go to work, I discovered that it was much warmer than I had thought it would be. Now though, I am off of work and there is a light mist spraying from the sky. In an effort to escape it, I have positioned myself underneath the roof of Smith on the porch that faces the south side of the Quad. It still is not very cold, and I do not feel the wind up on the porch where I am sitting. However, I do hear the wind. The trees that line the path on the north side of the quad all shake and their leaves rattle. Lining the same tree-lined path, lamps give off a soft, golden glow that seems to flicker as the tree branches pass back and forth in front of them. As I begin to pack up my stuff, I take in a deep breath. It really is very pleasant sitting under that roof at Smith; the world just seems to pass by.

Date: 7 November 2009
Time: 1245 Hours
Location: Begins in Olin, ends in Matthews
Weather: relatively warm out, overcast
Colloquium Sans Professor


This nature observation was inspired by the human nature that I found so interesting today. It is Friday and, for me at least, my last class of the day. Us students are all aware that there will be no professor in class today, but a majority of us are actually present. There are only two people who did not at least show up to the classroom at 12:40 and one of the two is out of town. I just found it so intriguing that, even though we all knew that the professor is gone, we all showed up to class. Anyway, so we are all sitting there and trying to decide what to do when Tory and Rose show up with a map in hand. The map consists of a rough outline of campus and there is a trail on it that we are to follow. The trail circles campus and passes some of the most note-worthy trees. The Star Trees are of course on it, as well as the large tree on the north side of Smullin Hall that has a bench underneath it; then the trail crosses the Mill Stream and hits the tree that is on the corner of Jackson Plaza and it ends up at a tree next to Goudy. With all intentions of following this map, those of us that are still present head outside. For the first few minutes though, we just sat on the cement barrier outside of the door. In the bushes next to Olin, a rather rotund squirrel hurried about. Thinking about it, a lot of the squirrels I have seen lately have been larger than normal and I suppose that that is probably because winter is coming soon. This guy should be well equipped.
When we all started moving again, we started talking about not following the map and we eventually ended up deciding that we should all watch Planet Earth, and that is what we did. As we walked east bound across the quad, I did my best to avoid the muddiest spots, but for the most part, the grass grew sparsely and did not do a great job of covering the dirt. Upon entering Matthews, we climbed 3 flights of stairs to get the movie and then went back down one flight to Rose’s room. Rainforests was our chosen episode and we all sat back in amazement as we watched the wonders of the tropical rainforest unfold before our eyes. Wouldn’t that be an amazing place to make some nature observations? ☺

Date: 8 November 2008
Time: 1725 Hours
Location: Martha Springer Botanical Gardens
Weather: Nearly dark but still warm, wet after rain
Writing in the Dark


So let me first just say that I was never aware until after this observation there was more to the Botanical Gardens than flowers in planters. I had never walked clear to the back of the gardens and it is on my to-do list to go back there during the day. This observation however, was made in the near dark. I was actually on my way to a different location, but when I passed the gardens, I looked up and saw the moon only vaguely disguised by clouds. A little below it in the sky were some large rain clouds that reflected the moonlight in the perfect spots. With the grassy path that led past the planters in the garden below this picturesque sky, I couldn’t help but stop here to make my observation. Besides, it could be sort of interesting. Things were hard to see with the sun setting, though I could still make them out a little bit. I found myself a spot on a planter that was not overflowing with life and I leaned in closer to the planter in front of me. Water drops on the leaves were reflecting the soft glow of the lamp that was a little ways away. In this planter was a flower, a yellow-orangish color according to the pictures on my camera. Its petals were narrow and almost an inch in length. The plant had many leaves and took up most of the planter, but I knew that this could not be the only plant in there because as I was leaning in closer I took in a deep breath. With this deep breath came the smell of peppermint: it was like a reminder of my childhood, playing in the front yard of our house in Boise and trying to see if the leaves of a peppermint plant tasted like a mint. In the east side of the planter grew a plant that was taller than the rest. It was very stemmy with leaves here and there that folded downward. At the top, it had bristles of what looked to be brown.

Date: 9 November 2009
Time: 1440 Hours
Location: Kaneko Sidewalk
Weather: Overcast, still fairly warm even though it just got done raining
Embarrassing Moments With A Slug
I do not know if I can handle many more of these nature observations. I mean, do not get me wrong, I enjoy doing them, but they are starting to take a toll on my social life. This is an account of one of those times, but it is not the only time something like this has happened. I do not know how many times I have stopped my friends while we are on our way somewhere by shouting, “Stop guys! I have to take a picture of this slug!” I guess it could be a way of trying to find out who my good friends are; those who wait for me while I complete this very important work are those that I should keep around. Anyway, for this observation, I am by myself. Once again, the rain has subsided for a little while, but I know that there is a very good likelihood of finding some sort of invertebrate on the sidewalk at this time. Alas, there is one. Upon seeing it, I notice that it is smaller than most of the ones that I have seen and I call out, “Little Slug!” I smile and kneel down next to it, just taking in some details of it. It is thin and just over an inch long. It is stretched out in an effort to make it across the sidewalk before becoming a meal. At the front of it, its antennae are slowly moving about. As I am kneeling down, I wonder what it might react to. Sound? Probably not. Can slugs see? I have no idea. I decided that I would see if it reacted to vibrations. With this decision, I begin to tap the ground next to it with my index finger. I then got the image of me right now from an outsiders point of view and knew how ridiculous I must look, but there was no one that I noticed around me. I continued to tap the ground and got no more reaction from the slug than a tip of its antennae in my direction. Not wanting to bug this slug (ha! It rhymes) anymore than I already have, I stand up and continue on my way, only to discover that I have not been by myself at all this entire time! One of the Willamette Watch guards had been sitting on a rock and I know that he must have seen the entire encounter. As I walk past I try not to laugh out loud to myself and he just looks away, trying to act like he had not just witnessed one of the most ridiculous things on his patrol.

Leo Castillo
5 October 2008
5:00-5:30
Location: Minto Park
Climate: 57
As I headed out for my 30 min run in the afternoon, I realized how early it got dark. Heading into my daily 30 min rout and crossing the busy traffic and the empty railroad and I could see the sun was setting in the horizon. Kept pushing and noticed sun slowly going down behind the trees. Looking at the river and seeing the reflection jus bounce of the water, my eyes where blind by the color it releases that bright yet dark colors. The dark blue sky and underneath a red dark color with a bright yellow round object in the middle. As I kept going I could see the sun behind the trees that stood there and not planning on moving and as I went by the sunlight just hit the corner of my eyes. Jumping around trying to avoid the mud puddles and hoping over water the layer in the middle of the trail. The rain seems to be in action and it goes on and off and seems to be a warm but not cold rain and the air feels fresh in my lungs as I exhale and inhale.

Tyler Starr: 11/9 pm, Lawn outside of BMC

Tyler Starr

9 November 2008 from 1545-1600

Location: The lawn enclosed by Belknap, Matthews, and Montag

Weather: 54 ̊ F, cloudy skies, off and on rain, no wind

General: I can see a variety of colors from where I am sitting. The oaks along Belknap still retain most of their green colors, while some leaves are beginning to turn yellow along the fringes. A group of bushes along the sidewalk displays a brilliant red color. A tree near the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity is a bright yellow. The leaves of another tree near SAE and Montag display a range of leaf colors from red to orange. At the same time, one tree has not a single leaf left on it. The ground is very wet and soggy from the day’s rain—fortunately, there is an Adirondack chair to sit on that is not as muddy as the ground. It is strange, but even though so many people live in the immediate proximity of the lawn I am sitting on, it feels very peaceful and quiet. I cannot see or hear any birds. The only sounds I hear come from the road. There is 1 squirrel that is out and about, but beyond that, most of the wildlife seems to have taken much of the day off due to the rain.

3 November 2008
3:30
The Quad, Willamette University, Salem, OR
As I sit beneath a tree I am amazed at all of the beautiful leaves that have accumulated on the ground. There are several different types of leaves, round, oval, palmate, red leaves, yellow leaves, orange leaves, and so many others. One leaf in particular catches my eye, it is not especially bright, nor is it in perfect condition but it is a beautiful leaf none the less. The step on this leaf seems abnormally long for the small size of the actual leaf. Streaks of yellow run up the veins of this leaf, extending all the way from the transition point off the bright red stem to the pointed lobes that have begun to curl up as the leaf dies. This leaf has not yet reached a state of crunchiness, but instead it is light and leathery to the touch. A few of the very tips of this leaf have turned dark brown and are very brittle to the touch and they seem to shatter as I run my fingers along the edge of the leaf. Here and there are light grey patches of color, these patches seem to dot the leaf almost like cow spots. One section of the leaf has a large hole that has been torn out of it, but the surrounding edges, though only millimeters are holding the leaf together strongly. In the upper section of this leaf the golden rod vein cuts through a section of dark maroon separating the two sides and each then fades to new colors. I flip the leaf over and by no means is it as colorful, but it is just as beautiful. Instead of yellow veins and a red surface, the veins are now red lying against a light tan background. The tips of this side are dark brown and fade slowly to meet the tan.
4 November 2008
12:07
Montag Center, Willamette University, Salem, OR
Today I went to do my laundry in Montag Center and as I was sitting there doing my homework I looked outside to see a very sad sight. One of the trees on the lawn above is leaning very far down and it looks as though this has been done by people trying to climb this week little tree. The tree itself is fairly small and has bright yellow leaves, though it is beginning to bald near the top. My friend Hannah came down and sat next to me and I pointed the tree out to her, she was quite upset about the situation. I grabbed my laundry and we went outside to scope out the situation. Immediately Hannah grabbed the tree by its trunk and began trying to pull it back into position, with me pushing from the other side…needless to say this did nothing what so ever, it was fun though. After a bit more work we decided that we would make a sling for the tree, a little bit of wire, some stakes and rubber tubing and we’d be good to go. Unfortunately we have not yet been able to make this sling, but it will be coming in the near future so this tree does not slide even further out of place.
5 November 2008
11:23
Jackson Plaza, Willamette University, Salem, OR
Lately the Mill Stream has been unusually low, it is so strange to look and instead of seeing the regular flowing water, there is nothing more a couple puddles. The rocks are now almost completely exposed leaving a bare rut through the middle of campus. It seems as though there are more leaves than water in the Mill Stream, and what little water there is carries these leaves a few feet before they are deposited on a bank of rocks. Also, the water that is left is a very murky, cloudy white color and as you walk between the library and auditorium it seems as though this murkiness is intensified. It’s sad to think that a couple days ago there was a healthy flowing stream and now there is little more than puddles, rocks and leaves.
7 November 2008
12:35
Matthews Dorm/Around Campus, Willamette University, Salem, OR
Yesterday Rose and I decided to make a tree treasure hunt map for colloquium today. So we drew up a map and had various locations where we would go to climb different trees. We handed the map over to Jane to interpret and we were on our way. For a while we followed the map, but then we decided to just do whatever came to mind, so for a little bit we sat and had a conversation out in front of Olin. After our discussion we decided to head back to Matthews to watch Planet Earth, which is an amazing show. After a quick debate we wound up watching the jungle episode. I have seen this episode by far the most out of any of the others, but each time I am still amazed by all of the different animals, especially the birds of paradise. It is unbelievable to think that these birds have adapted to be so outlandishly colored and decorated. In this episode they also show a type of fungus/nematode that takes control of its host and makes them do what they want. In this case an ant had been taken over by a parasite and the parasite controlled the ant to climb higher and higher up, which would put it in a prime location for birds to spot and hopefully eat. They showed several different instances of the molds sprouting straight out of the bodies of their hosts. I was amazed to see the time lapse portions where you could literally see the molds growing straight out of the bodies of different insects. After watching all of time lapse scenes it makes me want to just turn a switch on and watch nature grow and interact right before my eyes. It is ridiculous to be able to see this evolution so quickly.

leaf cakes

H.Waller
Date: 5 November, 2008
Time: 1500
Weather: Overcast, breezy, 54 degrees
Location My room in kaneko

I got back from an outing this afternoon and walked across my room. Then as I turned around to go back to the other side of the room, I freaked out for a bit when I noticed a brown clump on the floor that looked exactly like dog poo. Upon going closer to examine it better, I noticed that is was made up mostly of leaves and had no offensive odors. Eventually, I got up enough courage to pick it up and was relieved when I came to the conclusion that I had not tracked dog poo into my room, but rather leaf mush that was stuck to the bottom of my shoes. This is something I have never experienced before becuase at home when there are that many leaves on the ground they are very dry and then they all blow away before it snows.

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 2 November, 2008
Time: 1125-1135
Location: Across the Mill Stream from Goudy.
Weather: Cloudy.

There are two squirrels interacting in what seems like an intricate dance as they move up the tree. They can clearly detect body language and signals that I cannot, since they will respond drastically to what seems like nothing to me. They chase each other around and around, occasionally stopping to groom a tail or explore a branch of the tree before resuming their conversation. Soon they're out of sight, but it still is amazing how they can communicate without using any words or noises.

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 9 November, 2008
Time: 1538- 1555
Location: Outside Kaneko.
Weather: Overcast, with some sun to the west.
The rain that was a complete downpour not too long ago has passed now, and what we’ve got left are streaky purple/pink/gray clouds and the sun setting. There are a couple squirrels hopping around, and they seem perfectly dry. Where do squirrels go when it rains? If they went into a tree they’d probably stay pretty dry. They have both been clearly eating a ton of food for the winter, but they’re still digging around in the ground looking for or burying food, and one has something in its mouth.

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 9 November, 2008
Time: 1200-1230
Location: Riverfront Park
Weather: Mostly cloudy, sunny.

The river has risen and covered the place our class sat just a couple months ago. Almost exactly where we were is a group of ducks bathing. Even from up on the globe I could hear their wings flapping as they splash around. Every few minutes one will stand up and flap it’s wings vigorously, making a loud clapping noise and sending water all over the place. To my left there is a frog that has started calling, and another one across the river is answering it. I can also hear the sparrows that congregate in the blackberries along the river. To the south and the west there are purple-black clouds lurking, but where I am the sun is shining so brightly that I have to squint and the ducks are only a little more than silhouettes. A third frog to my right is now also calling to the other two. In front of me there is a shallow creek-like band of water that separates me from what is left of the gravel bar. On my side there is a patch of mud with what looks like duck tracks. There are quite a few, and so they are indistinct, but some are pretty obvious. And they’re fresh. They could even have been made by the ducks that have finished their bathing and are now settling down to groom. There are too many to journal them all in the time I have, but I draw a few of them, and a map to where they are.

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 8 November, 2008
Time: 1714-1731
Location: Star Trees.
Weather: A few clouds, dark, cold wind.
As I walk back to campus from downtown the wind has gotten progressively colder, and while it was very pleasant when I set out, now it makes me wish I had brought a coat. When I walk under the Star Trees noise drops off considerably, and it puts me in mind of old growth forests where there’s no human noise to be heard. Even the wind cannot make the trees make noise: their branches are waving, but not making a single sound. The sky through the star is still a medium blue, even though the sun has set. It is definitely the weird amorphous twilight time.

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 6 November, 2008
Time: 1435-1445
Location: Path between the library and Sparks.
Weather: Overcast.
We were going to climb trees today in class, but instead went to Matthews and watched Planet Earth. I’m still thinking about the fungus one, where the fungus took over the insect’s brains and made it go insane. We also talked about nematods, which apparently do the same thing, like make mice not afraid of cats, so the nematods are passed onto the cat. Now I’m walking back to Kaneko from Matthews, and there’s a squirrel sitting frozen at the edge of the path. Then suddenly s/he turns and leaps backwards to sit in a bush, still staring at me. As I walk past hir, s/he keeps moving backwards towards the library, but always keeping an eye on me.

H.Waller
Date: 4 November, 2008
Time: 1745
Location: Kaneko, 3 east
Weather: raining, 53 degrees

Today I was sitting at the end of my hall in Kaneko on the 3rd floor east talking innocently to a friend on my cell phone and I was terrorized by a creepy spider with huge long legs up in the corner of the ceiling. I recognize this spider from home as a daddy long legs. Upon consulting Audubon for further info on the offending arachnid I learned that their season is April to November, but inside all year round. Also listed as one of the places under habitat is buildings along with trees and fields. I wonder why this spider particualarly and uniquely is so fond of buildings. None of the other spiders officially list buildings as their own habitats.
Image courtesy of Google Images

H.Waller
Date: 3 November, 2008
Time: 1130
Location: sidewalk by the chicken fountain
Weather: chilly, drizzly, 50 degrees.

Today I was walking back to class from Kaneko, and as I really wasn't looking forward to going I was moving at a very slow pace and took time to look down and observe the leaves around me on the sidewalk upon which I traveled each day. I noticed how most of the leaves were a yellowy color with brownish spots like a golden delicious apple. However, my eyes were pleasantly surprised now and again when I would spot a very vibrant red and orange one. What acconts for thcolor difference? Are the vibrant ones more newly changed than the mono color ones? Another surprise greeted my aesthetic experience of leaves when I found one leaf that was a very dark almost black color with thin streaks of orange. It reminded me of spiderman and his evil counterpart.

Tyler Starr: 11/09 am, Mill Stream between library and Rogers

Tyler Starr

9 November 2008 from 1130-1145

Location: The Mill Stream in between Rogers and the library

Weather: 54 ̊ F, occasional slight breeze, partly cloudy, showering on and off all day

General: The water of the Mill Stream is the murky color that I observed here earlier, as well as at Pringle Creek yesterday. It must be related to the rain, since the only time I see these murky waters is after it rains. The water of the stream is still very low. Since there is no current, a fairly large bug is able to walk across the entire surface without being swept downstream (see picture). It isn’t moving very fast, and sits in place for a while. I don’t know what if feeds on, but perhaps some sort of egg or insect larvae in the water that is very easy to find when the stream is this stagnant. With most of the leaves gone from the trees, I noticed several large clumps that I assume are birds’ nests in the trees. There is one in a tall tree just above the Mill Stream, and I saw another one as I walked back to Belknap in a tree on the lawn outside of the front. I wonder what type of bird lived in these nests. It must have been fairly large, since the clumps are large enough to be easily noticed from below.

Collin's Observations Week 9

C.Jones
3 November, 2008
Outside Shepard
1328

It is cold and moist outside as it has just rained. I hear a bird calling in a nearby tree. Wet leaves are everywhere on the damp ground in shades of yellow and red. There are no ants out today. I can see the specs of water dripping off the green leaves. I see a spider which seems to be weaving a web above the bushes. It looks like it's walking in midair. The bushes are dripping with moisture. They look extra green today as I hear a bird call nearby. The dirt looks like it would be good farming soil. The leaves continue to trickle water. I notice something that resembles applesauce on the ground. Leaves litter the area.

frank.itlab.us/spider_2002/large/sticky_web.jpg

C.Jones
4 November 2008
Outside Eaton Hall
1423

It is cold outside as it has just rained and big yellow and brown leaves litter the ground. The leaves on the trees are dripping water and look very green and lush today. The bushes have little green leaves shaped like flowers sprouting from their tips. I see a few red shaped leaves on a nearby bush, they look out of place with all of the green ones. The leaves littered on the ground look very festive. Sticks scattered around look out of place. The dirt on the ground resembles mud and I thought I heard a bird call in the air. The vegetarian is still in the non existent wind. Water covers some of the leaves on the ground. Moss covers the trunks of the trees.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/298433779_8aad5587d7.jpg?v=0

C.Jones
5 November 2008
Outside Shepard
1345

It is raining out. The ground is littered with leaves tossed about and trampled by the rain and the wind. Many of the trees are now bare, their frames are all that defines them. I see two red leaves by me filled with water and reflecting the light despite the rain. The moss on the trees is extra green and probably slippery. There are many shades of green, yellow, brown and red in the forms of vegetation surrounding me. The dirt is dark as coal and resembles mud. The pitter patter of the rain drowns out the sound of any nearby animals. I see the leaves moving under the rain.



http://www.tropicalisland.de/MZV%20Gunung%20Mulu%20national%20park%20moss%20covered%20tree%20trunk%20in%20rainforest%20b.jpg

C.Jones
6 November 2008
Millstream
1428

The river i the lowest I have ever seen it. It looks more like connecting puddles then a stream. The bed stream is above the water in some areas and there are actually piles of leaves sitting on the water's surface. It is relatively windy but warm outside and it looks like the stream has not seen water in weeks despite the recent rain. The grass is very green, however, and many of the leaves scattered across it are now in the river. I just watched the wind ripple the water in one direction, like a wave. The rocks in the stream appear to have nothing supporting them now that the water is low. The trees are bare or their leaves are mostly yellow. Fall colors are vibrant here. I see the grass blowing in the wind. The bushes are blowing in the wind too.

C.Jones
9 November 2008
Outside Shepard
1341

It appears to have just rained outside as there is water all over the surrounding area. The leaves are still in shades of festive fall colors. The plants look extra green from the rain. I hear a bird chirping in the distance, maybe with another, I cannot tell. I see a white bug floating off the pavement and over the water's surface. I feel raindrops as it looks like it's about to rain. The green leaves are broken in various places, although they seem to be quite dry despite the rain. The soil looks as fertile as ever, it seems to have kept the moisture. I hear another bird call way to my left, maybe it's communicating to the one before. The plants shift in the light wind.

Observation Nov 9

Phil Colburn
9 November 2008
Weather: Cloudy
Location: Park by the state capital
Time: 1320-1340 hours

The ground is littered with red and yellow leaves from all of the trees that lose their leaves in the fall. The trees are still mostly covered in leaves, but one can still see the few empty branches reaching outward from the clustered bunch of red leaves into the grey sky. Eventually that cluster of leaves that forms a tangible wall that the empty branches reach from will shrink and shrink until they all fall completely off of the tree. Then, the tree will be ready to survive the winter, barring some bizarre circumstance that kills it.

Observation Nov 8

Phil Colburn
8 November 2008
Location: on The field in front of goudy.
Time: 1110-1130
Weather: Cloudy

I sit on the concrete barrier in front of Goudy, and look out across the field. The UC is on my left, and there are some buildings to my right that I think are dorms, but I’ve never been over there so I’m not sure. There are some bushes in front of the bike shop that look like rhododendrons, but I’m not sure because they aren’t flowering right now, so the only clue that I have to go on is the fact that the bush’s leaves look like rhododendron leaves.

Picture courtesy of http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/r/wrhma4-lf26241.jpg

Observation Nov 7

Phil Colburn
7 November 2008
Location: The Mill Stream, sitting next to the impossible triangle sculpture.
Time: 10:30-10:50
Weather: Cloudy

As I sit by the triangle sculpture, I look at the Mill Stream, and it is worryingly low. The stream is so low that many of the rocks that make up the streambed are not only showing above the waterline, but they are actually dry. It is very unusual that the stream is so low, especially since we have had a decent amount of rainfall over the past few days. It is possible that the stream is being clogged by leaves at a point that is farther up the stream.

Observation Nov 6

Phil Colburn
6 November 2008
Location: The Star Trees
1040-1100 hours
Weather: Rainy

I take shelter from the rain beneath the Star trees, which surprisingly keep off the rain very well. The patches underneath each tree are still bone dry. Also, underneath these trees are virtually the only place on campus where there are no fallen leaves in sight. However, there are always dead needles carpeting the area immediately underneath the trees. These needles act as a way to keep the dirt and mud out, keeping the area underneath these trees one of the least muddy on campus, making it an ideal area for small animals such as squirrels to move and search for food without getting cold, wet and dirty.

Picture courtesy of http://www.salemdailyphoto.com/pics/5startrees.jpg

Observation Nov 5

Phil Colburn5

November 2008

Location: By the bridge over the Mill Stream near the Hatfield Library

Weather: Cloudy

Time: 1100-1120 hours

The plants that border the mill stream seem to be doing fine. One tree that is low to the ground has had all of its leaves turn yellow now. There are no more green leaves on the tree, proving that we are well into fall. However, one problem that these beautiful leaf colors cause is they tend to clump together in the millstream, which can obstruct water flow and turn the water stagnant. This can cause many problems, such as lowering the oxygen content of the stream and allowing algae to choke it, like it is shown in the picture here.

Picture courtesy of http://www.gardenrant.com/my_weblog/images/2007/10/30/pond_2.jpg

Tyler Starr: 11/8, The Quad

Tyler Starr

8 November 2008 from 1230-1245

Location: The northwest corner of the Quad

Weather: 55 ̊ F, no wind, raining on and off

General: It was misting slightly as I sat on Quad. A heavy bout of rain had just ended, so I decided to do an observation. The rain makes everything feel clean and refreshed. Many more leaves fell from the trees due to the force of the rain. One interesting thing that I noticed was that later, as I was walking to the football game, Pringle Creek was a very murky brown color, almost reminiscent of chocolate milk. The Mill Stream looked like that earlier this week, and I wonder if somehow the rain triggers a disruption of the sediment. The middle of the Quad is very wet and muddy. A crow descended upon the southwest corner of the Quad and was picking at the ground. Perhaps it is eating worms that come up from the ground during the rain. The squirrels, however, are not really out at all. I guess they don’t like the rain too much. It seems like all of the big trees along the north side of the Quad are in the process of losing their leaves. I can see three non-coniferous trees that are still completely green, and a couple that are mostly green. The days continue to get shorter and shorter now, so I’d imagine most of the leaves on campus will be gone soon.

Gardening

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 11-7
Location: Kaneko’s community garden, north of the sky bridge
Time: 1516-1546
Weather: Overcast skies, 60˚F

When I had walked across the sky bridge over 12th street toward Kaneko in the past, I had never realized a small area of the land adjacent to the buildings. Usually, my eyes would be attracted to the lines of the buildings and their modern designs. Far too easy to be swept away by the crimson buildings, I had neglected a rectangle of land known as the community garden. South of the Tokyo International University of America building, six rectangles of dirt mounds were flourishing with greeneries. The soil was damp and dark as I walked over a hose lying in between the sections. Many crops were still producing. My eyes drew in sight of ripe sugar snap peas, green beans, small 2-inch buds of broccoli, vivid red Swiss Chard, and lacy cilantro. Few people seemed to bother picking the food when it was so convenient to purchase meals in the cafeteria. Yet, my friends who I met there today were intent of utilizing fresh greens in their food, endeavoring to incorporate them into a meal that they knew would eventually find its way into college students mouths through their purchases. If only others were as intent on doing so, the garden would mostly likely not had fallen into its slight neglect today. There was minimal maintenance; the peas were bursting full, zucchini’s 6 inches long, and broccoli infested with aphids. I think introducing a natural repellent or biological control would be beneficial to the community as a whole.

Uppermost picture (taken sometime in the earlier seasons) courtesy of http://tiua.edu

Tyler Starr: 11/7, Botanical Gardens

Tyler Starr

7 November 2008 from 1545-1600

Location: A walk through the Martha Springer Botanical Gardens

Weather: 63 ̊ F, still with an occasional 5 mph gust of wind, mostly cloudy skies

General: Everything feels very awake in the pleasant weather. In total, I saw 3 different squirrels scurrying around the Botanical Gardens. Many of the small birds that were out the last time I observed the gardens were out again. In particular, I noticed the bird that I always see but never can identify, with a white and gray body with a dark or black head and neck, along with several chickadees. I found an interesting fruit lying on the ground. It was about an inch long, sort of in the shape of a pear. It was light green, with beach ball-like segments. The outer layer peeled back like moist paper, and on the inside, there was a small, soft green ball. Inside of that there were many seeds that looked like those of bell peppers. The ground is very soft and muddy from all of the rain, especially towards the back of the gardens. I noticed that a group of some sort of plant had been reduced to a cluster of stems. It appeared that grounds keeping cut off the tops of all of the plants with a weed-whacker. Perhaps they are planning to plant something else there next spring.

I don't know about you, but I can't see anything

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 11-6
Location: Mill Stream north of UC
Time: 1714-1730
Weather: Light rain, 57˚F

The sun sets earlier now that day light savings has ended, plunging the campus into dim twilight. Most of the birds have slowly disappeared to prepare for the night’s rest, yet I was surprised to find the mallards still swimming around the Mill Stream. Nearly 20 were congregating around the corner of Jackson Plaza, mostly still. A few were plunging their beaks into the water to catch a bedtime snack. As the light dimmed, the stream became dappled with lights from the surrounding buildings, illuminating the gentle ripples. I could not distinguish many of their movements from their resting, that is, floating positions. One duck ostentatiously flapped his wings in greeting to my arrival as I ventured forward for a closer observation. The movements consisted of the drakes using their beaks to clean their back feathers and wings. The females sounded their quacks momentarily. The light drizzle faded as I watched. Will the mallards stay here during the night? I remember previously that the Mill Stream was deserted during the night as I left campus. Their vision must have been better than mine, for in only 16 minutes, the scene grew dim and I could scarcely make out the shapes of the fowls.

Tyler Starr: 11/6, Mill Stream between Rogers and the Library

Tyler Starr

6 November 2008 from 1025-1040

Location: The Mill Stream between Rogers and the library

Weather: 59 ̊ F, 5 mph breeze with gusts up to 15 mph, gray cloudy skies

General: Leaves fell from the trees like rain due to the strong wind. Those that stayed on the trees clattered in the breeze. With the strong gusts, the clattering would be so loud as to drown out the construction noises from the nearby theatre renovation and Ford Hall construction. The leaves on the ground race around in the breeze. The Mill Steam is still exceedingly low, but it has a slight current, which could be due to the strong winds, which are going in the same direction. For the past two days, the water has been a brown-gray, murky, color. It started after the rain, so perhaps the rain stirred up the silt on the bottom of the stream. However, today it is back to its normal color. Maybe with the reemergence of a current, the silt resettled to the bottom of the stream. I hope that the Mill Stream returns to its original level soon, it is much more appealing. I saw a Banded Garden Spider in a web, as I often do over here. It is probably the same spider every time—from comparing pictures, it looks the same. I did not see or hear any birds though.

Smashing pumpkins

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 11-5
Location: Botanical Garden bridge between the gardens and Belknap
Time: 1530-1551
Weather: Raining, overcast skies, 47.5˚F

The Mill Stream was filled with dirt today as the runoff from the land was washed into the waters. It was still lower than ever due to someone controlling the height of the stream somewhere to the east. For whatever purpose, I felt that the wildlife was suffering due to the decreased water. The mallards seemed to have a harder time finding food and there have been fewer birds about the Mill Stream. Two pumpkins were left over from the smash-fest during Halloween. Anonymous somebodies decided that it would be hilarious if they could take their carved pumpkins and see if they would bounce on the bottom of the stream. That made me wonder, were the pumpkins returning to nature? After all, they would eventually decompose into…something. A big leaf maple, clothed in golden drapery, overshadowed the stream, unheeding the mess beneath its slowly baring branches. Moss covered many of its branches in return. Earlier in the month, there were many cedar waxwings that had roosted there, yet now, there was only a hummingbird, a black-capped chickadee here. An occasional crow was more likely to be seen. Two mallards rested slightly upstream, a drake and a female, watching a squirrel gorge himself on the cracked corn spread along the shoreline. Leaves from the aforementioned fell softly into the dirt of the stream, barely swept away by the low stream of water. Rocks instead caught the large leaves. At the side of the bridge, moss heavily covered the concrete, yet not enough to hid the three heavy pipes lining the lowered area.

Mushy worms

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 11-4
Location: Front of north end of Rogers
Time: 930-945
Weather: Rainy, 44.5˚F

Leaves from the horse chestnut trees were strewn across the pathway, mixtures of browns and yellow, soggy from the rain and unable to produce the sharp crisp that reminds me of autumn’s jumping-in-leaves. Soggy grass complains with a belching squish as I trudge through the field. Next to the lawn, a large mass of earthworms had crawled out to soak up the moisture from the torrential rainfall, only to be squashed by the passing student or mail cart. A few lucky enough to evade the feet were pecked on by a bird at some point. Regardless, most were starting to dissolve into the water. A stench of decay filled the air (or maybe it was solely the wet concrete). Grasshoppers or crickets were amazingly singing their chirps in the air. Did they really expect to find mates in this weather? Or perhaps they were forecasting to the rest of the insect community. Rainy days were indeed here once more, with a lightning storm a few days ago at night. I wonder if my poor umbrella will the stand a chance against the torrent. Intermittently, a mechanical leaf raker swept up the leaves that I had only momentarily passed through. With a loud cacophony, it whisked the leaves into the pyramidal compartment, ready for use later on hopefully as compost.

Umbrellas and Trees

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 11-3
Location: East of Waller Hall, stairwell beneath Grand Fir
Time: 1515-1530
Weather: Rainy, 50˚F

Seeking shelter beneath the spreading branches of a Grand Fir, I can not help but revel in the prowess and beauty of nature. Sitting on the steps donated to the college by the class of 1925, I stare at the marvelous fir that still stands for nearly a century. Grand indeed, the cones were large and hefty, pointing vertically upward, sitting upon the branches. A branch swung low over the entryway to the chapel, forming an arc to welcome the visitors. Few could find a drier spot on this drizzly day. Most people walk by either oblivious of the water pouring down their necks, snuggled within their cowls, or else holding their umbrella imperiously over their heads. It’s hard sometimes to appreciate nature for its ability to provide the same shelter. In this technologically laden world of today, trees are primarily seen as landscape ornaments. Rarely does a person cast aside their aluminum-nylon shield to bask in the brisk weather. That’s not to say, we should all strip and dance in the rain. Birds themselves are wise enough not to fly about too much in the rain, preferring rather to conserve their energy. they seek the warmth of their homes beneath the tree branches, a few, including the black-cap chickadees, singing their songs. The larger birds, most notably the American Black crows are the few species that hang out on tops of the buildings, cawing at one another from a distance. Flights are kept short. Speaking of flying, mayflies seem to enjoy my lunch, one landing directly onto my meal. As I left, I saw a flying insect that was intriguingly straight and narrow, like a stick, about 1.5 inches long and flying in such a way as to keep its body slanted at 45˚. Perhaps it was a damselfly?

 

2 October 2008

930 – 1000

Watching the mill stream on the grassy area in front of the University Center

This weekend the mill stream had been especially low. Not only are all the decorative rocks showing but the rocks on the bottom of the stream are all completely showing as if they were a beach of black rocks. Since the low level of water prevents the speed and current of the water flow, but since it rained this weekend many leaves fell from their trees. Anyway so the leaves are all in the mill steam and now sitting below their respective trees are able to be taken down the mill run. Another funny but borderline rude thing is how there are quite a few smashed pumpkins in the mill stream. 

28 October 2008

1400-1500

In the Willamette University Bistro

I am at the Bistro ‘people watching’. For a school afternoon the bistro is quite busy there are people occupying most every couch, chair or table. And the bistro staff is chatting amongst each other waiting for more customers to get their caffeine fix or what not. The people in the bistro all are either chatting quietly with friends in small groups of two or three huddled on the couches and chairs. There are also groups or single people that are attempting to study or read. 

 

1 November 2008

1300-1400

In a tree behind Smullin and Eaton Halls.

Today I moved into a tree well sort of. Essentially my friend a I decided that climbing trees was the necessary post Halloween activity. So we went to the lawn behind Eaton and Smullin hall, near the construction site. There we found the tree that we both had the inkling to climb for a while. One we arrived at the tree it out be absolutely impossible to climb! Which was most disappointing since the limbs of the tree seemed absolutely perfect to lay upon since the were so broad. Luckily with some thought process my friend and I went into Eaton and barrowed a chair. This way we were able to maneuver around the knobby trunk and get into the tree, by leaping onto the lowest branch from the chair.  Once in the tree the branches turns out to be perfect to lay upon!! I was able to lay all the way down and look up into the canopy of the tree. This was lovely because this tree still had most of its leaves. Yet there were soo many variations in the colors of leaves, looking up was like looking at a really complicated and sporadic tie-die. So after this experience I have decided that tree life my suit me quite well. 

30 October 2008

1600-1620

In the grassy area cornered by the chicken fountain and library.

There are leaves everywhere! This is much, much different than California! The change of seasons will never stop amazing me! Since it rained all the leaves are falling much more rapidly than they would have with out the weight of rainwater. So now they  are everywhere. It is interesting to see the sidewalk covered with them or the grass with a red blanket covering them. It is also so odd to see that some of the leaves are red while some stayed yellow. I guess I always had this idea the leaves went yellow then red, but apparently not. This shows how naïve I am towards ‘real’ fallness. The other odd part of fall is that one the leaves are gone from trees it is almost sad to see the trees all-leafless. They are kind of like bare skeletons or like empty shells of what had been in the summer. It is also really interesting to see how it takes longer for some trees to change color and loose their leaves than other trees. I’m really interested to see in the spring the progression of the leaves coming back and blossoming into the green trees that I am used to. 

27 October 2008

1230-1250

We are in a small park in Salem that we arrived at by fallowing the mill stream and are now sitting by a later part of the mill stream.

Today our class went on a nature walk along the millstream and ended up at another part of the mill stream that is a ways from campus. I’m pretty sure that we are somewhere near Pringle park.. Like yesterday the weather is surprisingly warm, so that today I am tempted to be in shorts again. Were I am sitting the millstream had been created into a crescent shape pond. Here there is not much of a current and many ducks have congregated here. This is nice to see since they are becoming more and more sparse near the Willamette campus. Here are about 12 ducks just floating and sleeping in this still part of the stream.  A few are constantly ducking below the surface looking for what I would assume to be food. There is one mallard that is attempting a nap but the slow current keeps bring him to the rocky edge of the pond. These creatures the more I observe them the more comical they become! They have such a playful air to them. There is something interesting about how peacefully they look above the water but under the water they are paddling incredibly hard.