Oregon has hit the trifecta in terms of naturalist events for 2008. Not one, not two, but three major events will take place in the beaver state over the rest of the course of the present year. I’m particularly pleased as I am a member of two of these fine organizations and am seriously contemplating joining the third for all the things I could learn from it.
Beginning in August, the central Oregon, high desert city of Bend will be host to the Dragonfly Society of the Americas annual meeting. This event will be held at the Boyle Education Center of Central Oregon Community College from August 1st through August 3rd. Field trips will visit the Deschutes National Forest and the Crooked River where the target species will include Black Petaltail (Tanypteryx hageni), Ringed Emerald (Somatochlora albicincta), Sinuous Snaketail (Ophiogomphus occidentis), and Western River Cruiser (Macromia magnifica).
A pre-meeting trip to John Day, Oregon will be held July 30th & 31st where target species will include Columbia Clubtail (Gomphus lynnae), White-belted Ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus), and Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis). A post meeting trip to Willamette Pass area along Hwy 58 in the vicinity of Crescent Lake will also be held August 4th after the conclusion of the meeting in Bend. This excursion will travel to Crescent Creek for Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni) and to Gold Lake for Grappletail (Octogomphus specularis). Those wishing further information should consult the D.S.A. website.
Following immediately on heels of the D.S.A. convention, the American Ornithologists’ Union, the Cooper Ornithological Society, and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists/Société des ornithologistes du Canada will hold their joint annual meeting in Portland at the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower. In addition to the scientific session, poster session, seminars, social events, exhibition hall, and business meeting, there will be daily bird walks throughout the event. A pre-event trip in search of Spotted Owls (Strix Occidentalis) will be held on August 3rd, as will a pelagic trip from Yaquina Bay and out thirty miles, and a trip to East Sand Island in the Columbia River, recently designated as an I.B.A. by the American Bird Conservancy. The pelagic trip will be held again on August 9th for those who may not have been able to attend on the August 3rd date. More information can be found on the event website.
Finally, in November, the National Association for Interpretation will hold their national workshop in Portland on November 11th through the 15th at the Oregon Convention Center. While not specifically a naturalist organization, a sizeable portion of the membership of the N.A.I. is composed of those who work in a nature-oriented field. There will be presentations, training sessions, an exhibit hall, and much more. Pre-workshop intensive training sessions will also be held immediately before the main event itself commences. Visit the N.A.I. event website for more details.
Dragonflies, birds, and learning about how better to explain their natural history and ecology – if this isn’t a recipe for fun I don’t know what is.
Peace and good bird watching.
