Cascade Raptor Center

A hawk enjoys a water bottle spray on a hot day.

I volunteer at the Audubon Wildlife Care Center and get to see amazing birds of all sorts every week. A bird handler I work with mentioned one day about Cascade Raptor Center in Eugene and told me it was remarkable and I had to go there some time. For someone like herself to say that, I knew it was a must see! Every year I take the girl I have mentored since she was 12 (she is now 19) camping somewhere. This year I decided camping near Eugene would be fun so we could enjoy the outdoors, visit the raptor center and eat at my favorite place in Eugene, Pizza Research Institute who has the best vegan pizza.

Ki, a Red-Shouldered Hawk stands patiently at an education talk.

I timed my trip to the Cascade Raptor Center to correspond with the education bird talk and got to meet a red-shouldered hawk named Ki and a Turkey Vulture named Kali. They were both so fascinating and the bird handlers who very informative. The woman handling Kali was especially enthusiast about her privilege to be a part of the vulture’s life and even had an amazing vulture tattoo on her wrist. It is great to see such enthusiasm! These birds are in a facility such as this due to injuries or other issues that make it so they can not go back to the wild successfully. The raptor center gives animals a second chance at life while being able to educate the public. In conjunction to the center, they also run a rehabilitation center for raptors.

This Turkey Vulture Kali has attitude and I love it!

A Kestrel

A bald eagle enjoying some sunshine.

A Snowy Owl who just had a drink of water.

This Northern Goshawk mesmerized me.

Saw-Whet Owls are just adorable!

A Western Screech Owl tried to hide. They are my favorite!

A Long-Eared Owl displaying her namesake.

More Bald Eagles! Beautiful!

A White-Tailed Kite! Wow!

These White-Tailed Kite sisters were rescued together.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of native birds and small mammals that visited the center, making the visit exceptionally unique.

A Western Grey Squirrel, which you never see in Portland anymore.

A deer surprised up roaming the streets in Eugene, just below the raptor center.

These photos really do not do the raptors justice. I highly recommend that if you get a chance, check this place out in person. You will love it!

Another Visit to Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

I have a love/hate relationship with wildlife refuges. I love all the wildlife I see on them, but I hate the fact that they allow hunting some times of the year. Not much of a refuge, huh!? Driving through Ridgefield you always see wildlife on the ground, in the trees, on the water and up above soaring through the sky. In the fall, these visions are interrupted by gunshots which make the visit not so peaceful at all. Although fall is the best time of year to see swans and migrating water birds, any time of year is a good time to visit.



Unless you want to walk around and the mosquitoes are out for revenge, which is what I experienced this go around. I did not get to walk on the trails and explore more outdoors and potential wildlife sighting since just a couple minutes out of the car I was surrounded by the nasty biters. I am so susceptible to their bites and they seem to love me, so I ran back to the car and hope to try again later this summer. Luckily, I did still get some great photos. I need to practice for the photo contest, but looking at past winners, I not only need more practice, but a better lens as well. Regardless of any missed photo opportunities or disturbing noises in the background, this place is a great place to visit.

The first wildlife sighting of the day and the first racoon I've seen at Ridgefield.

Red-winged Black Birds on common along wetlands and their songs are always pretty to hear.

A Great Blue Heron was spotted on the road by my friend in her rear view mirror. What a huge heron as well!

Obviously I got a little intrigued by the caterpillars that were hanging all over some plants along a little waterway...

Marine Mammal Center Visit

Visiting the Marine Mammal Center has become a must-do when I travel to visit a friend in San Francisco. I love the work they do rehabilitating the various seals and seal lions and the educated volunteers that are always available to answer any question you may have.

On my most recent visit, there were mostly young elephant seals in view who have weaned off their mother's milk, but could not find food on the shallow coastline. Looks like over-fishing and other changes to the world's oceans are causing many problems for these animals, and many others all over the world. You can see that these young seals have a lot of skin to still grow into.

If you ever are around the San Francisco/Sausalito area, I recommend a visit for yourself. Otherwise, enjoy the pictures from mine.

A trip to Columbian White-Tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge

My parents live along the Columbia River in Cathlamet, WA. Their view from their home is beautiful and less than 10 miles down the road is the Columbian White-Tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge. Every visit I am able, I drive through this refuge at least once. Evenings or morning are best since there is more of a chance to see deer. I discovered last year that elk go to the refuge, to actually find refuge, during hunting season. The most common sighting are great blue herons, and one drive threw 11 were spotted. I often take my niece and nephew with me since it is a great family activity and they enjoy counting the number of different animals we encounter.

A red tail hawk sits in a tree along a marsh area.

The red tail flies off, probably cause he got annoyed with me taking photos.

Three northern pintails swim along a marsh area of the refuge.

A group of northern shovelers looks for food. Shovelers have wider and longer beaks than a regular mallard. The females look similar otherwise, but the males are more unique.


Close ups of the winter vegetation along the waterways of the refuge.

An immature bald eagle flies from a tree. Look at those tallons!

Holidays with Wildlife

I spent many hours over the Christmas weekend at different wildlife refuges. Christmas day my favorite gift was all the wildlife viewing at a refuge by my parents house with my niece and nephew (pictures will post later). On Sunday when the weather was cold and windy, I opted for Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge since they have an auto tour full of wildlife.

A heron in the field at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.

A blue heron finds lunch in the form of a small rodent. I always thought they just ate fish.

A blue heron flies away after I got too close for his comfort. Sorry.

Baby nutria! They may be invasive, but they sure are cute!

There were four little babies eating grass on the side of the auto tour road at Ridgefield.

Tundra swans fly overhead. I've only seen swans a few times in my life so I was excited.

Swans rest on the pond in Ridgefield. These large birds have so much power behind their wings they could break your bones if you got too close.

A red tail hawk sits in a tree. There were many spotting of red tails in the trees along with refuge.

A red tail fly by my car hollering about something. In this picture he just landed, but his mouth is still open with his screeching talk.

The landscape at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge which is beautiful all year round.