North Coast Land Conservancy & Coastal Natural History Center Team Up for Summer Program

Weather, Science & Travel

Staff June 17, 2008

Each summer the North Coast Land Conservancy teams up with the Coastal Natural History Center to present a variety of programs on a variety of subjects related to the north coast’s natural history. The programs are FREE and open to the public. All programs are at the Coastal Natural History Center at 2674 Hwy 101 North in Seaside [map] unless otherwise indicated. We hope you will join us for one or more of these great programs. Note: This schedule is subject to change. Please check back frequently for updates.

Dune Ecology Saturday June 28, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Ecologist and botanist Kathleen Sayce will discuss the nature of dune plants, soil adaptations, and the liabilities and limitations that plants need to endure in order to live in the harsh dune environment. She will begin with a discussion and presentation at the Coastal Natural History Center, then move out to the little beach dune to see things up close.

Tsunamis and the Local Landscape Saturday July 12, 1:00pm -3:00pm
Recurring tsunamis have played a crucial and dramatic role in shaping the local landscape, and few know that better than local geologist Tom Horning, who as a boy living on the estuary, experienced the 1964 tsunami in Seaside first-hand. That event fueled a life-long interest in the subject, and in this talk he will be sharing this knowlege from a historical as well as geological perspective. The talk starts at the Coastal Natural History Center and will move out to the esturary to see first-hand evidence of subsidence, inundation zones, and other effects from prior tsunami events.

Amphibians: Canary in the Coal Mine Saturday July 19, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Mike Patterson has been performing an exhaustive study on the distribution of amphibians in the North Coast Region, with particular attention on the Cope’s Giant Salamander. In this talk he details his findings so far and discusses the important roles amphbians play as indicator species.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Saturday July 26, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Prestented by Sharnelle Fee, Director of the Wildlife Rehab Center of the North Coast. Meet and learn about pelicans, northern spotted owls and other local shore birds undergoing rehabilitation at the Center. A great experience for kids! Adults must accompany children.

The Clatsop Plains and the Neacoxie Wildlife Corridor Saturday August 2, 10:00am-12pm
Stream piracy. Killer dunes. Invasive takeovers. The Clatsop Plains have a complex and fascinating natural and human history, as does the Neacoxie Wildlife Corridor, the important throughway for wildlife and species that roughly spans Neacoxie Creek and the portion that we call Sunset Lake, and runs from Seaside, north to the Skipanon Peninsula . Learn all about it from two experts: North Coast Land Conservancy executive director Neal Maine, and local geologist Tom Horning.

The Conservationist’s Lens Saturday August 16, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Neal Maine & grandson Michael Wing show how the camera can be used to not just photograph nature but also help us see, understand, and appreciate it. You won’t want to miss this one, if only for the opportunity to see examples of the duo’s stunning nature photography.

Book reading and signing by Strand author Bonnie Henderson Saturday September 20, 1:00pm – 2:30pm Writer and long-time coast watch voluinteer Bonnie Henderson has traveled as far as Indonesia and Japan to trace stories of wrack washed up on a mile long stretch of Oregon beach, and in her new book Strand, she relates these fascinating stories, from a long abandoned fishing boat to the egg case of a skate. “…A marvelous book—enchanting, illuminating, often surprising, always informative,” says David Laskin, author of The Children’s Blizzard. Bonnie got her start in journalism at the Seaside Signal, has been a contributor to Sunset magazine, and is the author of several hiking books, including Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Day Hiking: Oregon Coast.

Estuary Day Celebration Saturday September 27, starting at 10:00am
Estuaries are among the most biologically productive ecosystems on the planet. More than two thirds of the fish and shellfish we eat spend some part of their lives in estuaries. These ecosystems also act as filters for terrestrial pollutants and provide protection from flooding. And they fuel the local economy by attracting bird watchers, boaters, fishermen and tourists. We invite you to join us for a celebration of National Estuary Day, at Gateway Park on the Necanicum River Estuary (just north of the Coastal Natural History Center).

And be sure to check out….

“4th Saturdays” Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Do you love being out in nature? Would you like to help with wildlife habitat enhancement? NCLC is excited to announce our new volunteer stewardship program called 4th Saturdays. On the 4th Saturday of most months we will be implementing a variety of habitat enhancement activites across the breadth of our properties. Each day will be a little different so please call our Land Steward, Katie Voelke at 738-9126 to learn more about upcoming 4th Saturday work parties.