iNaturalist is a great app for exploring the biodiversity in your area, and especially shines in natural spaces, like Oaks Bottom. Learn to use it as a plant identifier, or get involved with community science!
Using iNaturalist in Oaks Bottom Read More »
By Ruth Howell While the great blue herons command attention and the cottonwoods stand bare against the winter sky, something quieter and older is having its moment at Oaks Bottom. Look down. Look closely. The moss is awake. Winter is moss season in Portland. When the rains return and temperatures drop, mosses do something remarkable:
The Moss Awakens: Winter’s Hidden Spectacle at Oaks Bottom Read More »
In September 2025, an invasive beetle no bigger than a sunflower seed was discovered at the David Douglas Aquatic Center in Northeast Portland. For those who love Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, this news marks the beginning of a profound transformation. The emerald ash borer (EAB) has arrived in Portland, and with it comes the near-certain
A Tiny Beetle, A Big Threat: How the Emerald Ash Borer Will Transform Oaks Bottom Read More »
Getting instructions – Photo: Andrew Cohen On April 12th, Friends of Oaks Bottom worked on mulching plants in Oaks Bottom’s South Meadow. These young native plants (Oregon grape, spiraea, serviceberry, etc.) need some protection in order to survive our dry summers. There were 18 volunteers, including a cohort of Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) members, as
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Article and photos by John Sparks Three species of frog, one of them a predatory interloper, call Oaks Bottom home. Two native frogs, the well-known Pacific chorus frog and the red-legged frog, seem to be increasing in numbers. The “interloper” is the American bullfrog, which – alas – is the amphibian you are most likely
The Frogs of Oaks Bottom Read More »
Hooded merganser male (Lophodytes cucullatus) There were nine attendees on Friends of Oaks Bottom’s fall nature walk, Saturday, November 9th. Joshua Meyers and John Sparks were the official guides, but we were fortunate to be joined by Laura Guderyahn, one of Portland Parks’ five urban ecologists. Laura contributed much interesting information about refuge projects. It
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Article and photos by John Sparks Friends of Oaks Bottom volunteers working near the seasonal Aurora Lake in the North Meadow Three species of salamander call Oaks Bottom home. These amphibians breed, lay eggs, and live their lives in the various habitats that the Bottom offers. Two of the salamanders are terrestrial breeders, while the
Salamanders of Oaks Bottom Read More »
By John Sparks Tom Nelson takes out his Canon 60D Digital SLR, augmented by a 70-300mm zoom, and begins his daily stroll. He’s been doing this morning constitutional for over 15 years now, at 7:00 a.m., rain or shine, ever since he and his wife moved to Portland to be near two of their three
Critter Shooting at Oaks Bottom Read More »