Highland Wonders Archives » Page 9 of 12 » OHA

The Squirrel World of the Pacific Northwest

On Friday, January 10th, David Moskowitz came to Highland Wonders to speak about squirrels. This was David’s first time offering a presentation on squirrels.

“The Pacific Northwest has some of the highest diversity of squirrels in the world. There are about 112 squirrel species in the world, and we have about 25 of them here in the Pacific Northwest… And part of the reason we have such a tremendous diversity is because of the diversity of the landscape that we have here, ranging from coastal rainforests to interior deserts and then of course the mountains all the way up to boreal and alpine highland forests.”

David Douglas in Okanogan Country

Jack Nisbet kicked off the 2013-2014 indoor Highland Wonders educational series with a fascinating presentation about naturalist David Douglas.

Grassland Ecology and Grass Identification, Field Trip

This Highland Wonders event provided an opportunity to learn from one of the region’s premier grass experts, Don Gayton, who discussed our local grassland ecology and grass plant identification. Community members did not have to be botanists to enjoy this two-part indoor/outdoor event, as everyone from the greenhorn to the conversant could get something from Don’s wealth of knowledge. Topics covered included grassland types, invasive plants, grazing and fire interactions, and simplified methods of identifying grasses.

Geology of the Okanogan Highlands 2013

On August 17th, 2013, an extraordinary outdoor Highland Wonders event took place: a tour highlighting the geology of the highlands, expanding on what was shared during the past two years’ geology tours. Geology of the Okanogan Highlands – Part III, was lead by a team of speakers who each brought a different emphasis.

Watershed Functioning, Plant Ecology, and Stream Processes

Two highly qualified stream experts lead one of OHA’s 2013 summertime Highland Wonders field trips, offering a unique opportunity to learn about our highland waterways.

Seeing the Forest Among the Trees

From the Panorama to the Patch: How do People Fit?

Renowned forest ecologist, Herb Hammond, kicked off the Summer 2013 Highland Wonders series with a unique perspective on Okanogan Highlands ecology. “Seeing the Forest Among the Trees,” featured a Friday evening presentation with a Saturday outdoor field trip the following day. This two-part approach provided the best of both venues for maximum learning and enjoyment.

Swan’s Journey – Understanding the World’s Largest Waterfowl

On Friday, May 3rd, 2013, Martha Jordan came to Highland Wonders to share information about the Trumpeter Swans who grace the waters of the Okanogan at various points in the year.

The Best of All Things: Clean Water

John Crandall came to Highland Wonders to discuss water quality and its importance in our lives. John shared the story of water quality protection in the United States, including the role of the Clean Water Act – what it does and what it means for our water. Drawing on his extensive experience in monitoring water quality, John provided an overview of the characteristics of water that are most commonly analyzed, and why. He discussed important local issues such the relationship between water temperature and fish survival, and the impact of pesticide use in our waterways. The effects of beavers, as well as wetlands, on water quality were also discussed.

Native Plant Pollinators of NCW

Pollinating insects have a big job, helping plants produce fruit not only in gardens and orchards, but also among many native species like wild strawberries, huckleberries, thimbleberries, wax currants, and others that require pollination to reproduce. Dr. Bob Gillespie is helping keep track of our native pollinators, making observations and assessing how well they are functioning. On Friday, March 1st, Bob came to Highland Wonders to share about the surprising diversity of species pollinating the native plants in our region.

Grouse of the Okanogan

On Friday, Feb 1st, 2013, Dr. Michael Schroeder brought his wealth of experience with, “Grouse of the Okanogan.” We learned that Okanogan County is home to seven species of grouse, more than any other county in the US. Okanogan County is home to: Sage Grouse, White-Tailed Ptarmigan, Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Dusky Grouse, and Sooty Grouse. There are 12 species in total across the United States.