The April 11th, 2014, Highland Wonders event on Wild Mushrooms and Fungi Ecology was dedicated to OHA volunteer Marge McCormick, who recently passed away after a battle with cancer. We appreciate everything Marge did to help further OHA’s work in the highlands, and she will be greatly missed.
For those who missed the September 2013 grassland learning experience or needed an opportunity to reinforce the concepts from the event, OHA was thrilled to announce the return of one of the region’s premier grass experts, Don Gayton. Last September, Don’s Highland Wonders presentation and field trip were filled to capacity, and OHA received requests to offer an indoor presentation to a larger group. The March event was a great opportunity for those who were not able to participate in the previous grassland learning experience, as well as a chance for those who attended to reinforce the concepts that had been presented, and develop a deeper understanding.
On February 7th, 2014, wildlife biologist Ken Bevis, who is also a singer/songwriter, provided an entertaining evening of stories, photos, songs and science, aiming for a closer understanding of some of Washington’s fish and wildlife… sometimes from the viewpoint of the critters themselves! This family-friendly program was fun for all ages! Species featured in the “Saga of Washington’s Fish and Wildlife” presentation included: sandhill crane, bull trout, chinook salmon, hummingbirds, black bear, and more…
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.”
Jack Nisbet kicked off the 2013-2014 indoor Highland Wonders educational series with a fascinating presentation about naturalist David Douglas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.