Oregon Field Guide (1990) | Couchpile

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Oregon Field Guide (1990) | Couchpile

Season 20

15 Episodes

E01

20th-Anniversary Special

The 20th-anniversary special re-visits Oregon Field Guide's most memorable adventures, locations and people. It goes behind-the-scenes to see the funny and sometimes frightening things the crew endured to get the story. From an angry peregrine falcon dive-bombing our videographer as he clings to a narrow beam hundreds of feet above the Willamette River, to a runaway horse nearly dragging a reporter over a steep mountain trail.

E02

Saltmakers, Undersea Eruptions, Underwater Fossils

See what it took for the men of the Lewis and Clark Expedition just to put a little salt on the table. In the winter of 1806, Lewis and Clark needed salt to preserve meat for their return trip. Their men had to boil seawater over a campfire in order to obtain their salt. Scientists such as Dr. Steve Hammond and Dr. Bill Chadwick of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study the eruption of undersea volcanoes off the Oregon Coast. The scientists use robotic submarines to examine these massive underwater eruptions and gain a better understanding of the chemical processes at play. Through this research scientists hope to find solutions to the ocean's increasing acidification. A retired Oregon police officer, Mike Full traded his badge for scuba gear in order to search the South Yamhill riverbed for prehistoric fossils. An underwater detective, Mike has collected over 30 percent of the pieces to a giant mammoth skeleton, which other paleontologists call "exceptional". As Field Guide cameras accompany Mike under the water, watch as he makes the discovery of a lifetime right in front of our eyes.

E03

Bagby Hot Springs, Bighorn Pneumonia, Rhododendron Garden, Spirit Lake Photo Essay

We visit Bagby Hot Springs in the Mt. Hood National Forest and see all the work going on to clean it up and protect the visitors. In the 1990's Bagby had a reputation for alcohol, drugs, vandalism and other crimes. Thanks to improved law enforcement and the work of volunteers from the Northwest Forest Conservancy, families are returning to Bagby. Volunteers have removed trash, maintained trails, educated the public, and restored buildings. Pneumonia is killing off wild bighorn sheep in the Wallowas. Biologists believe that domestic sheep are carrying pathogens that infect the wild bighorns, but ranchers disagree. Watch the incredible lengths biologists go to in their attempt to save the wild sheep and why efforts have ignited a new battle between Oregon and Idaho over how to use public lands. We take you to a beautiful secret garden on Oregon's central coast near Reedsport. Spruce Reach Island is the former estate of O. H. Hinsdale, who planted azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons on the five acre site, now owned by the BLM. After nearly half a century, there's a good chance the public may finally be able to go there. Come see a volcanic lake in the blast zone of Mount St. Helens in southwest Washington. Videographer Michael Bendixen takes you for an up-close visit to the waters of Spirit Lake, including underwater shots of trout swimming in the lake.

E04

Fishers, Reptile Hunter, Terns & Cormorants

The fisher, a member of the weasel family, once thrived in the Pacific Northwest. But now it’s rare to see one. We take a look at what is happening to the population. There may be fewer than 50 fishers in the cascade range. Fishers are elusive, scientist have set up 16 monitoring stations to try to film the secretive mammal. They also try to capture fisher hair by using sticky tape. Hair samples are then sent to labs for DNA analysis. We follow 'reptile hunters' Chris Rombough and Sarah Petrakis into the wilds of the Willamette Valley and the Columbia Gorge to see just how many snakes and other reptiles we can find. Their finds include a garter snake, gopher snake, racer, ringneck snake, western rattlesnake, and an alligator lizard. You may be surprised to see what's hiding right along the trail. A grand experiment ten years ago attempted to save endangered salmon from feasting Caspian terns. We return to East Sand Island near the mouth of the Columbia River and find it seems to have worked. Except now there’s a new danger from an even larger group of double-crested cormorants who have moved in.

E05

Amphibian Disease, Immersive Media, Oregon Garden Update, Vole Holes

Worldwide, a fungal skin disease called chytridiomycosis is decimating frogs and salamanders. The disease may be responsible for declines in some frog and salamander populations in Oregon, but a biologist finds that an ancient species of frog called the tail frog, which lives only in the Pacific Northwest, remains healthy. We follow the camera crew that produces Google’s Street View feature. Immersive Media is on the cutting edge of video technology. Their camera uses eleven lens to capture 360 degree views. The separate angles are stitched together using powerful software, to give one of a kind views of the world around us. We explore the many different uses of this emerging technology in the virtul world. OFG update looking at what dreams did and didn't come true at the Oregon Garden since we last visited in 1999. After a surge in the vole population, farmers and scientist debate whether the underground critters are harmful or helpful. Voles create elaborate underground tunnel systems that can be destructive to fields and crops. However, using probe cameras, scientists are learning new information about voles and vole holes that suggests voles might play a vital role in nature after all.

E06

Mt Washington Climb, Slugs, Umpqua Fish Watcher

This has to be one of our most treacherous but beautiful climbs ever, as three climbers from OSU ascend Mount Washington in the central Oregon Cascades. Using harnessess and ropes, they take us along narrow ledges and up sheer cliffs while trying to avoid falling rocks -- it may be dangerous, but what a view from the top! Do you know how to get slug slime off your hands? What’s that weird hole in the right side of every slug? Learn from an Oregon woman who now loves slugs and welcomes them in her garden. Lee Spencer is a volunteer who spends his time watching over a unique pool, called the Dynamite Hole, on the Umpqua river that is a seasonal home to spawning Steelhead Salmon. He spends twelve hours a day at the river's edge to ensure poachers do not disturb this fragile environment. His work ensures the salmon can finish their treacherous journey up river to lay their eggs so that the cycle of life can continue into the future.

E07

Beeswax Ship, Electric Drag Racing, Native Bumblebees

An archaeological team is investigating the wreck of a Spanish galleon -- a transport ship -- that went down with as many as 400 people aboard off the coast at Manzanita about 1690. The cargo from that vessel has been washing up on the Oregon coast for more than a century. Now the search is on for the remains of the ship itself. Watch as John Wayland's electric car, the White Zombie leaves high powered gas cars in the dust as Portland makes a home for the National Electric Drag Racing Association. John claims that his car is the world's fastest accelerating street legal electric car. See this 1972 Datsun time and time again take advantage of the electric motor's full torque in the first instant and continue to break world records. Oregon’s native bumblebees are disappearing. We’ll show you why and what one farmer is doing to help bring them back.

E08

Celilo Revealed, Effigy Beach

Celilo Falls has been the center of an emotional controversy for more than fifty years... we all know it disappeared when the Columbia River was dammed but some tribal members believe the government blew it up first. You'll see brand new history-making images which might finally settle the matter. There is growing concern over the safety of ancient native Columbia River rock art because of housing developments, vandalism and theft. In the past archaeologists tried to keep the locations secret-now there’s a new effort to actually expose the art to the public as part of an educational campaign that encourages ownership.

E09

Hut to Hut Biking, Pine Bark Beetles, Stream Temperature

Oregon's first hut-to-hut biking route is a doozy of a ride through the backcountry around Mount Hood. We follow the Bright boys who enjoy the scenery even as they struggle to stay on course. A tiny beetle which has devastated entire forests in western North America has returned with a vengeance to Oregon. See how the mountain pine beetle is being dealt with. Colorado's mature lodge pole pine forests have been decimated, see how Oregon foresters hope to avoid the same fate. We’ll show you the latest technology to monitor the health of our streams.

E10

Catlin Gabel Forest Restoration, Condor Nest Search, Deschutes River Recreation

An unusually dedicated group of students from Catlin Gabel school not only volunteer, they pay to spend a week in the woods doing forest restoration. The annual Elana Gold Project serves as a living legacy to a former student who died 15 years before. Follow a biologist down dangerous cliff faces and along 300 foot drops in a quest to identify condor nests along the Columbia. Some of the nests are over 100 years old. It's all part of a research project that may help bring the condors back to the Pacific Northwest. Fifteen years ago Oregon Field Guide reported from the crowded banks of the Deschutes river where litter and chaos ruled. Today, the scene is much quieter. But the management plan responsible for reigning in the chaos over the last decade has also had consequences for business and personal freedom.

E11

Feral Pigs, Fish Cam, Siletz Photoessay, Wetland Farming

The wild pigs invading parts of Oregon not only look dangerous-they are. They are vicious predators that are also doing a lot of damage to the land. We’ll show you what’s being done to try and control them. The Oregon Field Guide team profiles how State and private property owners are trying to control this invasive species. Dr. Jason Dunham a USGS Aquatic Ecologist shows you a side of fresh water ecosystems rarely seen. His secret a stationary underwater camera. Scientist can study specimens in the lab, but could not see how they survive in the wild. The underwater camera helps researchers turn entire fresh water streams into laboratories. See up close shots of Rainbow Trout as well as spawning Steelhead Salmon. Standing water and thousands of hungry birds usually mean death to a farmer’s crops. See why a few people in Oregon are intentionally turning to a new form of farming. They’re growing wetlands. Willamette Valley farmer Mark Knaupp's Mud Slough wetland is such an example. Also called a wetland mitigation bank Mark has partnered with the The Wetlands Conservancy to help restore vital habitat.

E12

Hummingbird Flight, Malheur Refuge Carp, Return to Mount St. Helens

Hummingbirds aren’t just fun to watch, they're also on the cutting edge of science. The Oregon Field Guide team heads to the University Portland campus to see how scientists are studying hummingbird flight. Their research is being used in both sports medicine, and robotics. In the future tiny robotic vehicles using characteristics from hummingbird flight could be used for surveillance or in search and rescue operations. As the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge turns 100 years old it faces a serious crisis. An invasion by hundreds of thousands of carp threatens this linchpin in the Pacific Flyway. Trumpeter Swan, Whitefaced Ibis and Egret's are just a few of the many birds you can see at the Malheur refuge. Sadly you will not see many birds at Malheur lake as it has been overrun by introduced carp, but efforts are underway to help prevent further habitat loss. After three years of continuous eruption, Mount St. Helens has gone quiet but has not stopped changing. A new glacier has formed in the mouth of the crater and continues to expand. Scientists from the US Geological Survey have deployed a variety of equipment, allowing them to constantly monitor this dynamic environment. Take a rare trip into the crater to see what scientists continue to learn from the Northwest’s most active volcano.

E13

Cats & Birds, Kayak Fishing, Multibeam Sonar, Spotted Owl Update

Find out the truth about cats and birds in the Portland metro area. The Oregon Field guide crew introduces you to Bob Sallinger (Conservation Director for the Audubon Society of Portland), and the Audubon's rescue efforts to save wild song birds from cat predation. To help prevent the thousands of song bird attacks per year. Audubon and the Oregon Feral Cat Coalition have teamed up to promote a Spay/Neuter program. Most people can't put the concept of kayaking and fishing together. But for one Oregon couple, it's the only way to fish. Field Guide journeys to the waters off the beautiful Beverly Beach to see how these two kayak fishermen can get into areas that big boats can't and catch prized lingcod. We head into the ocean for a look at new technology designed to keep our coastline safe for seagoing vessels. See how NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is mapping the coastline off Oregon's coast using multibeam sonar. Join the crew of the research vessel Rainer as they plot the depths of the Columbia River Bar and Grays Harbor in Washington state. As well as the historic wreck of the Admiral Benson passenger ship. The spotted owl may have retreated from the headlines, but it's still in deep trouble. In addition to logging and habitat loss, one of the biggest threat is an invasion of east coast barred owls. A new plan proposes to kill barred owls in certain areas to help give the spotted owls a competitive edge. But will Oregon tolerate shooting one owl to save another?

E14

Eagle Cap Extreme, Portland Biking, Summer Lake Revisit

Learn more about the Eagle Cap Extreme, Oregon's only Iditarod qualifier. Mushers lead their teams through the Wallowa Whitman National Forest in one of two races either the 100 mile or the 200 mile. The Oregon Field Guide crew accompanies the teams and along the way they become part of the story. In addition this episode of Field Guide has some incredibly beautiful shots of the Wallowa's at dawn and dusk. Portland boasts more bicycle riders than most U.S. cities so it's no wonder city planners are doing all they can to make the area as bike friendly as possible. Portland traffic and safety engineers are coming up with innovative ways to prevent accidents. Solutions modeled in bike friendly Holland are migrating to Portland. Bike boxes and designated bike routes are just a couple of the ways Portland leads the nation in bike safety. We check back in with a team of archaeologists searching caves near central Oregon's Summer Lake.

E15

Jim Newman Salute

Jim Newman, veteran producer, reporter and "The Voice" of Oregon Field Guide, is hanging up his hiking boots after more than 20 years of covering virtually every corner of the state. This week Field Guide pays special tribute to Jim.

Season 24

14 Episodes

2012

E01

Cranberry Farming, Grebes Walk on Water, North Umpqua Geology

10/4/2012

Cranberry Farming Oregon cranberry farmers call the south coast the NAPA valley of cranberry farming in the US. A longer growing season produces sweet berries. But don’t believe the myth that they grow in watery bogs. Cranberry fields are flooded only two days a year to help the farmers get the berries off the vine at harvest time. Grebes Walk on Water How on earth do grebes dance on the surface of the water? Thanks to high speed cameras we see just how grebes can propel themselves as if they walk on top of the water in the Upper Klamath Lake. It is an amazing sight. North Umpqua Geology Join us on a journey to another Oregon location that is unique in the world. Southern Oregon’s North Umpqua River is one of our more dramatic landscapes: a place where rivers collide and three distinct mountain ranges meet. It is an incredible trip into this geologic wonderland.

E02

Citizen Science, Ice Diving, Time-lapse Photography

10/11/2012

Citizen Science Scientists are increasingly turning to citizens for help gathering data. Ice Diving Why would anyone intentionally dive into a frozen lake? Field Guide follows ice divers from the Klamath County Dive Search & Rescue Team into a dangerous world of freezing temperatures and surprising beauty. Time-lapse Photography We follow photographer Ben Canales to find out how he gets his stunning time-lapse imagery.

E03

Cattle Drives, Gorge Weeds, Timberline 75th

10/18/2012

Cattle Drives A historic cattle ranch in southeastern Oregon moves cows every day. In many ways, cattle drives there have changed little since a century ago. The ranch herds cattle from one end of a million acre range to the other over the course of a year. Gorge Weeds The Columbia Gorge is one of our favorite playgrounds. But recreational use brings in noxious weeds that crowd out native species and upset the area’s ecological balance. We take a look at the challenges state agencies, land managers and non-profit groups face in trying to control the influx of these invasive “game-changers” and their efforts to coordinate these efforts. Timberline 75th Oregon’s Timberline Lodge was part of FDR’s Works Progress Administration - a program that not only put people to work, but also preserved some of the finest of the Northwest’s indigenous arts. Despite the museum-quality art and hand-made furnishings, Timberline is still open to the public today.

E04

Mt. Hood's Volcanic Past, Warren Falls, Yellow Tuft Alyssum

10/25/2012

Mt. Hood's Volcanic Past Mt. Hood is an active volcano with a history of relatively recent eruptions. Warren Falls A man-made waterfall in the Columbia Gorge blocks a natural fall. One man wants to end that. Yellow Tuft Alyssum A new invasive species from Europe has been introduced in the Illinois River valley.

E05

Cloud Cap Inn, Drift Diving, Jim Rogers

11/1/2012

Cloud Cap Inn Cloud Cap Inn on Mt Hood’s north side endures as the oldest alpine lodge in the US. Drift Diving Take a dive into the chilly Wilson River as we hunt for Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout as part of a research project to see how well they're doing. Jim Rogers Jim Rogers helped create two wilderness areas on Oregon’s south coast along the Elk River.

E06

Aerial Fish Stocking, Hiking from Portland to the Pacific Coast, Stormwater

11/8/2012

Aerial Fish Stocking Oregon uses helicopters every other year for aerial fish stocking in high mountain lakes. Hiking from Portland to the Pacific Coast A Portland man finds a way to hike from Portland to the coast without building new trails. Stormwater Stormwater is a toxic cocktail of sediment, grease, road grime, tire wear and any litter small enough to slip into storm drains. And that’s just what can be seen. There’s much more.

E07

Autumn Rivers Photo Essay, Condors and Lead Bullets, Outdoor School

11/15/2012

Autumn Rivers Photo Essay A beautiful tour of Oregon's rivers in Autumn. Condors and Lead Bullets Endangered condors released to the wild get ill and die from lead poisoning. Outdoor School Outdoor School has been part of life in Oregon for more than 40 years. We look at the past and present of this beloved institution.

E08

Christmas Bird Count, Forest Park BioBlitz, Llama Backpacking

11/29/2012

Christmas Bird Count The Christmas Bird Count provides the nation’s best record of the rise and fall of bird populations. Forest Park BioBlitz Follow an army of wildlife experts and volunteers as they scour Portland’s Forest Park for every animal species they can find in twenty-four hours. Llama Backpacking Like the backcountry but can’t carry a heavy pack? Try a llama.

E09

Backpacking the Olympic Coast, Columbia River Toxins, Portland Fruit Tree Project

1/31/2013

Backpacking the Olympic Coast Three women backpack along the rugged Olympic Peninsula wilderness coastline. Columbia River Toxins Tests show the mid-Columbia river shares the same contamination as the lower river. Portland Fruit Tree Project Learn how one non-profit is turning Portland’s many fruit trees into a community resource.

E10

River of the Rogues

2/7/2013

River of the Rogues River of the Rogues tells the story of the people and events that shaped the Rogue River.

E11

Diving for Science, Hanami

2/14/2013

Diving for Science Science divers brave hostile waters & see a world of life and beauty off the Oregon coast. Hanami Each spring, Portlanders are treated to a spectacular display of Yoshino cherry blossoms.

E12

The White Salmon River Runs Free: Breaching the Condit Dam

2/21/2013

The White Salmon River Runs Free: Breaching the Condit Dam The Condit Dam removal helped endangered salmon.

E13

Dory Builder, The Tuesday Crew, Willamette Greenway

2/28/2013

Dory Builder Pacific City, Oregon owes its identity, and its fishing industry, to dory boats. The flat-bottomed, no-keel boats take off from dry sand directly into the surf. When they return, fishermen throttle up full blast to slide back in using the beach as their brakes. A group of students from Linfield College are making a major effort to preserve the unique history of the dory boats and the community that relies on them. The Tuesday Crew Since the early 80s, one group of dedicated volunteers has shown up, rain or shine, snow or ice to help maintain Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum. Thanks to efforts, this 187-acre tree museum and its 12 miles of trails stay in good condition year-round. Willamette Greenway One of the boldest plans ever proposed in Oregon called for a park 200 miles long, lining the banks of the Willamette River all the way from Springfield from Portland. The plan hit opposition from farmers when the state started seizing farmland.

E14

Classroom at Crater Lake, Photographer Bill Wallauer, Wolf Haven International

3/7/2013

Classroom at Crater Lake Through the Classroom at Crater Lake program, Ona’s students get a special outdoor learning experience, bringing them face-to-face with fallen log ecosystems, Central Oregon geology, species unique to high alpine forests, and autumn weather. Photographer Bill Wallauer Oregonian Bill Wallauer grew up hunting and enjoying the outdoors in Joseph and Grants Pass. But when he joined the Peace Corps in 1989 and befriended renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, his life changed forever. 20 years later, Bill himself has become an internationally known wildlife photographer and behavioralist. We go along with Bill to a closed and protected natural research laboratory at Mt St Helens to photograph some of the Northwest’s most camera-shy inhabitants, elk. Wolf Haven International For many people the opportunity to learn more about one of nature’s most efficient predators, the wolf, only comes from TV, books and the Internet.

Season 23

14 Episodes

2011

E01

Arctic White Geese, Paragliding Race, Treeverse

10/6/2011

Arctic White Geese Hundreds of thousands of migrating geese create a blizzard which blankets the sky and covers farmers’ fields. The birds move north from Klamath Falls to Summer Lake to the farms near Burns during their annual migration to the Arctic. The hungry birds create one of the easiest, closest wildlife viewing opportunities in the state. Paragliding Race The Rat Race Paragliding event is like a yacht race in the sky, and attracts 160 of the best paragliding pilots in the world in a mesmerizing display of color and skill. Treeverse Filmmaker John Waller teams up with tall-tree arborists on an unprecedented “treeverse” through the canopy of Oregon white oaks near Canby. The 5-day quest will test the ingenuity and grit not only of the climbers but every shooter, rigger, and John himself. Why brave the cold, mud and storms of March in treetops? To find out if it can be done, sure. But also to celebrate the majestic beauty of these rapidly disappearing native groves.

E02

Elk at Mount St. Helens, Lighthouse Photoessay, Snowkiting

10/13/2011

Scientists investigate the thousands of elk who have returned to Mount St. Helens. Matt Thames combines his love of snowboarding with “kiting” to reach heights of 80-100 feet. Lighthouse Photoessay.

E03

Bighorn Release, Photogeology, Willamette Valley Fen

10/20/2011

Bighorn Release ODFW continues 60 years of bighorn restoration with their latest release in historic sheep country near the John Day Fossil Beds. Within months many of the sheep had spread out through remote canyons and newborn lambs were leaping with them up cliffs. But one group of rams wandered another direction, leading to a serious setback which resulted in their deaths. Photogeology Tour A beautiful tour of the stunning Jordan Craters and Leslie Gulch as we learn more about the wonders of Oregon geology. Willamette Valley Fen Have you ever heard of a fen? These unique geographic features used to be fairly common in Western Oregon and Washington but now they are rare. We visit what may be the last intact fen left in the Willamette Valley and see plant species that exist nowhere else.

E04

Bald Eagle Recovery, Cyclocross, Jim Anderson

10/27/2011

Bald Eagle Recovery More bald eagles spend the winter in Oregon than anywhere in the U.S. outside Alaska. The national symbol is no longer endangered. Yet there is one area in Oregon where eagles have trouble successfully hatching eggs. Cyclocross We head to Estacada to witness the bruising sport of Cyclocross, a sport that combines the grit of mountain biking, the speed of road racing, and the crashes of a steeplechase course. Race Organizer Brad Ross has been organizing the Cross Crusade series of races for years, races that now draw up to 1500 people per race. That’s a far cry from what we saw during Oregon Field Guide’s first story on cyclocross 15 years ago. Jim Anderson Jim Anderson is one of Oregon’s most beloved naturalists. We celebrate his legacy and the many stories he’s been involved with over the decades on Oregon Field Guide.

E05

Nature Sound Recording, Silver Falls State Park, Zumwalt Cooperation

11/3/2011

Nature Sounds Recording John Hartog is a nature sound recordist. Just as painters paint a landscape, or photographers photograph it, John heads into the countryside (Sauvie Island and Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge) with a microphone and a recording deck to capture the natural sounds of wild Oregon. These audio ‘snapshots’ in time tell us something about the place we live, and the wildlife that share it with us. Silver Falls State Park 1.5 million people every year make Silver Falls State Park the most popular state park in Oregon. They may be surprised to learn that 80 years ago that a town sat there, the area was full of stumps and the biggest waterfall was a daredevil's playground. Silver Falls was saved by a single-minded photographer determined to protect it for everyone to enjoy. Zumwalt Cooperation Despite a century of cattle grazing, Oregon's Zumwalt Prairie remains healthy. A new study by Oregon State University shows low to moderate levels of grazing does not harm the survival of ground nesting birds. The Nature Conservancy's Zumwalt Prairie Preserve also allows grazing in a rare partnership of ranchers and conservationists.

E06

Avalanche Safety, Fishing Quotas, Music in Nature

11/10/2011

Avalanche Safety We follow students taking a level-one avalanche course with regional expert Glenn Kessler. The course includes snow profile analysis, avalanche beacon drills and basic snow science. Fishing Quotas Join a trawler on the high seas as he makes the worst catch imaginable: highly restricted canary rockfish. He must handle the unwanted haul under a brand new set of rules imposed on the industry in 2011. Catch shares now give out individual quotas of fish and hold those trawlers accountable when they catch too many. It's the biggest change to west coast trawling in 50 years. Music in Nature We follow musicians Deklun and Pace from Mount Hood to the coast as they find natural homes for their unique Electronic/trumpet musical improvisations. With a 1000 watt sound system, a computer and a trumpet, they don’t play for crowds. They play for an audience of nature alone.

E07

Columbia Gorge: The Fight for Paradise

11/17/2011

Columbia Gorge: The Fight for Paradise As the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Act turns 25, a look back at its dual mandate of protection and economic development.

E08

Open Water Swimming, Pine Butterflies, Radon

Open Water Swimming When you think about competitive swimming you probably picture what you see at the Olympics. Long pools. One swimmer per lane. But many people prefer something different: swimming across open lakes. Late in the summer of 2011, Eel Lake near Coos Bay, Oregon featured some serious racing - and a goofy obstacle course. Pine Butterflies An exceedingly rare population explosion of pine butterflies fills the Malheur National Forest with a virtual snowstorm in August. The mysterious outbreak may occur for 2 or 3 years and then disappear for 3 decades. The beauty extracts a price: the butterflies, while caterpillars, ate needles off 250,000 acres of trees. Radon Public health authorities tell us that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, and the highest among non-smokers. But scientists have only been aware of radon as a health hazard since the early 1980s. So, just how big a health risk is radon? We take a look at the geologic conditions that account for radon’s presence in Oregon as well as the current health science, testing and mitigation thinking on the subject.

E09

Chetco River Revisited, Gold Fish, Muddy Boots

Chetco River Revisited Oregon Field Guide journeys back to the remote, Chetco river almost 10 years after the massive Biscuit fire engulfed the Chetco’s remarkable wilderness river canyon. We discover that the river remains as remote and difficult to access than it was before the fire, and yet it’s even more enticing. Gold Fish We follow a team of ODFW fish biologists as they try to stop one of the state’s most destructive invaders – gold fish. It turns out that the harmless gold fish most of us had as pets are far from harmless. In fact, if gold fish find their way into Central Oregon’s Crane Prairie reservoir, they could spread throughout the upper Deschutes watershed and destroy the region’s lucrative sport fishing economy. Muddy Boots Worms, chickens, bees and gardens of fresh veggies lure children to play and learn outdoors. Portland's Muddy Boots Family Nature Club tackles "nature deficit disorder" by getting kids away from video games into a world of wonder.

E10

Beacon Rock Climbing, Ditch Fish, Newberry Crater Geothermal

Beacon Rock Climbing Jim Opdycke is the unofficial “mayor” of Beacon rock. He’s climbed this spectacular basalt monolith in the Columbia gorge for over 40 years and has contributed perhaps more than anyone else to the unique traditional, or traditional, climbing culture of Beacon. We join Jim on a climb up the 900 foot face of Beacon Rock, cameras in tow, and learn about the specialized style of climbing known as “trad”- considered the most pure of climbing styles. Ditch Fish Willamette Valley farmers learn that in addition to their intended crops, they’ve been raising fish in their fields for years and never knew it. Researchers found young native fish thriving in ditches that fill with water during the winter, an unrecognized habitat until recently. Newberry Crater Geothermal EGS, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, hopes to get hot water out of a dry well just outside the Newberry Crater. The experiment hopes to create massive reservoirs two miles under ground. The earth would heat the cold water injected into fissures in the rocks and pumps would bring the hot water back out for energy production.

E11

Balloon Archaeology, Biscuit Fire 10 Years Later, Collier Glacier

Balloon Archaeology Archaeologists trade working on hands and knees for a viewpoint floating high overhead. Rare access to a helium balloon and remote controlled camera provides the clearest view of the most intriguing discovery in Oregon in years: stone circles that resemble the medicine wheels found in Wyoming and farther east. Biscuit Fire 10 Years Later Bernard Bormann, with the Pacific Northwest Research station, had been studying the forests’ of the Siskiyou mountains for years. When the 500,000 acre Biscuit fire burned through his research plots, he first thought all was lost. But in the 10 years since the fire, he’s been able to compare life before and after fire to reveal an amazing amount of new information about how life returns to the forest after fire. Collier Glacier For more than a century, photographers have been taking pictures of the Three Sisters’ Collier Glacier. What they didn’t know was they were also documenting the dramatic retreat of Oregon’s largest glacier. USGS Geologist Jim O’Connor takes us to this beautiful area to take this year’s photo and learn what it all means from PSU glaciologist Andrew Fountain.

E12

Kite Festival, Trees and Pollution, Ultralight Hiking

Kite Festival Tonight we have a story about a sport that includes floating.. fighting.. and synchronized dancing. That's one way to say: this isn't your grandfather's way to fly kites. Field Guide's Vince Patton and videographer Michael Bendixen found kites from two inches wide to the size of a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon… at the largest kite festival in Oregon, in Lincoln City. Trees and Pollution Emerging research shows that if plants and trees are planted in certain locations, they can make air pollution worse. The plants emit isoprenes which combine with man-made pollutants to create ozone. Ultralight Hiking Clint “Lint” Bunting came to backpacking late in life, but once he took to it he went “all in”. He has hiked over 14,000 miles, including all of the big American Thru hikes: the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Ice Age Trail and the Continental divide Trail, some of them twice! What’s more, he now hikes for weeks at a time with an 8-pound pack, significantly less than the 40-50 pounds many backpackers typically carry.

E13

Bug Chicks, Canoe Journey, Cape Arago photoessay, Pacific Crest Trail

Bug Chicks Kristie Reddick and Jessica Honaker are two entomologists on a mission. They want people to think differently about bugs. Canoe Journey Tribal canoe journey and science connect in Salish Sea. Cape Arago Photo Essay Revisited Videographer Nick Fisher beautifully captures sunsets, rolling clouds and stunning shots of the beach at high and low tide. Pacific Crest Trail Think about what it takes to hike over 2600 miles in a summer. Now, think about what it takes to do it as an 11 year old! That’s what one father/daughter team from Salem did one summer as they hiked the entire Pacific Crest trail from Mexico to Canada. And they shared with us an amazing story of their adventure.

E14

Mount Hood Climbing Oregon's Highest Peak

3/29/2012

From all around our region, Mt Hood sits on the horizon like a tantalizing gem. Who hasn’t dreamed of climbing it? In fact, people come from around world to do just that. But as Oregonians, we’re lucky enough to have it in our own back yard. Tonight, Jule Gilfillan explores the history, challenges and rewards of climbing our highest peak.

Season 27

13 Episodes

2015

Unprepared: An Oregon Field Guide Special

E01

Unprepared: An Oregon Field Guide Special

10/1/2015

Oregon Field Guide's special presentation - Unprepared - takes an in-depth look at Oregon's lack of preparedness for a major earthquake.

Wildlife Crossings, Behind the Scenes, Sand Labyrinth

E02

Wildlife Crossings, Behind the Scenes, Sand Labyrinth

10/8/2015

Oregon's first wildlife crossing saves lives of deer and drivers. Now ODOT plans another crossing. A behind-the-scenes look at Oregon Field's story on Mt St Helens and Glacier Caves. Denny Dyke's labyrinth drawings in the sand last as long as the tides dictate.

Range Restoration, Cormorant vs. Salmon, Honeybees

E03

Range Restoration, Cormorant vs. Salmon, Honeybees

10/15/2015

How can a pasta machine help sagebrush landscapes grow back after fire? Thousands of cormorants are to be killed because they eat so many salmon. Honeybees throughout the United States have been struggling for nearly a decade.

Urban Beavers, Dam Removals, Sandcastle Contest

E04

Urban Beavers, Dam Removals, Sandcastle Contest

10/22/2015

There's a beaver boom all around Portland. Local agencies let them stay where they are. In the past decade, several high-profile dam removals have happened in the Northwest. Follow the Jessop family as they compete in the 51st annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest.

Frogs, Halfway Calendar,

E05

Frogs, Halfway Calendar,

10/29/2015

Columbia Spotted Frogs require full time water yet find a way to live in the desert. Meet the calendar girls-slash-outdoors women of Halfway!

Sea Lions, Oyster Meroir

E06

Sea Lions, Oyster Meroir

11/5/2015

The government responds to sea lions eating salmon with severe measures. Like the "terroir" of wine, oysters pick up their "meroir" from their home bays.

Japanese Fly-fishing, Lost Lake, Festival of Speed.

E07

Japanese Fly-fishing, Lost Lake, Festival of Speed.

11/12/2015

Ancient, simple fly-fishing from Japan called Tenkara becomes popular in the U.S. A lake in the Cascades has several holes in it that look and act like bathtub drains. Find out why hundreds of downhill skateboarders and street lugers from around the world travel to Maryhill Loops Road for high-speed downhill racing.

Waterfall Hunters, Meacham Creek, Christmas Ships

E08

Waterfall Hunters, Meacham Creek, Christmas Ships

11/19/2015

A couple sets out to see 365 waterfalls in a year but instead finds 500. A massive restoration project is underway in Northeast Oregon where a creek is not only being restored but literally moved to save salmon and an entire tribe’s way of life. Christmas season wouldn't be complete without the ship parade!

Discovering Valhalla: Oregon's Hidden Gorge

E09

Discovering Valhalla: Oregon's Hidden Gorge

2/4/2016

Oregon Field Guide's expedition into the Oregon wilderness in search of a possibly undiscovered geologic wonder.

Pika, Monarchs & Milkweed and Invasive Species BBQ

E10

Pika, Monarchs & Milkweed and Invasive Species BBQ

2/11/2016

Pikas are the adorable masters of the high country. So why are thousands of them living just a few hundred feet above sea level in the Columbia River Gorge? Oregonians help monarch butterflies with the one plant they need to survive: milkweed. We will also meet a group of ecologists who have cooked up a clever way to address the problem of invasive species – one bite at a time.

Swan Transplants & Alvord Gliders

E11

Swan Transplants & Alvord Gliders

2/18/2016

Biologists relocate young trumpeter swans from Alaska and Wyoming. New research aims to find out how destructive a Cascadia earthquake would be. Glider pilots enjoy the thrill of soaring above the Alvord desert. Ridgefield photoessay.

Buzz Holmstrom & 1 Million Plants In A Year

E12

Buzz Holmstrom & 1 Million Plants In A Year

2/25/2016

Highlighting the story behind the Oregon river legend Buzz Holmstrom, the first person to run the entire length of the Green and Colorado rivers. A bold project aims to plant 1 million trees and shrubs in a single year in the Tualatin River watershed. A look at what's below the Crater Lake National Park water surface that is putting the lake's clarity and native creatures in jeopardy.

Backyard Habitat & 2nd-Graders at the Bay

E13

Backyard Habitat & 2nd-Graders at the Bay

3/24/2016

Portland's Backyard Habitat program encourages homeowners to create a backyard environment that attracts more birds to the city, but does it really make an ecological difference. We'll also head to the coast where its traditional for 2nd graders to learn hands-on about the sea. And we'll check in one last time with Oregon Field Guide's producer Vince Patton as he prepares for retirement.

Season 25

14 Episodes

2013

E01

Glacier Caves: Mt. Hood's Secret World

10/3/2013

A first look inside newly-discovered glacier caves.

E02

Oregon Coast Sneaker Wavew, Frank Moore, & Behind the Scenes

10/17/2013

Sneaker waves surprise beachgoers every year and sometimes turn deadly. Meet Frank Moore, a WWII veteran and legendary fly-fisherman on the North Umpqua River. Go behind the scenes of Oregon Field Guide's "Glacier Caves: Mt. Hood’s Secret World."

E03

Hands-On Environmental Education In Hood River

10/22/2013

A local program teaches Washington State School for the Blind students about wildlife

E04

Buzz Bowman, School for the Blind Ski Day, Wolverines

10/24/2013

Buzz Bowman is an 83-year old legend on Mount Hood. Kids from the Washington State School for the Blind enjoy a cross-country ski day. A woman from Alaska finds wolverines in Oregon in her very first research effort.

E05

Imperial Stock Ranch, Geologic Snowflake Hunters , Amphibian Declines

10/31/2013

An Eastern Oregon stock ranch dedicated to sustainability. Rock hounds flock to Oregon from around the world to find thundereggs. Twenty years of research confirms amphibians are still declining and the causes are complex.

E06

Double Damned Race, The Pallisades, Apple Detectives

11/7/2013

Annual Double Damned race from Cascade Locks to The Dalles, Oregon. A collision of recreation and conservation find a novel coexistence in central Oregon. Fruit sleuths play detective to learn what kinds of apples grow on old trees.

E07

Mushrooms, Ice Crawlers, Disappearing Lake

11/14/2013

Oregonians find an amazing variety of mushrooms in their own backyards. Small caramel-colored grylloblattids, or Ice Crawlers, thrive where few insects can: in Oregon’s mountain snow fields. Paddle the mysterious disappearing ''bayou of the northwest."

E08

Sea Cave Kayaking, Smith Rock, Oregon Land Use

11/21/2013

We head to the coast to explore some of Oregon's sea caves by kayak. Sport climbing at Smith Rock is 30 years old now. We take a look back. How Oregon’s 1973 radical land use planning system has survived and changed farming.

E09

Mustangs of Oregon: Wild Horses in Crisis

1/30/2014

Oregon Field Guide special: Mustangs of Oregon. Wild horses are in crisis as more now live in captivity than in the wild.

E10

Snow School, Wildflowers, First Salmon Ceremony

2/10/2014

Students from the Muslim Educational Trust learn to build an igloo at Mount Hood. Just above the Grande Ronde Valley is home to some of the rarest flowers in Oregon. For centuries Rogue River Indians celebrated the season's first salmon with a ceremony

E11

Butterfly Watching, McKenzie River Trail, Lizard School

2/20/2014

Enter the colorful world of Chris Carvalho’s butterfly photography. 26-miles of natural wonders earn this trail the nickname “America’s #1 Trail.” Aspiring researchers learn the how-to's of wildlife research by studying the life and death of lizards in Oregon's Alvord desert.

E12

Corn Maze, Mountain Biking, Hot Air Balloon Makers

2/27/2014

An Oregon farm reveals the secret to how it makes corn mazes every year. A group of mountain bikers have constructed one of Oregon's only bike only trail system. A few Oregon balloonists make their own hot air balloons.

E13

Kayaking, Summer Ski Camp, Behind the Scenes

3/19/2014

Take a remarkable trip into the depths of Oregon's remote Salmon River Gorge where kayakers plunge down towering waterfalls with no possibility of retreat. Mt Hood, Oregon is the only place in North America where skiers can train year-round. We share a behind-the-scenes account of a story that will take your breath away.

E14

Wilderness Medics, Tsunami Anniversary, Crystal Springs

3/26/2014

Medics carry a virtual ambulance on their backs to rescue people in the wilderness. Oregon Field looks back at the 1964 tsunami that struck the west coast. Salmon and other wildlife have returned to a once overlooked urban creek in Portland.

Season 28 poster

Season 28

13 Episodes

2016

John Day River Paddleboarding and Behind The Scenes on Valhalla

E01

John Day River Paddleboarding and Behind The Scenes on Valhalla

10/9/2016

A stand-up paddleboard adventure down the John Day River, the longest undammed river in Oregon. Field Guide takes you behind the scenes as we head into the Oregon wilderness in search of a hidden geologic wonder. A visual journey of the forests and waterfalls of the upper north fork Lewis River.

Disappearing Meadows

E02

Disappearing Meadows

10/13/2016

We investigate why natural meadows are disappearing from the Pacific Northwest. 98 year old Frankie Dugal carries on a ranch tradition of horse-hair “mecate” ropemaking and is passing it on to the next generation in the southeast Oregon town of Jordan Valley. We travel to Washington's Methow Valley to see how they're adopting a new form of recreation - fat bikes.

Columbia River Bar Pilots

E03

Columbia River Bar Pilots

10/20/2016

Bar pilots brave weather & dangerous seas as they help commercial ships navigate the treacherous Columbia bar. Join us for a tour of Wasco County and get a look at small town living as we meet some of the interesting characters that call Dufur, Oregon home.

Crossing the Urban-Rural Divide

E04

Crossing the Urban-Rural Divide

10/27/2016

Oregon Field Guide revisits a story that originally aired in 2009. When it seemed that Oregon's urban-rural divide had grown into an unbridgeable chasm, a handful of ranchers from rural Grant county invited Portland school students to live and work alongside them, to see their side of life.

Who's Watching Oregon's Wildlife, Slot Canyon Geology and Eulachon Smelt

E05

Who's Watching Oregon's Wildlife, Slot Canyon Geology and Eulachon Smelt

11/3/2016

Who's watching out for the 600 sensitive species of Oregon wildlife? Find out why many biologists say Oregon is falling behind when it comes to protecting species across Oregon. Inspired by our recent visits to the Valhalla slot canyon, we wondered just how these unusual features form. And see how the Columbia River system's once-abundant smelt runs are officially threatened.

Wenaha River Packrafting, Outdoor Preschool and Tractor Museum

E06

Wenaha River Packrafting, Outdoor Preschool and Tractor Museum

11/10/2016

Join us on a remote expedition down 22 miles of the Wenaha river in Oregon's Blue Mountains where we encounter low water, log-jams and the blackened forest burned by the Grizzly Bear fire of 2015. We'll take you outdoors to a preschool with no buildings and visit with Erl McLaughlin of Enterprise, a wheat rancher, who spends his winters collecting and refurbishing tractors of every shape and size.

Mountain Goat Survey, Blue Mountain Wildlife and Vaux's Swift Chimneys

E07

Mountain Goat Survey, Blue Mountain Wildlife and Vaux's Swift Chimneys

11/17/2016

Prior to the eruption of Mt St Helens, few people realized there were mountain goats living in the area. Oregon Field Guide joins a survey to check on these high-climbing, sure-footed mammals. Meet Lynn and Bob Tompkins, an eastern Oregon couple who started Blue Mountain Wildlife, a raptor rescue facility. And see how bird advocates are testing out a replacement chimney for roosting swifts.

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, River Snorkeling and The Ship Report

E08

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, River Snorkeling and The Ship Report

2/2/2017

A look at how the isolated, storm-battered lighthouse on Tillamook Rock earned the nickname "Terrible Tillie." See the pleasures of river snorkeling and all lies beneath even the smallest bodies of water. And a simple broadcast of the comings and goings of ships passing Astoria has evolved into the most popular show on KMUN. It illuminates the sometimes invisible world of mariners.

Lower Owyhee River, Bioluminescence and Oaks Bottom Forge

E09

Lower Owyhee River, Bioluminescence and Oaks Bottom Forge

2/9/2017

Oregon Field Guide joins geologist Dr. Liz Safran and river guide Audrey Gehlhausen for a journey through the geologic wonderland of the Owyhee Canyonlands. Beginning in the small town of Rome, Oregon, our cameras reveal a raw and breathtaking landscape sculpted by lava flows, landslides and volcanic eruptions.

Return to Mt. Hood Glacial Caves and Columbia Gorge Geology

E10

Return to Mt. Hood Glacial Caves and Columbia Gorge Geology

2/16/2017

The once spectacular glacier caves documented by Oregon Field Guide in 2013 are disappearing far faster than anyone predicted. Why? What role is climate and weather playing in the formation and destruction of these caves?

Oregon Prison Sagebrush Project, Oregon Star Party, Steam Up, and Scenic Oregon

E11

Oregon Prison Sagebrush Project, Oregon Star Party, Steam Up, and Scenic Oregon

2/23/2017

We follow prisoners at the Snake River Correctional Institution as they grow and transplant specially selected sagebrush seeds to assist the BLM in future eastern Oregon restoration efforts. And the beauty and sounds of Oregon - a visual celebration from around the state - under the stars at Oregon's Star Party, at the great Steam Up in Brooks, Oregon, blooming gardens and frozen lakes!

Disappearing Lake, Bat Mystery, Jeff Douglas Remembered And Klamath Lake Canoe Trail

E12

Disappearing Lake, Bat Mystery, Jeff Douglas Remembered And Klamath Lake Canoe Trail

3/2/2017

Bats across the Northeast started dying by the millions back in 2006. The culprit was a mysterious disease called white-nose syndrome and now its in the Northwest. South Prairie is a mysterious 85-acre lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest of SW Washington. It appears each spring, and disappears each summer. What's the secret? We remember Jeff Douglas and show one of his favorite stories.

Farewell to Steve Amen

E13

Farewell to Steve Amen

3/23/2017

After 28 seasons, Steve Amen is retiring from Oregon Field Guide. Join us as we celebrate Steve, his legacy, and what's next for the show.

Season 21

12 Episodes

2009

E01

Crossing the Urban-Rural Divide

8/8/2009

In 2005, just as it seemed Oregon’s urban-rural divide had grown into an unbridgeable chasm, a handful of ranchers from rural Grant county did the unexpected. They invited kids from Portland's Sunnyside Environmental school to live and work along side them and see their side of life. The Urban-Rural exchange has continued every year since. Follow a group of students as they share in both the joy and the misery that comes with real rural life.

E02

Bluebird Lady, Bull Run, Streaked Horn Lark

10/15/2009

Elsie Elzroth is one very dedicated woman. She has spent most of her life helping restore Western bluebird populations to the Corvallis area. The ancient forest that surrounds Portland's Bull Run water supply is off limits to logging after decades of controversy. But questions loom large over fire, climate change, and the risk of leaving a water supply untreated in one of the most pristine watersheds in the nation. Streaked Horned Lark ground-nesting species probably should be extinct by now except that, surprisingly, it has survived in the Portland area because of industrial development.

E03

Boat Building, Sixgill Sharks, Tsunami Update

10/22/2009

It takes an expert to build a traditional, seaworthy boat from scratch, right? See how a group of complete amateurs come together to hand-build a traditional style 12 person skin-on-frame "umiak" in just one week. Sixgill Sharks which normally spend their lives at the bottom of the world’s oceans have been found living in the relatively shallow waters of Puget Sound. Recreational divers and researchers lure sixgill sharks in for up close encounters. It’s believed Puget Sound is a sixgill shark nursery: a safe place to give birth and raise hundreds or perhaps a thousand or more young sharks. There has never been a report of a sixgill attack on a human. There’s research to show that the tsunami risk is far more severe than scientists previously thought. We look at Indian oral tradition recounting tsunamis that seem eerily accurate in light of new research. We look at the evidence that proves the risk is great, and what is being done about it in coastal communities.

E04

Knowles Creek Update, Vultures, Wave Power

10/29/2009

Knowles Creek used to be a floundering ecosystem, but Charley Dewberry and his team have successfully brought the stream back to life. In their attempts to restore the watershed basin surrounding Knowles Creek, Charley's team's efforts have caused the number of juvenile coho to triple since their restoration began in 1992. Once a controversial project, the scientists who defied conventional wisdom demonstrate how well the project has worked. Turkey Vultures are among the smartest birds in the worlds. Join Oregon’s foremost raptor expert, Jim Anderson, as he takes us on a comical journey from caves to canyons to a roadkill graveyard, all in search of a bird most people dismiss as “just plain ugly”. No, they’re not pretty, and yes, they eat food only after its long dead and stinky, but think about it… what would our world be like it all that dead stuff were left lying around? Update on Oregon State University project to use ocean waves off the Oregon coast to generate power.

E05

Forest Thinning, Oregon Cave Cleaning, Portland Stairways

11/5/2009

In Oregon's central Cascades along the Metolius river, timber harvesters and conservation groups are working together to find a better way to maintain the forests and prevent catastrophic forest fires. The process of selectively thinning restores the health of the forest and provides economic benefits to timber harvesters. Volunteer cleaners nit pick the Oregon Caves. But they’re not looking for trash. The hunt is for something much, much smaller. Even lint and hair contaminates and alters the sensitive cave ecosystem. Explore the fascinating history of Portland's hidden and not-so-hidden public stairways.

E06

Bending the Wallowa River, Golf Clinic, Invasive Species Rapid

11/12/2009

The Wallowa River bends again at the 6 Ranch near Enterprise, Oregon. It had been straight for a century. The ranch sacrificed some pasture to restore the river to a more natural path in order to restore endangered fish. Enjoy a little time on the greens with some enthusiastic golfers with special needs. Invasive garlic mustard and Japanese Knotweed are washing like a tide over the west hills toward the Tualatin River. But one Tualatin basin agency is reaching beyond their jurisdiction and sending foot soldiers out to beat back the invaders before they infest the watershed. Two Portland men create a wildly popular bike ride by going out of their way to make it the most difficult ride in the state.

E07

Bryan Bates, Surfer, Devil's Staircase, Hagg Lake Expansion

11/26/2009

We head to Pacific City to learn more about the growing community of hardcore surfers. There's a place in the coast range so steep, rugged and disorienting that trails don’t go there. Many have trekked in and spent unplanned nights among the ancient trees trying to get out. That place is The Devil’s Staircase, a 30,000 acre area that redefines off-trail adventure. The reward for making it to the heart of this ancient forest, a chance to lay eyes on a rarely visited waterfall and swimming hole along wild, crystal clear Wassen Creek. Washington County wants to expand Hagg Lake to secure enough water for the next 50 years of growth. After years of planning, they’ve hit an expensive snag. New tests show the current dam does not meet today’s standards for earthquake safety.

E08

Murres & Eagles, Geocaching, Wind and Bats

2/4/2010

Every spring, half a million seabirds called common murres come to nest on the rocks off the Oregon coast. As the number of bald eagles has increased in recent years, their attacks have brought havoc to the murre's breeding grounds. Tag along with an Oregon family as they go Geocaching - a game that was born in Oregon and has swept the globe. Using hand held GPS devices players scour the countryside in search hidden treasure. Sometimes hidden in a cave or under a rock these caches contain a log book and some sort of trinket. Players sometimes leave a trinket of their own, if they take what they find, but the real reward is in the hunt for more and more hidden caches. If you’ve taken a drive through the gorge lately, you’ve seen that turbines seem to be sprouting up faster than grass. Wind energy is big business now. Unfortunately, those turbines are taking an unexpected toll on migrating bats.

E09

Ethanol, Forest Surveyors, Old Tree

2/11/2010

If you own a boat that runs on gas, maintaining your boat has changed dramatically since the State of Oregon mandated ethanol blend at the pumps. When we think of surveyors, we think about the guy along the road with a laser level. Well there’s another kind of surveyor who’s job is to hike into the wilderness, ensuring that the history of Oregon’s first statewide land survey from the 1800’s isn’t lost to time. Join a 3-day journey deep into the Eagle Cap Wilderness in search of a truly ancient tree. Discovered on a dangerously steep mountain, the limber pine could be among the oldest trees in Oregon – and it’s still alive.

E10

Ocean Acidification, Pygmy Owls, Green Roofs

2/18/2010

The ocean is turning more acidic as CO2 emissions rise, and shellfish are struggling to survive in the more acidic sea. For those interested in learning more about what is a very complicated topic, check out the following resources; some are fairly academic, others are "plain speak". A tiny, seldom seen bird is discovered alive and well in an unexpected place. Join a biologist who spent more than 300 days tracking dozens of elusive pygmy owls in the middle of city of Portland. They live in Forest Park. Portland hopes to capture some of the 10 billion gallons of rain that flows off 12,000 acres of roofs in the city by promoting eco-roofs. The city and Oregon State University find roofs covered in plants and soil soak up and hold 40 to 55% of the rain that would normally run down storm drains.

E11

Brown Pelicans, Freeriding, Oak Savannah

2/25/2010

The brown pelican has rebounded so successfully, the government has removed it from the endangered species list. Today, the largest pelican roost site in the Northwest sits in Oregon. But when thousands of pelicans lingered too long, winter storms caused severe injuries. Volunteers with the Wildlife Center of the North Coast rushed to save them, nurse them and months later, release them to the wild. Painful, thrilling, crazy -- these are just some of the terms freeriders themselves use to describe their sport. Freeriding is a new twist on a style of mountain biking that originated in Canada where wooden ramps and bridges and logs were laid so bikers could avoid muddy forest trails. Join a group of these daring thrill-seekers in the Oregon forests as they negotiate trails over four-inch logs, high platforms, and bone-rattling jumps. Several endangered Oregon species, including the Kincaid's lupine, rely on oak savannah, a type of habitat that once covered a million acres in the Willamette Valley. Now only pockets of the distinctive landscape of huge oaks and open grassland remains.

E12

Dead Zone Update, Whychus Creek, Coast Aquarium, Sea Turtles

3/18/2010

A one time dead zone off Oregon’s coast turns out not to be an isolated incident. Oxygen levels are plummeting every summer now. Scientists deploy an army of sensors, including a diving robot explorer, to learn what’s changed in our ocean. For the last 40 years salmon and steelhead have been missing from a place called Whychus creek. But they’re about to come back, and ecologists are getting busy with bulldozers as they prepare for their return. A trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium for a look at what it takes staff and volunteers to care for thousands of animals.

Season 26

12 Episodes

2014

E01

Discovery on Mount Saint Helens, Photographer Finds Healing

10/23/2014

Explorers brave rain and sleet as they launch a five-day expedition into the crater of Mount Saint Helens to search for unexplored glacier caves. Nature photographer Peter Marbach finds healing from open heart surgery by returning to wilderness.

E02

Oregon's Rivers, Working Goats, Sage Grouse

10/30/2014

Tim Palmer has written 22 guidebooks to nature, rivers, and wild places. Need some brush cleared? Hire some goats! Ranchers and biologists act in hopes of preventing an endangered listing for sage grouse.

E03

Zombie Survival Camp, Sandhill Cranes, Wildflower Show

11/6/2014

Kids learn nature and survival skills via zombie apocalypse role-playing camp. Satellite tracking reveals sandhill cranes can fly 35mph and cover 250 miles in a day. April, 2015 is the 50th anniversary of Oregon's oldest wildflower show.

E04

Queen Bee Project, Snowcat Sculpting, Urban Youth & Fly-fishing

11/13/2014

Two men try to breed stronger bees that can survive winter in Portland. Long before the snowboarders show up, the snowcat sculptors are hard at work.. Veteran Chad Brown deals with PTSD through fly-fishing and he's bringing the art to youth.

E05

Stumptown Skiing, Christmas Greens, Osprey Rebound

11/20/2014

Portland's weirdness comes out in an impromptu version of an 800 Norwegian ski race. Christmas greens from our local forests also bring green to the northwest's economy. The only hawk that dives into water for its food thrives with help from humans. A tour of northwest wilderness areas marks the 50th year of the Act that preserved them.

E06

Endurance Riding, Collecting Antlers, Forest Seed Orchard

1/29/2015

Meet equestrians who love to endure up to 100-mile trail rides. Oregon families collect deer antlers without killing any animals. You've heard of fruit orchards, how about Douglas fir orchards. A relaxing look at some wildlife on the Malheur refuge.

E07

Railroad History, Elk, Humongous Fungus

2/12/2015

A hiker finds long lost evidence of a spider web of railroad lines used to cut down trees in the gorge. Gearhart is a seaside vacation town... right in the middle of elk habitat. The largest living organism in the world hides out of sight in eastern Oregon.

E08

Railriders, Rockfish, Native Canoe Ride

2/19/2015

Pedal powered "railriders" cruise an abandoned rail line between Joseph and Enterprise, Oregon. It's one of the first legal excursions of its kind in the count. What do Smurfs, sonar and rockfish have in common? All are being used to see if Oregon's marine reserves actually protect the fish they're designed for. An annual spiritual canoe journey that embraces Native American culture and traditions.

E09

Airstream Camping, Oregon Chub Recovery, Hyla Woods

2/26/2015

People who camp inside silver tubes love iconic Airstreams, invented by an Oregonian. The Oregon chub is the first fish to be removed from the Endangered Species List. A family timber firm says the forest itself must profit from logging more than they do

E10

Giant Waves, Lake Albert, Ross Island, Steens

3/20/2015

Giant waves create a spectacular show on the southern Oregon coast. Oregon’s third largest lake dried up. Is more than drought to blame? Visit Ross Island, and find out why this new Portland park is not open to the public. A look at the beauty and unique ecology of the aspen on Steens Mountain.

E11

Japan's Earthquake, Portland Rose Garden

3/26/2015

Oregon Field Guide travels to Japan nearly four years after a devastating earthquake and tsunami decimated towns along the Japanese coast. We look for lessons Oregon can learn as we prepare for our own Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami. Follow a year in the Portland Rose Garden with the man who has tended it for two decades.

E12

Siuslaw Hairy-Necked Beetle, Roberta's Savanna

4/2/2015

A story of dune grass, snowy plover protection, bulldozers and beetles. What it takes to save the world's fastest beetle on the Oregon coast. Visit a rare white oak savanna located on the south side of West Linn, Oregon