Earth Year 2006: Season is changing colors like the frogs

By Maureen Beezhold

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops n at all

This excerpt from a poem by Emily Dickinson reminds us that our soggy winter will eventually lead to spring. Birds are making spring sounds. If you live or travel near any wetlands you will now hear the encouraging sounds of the tiny native Pacific Chorus Frog.

Local naturalist Don Boucher says they are the ones that most people hear from late winter to early summer. Like a chameleon, it can change color from green to brownish or dark to light in as little as 10 minutes, although usually it takes longer.

Encourage those thoughts of hope by getting outside to check out the signs of spring and taking action on caring for our amazing planet by getting involved in some of the following events.

Second annual Eco-Film Festival — Friday nights in February, 7:30 p.m., Oddfellows Hall, 223 S.W. Second St. Donations of canned food for South Corvallis Food Bank are welcome as are donations to the sponsoring organizations.

• Feb. 10 n “Oil and Ice,” a documentary that explores the connections between the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and our energy and transportation habits.

• Feb. 17 n “The Yes Men,” who identify themselves as “honest people” who “impersonate big time criminals in order to publicly humiliate them.” Their pranks include masquerading as representatives of the World Trade Organization and announcing its abolition. Their goal is to pursue humorous and satirical responses to the world’s problems while raising political consciousness.

• Feb. 24 n A double feature that includes “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” which highlights the work of Illinois farmer John Peterson who has been redefining agricultural practices on his farm for the past 20 years. The second film, “My Father’s Garden,” is a documentary about the use and misuse of technology on the American farm.

The film festival is sponsored by the Corvallis Environmental Center and the Corvallis Northwest Earth Institute.

The Practice of Hope n Continuing Our Commitment to a Sustainable World: 7:15 p.m. Feb. 15, Oddfellows Hall, 223 S.W. Second St. Northwest Earth Institute founders Dick and Jeanne Roy will lead a workshop on the practice of hope and how hope is helpful today and in the difficult times ahead. Their free presentation is sponsored by the Corvallis Northwest Earth Institute and the Corvallis World Forum.

Creating Sustainable Memorial Union Operations and Why Does It Matter — Noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 16, Memorial Union, room 109, OSU. Speakers are Rick Woodward, corporate director of Coastwide Laboratories, a leading distributor of janitorial and sanitary maintenance products in the Northwest and a pioneer in manufacturing green cleaning chemicals; and Sid Cooper, assistant director of Memorial Union facilities and graduate of Portland State University’s MBA program in sustainability. Free. Sponsored by OSU’s College of Business.

Neighborhood Naturalist Tracking Club — 9 a.m. to noon, Feb. 19 and March 19. Discover evidence of mammals, birds and anything else on these tracking adventures. Meet at the Willamette River Greenway Park, Riverside Drive in Linn County (call Don for directions). Led by Don Boucher and Mike Albrecht. For more information, contact Don at 733-7689 or bouchdon@juno.com.

Avery House Nature Center In-Service Programs — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost $29. Scholarships available. After- and pre-care available for $3 per hour. Fifteen percent off if you register for more than two days. To register, stop by the Corvallis Environmental Center, 214 S.W. Monroe Ave., or call 758-6198 or see www.corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org.

• Spring Break at the Beach: March 27-29. Ages 8-11. Learn all about ocean life. Visit the coast and take a boat trip with Marine Discovery Tours. Extra fee of $14 per student for the boat trip.

• Spring Break at the Beach: March 30-31. Ages 5-7. All about ocean life. Take a trip to the Hatfield Marine Center and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

Audubon Society

of Corvallis

• Pygmy Rabbits in Eastern Oregon — 7:30 p.m., Feb. 16, First Presbyterian Church, upstairs meeting hall, 118 S.W. Eighth St. The featured speaker is Joan Hager, wildlife ecologist at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center and faculty member in the forest science department at Oregon State University. Social period with refreshments begins at 7 p.m.

• Hesthavn Work Party: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Feb. 25. Help with yard work or barn work at this educational center. Contact Ray Drapek, 754-7364

Field Trip Schedule:

• Feb. 11, local birding, meet at Avery Park Rose Garden parking area, 7:30 a.m. Good for beginners and birders new to the area.

• Feb. 18, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., full day birding. Fern Hill Wetlands and Jackson Bottom-Forest Grove/Hillsboro. Meet at the Benton Center parking lot, 757 N.W. Polk Ave. Participants will carpool. Bring a large lunch, drinks, binoculars, spotting scope, warm clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes. Contact Paula Vanderheul for more information on any of the field trips at 752-0470 or vanderp@peak.org.

Spring weekend birding — Contact Fred Ramsey, 753-3677 or flramsey@earthlink.net.:

• March 17-19, Bandon Coast (trip full n waiting list open)

• April 21-23, Klamath Basin (two openings available)

• May 18-21, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (trip full n waiting list open)

Maureen Beezhold coordinates the local chapter of the Northwest Earth Institute and is assistant coordinator for the Corvallis chapter of the Oregon Natural Step Network. For information on any of these projects, call 752-3517.

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