Caribou, Coastal Plain habitat, Arctic NWR

12/6/2020 -Arctic NWR 60th Anniversary- Celebrate, then Advocate!

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

On Sunday, Dec. 6th, join polar bears, caribou, and myriad of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl to celebrate 60 years of protection for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Tragically, President Trump has just announced the sale of oil and gas leases on the Arctic NWR’s 1002 area of the coastal plain, the critical calving grounds for the Porcupine Caribou herd. This push is the result of Congress passing a controversial tax bill in 2017 that mandates leasing on the coastal plain, sacred lands of the Gwich’in people and vital habitat for caribou, polar bears and migratory birds. Continue Reading →

Kitchen Window Community Science

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

Becoming a Project Feederwatch volunteer can be one way to battle feeling gloomy all winter long, November to April. Consider becoming a community scientist making bird observations as you look out your window. You will join over 20,000 Canadian and U.S. participants during this is kick-off week for Project Feederwatch: Continue Reading →

Leaves are not Litter!

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

This week, my yard turned golden with maple and aspen leaf fall. It was perfect timing when my email in-box announced the The Xerces Society’s blog post “Leaves Are Not Continue Reading →

2020 Halloween Week on ice

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

In 2020-topsy-turvy style, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to find ice encrusted still-green leaves, on what I’d thought would be a fall leaf-peeping walk. We were hiking near Easton, just east of Snoqualmie Pass, on a snow-covered trail when sunlight suddenly lit up every ice coated surface. Continue Reading →

The turn of season in the North Cascades

Here’s A Splash of Color for a Gray Rainy Day

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

The onset of needed rain in Washington’s Cascades also brings gray skies and a monochromatic feel to our day. Last week, my family hiked to Easy Pass in the North Continue Reading →

Curious About … Our Path Ahead?

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

I hope you’ll find something of interest in the Fall 2020 e-News that will provide joyful substance for your heart, mind and body. Life-long learning is like a map, guiding the hiker along rocky new paths to an unforeseen destination. Continue Reading →

Curious About…Shrub-steppe, Fireworks, and Wildfire?

Posted on July 3, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

Fireworks are a main cause of human-started wildfires in sagebrush county. Invasive grasses are putting sagebrush country at risk of severe wildfires. This vibrant ecosystem is vital for people and wildlife. We need to do our part to protect it, especially with fireworks this weekend. Watch and share this new video to learn what we need to do to stop the spread of invasive grasses and restore degraded sagebrush habitats. Continue Reading →

A spring evening in the Wenatchee Foothills shrubp-steppe

Curious About … Liking Shrub-steppe?

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

Plan to visit the CDLT Jacbson Preserve in the Wenatchee Foothills to experience a shrub-steppe ecosystem Continue Reading →

Curious About … More Endemics, Still Happily Not Pandemics?

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

Botanists call our region “The Wenatchee Mountains,” that has the highest concentration of endemic plants in Washington. 35 are state-classified as rare plants and 30 more are “just” endemics. Many rare plants are endemic, but not all endemics are rare! Continue Reading →

Curious About … Osprey?

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Susan Ballinger

Osprey are large fish-eating bird-of-prey found not just in Wenatchee, but all around the world. Today’s blog serves to introduce this species, using spectacular shots by local photographer, Frank Cone. T Continue Reading →