About the Author

Josephine Woolington

Josephine Woolington is a writer, musician and educator. She lives in the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, where she was born and raised. She is the author of "Where We Call Home: Lands, Seas, and Skies of the Pacific Northwest," a nonfiction essay collection about native plants and animals. When she's not writing, she's most likely birding.

Oregon’s Best Fall Birding Trails

October 24, 2024
For wildlife-lovers, the end of summer is a time to rejoice. The cooler weather means countless opportunities to admire Oregon’s fall and winter bird residents. Here are a few standout trails across the state to get you started. More
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Oregon Coast , Salem , Birding , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,

Guía Para Principiantes en Avistaje de Aves Marinas en La Costa de Oregon

August 1, 2023
En la costa, las aves están por todos lados; a menudo en grupos grandes y vocales, lo que lo convierte en un lugar perfecto para que aprendan los observadores principiantes de aves. More
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Oregon Coast , Birding , Outdoor Recreation ,

Combine Stewardship With Adventure on a First Nature Tour

July 28, 2023
For Portland-based First Nature Tours, travel isn’t just about sightseeing and relaxation. It’s also an opportunity to help restore and learn about landscapes that make Oregon unique. First Nature Tours specializes in what’s called regenerative tourism, which gives visitors hands-on restoration and volunteer experience alongside plenty of active outdoor adventures. “It’s getting people to think about ways they can engage while traveling in a much more transformative way,” says Kieron Wilde, the company’s founder. More
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Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas ,

Beginner’s Guide to Spotting Oregon Coast Seabirds

June 16, 2023
Portland birder Sam DeJarnett remembers a turning point in her interest in birds several years ago when she noticed a group of brown pelicans gracefully gliding over the Pacific Ocean. They flew up above the water, scanning for fish, and she watched as each suddenly dove down headfirst into the water. It was a moment of clarity for her because she realized that the habitat could provide clues to identifying coastal birds. “There’s this whole world that opens up when you start to pay attention,”... More
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Oregon Coast , Birding , Outdoor Recreation ,

How to Spot Butterflies, Condors, Turtles and Sea Otters at the Oregon Zoo

June 6, 2023
In 2022 six California condors were released in Redwood National Park just south of Oregon’s border, marking the first time in more than a century that the birds have flown in Pacific Northwest skies. Four of those condors were born and raised at the Oregon Zoo in Portland as part of an effort to bring back these culturally and ecologically important birds, which were one of the first listed animals when the Endangered Species Act passed 50 years ago, in 1973. More
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Portland Region , Portland , Aquariums & Zoos , Attractions ,

10 Easy Wildflower Walks in Oregon

March 27, 2023
From the indigo blooms of camas in the Willamette Valley to balsamroot’s vivid yellow along the John Day River, Oregon’s spring blossoms are an annual delight. More
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Wilderness & Natural Areas , Hiking & Backpacking , Destinations , Outdoor Recreation , Trails ,