growing steadily in the Ether

[growingsteadilyintheether]

Oregon grape - beautiful no matter the season

[vampires-and-witches]

[elidyce]

“This is a tapestry I made myself! I just finished it!” 

“…. this is…. big.”

“Eighty feet long, ten high, in forty panels! It was originally going to be sixty feet, but then the Thomas Malory Arthuriana got big and I had to put more stuff in.” 

“… Malory published in the fifteenth century.” 

“Do you have any idea how long it takes one person to embroider eight thousand square feet of tapestry?” 

“You’ve had a lot of free time in the last eight hundred years, haven’t you?” 

“Not once I took up embroidery as a hobby, no!” 

[memesnotwelcome]

“Want to see my stalagmite cultivation work?”

[portlandhabitatwatch]

A wood owl I saw a couple months ago. I wrote a post about the two complex history and interaction of the two wood owl species in the PNW for Portland Habitat Watch. You can read all about it here: https://portlandhabitatwatch.wordpress.com/2022/06/12/wood-owl/. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChNS7rEpm-p/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[growingsteadilyintheether]

[portlandhabitatwatch]

Golden-crowned sparrow

Seen on March 12, 2022 In Cathedral Park, North Portland Zonotrichia atricapilla Golden-crowned sparrows are social, migratory birds that winter in Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington. They …

Golden-crowned sparrows are social, migratory birds that winter in Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington. They breed in the summer in Canada and Alaska. Mating pairs are more solitary during the breeding season and are thought to defend territory from other golden-crowned sparrows and thrashes, who compete for the same nesting sites. Interestingly, winter social groups are generally made up of individuals that are not closely related and don’t breed in the same regions. This suggests that strong social bonds and memories are formed in previous winters and last for multiple years, despite separations in the summer. Even though social bonds are stronger in the winter, golden-crowned sparrows tend to be more aggressive during this time, especially when food is scarce

[portlandhabitatwatch]

Osoberry

Seen on March 5, 2022 In Kelly Point Park, North Portland Oemleria cerasiformis Osoberry is found along the Pacific coast from California to British Columbia but has its widest distribution right h…

Osoberry flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Osoberry blooms earlier than any other native deciduous shrub. This makes it an important food source for pollinators as they emerge from hibernation or return from migration. The fruits are a sought-after food source for birds, small mammals, foxes, coyotes, deer, and bears. The fruit is edible for humans but it can be challenging to find before they are eaten by birds. The fruit ranges from sweet to bitter and it is near impossible to tell what you’ll get until you eat it. The range in sweetness is said to be affected by regionality but this has yet to be confirmed.

[portlandhabitatwatch]

Split Gill

Seen on February 5, 2022 In St. John’s, North Portland Schizophyllum commune Split gills are an abundant fungus and native worldwide, barring Antarctica. They are saprobic, meaning they live …

Split gills are an abundant fungus and native worldwide, barring Antarctica. They are saprobic, meaning they live on and feed off of dead organic matter. Saprobic organisms play an important ecological role by breaking down organic matter, which can then return to the cycle and be taken up by other organisms. Split gills are generalist saprobes, having been recorded living on 150 genera of woody plants in addition to various grass fodders. The name Schizophyllum comes from the Greek “schiz,” meaning “split piece of wood,” and the Greek “phyllon,” meaning “leaf.” Hence, Schizophyllum refers to a split in the gills exhibited in this fungus.

[portlandhabitatwatch]

Sanddune Wallflower

Seen on January 21, 2022 In St. Johns, North Portland Erysimum capitatum Sanddune wallflower, also known as western wallflower, exhibits highly variable appearances and growth forms. The flower col…

Sanddune wallflower, also known as western wallflower, exhibits highly variable appearances and growth forms. The flower color is usually yellow or orange but can range from blue to red. Classified as a perennial, this plant is often considered a biennial, as individuals do not often live longer than two years. Sanddune wallflowers are host plants for several caterpillar species as well as nectar sources for butterflies and moths. In addition, these flowers serve as a food source for a variety of native pollinators, including many native bee species. The seeds of sanddune wallflowers are consumed by numerous native insects and birds.

[portlandhabitatwatch]

Snowberry

Seen on Januarry 22, 2022 In St. Johns, North Portland Symphoricarpos species There are multiple species of Symphoricarpos found in Oregon. The most common species in the Portland area is S. albus,…

Snowberries are important to many species. The small, pink flowers attract numerous insect pollinators in the late spring and throughout the summer. The fruit serve as a valuable food source in the winter. They are not a preferred food source by most birds and small mammals but become a staple when other food sources have been depleted. In addition, snowberries provide ground cover for birds and small mammals in the summer and fall before their leaves drop.

[growingsteadilyintheether]

[growingsteadilyintheether]

[portlandhabitatwatch]

Double-crested Cormorant

Seen on January 8, 2022 In Cathedral Park, North Portland Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested cormorants are aquatic birds that hunt fish, crustaceans, insects, and amphibians in shallow coastal w…

Double-crested cormorants are aquatic birds that hunt fish, crustaceans, insects, and amphibians in shallow coastal waters and inland waters. They are migratory across much of North America but can be found year-round in the Portland area and along the coast. Cormorants differ from other water birds in two notable ways, their feathers are not purely waterproof, becoming water-logged easily, and their bones have a higher density than normal for birds. Their less than waterproof feathers and heavier bones make these cormorants less buoyant, allowing them to swim more efficiently than birds without these adaptations. Double-crested cormorants are often seen perched on a high, sunny place with their wings spread wide (see photo). It is believed this behavior is done to dry their feathers after swimming in preparation for flying or resting.

[growingsteadilyintheether]

[bugbite7]

You may recall that in September a volcano erupted on the Spanish Island of La Palma.

Many people were forced to flee the area, and among those were a number of beekeepers (La Palma is home to over 100 beekeepers).

Fifty days after the eruption, one beekeeper returned and was amazed to find that the bees in five of his six hives - just 600 metres from the volcano and buried under volcanic ash - had survived.

The bees had sealed any gaps in the hives with propolis to keep toxic fumes out, and relied on honey already stored in their hives for food.

It never ceases to amaze me just how incredible bees are 🐝

Photo credit: Elías González, La Palma Bee Keepers Association, via EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

[growingsteadilyintheether]

[portlandhabitatwatch]

American Robin

Seen on December 28, 2021 At the Oregon Zoo Turdus migratorius American robins are a migratory thrush species that can be found year-round in the Portland area. In fact, American robins can be foun…

American robins feed on berries and invertebrates. Berries are the major food source for robins, comprising approximately 60% of their diet. Berries are especially important for robins in the winter when invertebrates are not as available. Robins hunt for invertebrates on the ground rather than from above. They will hop a few steps, stop, tilt their head to one side, then snatch their prey. The head tilt was once thought to be a sign that robins relied on hearing when hunting but it has since been suggested, and generally accepted, that they rely on sight rather than sound. The head tilting is believed to allow one eye to look directly at the ground and the prey.

[growingsteadilyintheether]