Metro nature minutes
View short, fun videos of Metro naturalist James Davis exploring Metro parks in search of dragonflies, beavers, mushrooms, animal tracks and more...Go
Nature guides
Places and activities › Nature guides
Discover local birds, plants and animals with a little help from Metro naturalists and biologists. Find out how and where to watch wildlife and learn about the unique plants and geology of our region.
Whats' the world's heaviest flying animal? Which tree is nicknamed the "medicine man " of the forest? How did a fuzzy rodent from South America conquer the waterways of this country? What are all those birds talking about? Find out in the nature guides below.
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Metro nature minute videos
View short, fun videos of Metro naturalist James Davis exploring Metro parks in search of dragonflies, beavers, mushrooms, animal tracks and more...More
Sssssort out the facts and fiction of garter snakes
If you spot a snake in Oregon, chances are it's a garter snake. Telling what type of garter snake gets a little trickier. Learn how to separate fact from fiction when it comes to these snakes...More
Western gray squirrel makes a comeback
Metro naturalist James Davis tells you all about the "beautiful rodents" that are making a home in the oak woodlands of Cooper Mountain Nature Park...More
Wildlife checklists for the Portland area
Discover the birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles found in the Portland area. Download and print a checklist for your next adventure...More
Birds of prey
Metro naturalist James Davis reveals some secrets on the behavior of eagles, hawks, falcons and more...More
Binoculars 101
Metro naturalist James Davis gives wildlife watchers a crash course in how to get the most out of your "binocs."...More
Celebrate spring
From looking for skunk cabbage in Oxbow Park to spotting swooping swallows in Smith and Bybee Wetlands, Metro’s nature guide offers great spring things to do...More
Experience summer
Find out the best places to spot herons, painted turtles, and watch August’s meteor shower in Metro’s guide to nature in the summer...More
Find out about fall
The ducks, geese, swans and salmon are coming. Find out the best place to see them in Metro’s fall nature guide. And don’t miss the Harvest Moon…...More
Enjoy the winter wonderland
Find out what the winter moles are up to, how to spot both a crow’s and an Eastern fox squirrel’s nests, and where to watch red-tailed hawks and bald eagles in Metro’s winter nature guide...More
See the osprey
Osprey plunge feet first into the water, grab fish with their sharp talons, and then spread their 5½ foot wings and take off into the sky. Find out where to best view to see this feat!...More
Medicine man of the forest
The Pacific yew has been called the "medicine man" of the forest because it hides powerful medicine inside its deceptively docile appearance. Learn more about this tree’s mysteries…...More
That naughty nutria
Learn how a deceptively cute rodent from South America is wreaking havoc in our region's waterways...More
The swan's story
Learn about their mating habits and migration patterns of our regions’ Trumpeter and Tundra swans And find out where to spot them!...More
Tracking footprints
What can you learn from wild animals’ tracks? . Discover the secrets and stories they leave behind. and find out what they mean...More
Secret language of birds
Learn how to understand what birds are saying to each other and to the wildlife around them...More
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Nature University
Learn how to help children and adults discover nature by enrolling in Metro's unique and intensive naturalist training program.
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Protected by voters
Natural areas, parks and trails
Thanks to voters, Metro has preserved 11,000 acres of natural areas, protected 90 miles of rivers and streams, supported hundreds of community projects and opened three large nature parks. Learn more
Nature guide
On the floodplain of Metro's Oxbow Regional Park, one can find clear tracks of red fox, raccoon, river otter, mink, rabbit, squirrel, weasel, crow, Canada goose and many other birds on any given day. Occasionally the tracks of larger mammals such as elk, black bear and cougar are also found in this rich habitat...