Parks and nature

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photo of cormorant and blue heron at Kelly Creek Pond

Kolberg: I "discovered" the Kelly Creek Pond at Mt. Hood Community College again about a month ago. I had not seen it for several years, and it is looking much better than I remember. This morning I sat out for almost 3 hours to get just the right shot of

Our Big Backyard photo contest fall 2018 winner: Patricia Kolberg, Troutdale

"I 'discovered' the Kelly Creek Pond at Mt. Hood Community College again about a month ago. I had not seen it for several years, and it is looking much better than I remember. This morning I sat out for almost 3 hours to get just the right shot of a cormorant and a blue heron together, fishing the pond. In this photo, the cormorant had just come out of the pond and was shaking off the water, getting ready to sit and dry."

photo of sharp-shinned hawk by Tom Myers

During an after-work walk on Sauvie Island, I caught a big blur drop down through the trees. I stopped dead in my tracks. I could sense whatever had landed there and moved slowly and quietly toward it until I could see this sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter s

Our Big Backyard photo contest summer 2018 winner: Tom Myers, Portland

"During an after-work walk on Sauvie Island, I caught a big blur drop down through the trees. I stopped dead in my tracks. I could sense whatever had landed there and moved slowly and quietly toward it until I could see this sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) through the brush."

photo of cedar hairstreak butterfly. spring 2018 Our Big Backyard photo contest winner

Wells: Walking through Camassia Natural Area in West Linn, I saw some beautiful butterflies flying between the flowers. I knelt in a squishy spot to get down low enough to snap this shot of a cedar hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys gryneus) on a daisy.

Our Big Backyard photo contest spring 2018 winner: Kevin Wells, West Linn

"Walking through Camassia Natural Area in West Linn, I saw some beautiful butterflies flying between the flowers. I knelt in a fairly squishy spot to get down low enough to snap this shot of a cedar hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys gryneus) on a daisy."

photo of Douglas squirrel at Graham Oaks Nature Park by Rick Hafele

Graham Oaks Nature Park: Though smaller than fox or gray squirrels, Douglas squirrels make up for their lack of size with a bold “get out of my space” attitude. Normally I only hear them barking at me from some high-up limb in a Douglas fir. This frisky c

Our Big Backyard photo contest winter 2018 winner: Rick Hafele, Wilsonville

"Though smaller than fox or gray squirrels, Douglas squirrels make up for their lack of size with a bold “get out of my space” attitude. Normally I only hear them barking at me from some high-up limb in a Douglas fir. This frisky character was out foraging for pine cones and wasn’t willing to let go of his breakfast as I approached."

"While leading a group of 12 first graders on a crawdad adventure along the Clackamas River, we discovered this big beauty with a broken wing drowning in the water. After 10 minutes of sunbathing, it was able to fly away."

Our Big Backyard photo contest fall 2017 winner: Amanda Kimball, Portland

Seely Ditch wetland in Wilsonville on a beautiful early Monday morning in May. Songbirds singing, local beaver working on home repairs, migrating geese making their grand entrance back to summer nesting areas. Even an occasional pheasant making his debut.

Our Big Backyard photo contest summer 2017 winner: Chuck Taber, Wilsonville

"Seely Ditch wetland in Wilsonville on a beautiful early Monday morning in May. Songbirds singing, local beaver working on home repairs, migrating geese making their grand entrance back to summer nesting areas. Even an occasional pheasant making his debut. Life is good in the Northwest!"

Katy Parsons: On the dry days during late winter and early spring, my neighbors and I often kayak down the Columbia River Slough and watch the migratory birds. We are so lucky to have such an amazing place to watch wildlife so close to the city!

Our Big Backyard photo contest spring 2017 winner: Katy Parsons, Fairview

"On dry days during late winter and early spring, my neighbors and I often kayak down the Columbia Slough and watch the migratory birds. We are so lucky to have such an amazing place to watch wildlife so close to the city!"

photo of mushrooms at Oxbow Regional Park

Piper Hope: This was on the river trail at Oxbow Regional Park. We have kids who love looking for where the fairies live, and this spot was deemed highly probable for a fairy house. Oxbow is our favorite park. Most of our summer afternoons are spent on th

Our Big Backyard photo contest winter 2017 winner: Piper Hope, Gresham

"This was on the river trail at Oxbow Regional Park. We have kids who love looking for where the fairies live, and this spot was deemed highly probable for a fairy house. Oxbow is our favorite park. Most of our summer afternoons are spent on the beach, and we love exploring the trails year round."

"My son, father-in-law and I had been fishing all evening on the dock at the Gilbert River Boat Ramp on Sauvie Island. I hadn't been to Sauvie Island in many years. I may not have caught any fish, but I definitely walked away with a keeper."

Our Big Backyard photo contest fall 2016 winner: Jake Bennett, Gresham

"My son, father-in-law and I had been fishing all evening on the dock at the Gilbert River Boat Ramp on Sauvie Island. I hadn’t been to Sauvie Island in years. I may not have caught any fish, but I definitely walked away with a keeper."

photo of Smith and Bybee Wetlands with Mount Hood in background

summer OBB contest winner by Dylan Abel: "Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is one of my favorite spots to paddle. I maneuvered my kayak so that Mount Hood would be in the background when I took a photo of this couple canoeing."

Our Big Backyard photo contest summer 2016 winner: Dylan Abel, Southwest Portland

"Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area is one of my favorite spots to paddle. I maneuvered my kayak so that Mount Hood would be in the background when I took a photo of this couple canoeing."

photo of St. Johns Bridge at Cathedral Park

"While I was walking my dog through Cathedral Park with my husband, the sun was setting perfectly behind the river."

Our Big Backyard photo contest spring 2016 winner: Sarah Stills, Oregon City

"While I was walking my dog through Cathedral Park with my husband, the sun was setting perfectly behind the river."

photo of great blue heron along Fanno Creek Trail

"I have the Fanno Creek Trail right behind my house. One morning I decided to take my dog for a walk on the trail. While on the trail I happened to look over and this great blue heron was standing on a branch on a tree. After a while, he hopped into the c

Our Big Backyard photo contest winter 2016 winner: Ashley Rojo, Beaverton

Our Big Backyard photo contest fall 2015 winner: Terry Taylor, Beaverton

"I snapped this photo of the owl on my property, which is bordered on two sides by Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Momma and her baby have been living, hunting and training in the trees around the park all spring and summer."

photo of Mount Hood from Blue Lake Regional Park

Yi-Ling W. Yong: My husband and I had an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon at Blue Lake Regional Park. We were paddling on the lake and walking along the lake and simply appreciated the view of Mount Hood and the natural environment.

Our Big Backyard photo contest summer 2015 winner: Yi-Ling W. Yong, Beaverton

"My husband and I had an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon at Blue Lake Regional Park. We were paddling on the lake and walking along the lake and simply appreciated the view of Mount Hood and the natural environment."

photo of rough-skinned newt at Cooper Mountain Nature Park

Our Big Backyard photo contest spring 2015 winner: Anne Lenzi, Aloha

"Early morning hikes have become a tradition for my family. On this particular morning in November we chose one of our favorite parks, Cooper Mountain Nature Park. We were walking along the Cooper Mountain Loop when we spotted this amazing rough skinned newt on the trail."

Becky Hatfield's photo of a quiet moment at Leona Lake won the winter 2015 photo contest in Our Big Backyard magazine.

Our Big Backyard photo contest winter 2015 winner: Becky Hatfield, Milwaukie

"Taken at Leona Lake right outside of Milwaukie, I was out for a walk in the new fallen snow, and what made me stop and take this photo was the quiet. In a world where things are never silent, in this moment everything was peaceful. Not even a bird could be heard, no cars passing, just the silent beauty of the moment captured on film."

Fall 2014 winner: Oxbow Regional Park by Len Otto, Boring

Our Big Backyard photo contest fall 2014 winner: Len Otto, Boring

"My wife and I love Oxbow Regional Park. Every year we buy the annual pass and use it probably 250 times. Recently, we went for an early Sunday morning walk for the exercise and to try out a new lens. The color of the salmonberry has always been a favorite. The shot of the unfurling bloom with a water droplet about to fall was the first shot ever with my new lens. I was delighted, and even more delighted when I got home and looked at it on my computer screen. I could not have hoped for better. Oxbow never fails us."

Summer 2014 winner: Columbia Slough by Mindy Fitch, Northeast Portland

Our Big Backyard photo contest summer 2014 winner: Mindy Fitch, Northeast Portland

"My youngest daughter, Irene, waves at friends canoeing alongside us through a portion of the Columbia Slough near Whitaker Ponds. Big sister Harriet and my husband paddle in back. All around us, dreamy golden mid-October splendor and abundant birds. Belted kingfishers rattle, a great blue heron lands heavily on a flimsy tree branch, and we're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a beaver on land before she slips back into the water."

Spring 2014 winner: Cooper Mountain Nature Park by Warren W. Aney, Tigard

Our Big Backyard photo contest spring 2014 winner: Warren W. Aney, Tigard

"Whenever my family from California visit, I take my 11-year-old grandson, Will, on a nature outing. We’ve climbed Beacon Rock and explored Chanticleer Point, hiked and observed birds at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. On New Year’s Day, Will and I went to Cooper Mountain Nature Park, taking Will’s younger sister Sasha, 6, with us for her first outing. The two of them enjoyed the trees, bushes and birds on this foggy day, interacting with nature and each other. They both appreciated and learned from nature."

Winter 2014 winner: Graham Oaks Nature Park by Michael Barton, Portland

Our Big Backyard photo contest winter 2014 winner: Michael Barton, Portland

"My son, Patrick, looks for bugs along a trail at Graham Oaks Nature Park. In the background houses skirt the north side of the park, a reminder that in Wilsonville and much of the Portland metro region, nature can be close to home. On this spring visit, we enjoyed the trail through the open savanna, where it will take some time for all the newly planted oaks to grow – as well as the trail winding through the oak woodlands, providing plenty of opportunities to turn over a log and look for more bugs."

DEQ issues cleanup plan for Willamette Cove

Check out the Spring 2021 edition of Our Big Backyard

Snakes in the grass equal healthy habitat

DEQ issues cleanup plan for Willamette Cove

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Check out the Spring 2021 edition of Our Big Backyard

Snakes in greater Portland

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Fires, conservation and climate change

Spotting wildlife

Winter on Sauvie Island

Work to begin on Lone Fir Cemetery's cultural heritage garden at Block 14

Chinook Landing Marine Park reopens with new dock, safer channel

Metro Council appoints parks and nature oversight committee

Finding her story: women at Metro's cemeteries