Nature Store Holiday Sale!
Find the perfect gift for the nature enthusiast on your shopping list during the Holiday Sale at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve (2600 SW Hillsboro Highway, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123). Fill your stockings with fun nature games and singing plush Audubon birds or buy your loved one the gift of binocular vision (in the form of binoculars of course). Take a look at our selection of field guides, coloring books, puzzles, apparel, furry friends and children’s books that will delight the young and old alike.
The sale will be held at the Nature Store in the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Education Center on Saturday, December 8th through Sunday, December 16th. Stop by and enjoy the free parking, gaze at the Bald Eagle’s Nest (on display in the Exhibit Hall) and save 10% in the Nature Store (click here for coupon). Members who visit during the month of December will be entered into a drawing for a “Basket from the Bottom” valued at more than $50.00. Nature Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday. All proceeds benefit Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve.
In This Issue
Japanese Community Day - Feature Photo
 On Saturday, Oct. 20, seven Japanese-owned companies came out to help Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Employees representing Dynic USA, TOK America, Sumitomo Electric, Komatsu America, Epson, AGC Electric, and Tokai Carbon USA worked to stabilize cover over reed canarygrass, an invasive plant. Native plant cuttings such as willow and red-osier dogwood were also put in the ground to start populations that will out-compete the reed canarygrass. The Preserve highly appreciates the yearly efforts of these corporate employees to restore the wildlife habitat at the wetlands. This is the eleventh year of Japanese Community Day at the wetlands. Shigeru Tamura, President of Dynic USA coordinates this team effort.
Volunteer Spotlight: Rick Balazs 
Rick Balazs retired from Qwest in 2001 and the US Army Reserves in 2004 and has volunteered at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve for about two years. He assists with the Hiker’s Wildlife Survey project, conducts monthly bird surveys from Arbor Roses and the Owl Woods on the east side of the Preserve, assists with trail maintenance, leads hikes, and helps Frank Opila with maintenance of the remote camera and water quality monitoring equipment.
This past spring and summer Rick monitored the Great Blue Heron Rookery located at the southeast corner of the Wetlands in a large grove of Douglas fir trees. Rick kept meticulous records on the colony and its 33 nests (27 of which were occupied). He determined that there were 54 adults that fledged 55 offspring. Rick developed a graphic representation of where the trees are located as seen from directly overhead so he could overlay it with a panoramic photograph, which allowed him to find a specific tree and nest from different viewpoints. This is the first time such detailed monitoring of the rookery has been done and the data has already been requested by other agencies.
Rick has traveled from Alaska to Costa Rica always keeping an eye on the natural world. We are glad he keeps an eye on the natural wonders at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve.
If you are interested in volunteering at Jackson Bottom please contact volunteer coordinator Jan Curry at 503-681-6283 or email her at janc@ci.hillsboro.or.us.
New AmeriCorps Volunteer: Laurel Black
 Laurel Black is the new AmeriCorps member at the Preserve. She will be working on environmental education programs along with many other projects. Laurel grew up in Hawaii and moved to Oregon as a teenager. She attended Reed College in Portland where she majored in biology and wrote her senior thesis on invasive birds.
While at Reed College she worked on the Reed College Canyon, a project of restoration of urban wild spaces, a project that is ongoing. She is looking forward to the many opportunities and experiences of working at the Preserve, as well as contributing her talents to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve.
Her hobbies include creating and crafting some amazing dolls and gnomes. She loves to cook and is involved with medieval reenactment.
Intel Grant: Spring into Science
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve has received a $15,000 grant from the Intel Corporation to continue the Intel Spring Into Science program. Preserve education staff and volunteers are working with three fourth grade classrooms, one from W. L. Henry Elementary School, one from Peter Boscow Elementary School and one from Fernhill Elementary School. Each class receives five traveling science/nature-based education programs and one field program during the school year.
Students are recruited from each classroom to attend a week-long Spring Into Science Camp at the Preserve in March. This year in addition to Preserve volunteers, Intel employees are volunteering to help present the programs which gives Intel a more “personal” connection to the students. The purpose of the Spring Into Science grant is to provide opportunities for students to participate in education programs focused on science and natural history.
Tweet of Dweams: Birdhouse Building Contest
The Tweet of Dweams is a bird house building contest and benefit auction that takes place each year to raise funds to support the work of Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. At this time of year we announce the contest and solicit entries which are due the first week of February 2008. The bird houses are put on display followed by the judging. Then, in May 2008, we have our auction event. Cash prizes are offered for entries in three categories: functional, ornamental, and youth. An entry form and more details can be found on our website.
Upcoming Activities*
All activities meet at the Wetlands Education Center unless otherwise noted!
* Upcoming activities are updated regularly on our website. Please check there for the most current information.
Is there an event or activity you would like to see offered at the Preserve? Special information to be included in our newsletter? Call (503) 681-6206 to make a request or suggestion or email your input to Karen Newton.
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