Tweet of Dweams - "Best in Show"

Join KATU's Grant McOmie at this year’s Tweet of Dweams Auction. The event will be held at the Wetlands Education Center on May 19th at 6:30pm.  Come and savor a buffet of regional culinary delights, a no-host bar, and admire Hillsboro's finest collection of birdhouses, bird baths, and bird feeders. Tickets are $35 per person. Call now to reserve your space (503) 681-6206.

Help make the auction a success!
Do you have something that could be part of an attractive auction package? If you or someone you know would like to donate to the auction, please contact Arielle Tozier at (503) 681-5373. Every contribution helps!

Special Thanks to Our Event Sponsors!

$2,500+: Portland General Electric; Clean Water Services; The Hillsboro Argus; Tuality Healthcare

$1,000: Hillsboro Landfill, Inc.; John L. Scott Real Estate

$500: Backyard Birdshop; Epson Portland Inc.; Metro West Ambulance; Northwest Mortgage Group; Providence Health System; Sanders Appraisal PC; Shaun Pigott Associates; West Coast Bank

Sponsorships are availbale from $500 to $2,500. Please conact Julie Magers for information about sponsor benefits (503) 681-6417.

In This Issue

• Feature Photo – Red-tailed Hawk
• Volunteer Spotlight – Tweet Committee Co-chairs
• Wish List – What is a Wetland without Pirates?
• Upcoming Activities

Feature Photo

Once again, volunteer Michael Thompson has captured both the Preserve and our attention with his amazing photographs.  This stunning photo of a Red-tailed hawk at the Preserve was taken while the bird was perched in the trees between Clean Water Services and the Wetlands Education Center.

Michael began taking photographs at the Preserve because it is a convenient place for him to practice.  Because he has taken so many wonderful photos of the Preserve, he has been granted permission to set up a tent-like blind in the wetlands.  The blind project is Michael’s “answer to getting close, detailed images, without disturbing the wildlife.” This spring we will have Michael's photographs on sale in our nature store. Be sure to come by and pick out your favorite.

If you are interested in sharing your photographs, contact Julie Magers by email or phone at
(503) 681-6417.

Volunteer Spotlight

In the spirit of the Tweet of Dweams, this season we would like to highlight two community leaders who are dedicating their time to making the auction a success.

Deanna Palm (left) is President of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. Lila Ashenbrenner (right) is Hillsboro Deputy Police Chief and Vice Chair of this year's Tweet Planning Committee. Both have been volunteering at the Preserve for years, and we asked them to share a bit about their experiences at Jackson Bottom Wetlands.

What interests you most about the Preserve –or- what drew you to become involved?  

Deanna - Jackson Bottom Wetlands is one of Hillsboro’s greatest assets.  It provides a great educational environment for our children as well as providing an outstanding recreational opportunity for our community.  Maintaining a quality of life that ensures that Hillsboro will be a great place to live now and in the future is vital for our economic development efforts.  Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is one of the best examples of the quality of life that is exemplified in Hillsboro.  Our job is to ensure that it is sustained for future generations to cherish as well.

Lila - I love the out of doors and our precious wildlife, all of it!  I want to be part of preserving it for the future.  The Tweet of Dweams is also the most fun fundraising event that I know of.  Where else do you get to dress in casual or  bird watching clothes, see nature in action at Jackson Bottom and enjoy food and drink with your friends…and all the while raising money for a great cause!

What do you hope to accomplish as a volunteer here?

Deanna - Sustainability.  I want to make sure that it’s able to grow with our community, can serve the needs of our school children and provide opportunities for others that want to explore this beautiful area.

Lila - Preserving nature and wildlife for all the years to come.  It is incredible that we can have the great Bald Eagles right here in our own back yards.  We need to make sure we maintain a balance between humans and nature.

If you have time and talent that you would like to share with the Preserve, please email our volunteer coordinator, Jan Curry, or call her at 503.681.6283. 

Wish List - What is a Wetland without Pirates?

Aye matey, give us your goods! If you don’t have part of an attractive package to donate to the Tweet of Dweams Auction, you can still help us fulfill our mission.  As a non-profit, we always welcome donations of supplies or services.  This season, we are in particular need of the following:

• A John Deer tractor with mower attachment - preferably with a lift bucket on the front
• Gas powered weed trimmers
• six sheets of high quality 4' x 8' 3/4" plywood for exhibits
• food dehydrator
• owl pellets
• any kind of art supplies
• Native plants – trilliums, fawn lilies, false Solomon seal, red columbine, wild ginger, Oregon Grape, red-flowering current, etc.
• Compost
• Functional landscaping machines and tools
• And of course…PIRATE paraphernalia (costumes, props, etc. - no live parrots please)

If can spare any of these items, please contact Karen at 503-681-6206 and she will send you a donation form and arrange for pick up or drop off of the donations. THANK YOU!

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 Julie Magers.