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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2017)
30 Wednesday, September 27, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon FIELD STUDIES: Students connect with natural world through class Continued from page 3 used these early outdoor areas as springboards into carrying on environmental studies and exploring careers in science. One graduate, Zander Albertson, follow his curiosity of the natural world all the way through his stud- ies and graduated with a mas- ter’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Birmingham. PHOTO BY JIM ANDERSON there, and what is their role within the forest ecosystem? • What habitats does the TCCA provide for what spe- cies of animals? Over the years thousands of students have learned how to answer those questions and what that means to the forest around them. One out- standing fact became all too clear as the students discov- ered how vital it is to have snags in a forest community: there are not enough dead trees (snags) in the TCCA to maintain a healthy forest community. Woodpeckers must have dead trees in which to pound out their tree-cavity homes. Not only do the various woodpecker species keep forest insect pests population in check, but all the other cavity nesters using the old woodpecker homes for their nests also contribute their share of involvement within the ecosystem. The main woodpecker for the Sisters area is the white- headed, which is a huge attractant for birders from all over the world coming here to study and place them on their Bird Life List. And among the small owls who also use old woodpecker cav- ities is the screech owl look- alike, the rare, insect-eating flammulated owl. When the students have been investigating the plots for a while, the population count of plants and ani- mals becomes so large and involved in the biological interaction many of the stu- dents become overwhelmed. But they continue to enjoy studying the relationships of animals and plants to nonliv- PHOTO BY JIM ANDERSON ing things, and then go into looking at how the over- Freshman Paige Wentzel and Rima Givot working on Paige’s field journal. whelming numbers of insect species interact with the hun- watch the ground. I liked from myself because I was dreds of birds, mammals, looking up at the sky and for- present in the moment and reptiles and amphibians and est around me.” aware of my surroundings,” other varied life that requires “It felt like I was detached said Sahara Lucas. a microscope to study. When asked what they thought of their day in the Serving Sisters Since 1994 TCCA, several of Givot’s students responded: Paige Wentzel had plants in her journal. She also said, “It was fun to be outside and helped me wake up.” Lala Debari said, “It D ESIGNERS & B UILDERS of D ISTINCTION was peaceful to be outside. Observing a plant and the CCB#194489 541-549-1575 surrounding forest made me look around and see things I don’t normally notice when I am walking since I often Peck’s penstemon. A Partnership Beyond Your Expectations — Serving all of Central Oregon — Sandy Goodsell Principal Broker Jonathan Hicks Broker ABR, CDPE, CIAS, GRI, SRES 541-480-0183 865-335-6104 LICENSED BROKERS IN THE STATE OF OREGON goodsellandhickssellcentralor.com Stop by and visit with Tiana Van Landuyt & Shelley Marsh. 220 S. Pine St., Ste. 102 | 541-548-9180 The Peaks at Pine Meadow Village Four units under construction. 1,200-1,400+ sq. ft., single-car garage, energy effi cient with a modern edge. $369,000-$379,000. Graphic courtesy: www.pateydesigns.com It was with a certain amount of satisfaction that Givot was able to gather her students around her and show them the colorful stems of last summer’s Peck’s pen- stemon hidden in the grasses, preparing for winter. The area within the TCCA is one of the few places where this rare penstemon can be found in all the Earth, and is a liv- ing testimony to the care with which this place is treated by students and visitors. The 160-acre TCCA is owned by the Sisters School District and has 36 study plots, each a 10th of an acre of plant and animal life that is a living example of life in a healthy ponderosa pine ecosystem. The entire area is also protected by a conserva- tion easement. During the outdoor sea- son, Givot shared the knowl- edge that Oregon is covered by a little over 48 percent forest, and asked her stu- dents, “What is that forest?” They are learning how to answer that main equation by using the study plots to answer other questions: • What trees live in the TCCA, and how many are there? • What size are the trees in height and DBH? (a stan- dard method of expressing the diameter of the trunk, aka bole) of a standing tree, and one of the most common methods to obtain the amount of board feet of lumber in a tree). • What plant species live Exclusively offered by… Sisters HomeLand Realty S ISTING NEW L NEW HOME smack in the middle of Sisters! On a quiet 343 E. Aspenwood Ave., Sisters street, park nearby. 2 bedrooms upstairs plus den with vaulted ceiling. Master on main. Drop-dead-gorgeous kitchen with granite countertops and beautiful laminate hardwood floor. Stainless steel appliances invite you to create culinary masterpieces. $315,000 10 acres with Irrigation Power and water to property. Ready for your dream home and horses! Cloverdale area. Priced to sell at $385,000 Call Winfield Durham, Broker 541-420-9801 LICENSED BROKERS IN THE STATE OF OREGON 625 N. Arrowleaf Trail, Sisters Ali Mayea & Jill A Jarkesy 541-588-6007 | 401 E. Main Ave. alimayea@bendcable.com
