Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2002)
_______ 5 WEdNEsdAy, M ay 22, 2002 ThE CI ac I< amas P rint Natural history: not for the birds anymore desert. The marsh contains SHADRA BEESLEY 50,000 acres of water less Staff Writer than six feet deep. It harbors Imagine going on a four-day many different types of fowl, vacation and getting school as well as deer and antelope. The great basin desert is credit for it. For a group of Clackamas students, that known for its turbulent, dream is pretty close to reali unpredictable weather and the group got to experience this ty- From May 9-12, Natural phenomenon first hand. History class was in session. Friday morning they woke up Jennifer Porter-Bown, John to a blanket of snow. “It Snively, Bill Guthrie, and a snowed most of the morn crew of students went on a ing,” Porter-BoWii said, “but journey to learn about the then it warmed right up.” geology and biology of Following the snowstorm, the Oregon. First they drove to class experienced a weekend John Day country in central of beautiful, sunny weather, Oregon to investigate the fos complete with lots of bird sil beds, and get in some good watching. Porter-Bown reported seeing rock hunting. After they’d had their fill, they continued 142 different species of bird. to their destination: The “I think that’s probably a Malheur National Wildlife record,” she mused. The Refuge, the largest inland field-trippers even saw two deviant species of mid-west marsh in the U.S. The Malheur refuge is locat ern bird. They also got to see ed on the east side of the a baby Great Horned owl and Cascades at the base of the observe the mating ritual of Steens Mountains, and is con the Sage Grouse. “It’s hilarious to see all sidered part of the great basin these goofy birds puffing up their feathers,” Porter-Bown described the Sage Grouse’s habits. The males all congre gate in a part of the marsh called a lek to show off for the females.' The females then pick their mate for the season. Last Sunday, nine males and three females were in attendance, and Porter- Bown declared that the spec tacle was well worth waking up at 4 a.m. to We. Besides seeing all sorts of different wildlife, the group also got to explore different types of land formations. Outside the marsh, they explored the Diamond Craters, a volcanic complex containing several lava tubes. The students who attended this trip earned one biology credit for keeping a journal of the different species they saw (plants and animais), and turning in a paper about what they learned. The course is entitled BI-163 - Natural History. Students try to Identify a species of saltbrush at the John Day National Monument In the Painted Hills. On the four-day trip, biology and geology students got to see their subject matter up close and person al. College Pro Painters is now hiring Painters & Job Site Managers for the summer. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY Earn $8-$10 per hour Call 1-888-277-9787 www.collegepro.com LOOKING FOR Wr» Inewted in WORKING ADULTS AVAILABLE ON EVES. AND WEEKENDS. YOU CAN EARN YOUR ej AAOT DEGREE st. is IKMIWQI flea» AHEAD IN IJFE. Sonth Center
