Nature & Science Series

The Collins View Nature and Science Series invites you to take a closer look at our neighborhood’s cherished flora and fauna. Our Southwest community is fortunate to have forest and stream habitats that provide shelter and passage for animals, as well as places to retreat for humans. In periodic talks, scientists and naturalists among us will share their knowledge so we can better preserve, protect, and live in harmony with the natural 'bounty' of our urban setting. The Nature and Science Series is self-funded by donations and the volunteer participation of presenters.

Series Format

Two events per year in the Multnomah Arts Center Auditorium feature audio-visual presentations, panel discussions and plenty of audience sharing experiences, questions and feedback.

Upcoming Talk - Songbirds of Southwest Portland Parks & Yards - POSTPONED!

Collins View NA will sponsor a Songbird presentation by Jay Withgott from the Audubon Society at the Multnomah Arts Center Auditorium. We expect a good turnout. We welcome volunteers to come early to help set up chairs. If you have suggestions for more nature-based presentations, please let us know.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: NEW DATE ASAP!
Songbirds of Southwest Portland Parks & Yards

Fall Event - What is the Westside Wildlife Corridor? - October 13, 2020

The Nature & Science series is organizing a panel discussion on the Westside Wildlife Corridor, this Fall! [HA! COVID CHANGED ALL THIS --ed.] Multnomah Arts Center Auditorium on Tuesday, October 13, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm (event time 7:00 to 9:00 pm) allows for social time before and after the talking.

Past Talk - Crow Talk, October 2019

The presentation about Crows on Oct 8, 2019, at the Multnomah Arts Center was a raven success! See the article in the Portland Tribune: [LINK]

Potential Nature & Science Topics in this Series

There is some overlap between these topics, eg Pollinators and Backyard Habitats. Some topics would belong to the Westside Wild Life Corridor sub-series.

• Certified Backyard Habitats
• How to become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat
• Pollinators
• ----
• Clean water (surface?) 'Services'
• The green on the map - Riparian areas along all our Streams
• Westside Watersheds.
• Resurgence of native animals in watersheds and SW Portland
• Maintaining ecosystem function in urban landscapes
• Urban Coyotes
• ----
• Climate Change impact on SW Portland
• Potential for Urban Wildfires
• Impact of the Residential Infill Project on nature
• Wildlife crossings - under and overpasses, where are they needed?
• ----
• Geological Anomalies in SW Portland
• Geology of SW Portland Hills and their soils
• Missoula Flood - Carson Heights?
• ----
• Native food harvest and historic preparation
• Butterfly census and Xerces Society
• Indigenous fungi and lichen
• ----
• Citizen Science projects - [zooniverse]

Westside Wildlife Corridor

We will revisit the state of the Westside Wildlife Corridor each year with a series of events covering corridor-related topics. The WWC Series is described on its own page: [WWC Series].

BACKGROUND

In response to the 'hood being inundated by crows, we pulled together a Crow Talk last October, so that people might understand Crow behavior. The raving success of that talk led to setting up another talk this April, 'Songbirds'. Collins View NA sponsored the first event and has again rented the auditorium for the Songbird event. It's hoped that future events can be self-supporting through voluntary contributions - always Free admission.