Corvallis Science & Nature: Native Plants and Berries for Birds

Just like that, it’s almost July. With the students gone, Corvallis is settling into its sleepy summer season, and that means a slowdown in events around town. Luckily, our local nonprofits step up this time of year, to fill in some of the gap left as the university goes quiet. This week, volunteers are needed to improve a native plant garden, plus there’s a field trip to learn about our native plants in the wild. But before that, we’re passing on a call from our local wildlife rehabilitation center in need of a very specific donation to help them help orphaned birds. 

Chintimini Needs Berries 

If you grow or live near any kind of early Northwest berry plant, you’ve probably seen wild birds taking their share. Industrial orchards have to protect their cherry and other trees with nets this time of year, but most of us with backyard or container-grown berries just live with this bird tax, a fair trade to enjoy watching them eat and feed their babies. But for baby birds and other animals that have, for one reason or another, gotten separated from their parents, berries can be a lifesaver.

Chintimini Wildlife Center put out a call this week on their Facebook page for berries. This is one of their busiest seasons, as people bring in abandoned or separated baby birds and other wildlife, and they are completely out of berries. They are asking the public for donations of fresh or frozen blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. See their post for more details. 

Saturday: Field Trip to Marys Peak 

This spring has been an especially beautiful one for wildflowers, with the alternating sun and  rain that Northwest plants love best. But with the summer upon us, though, it’s starting to warm up and dry out. When it starts to get hot here in the valley, it’s a great time to run to the mountains. The Native Plant Society of Oregon, Corvallis chapter, is running a field trip to Marys Peak this Saturday, including a three-mile hike through beautiful forest and meadow ecosystems. The field trip runs from 9 am to 3 pm this Saturday, June 29. Click here for more details and to RSVP. 

Sunday: Work Party at Avery Park 

On Sunday, you can do more than look at native plants. You can help grow and sustain them, right here in town. Avery Park has a native plant garden, and volunteers are needed this weekend to help with a summer cleanup to keep weeds down and plants healthy. The work party meets at 9 am this Sunday, June 30, at the Avery House Nature Center, and runs until noon. Bring your own gloves and shovel and clippers, if you have them, as well as water and sensible clothes for the weather. 

By Ian Rose 

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