Speaker Series Highlights Wildfire, Cultural History, Threatened Species and Landscapes

Post date: Jan 9, 2018 11:56:26 PM

See what winter on the Oregon Coast has to offer and enjoy a variety of free educational presentations at Cape Perpetua. Guest speaker presentations will be held each Saturday from January 13 until March 17 in addition to the hiking, tidepooling and exploring always available here. Winter programs will include a special focus on wildfire, cultural history, threatened species and landscapes, along with other unique topics. All events are free and held at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center unless otherwise noted. Mark your calendars for the below talks!

For more information, contact the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center at (541) 547-3289.

Saturday, January 13: Wildfire in western Oregon: Past, present, and future, 1:00 p.m.

Recent fires remind us that the moist forests of western Oregon are subject to large wildfires. This talk will explore what we know about the history of wildfire in coastal Oregon and its role in forest ecosystems. Presented by Tom Spies, research forester at the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Saturday, January 20: Alsea tribal life at Cape Perpetua prior to European contact, 1:00 p.m.

Learn about the pre-European inhabitants of Cape Perpetua from one of Cape Perpetua’s exceptional volunteers, Dick Mason. Dick will also take you on a quick and entertaining tour of world history that occurred while the Alsea were enjoying their evening seaweed and mussel dinners at Cape Perpetua.

Saturday, January 27: Oregon’s Marine Reserves: There’s more beneath the surface, 1:00 p.m.

Learn about Oregon’s five marine reserves, with a focus on the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve, including current research and what makes it unique. A guided tide-pool walk will follow the presentation, including stops along the way to discuss forest ecology, forest/ocean connection, human connection to land, and tidal zonation.

Saturday, February 3: Ecological effects of fire on vegetation in the Oregon Coast Range, 1:00 p.m.

Siuslaw National Forest ecologist Jane Kertis will present on the historic drivers of fire (climate, geology, landforms), how humans have affected and influenced fire activity, and discuss future wildfire forecasts for the Coast Range.

Saturday, February 10: Ghosts in the kelp: Sea otters in Oregon, 1:00 p.m.

Bob Bailey, coastal advocate and member of the Elakha Alliance will explore the history of sea otters in Oregon, their ecological and cultural importance, their disappearance, and the prospects for their return and recovery.

Saturday, February 17: Here on the Edge: The story Civilian Public Service (CPS) Camp #56, 1:00 p.m.

Oregon author and historian Steve McQuiddy presents the story of how a small group of World War II conscientious objectors on the Oregon Coast plowed the ground for a social and cultural revolution. His slideshow and talk is adapted from his book, Here on the Edge, a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

Saturday, February 24: The Oregon Dunes: A vanishing landscape, 2:00 p.m.

The Oregon dunes are important to our coastal communities both economically and ecologically; they delight residents and the approximately 500,000 visitors who travel to see them each year and support a plethora of native plants and wildlife. And the dunes are disappearing before our eyes. Learn about this unique landscape from local author, U.S. Forest Service Volunteer, and exceptional steward of the Oregon Dunes, Dina Pavlis.

Saturday, March 3: Namhliitnhl Nishchima’muu: Our culture and history, 1:00 p.m.

Jesse Beers is an enrolled Siuslaw Tribal Member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. He is also the Cultural Stewardship Manager for his tribe. He is tasked to assist tribal members in stewarding the culture of their tribe and the lands and waters which created that rich culture. Come join him for a presentation of traditional tools, history, and stories.

Saturday, March 10: Fish Tales: Traditions and challenges of seafood in Oregon, 1:00 p.m.

Former professor and food/travel writer Jennifer Bright will shed light on a complex, crucial component of Oregon’s food system that is rarely discussed: our seafood. She will discuss globalization’s effect on our fisheries, share stories about fishing and Oregon’s history, and chat about emerging research on sustainable farming.

Saturday, March 17: Return of the Oregon silverspot butterfly, 1:00 p.m.

Anne Walker, US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, will discuss the threatened Oregon silverspot butterfly, whose range is now limited to a handful of coastal meadows, and efforts being done by multiple agencies and partners to save the species.