Urban Conservation |
Downtown Portland Oregon during the fall
Urban Conservation |

Building Complete Communities Where Both People and Nature Thrive

Oregon is faced with an epidemic of houselessness, a humanitarian disaster that touches every part of the state. As we contend with a trio of concurrent crises—housing, biodiversity, and climate—we believe we can and must meet our region’s housing needs by supporting affordable housing development while providing access to nature, protecting our natural environment, and increasing the climate resilience of our communities.

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Conservation |
Northern Spotted Owl
Conservation |

The Endangered Species Act at 50

The Endangered Species Act is celebrating its golden anniversary and it remains one of our most powerful environmental laws with an incredible track record of success. In the 50 years since its passage, the ESA has prevented the extinction of the overwhelming majority of wildlife and plant species under its protection.

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Wildlife Care Center |
Red-breasted Sapsucker patient at WCC - window strike
Wildlife Care Center |

What Happens When a Bird Hits a Window?

Birds are beginning their fall migrations, and here at the Wildlife Care Center we’ll start to receive dozens of calls and admissions each day due to window collisions. This is a tragic and avoidable pattern that we see occur every year. Window strikes are consistently among our top five reasons for injury, and last year was number three, behind only cats and cars.

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Equity and the Environment |
Oxbow Nature Education on bank of river
Equity and the Environment |

Environmental Justice and Bird Alliance of Oregon: Past, Present, and Future

Bird Alliance of Oregon has a long history of working to advance conservation initiatives that incorporate key tenets of the environmental justice movement. This work is especially important now because we have reached a critical point in terms of environmental damage and social and environmental justice reckoning.

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Conservation |
Quinn Read at the Sanctuary
Conservation |

Continuing Over a Century of Conservation at Bird Alliance of Oregon

This opportunity to work with Bird Alliance of Oregon feels like coming full circle. I am deeply humbled to join an organization that has been shaped by visionary leaders, like Bob Sallinger, and it’s an honor to be a part of this unparalleled community of staff, activists, volunteers, students, and supporters. I look forward to working with you, together for nature.

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Backyard Habitat Certification Program |
People planting together
Backyard Habitat Certification Program |

Digging Deeper: Backyard Habitat Certification Program Update

In 2022, BHCP hit a programmatic milestone of enrolling the 10,000th participant! Our enrolled participants’ land now totals over 2,453 acres, which together is about four times the size of Powell Butte Nature Park in East Portland. These pockets of habitat form important corridors to support wildlife, manage stormwater, and increase access to greenspaces within urban spaces.

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Urban Conservation |
Urban Conservation |

Lights Out, Oregon!

A recent study on the change in visibility of stars from 2011 to 2022 shows that sky brightness is increasing globally by nearly 10% per year, effectively doubling sky brightness every eight years. Light pollution not only robs us of our own view of the heavens, it also has serious ecological consequences, with demonstrated impacts on over 200 species of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants.

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Urban Conservation |
On a sunny morning in February, over 65 community volunteers helped plant nearly a thousand native trees and shrubs at Wilkes Creek Headwaters, led by Friends of Trees and partners.
Urban Conservation |

Green Investments to East Portland

Just before the new year, Commissioner Carmen Rubio approved funding for several parks projects in Portland. Included in the list is Wilkes Creek Headwaters, a greenspace in outer East Portland. These undeveloped 20+ acres are within a residential neighborhood and contain the springs that feed the only free-flowing stream in the city that still enters the Columbia Slough.

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