- A Morning in the Cherry Blossoms —A variety of songbirds and woodpeckersSpring has arrived in Portland, and my backyard fig tree has become a stage for some of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful small birds. A suet feeder in the garden
Continue readingA Morning in the Cherry Blossoms —A variety of songbirds and woodpeckers
- A Curious Visitor at Oaks BottomI was out at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge the other day when I noticed movement along the water’s edge. A North American river otter had pulled itself up onto a
- What I’ve Been Working On — Bird App, OMSI Exhibit, and a New VentureIt’s been a busy couple of months, and I wanted to share what I’ve been pouring my time into. I’m juggling three major projects right now, each one pushing me
Continue readingWhat I’ve Been Working On — Bird App, OMSI Exhibit, and a New Venture
- Building the Portland Bird ID App — Progress UpdateI’m excited to share a project I’ve been working on — a bird identification app built specifically for Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. What It Does The Portland Bird
Continue readingBuilding the Portland Bird ID App — Progress Update
- Seahawks are OspreysWith Seattle Seahawks winnning the superbowl, I learned that the osprey is sometimes called a “seahawk.” I’ve attached a few of my photos of local ospreys.
- Popular Bald Eagle PhotosSome of my most popular Bald Eagle Photos.
- Spring is Around the CornerI made a music video of my favorite photos and clips from Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge: lots of songbirds, waterfowl, and a few surprise visitors. The music is my version
- Website Improvements: Faster, More Reliable, and Better Than EverHello everyone, I wanted to take a moment to share some exciting updates about jonswanproductions.com – and to apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced over the past few
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- The Eagles of Oaks BottomPerched like a living sentinel above the glassy surface of the pond, the young bald eagle looked at once tentative and regal. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge — an unexpected pocket
- A Quiet Lesson from the Water: When Birds Teach Us to Live TogetherThe morning I found myself beside the water, camera in hand, I expected the usual solitary moments — a single heron standing like a statue, a kingfisher’s brief flash of
Continue readingA Quiet Lesson from the Water: When Birds Teach Us to Live Together
- A Winter Wildlife Spectacal in OaksBottom
In Oaks Bottom I had that rare, clear quality that makes the city seem to exhale: a low, golden sun, a thin, crisp air, and the marsh grasses catching light - A Perfect Afternoon at Oaks Bottom: Hawks, Otters, and Herons in FlightThere are mornings that remind you why you carry a camera. My recent walk into Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge turned into one of those days: a red-tailed hawk quartering the
Continue readingA Perfect Afternoon at Oaks Bottom: Hawks, Otters, and Herons in Flight
- Falcons,Fugues, and Fast FingersThe peregrine falcon — the fastest bird on the planet in its high‑speed stoop — has always felt like a mirror for my own chase for speed. I nearly reached
- My First Merlin — A Surprise Sighting at Oaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeToday I had a thrilling first: I photographed a Merlin (Falco columbarius) while walking through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. I’ve been coming here for about 12 years and this was
Continue readingMy First Merlin — A Surprise Sighting at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
- A Perfect Birthday at Oaks BottomI spent my birthday exactly where I wanted to be—at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge—surrounded by crisp fall air, dripping gold and copper leaves, and the calm of wetland life. It
- A Quiet Moment with a Hermit Thrush at Oaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeThis morning’s walk through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge stopped me in my tracks. A small, unassuming bird — the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) — hopped through the leaf litter less
Continue reading A Quiet Moment with a Hermit Thrush at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
- – Drummers of the Oaks: Woodpeckers at Oaks Bottom Wildlife RefugeOn a recent visit to Oaks Bottom, I had the good fortune to photograph four striking woodpecker species: the pileated woodpecker, the Downy woodpecker, the northern flicker, and the red‑breasted
Continue reading– Drummers of the Oaks: Woodpeckers at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
- Small Space, Big Harvest: A Magical Garden That Feeds People and Pollinators
My neighbors call it “magical,” and I think they’re right. In a small urban space I’ve created a thriving, wildlife-friendly garden that’s as beautiful as it is productive. With organicContinue readingSmall Space, Big Harvest: A Magical Garden That Feeds People and Pollinators
- – Wood Chips kept falling on My Head — A Long Hunt Ends at Oaks BottomFor nearly ten years I’ve come to Oaks Bottom hoping to catch sight of a pileated woodpecker. I had heard rumors of people seeing a Pileated Woodpecker in the forest
Continue reading– Wood Chips kept falling on My Head — A Long Hunt Ends at Oaks Bottom
- River Otter on the Viewing Deck — A Surprise Performance at Oak Bottom Wildlife RefugeYesterday I had one of those wildlife moments that makes you forget to breathe. While standing on the viewing deck at Oak Bottom Wildlife Refuge, a river otter slipped quietly
- Fluff and Fury: A Flock of Bushtits in Sellwood OregonThat afternoon in Sellwood was a beautiful fall day with perfect golden hour lighting. I was wandering through Sellwood Park and I noticed a high-pitched chatter. A busy, bouncing cloud
Continue readingFluff and Fury: A Flock of Bushtits in Sellwood Oregon
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