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| On the hunt, May 8, 2015 |
Macro Man got a hot tip from a pigeon who would do anything for fresh peanuts. After just a half bag of nuts, that bird was singing like a retired mine canary. "Baskett Slough..." was just the clue he needed to track down the missing Golden Paintbrush. He got his computer savvy buddy, Ram, to find the location and history of the slough. Macro Man read through the printouts provided by Ram.
Between Salem, OR and Eugene, OR there are three National Wildlife Refuges collectively known as the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The closest one to Macro Man's home base is the Baskett Slough N.W.R., located about 16 miles south of McMinnville, OR. All of these areas provide protected wetlands for local and migrating birds as well as habitat for some of the last remaining native plants that once dominated the valley before farming and urbanization destroyed much of this habitat.
In particular, wet prairie was once the most widespread habitat in the Willamette Valley. Historically, in the uplands, oak savanna was the primary habitat. The Oregon White Oak trees and grasses of these upland areas supported many plants that are now threatened, endangered, or gone. On a more positive note, some of these plants are now being restored at the refuges. Some of the restored plants provide specialized habitat for the Fender's Blue butterfly, also endangered.
As Macro Man turned off the highway on to the gravel Coville Road and headed west, he had a good feeling about the day. The conditions were near perfect: sunny, no clouds, mid-70's, and no other humans around to foil his search efforts.
As Macro Man turned off the highway on to the gravel Coville Road and headed west, he had a good feeling about the day. The conditions were near perfect: sunny, no clouds, mid-70's, and no other humans around to foil his search efforts.
After parking and taking a 360 view of the area looking for possible suspects, all seemed quiet. He gathered up his gear and set out on the mission. The trail was before him...
After a few minutes, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something. He headed off trail to investigate. On getting in close he realized this was not "the drone he was looking for." It was a very nice Western Blue Flax (Linum lewisii), hailing the mid day sun.
As he proceeded up the path, the native white oaks and grasses became more prevalent. It was a sea of green, with nothing golden in sight. After another 1/4 mile or so, he got down low to examine the understory. Viola, a small red Vetch flower poking its head up. But no sign of our missing Golden Paintbrush.
Each step brought new views, making it harder to concentrate on the task at hand. This trail was heading deeper into the oak forest, and who knows what peril that would bring?
After a few minutes, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something. He headed off trail to investigate. On getting in close he realized this was not "the drone he was looking for." It was a very nice Western Blue Flax (Linum lewisii), hailing the mid day sun. As he proceeded up the path, the native white oaks and grasses became more prevalent. It was a sea of green, with nothing golden in sight. After another 1/4 mile or so, he got down low to examine the understory. Viola, a small red Vetch flower poking its head up. But no sign of our missing Golden Paintbrush.
Each step brought new views, making it harder to concentrate on the task at hand. This trail was heading deeper into the oak forest, and who knows what peril that would bring?
Sure enough, as Macro Man continued to closely examine the grassy areas for clues, his sixth sense to danger rang out. His bare leg, deep in the native grass, was only inches from the dreaded Toxicodendron diversiloba (Poison Oak).
He backed away slowly as the sweat of fear dripped from his forehead. Back on the trail he checked his map. He knew the missing plant would not be in this forest - it was just too dark. So he took a swig of well water from his bota bag and kept going. But his natural curiosity was like a monkey on his back. He had to stop at each flower along the way to check it out and shoot it with his trusty old Minolta STR. The day wore on...
Eventually he came to a clearing. On the map, he was approaching Baskett Butte, the high point of the refuge. Here, there were few trees and less grass. He started to see more and more flowers, even a yellow-gold looking one. He rushed over to it, bent down for a closer look, only to have his hopes dashed again. It was the virulent, non-native, but familiar Large Hop Clover (Trifolium aureum).
Then he had a strange feeling he was being watched; like a stealth cat was nearby. Upon closer examination, he spotted a huge swath of Tolmie's Pussy Ears (Calochortus tolmiei) peering up at him. These very handsome Sega lily-like flowers do really look like feline ears!
More flowers appeared as he made his way up the hill, toward the viewpoint where he could take a break and have some chow. Along the way he spotted more familiar faces: the Small Flowered Prairie Star (Lithophagma parviflorum), Menzie's Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii), Sea Blush (Plectritis congesta), and Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum). It was making his head spin - and still no sign of the Golden Paintbrush. He was getting worried that the job may be a bust!
At the viewpoint a nice wooden deck with a bench made a perfect place to gather his thoughts, and eat. Macro Man broke out his mystery meat sandwich from the java joint and washed it down with homemade V8. To the west he could see the coast range and to the south, the slough and farmland dominated the vista. After lunch and a brief nap he decided to finish the loop trail and continue the search.
Heading down the trail which leads back to the savanna, the sun is hitting the slope at a different angle. Suddenly he catches some small patches of yellow in the grass. He carefully heads over that way, watching every step and then wham, it hits him like a wayward Frisbee. He is standing only inches from the missing Golden Paintbrush! In fact, there are a few dozen of them coming up, showing their finger sized brushes to the world! Macro Man cracks a smile and mutters to himself, "holy harmonica, we got her!"
Willamette Valley farming and development killed off the main habitat for the Golden Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) over time. It was completely extirpated from the valley by 1983. Luckily, a few remaining sites in B.C. and Washington still have some original patches of these puppies. Recent efforts to bring it back in the Willamette Valley - most notably at Baskett Butte, have been fruitful. And lucky for Macro Man too.
After capturing multiple images of the missing paintbrush, he packed up and drove back to McMinnville, for a celebratory Hammerhead ale at The Hotel Oregon. Of course he does not own a mobile phone, so he borrowed the hotel house phone to call Lorenzo and share the good news. "It's a miracle, a grateful Lorenzo exclaimed!" To which Macro Man, replied with a sparkle in his voice "All in a day's work, sir - and don't forget to deposit my check."
Links:
Baskett Slough N.W.R. page
Golden Paintbrush Wiki page
He backed away slowly as the sweat of fear dripped from his forehead. Back on the trail he checked his map. He knew the missing plant would not be in this forest - it was just too dark. So he took a swig of well water from his bota bag and kept going. But his natural curiosity was like a monkey on his back. He had to stop at each flower along the way to check it out and shoot it with his trusty old Minolta STR. The day wore on...
Eventually he came to a clearing. On the map, he was approaching Baskett Butte, the high point of the refuge. Here, there were few trees and less grass. He started to see more and more flowers, even a yellow-gold looking one. He rushed over to it, bent down for a closer look, only to have his hopes dashed again. It was the virulent, non-native, but familiar Large Hop Clover (Trifolium aureum).
Then he had a strange feeling he was being watched; like a stealth cat was nearby. Upon closer examination, he spotted a huge swath of Tolmie's Pussy Ears (Calochortus tolmiei) peering up at him. These very handsome Sega lily-like flowers do really look like feline ears!
At the viewpoint a nice wooden deck with a bench made a perfect place to gather his thoughts, and eat. Macro Man broke out his mystery meat sandwich from the java joint and washed it down with homemade V8. To the west he could see the coast range and to the south, the slough and farmland dominated the vista. After lunch and a brief nap he decided to finish the loop trail and continue the search.
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| Looking South from Baskett Butte |
Heading down the trail which leads back to the savanna, the sun is hitting the slope at a different angle. Suddenly he catches some small patches of yellow in the grass. He carefully heads over that way, watching every step and then wham, it hits him like a wayward Frisbee. He is standing only inches from the missing Golden Paintbrush! In fact, there are a few dozen of them coming up, showing their finger sized brushes to the world! Macro Man cracks a smile and mutters to himself, "holy harmonica, we got her!"
Willamette Valley farming and development killed off the main habitat for the Golden Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) over time. It was completely extirpated from the valley by 1983. Luckily, a few remaining sites in B.C. and Washington still have some original patches of these puppies. Recent efforts to bring it back in the Willamette Valley - most notably at Baskett Butte, have been fruitful. And lucky for Macro Man too.
After capturing multiple images of the missing paintbrush, he packed up and drove back to McMinnville, for a celebratory Hammerhead ale at The Hotel Oregon. Of course he does not own a mobile phone, so he borrowed the hotel house phone to call Lorenzo and share the good news. "It's a miracle, a grateful Lorenzo exclaimed!" To which Macro Man, replied with a sparkle in his voice "All in a day's work, sir - and don't forget to deposit my check."
Links:
Baskett Slough N.W.R. page
Golden Paintbrush Wiki page
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