The Northwest Nature Shop is pleased to now carry YoYo Jam yoyo’s.  YoYo Jam makes some of the best yo yos in the world for beginners to experts. These are used in many of the top yoyo competitions throughout the world. Their yoyos feature a unique YoYoJam bearing system. No complicated spacer system is required. The bearing simply snaps into place and will not fall out when the yoyo is opened. There are absolutely no loose parts to lose. Best of all they make all their yoyos in the USA ensuring excellent quality control and fair wages.
We have four models in stock:

The Dragon Jam $13.95 is great starter yo yo but can still do any trick you throw at it, It features a yoyo jam bearing with silicon pads for the return mechanism.

The Kickside $17.95 is an all plastic version of the Hitman yoyo and is a great string trick yoyo and featuring ball bearing and a combination starburst and silicon pad return system.

The Legacy 2 $25.95 is modeled on the Dark magic 2 but with out the extra weight and cost of the metal rims.
Dark Magic 2 $51.95 is one of the most highly recommended yoyos of all time both for beginners to advanced yoyo players. It is heavy and wide making a very stable and fast yoyo. It comes with 2 ball bearings, standard bearings for beginner and intermediate use and speed bearings when you’ve mastered the bind technique for getting yoyos to return.

We have each of these models on display for you to play with.
All of these are ball bearing yoyos which can be made to sleep for very long times to do complicated trick but advanced tricks require an unresponsive yo yo so the Bind Technique is required to get the yo yo to come back to your hand.

Since bird seed has gotten more expensive, keeping squirrels away from birdfeeders has taken on more importance for many people. If squirrels are becoming your backyard nemesis there are a variety of methods to keep feeders squirrel free.

The first consideration for most people is that they have a good view to see and enjoy the birds, so where the feeders will be located will decide which method to use.

If your preferred bird feeding site is in a open yard, you’re in luck, and all you need is a pole with a squirrel baffle and you can use whatever feeder you would like. The metal Sheppard’s poles from Erva are great because they are easy to hang feeders from, and the metal will not rot like wood. The simplest and cheapest squirrel baffle is to use 4.5 feet of large diameter (over 2.5 inches) smooth plastic pipe placed over the pole. Squirrels can climb any wood pole or small diameter smooth pole by getting their paws all the way around it, but the combination of a large diameter and smooth stops them by not allowing any grip. Erva also makes a variety of squirrel baffles for poles including ones for four by four posts or you can get creative and make your own.

When you’re assembling your squirrel proof feeding station always consider the athletic prowess of squirrels. They can jump up to 4 feet vertically and over 10 feet horizontally so the top of any baffle (or feeder) must be above four feet and farther than 10 feet horizontally from anything a squirrel could jump from.

Hanging baffles are an easy and relatively inexpensive solution. These will work if you can hang your feeder and baffle where the feeder will be higher than four feet from the ground and farther than 10 feet horizontally from any surface a squirrel could jump from. A hanging baffle needs to be wider than the squirrels body and completely cover the feeder that is underneath. Our favorite is the large and indestructible hanging baffles made by Erva. Songbird Essentials and Aspects maker clear plastic ones that also work well but are a little smaller. Or you can build your own using a garbage can lid and hooks on either side of the lid. You can position your feeder in high branches with the long Branch hooks from Erva or by throwing a strap over the branch and hanging the baffle and feeder from the strap (be careful the rope or strap does not cut into the tree branch).

A cable or rope between structures or trees works great to hang feeders and baffles from. Again the feeders need to hang over four feet from the ground or 10 feet from any structure a squirrel could jump from. The cable method is usually a pretty good way to keep bears away from feeders, but in that instance the bottom of feeders need to be over 8-10 feet from the ground and you will have to fill feeders using a ladder. If you use small diameter coated metal cable as the hanging line you might not need a hanging baffle at all as squirrels probably will not be able to walk across it.

However if the perfect place for your bird feeder viewing also allows squirrels jumping space you will need to purchase a squirrel- proof bird feeder. Some of the most popular are the Squirrel Buster Series; these have a lot of great things about them- nearly all of the exposed parts are metal so frustrated squirrels will not succeed in destroying the feeder to get at the food, there is good airflow inside the tubes so moldy wet seed is less of a problem, and the perches are shaped to accommodate a wide variety of birds (on the downside they are made overseas). Our other favorite is the squirrel proof selective feeders from duncraft. This features a large cage around a duncraft tube feeder and a metal roof and a cage bottom, is a little large but has the added bonus of not allowing Jays and other large birds to use the feeder. Other popular models and highly functional models are the Yankee tipper/flipper series.

1. Lower Table Rock; 5.2 miles round trip (Hiking, No Dogs)

2. Upper Table Rock; 2.8 miles round trip (Hiking, No Dogs)

3. Denmam Wildlife Refuge/ Oregon Fish & Wildlife Office; ponds (Wildlife Viewing)

4. Agate Lake Co. Park; birding area (Wildlife Viewing)

5. Jacksonville Woodlands; many trails behind Britt gardens (Hiking, Biking)

6. Jefferson Nature Center/Bear Creek Greenway; access in US Cellular Community Park. 16 mile paved bike path from Ashland – Central Point. (Biking)

7. Prescott Park/Roxy Ann Peak; upper road closed during winter (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

8. Willow Lake Co. Park; (Biking)

9. Mt. McLaughlin trail;  10.6 miles round trip, strenuous (Hiking)

10. Grizzly Peak Trail;  5.4 mile loop (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

11. Lynn Newbry Park/Bear Creek Greenway; ponds ¼ mile south. (Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Biking)

12.Bear Creek Greenway/Ashland Pond;  to reach Ashland pond  stay on  W. Nevada then right on Glendower to end. (Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Biking)

13. North Mountain Park; interpretive trails, classes. (Hiking, Wildlife Viewing)

14. Upper Lithia Park/Ashland Loop/BTI; 1. Lithia Park Woodland trails; 1.2 miles to Ashland Plaza,  (Hiking)    2. BTI trail; 2 mile loop. Access the Creek to Crest Route(CTC)- 13 mile route from Ashland Creek to Mt. Ashland                          the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), BTI trail starts at a small gated dirt road above the reservoir off  Glenview,  (Hiking, Horses, Biking) 3. Ashland Loop Road/ 2060;  28 mile dirt road loop. (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

15. White Rabbit Trailhead; 2.2 miles  to Oredson Todd Woods trailhead or to Park St, or continue up Caterpillar trail toward Mt. Ashland (CTC). (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

16. Oredson Todd/Siskiyou Mt. Park; access to trails in Oredson Todd Woods and Siskiyou Mountain Park, White Rabbit Trail and Mike Uhtoff Trail. (Hiking, Horses, No Bikes)

17. Toothpick Trail; .8 mile to Catwalk trail (CTC) or 1.5 miles to Ashland Loop Road/Caterpillar trail. Trail starts on private land so be respectful. (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

18. Four Corners Trailhead/Intersection; 2060/Ashland Loop Road. 20.4 miles to West side of Ashland Creek, 2060 to the right: 2.8 mile drop to White Rabbit trailhead on road or, 2 mile drop on Catwalk trail to Toothpick trail. Road 200 (CTC) on left goes up 4 miles to Bull Gap trailhead. (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

19. East View Trail; 2.4 miles to road 2080 (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

20. Emigrant Lake; (free) day use areas past the turnoff to County Park. (Wildlife Viewing)

21. Hyatt Lake; viewing area midway through – an excellent bird watching loop that takes in Emigrant, Little Hyatt, Hyatt and Howard Prairie Lakes. (Hiking, Horses)

22. Soda Mt. /Hobart Bluff; access to the PCT (Hiking, Horses, Wildlife Viewing)

23. Pilot Rock; 1.4 miles to the base  (rough road). (Hiking, Horses)

24. Bull Gap Trailhead; 2.5 mile up to Mt. Ashland Ski area or 5 miles down to Four Corners on trail. Lower trail begins 50 yards down Rd 2080 on the left. (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

25. Grouse Gap Shelter; access to the PCT (Hiking, Horses, Wildlife Viewing)

26. Wagner Butte Trail; 5.2 miles to summit (Hiking, Horses)

27. Sterling Ditch Trail; 17 mile trail along historic mining ditch (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

28. Mule Mt. Trail; 1.5 miles to mule creek/10.6 mile loop. (Hiking, Horses, Biking)

By Wendy Markey

Nestled in the beautiful Applegate Valley, there is a hiking trail that has interesting historical significance. This ¾ of a mile looping trail is the remains of an ambitious mans’ dream of striking it rich in the gold rush of the 1800’s. Located outside of Jacksonville, a pristine pioneer town that came to life in the gold rush, this trail is a piece of wilderness waiting to be explored.

Strewn along the trail are artifacts from the hydraulic gold mining operation. Be careful of poison oak plants and ticks during tick season. There also might be a cougar watching from a distance so keep your eyes open (you are in the wilderness). I took pepper spay and carried a stick.

The deep and shallow ditches you will see along the trail were passages for the water to move and to sluice the gold from the soil and rocks. Chinese miners dug these ditches, over one hundred years ago. There are piles of rocks called tailings left over from the mining. The piles of tailings continue back quite a ways along the trail.

This trail is approximately 40 miles from Ashland, take I-5 N to Medford, take exit 30 for Crater Lake towards N Medford, turn left at OR-62 W, continue onto OR-238W, turn left at W/Hanley Rd., turn right at OR-238W/E California St. continuing to follow OR-238 W, turn left at Upper Applegate Rd., slight right at Palmer Creek Rd., trailhead will be on the right about two miles.

Located 15 miles south of Jacksonville, just beyond the McKee Bridge (a historic covered bridge maintained for foot traffic), the trailhead is located at a gravel parking area just past the Flumet Flat Campground. They do not have restrooms at the trail, but there are facilities in the picnic area and restaurant at McKee Bridge. This piece of history and wilderness is yours to enjoy.

The Table Rocks

By Heather Headley

There are many theories on how the Table Rocks were formed. The latest of these theories is a shield volcanic eruption near Prospect, Oregon that spread lava approximately 44 miles to Sam’s Valley, Oregon. It caused the Rogue Valley to rise in elevation to the height of the Table Rocks. Then the Rogue River slowly eroded around the Table Rocks and left them standing. Both Lower and Upper Table Rocks are U-shaped theoretically because the river made sharp bends at each mesa. Both Upper and Lower Table Rock make for a nice hike.

Upper Table Rock

Upper Table Rock is a 1.25 mile easy to moderate level hiking trail. The trip takes approximately 3 hours round trip. It gains 720 feet in elevation as it meanders through unique monoliths from the original lava flow, and contains a few steep sections. This trail is recommended for first time or novice hikers. On a clear day you can see the entire Rogue Valley, Mt. Ashland, Mt. McLoughlin, and Pilot Rock.

Directions from Ashland, Exit 19 (most northern exit): Drive 14 miles north to Central Point Exit 33. Drive east on Biddle Road 1 mile. Turn left on Table Rock Road for 5.2 miles to a curve, and turn right on Modoc Road for 1.5 miles to the trailhead parking lot on the left, just opposite Fraley electric substation.

Lower Table Rock

Lower Table Rock is a 1.75 mile moderate level hiking trail. The trip takes approximately 4 hours round trip. It gains 780 feet in elevation as you ascend to an old abandoned airstrip. If you choose to hike the airstrip you can add an extra mile to your trip. During the wet season (October through May) you will notice vernal pools in the low lying areas at the end of the airstrip. These pools host the protected Fairy Shrimp and are surrounded by an endangered endemic (only found on the Table Rocks) plant called the Dwarf Wooly Meadowfoam. Although the trail is more steep and rocky, you do have the luxury of hiking through shaded woods.

Directions from Exit 19 (most northern exit): Drive 14 miles north to Central Point Exit 33. Turn right onto Biddle Road and drive east for 1 mile. Turns left on Table Rock Road to milepost 10, and then turn left on Wheeler Road 0.8 miles to Lower Table Rock.

Dogs, horses, bicycles and motor vehicles are not allowed on either trail to avoid disturbing ground nesting birds and other animals. Beware of the Triple Leafed Poison Oak. It lines both trails and is a reddish color in the spring. Please do not pick the flowers so that others may enjoy them. You will want to bring water as there is none provided. There are outhouses provided at both trailheads.

Both trails are both opened year round. In the spring, beginning in March, the Bureau of Land Management offers guided hiking trips led by local volunteer specialists. You can make a reservation by calling the BLM at 541-618-2200.

Product Review by Terence Philippe

Do you ever wonder how cold it got the previous night while you were sleeping in your warm bed, or what the high temperature was at your home in the summer while you were dipping your toes in Lake of the Woods. Well, I’m a statistic freak and I’m always wondering such things and logging such useful information in my journals, so when we received the new La Crosse Indoor Outdoor Min/Max Thermometer I was the first to unwrap one and take it home for a test!

Here’s how it works: you place a tiny transmitter (takes two AAA batteries) outside in a protected spot,  then you power-up the main display unit (two AA batteries), and viola, you are instantly receiving accurate (it records to tenths of a degree, e.g., 78.8˚) temperatures. Press a large button on the bottom of the display and you receive a high and low temperature for inside and out. You can clear the high/low at any time by pressing and holding the same button for a few seconds. It also has a large easy to read digital display and can be stood on a counter or hung, and the transmitter has a range of over 200 feet, so you can place the display anywhere in your home. The main display shows both current indoor and outdoor temps and the larger display can be cycled to have either the inside temperature or outdoor temperature as the main larger display.

I’m impressed at its ease of set-up, accuracy, big and bold numbers for the display, and its clean and simple design. Mine now sits just above my kitchen sink and when its display hits the magic number, I know I can go for a bike ride!  Best part it’s inexpensive, only:  $22.95.

A definite recommendation from me!

Item can be found here.

NWNS Testing Labs- Build and Testing the Thames and Kosmos Wind Power Kit- Built and Tested by Kids for Kids!

Birding in the Klamath Basin

By Terence Philippe

If you havenʼt yet visited the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges during the waterfowl migration period now is the time to go! The sheer number and variety of birds throughout the basin is awe inspiring! The waterfowl migration is nearing its peak from mid-March through mid-April, and the eagles and hawks remain abundant in the same period, so now is the time to plan a trip.

On a recent outing in February we encountered dozens of Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Harriers, countless numbers of Snow Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese, and large numbers of Tundra Swans, Northern Pintails, Mallards, Coots, Wigeons, Common and Hooded Mergansers and Great-blue Herons. You might also see Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcon, Kestrel and Great Horned Owl.

The best viewing is along Township Road which intersects Highway 97 at Worden (itʼs unsigned at the intersection, but is the only continuous road leaving 97 towards the east at the south side of town – look for a large brick farmhouse on the right after turning on to Township Rd). Follow Township Road several miles east and look for Hawks and Eagles working the flooded agricultural fields for voles and the like. Youʼll also encounter Tundra Swans and Snow Geese here. Work your way southeast to Stateline Road (Highway 161) and then towards Tule Lake and the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge Visitorʼs Center off of Hill Rd. (consult a map for precise route). Here the friendly staff can provide you with a daily sighting journal with a map along with several brochures. After making the rounds near Tule Lake return to Stateline Road and make one of the Auto-Tours described in the handouts through the Lower Klamath Lake Refuge. Near the western end of the tour route, before returning to Stateline Road, look for Bald Eagles perched in the only group of sizable trees in the vicinity just a cross a small canal from the road.

The most convenient way to get to the Klamath Basin from Ashland is to go up Dead Indian Memorial Highway to Clover Creek Road and then on to the small town of Keno.Drive into Keno then take a left onto Keno-Worden Road which in turn leads to the south side of Worden at Highway 97. You can also go directly up Highway 66 to Keno (slower), but you can stop at the Greensprings Inn for breakfast or dinner!

If you go be sure to plan well for all weather contingencies for yourself and your automobile and of course adhere to all the birding ethics of the American Birding Association.

Call or stop by the store for more information and details ( we have a limited supply of Klamath Basin Refuge and Klamath Basin Birding Trail pamphlets available for free which describe in detail routes and highlights).

Go soon and see you there!

A Landlords Guide to Getting Started

By Treasa Runzi

Bluebirds are native to the North American landscape. The last couple of centuries, their natural habitat has dwindled due to increases of urban, agricultural, and industrial developments. The introduction of non-native species, like house sparrows and the European starling, has led to an aggressive competition for the nesting and food resources of bluebirds and other native species. You can help create solutions for the challenges bluebirds face in your area by providing supplemental support, and hopefully enjoy the benefits of having more bluebirds!

With the right planning and foresight, you can create an environment that will help bluebirds thrive and encourages population growth. There are several ways you can help, including:

• Providing the proper cavity nesting boxes appropriate for bluebirds
• Mounting and specific placing of these nesting boxes
• Providing nesting materials
• Outfitting the nesting boxes with predator guards to protect the young and prevent aggressive non-native species such as the European starling from moving in
• Considering the creation of a bluebird trail: they will love you for it!
• Monitoring your bluebird house for activity, such as how many eggs hatch, and to help avoid unwanted predators or guests.
• Providing an environment conducive to conservation: try to avoid chemicals and fertilizers that may poison the food or water supply that your bluebirds utilize.

Winter is a great time for choosing and placing your bluebird nesting boxes.

Choosing a Bluebird Nesting Box
There are many designs for bluebird nesting boxes, and many are successful. However, there are some basic principles to consider when choosing. A good nesting box must provide safety from both predators and the elements for the eggs and the broods of young birds that will be hatched. · Avoid treated lumber, as this can be toxic. Natural wood is always best.

• Have at least one panel that opens so you can monitor and clean out your nesting box. This can be a side, top, or front panel.
• Floor size guidelines – generally most bluebird nesting boxes require 4.5” x 4.5” to a 5” x 5” minimum interior floor size.
• Hole sizes depend on the bluebird. Eastern bluebirds require a 1 ½” hole, and Western and Mountain bluebirds have larger shoulders and require a slightly larger, round hole of 1 9/16”. If you live in a range that includes two different types of bluebirds, provide the larger size round hole.
• Never have a perch, as these attract sparrows and wrens.

Mounting and Placing Your Nesting Box: The Essentials
Careful consideration in mounting and placing your bluebird box is very important in attracting bluebirds and keeping them safe.

Placement
Bluebirds are territorial, and their daily activities need to be taken into consideration when placing the nesting box. Avoid brushy areas and those that are heavily wooded. Bluebirds prefer to hunt for their insect prey on the ground, so placing their nesting box in an open area with access to places that offer them a few places to perch, search for food, and guard their nest is helpful. Open areas with scattered trees are ideal.

Mounting
Mounting the nesting box in a place that you can easily get to for monitoring is a consideration as well. Ideally, a pole works nicely and can be crafted from items such as smooth round pipes. You may consider using a baffle to prevent climbing predators, too. Avoid mounting your nesting box on fences or on trees, as raccoons can easily climb and gain access to precious eggs or hatchlings. Mounting the nesting box opening at least 5 feet above the ground is ideal.
Some suggestions for the direction in which to position the entrance hole include considering the following:
· If there is a prevailing wind direction, turn the box so that the entrance does not face directly into the wind.
· Point the entrance towards a tree or shrub within 100 feet of the box giving the adult a safe place to perch and a place for the new fledglings to land on their first flight.
· Some prefer to direct the entrance hole to face an easterly direction so that the rising sun can provide more warmth in the mornings.

Nesting Materials
Common native nesting material may not be in abundance within your area, or they may have been taken over by more aggressive non-native birds. Supplementing your bluebird nesting box with a nearby collection of resources may encourage the female bluebird to choose your box because much needed nest building materials are readily available nearby.

Predator Guards: Why You Need Them and Who to Watch Out For!
Predators of bluebirds include domestic cats, raccoons, and other animals that may try to access the nesting box and eat the eggs or hatchlings. House swallows and European Starlings are two of the non-native bird species that are very aggressive and have a tendency to move into a nesting box and take over, often killing the young inside. To prevent this, predator guardsare an invaluable resource to ensure your nesting box stays safe and secure. They are simple to attach to the opening of the nesting box and come in different sizes.

How to Create a Bluebird Trail
If you have enough space, creating a bluebird trail—or a series of five bluebird nesting boxes—in the right environment greatly increases the ability of the bluebirds to successfully increase their population. Nesting boxes for Eastern bluebirds should be at least 100 yards apart, while the nesting boxes for Western and Mountain bluebirds should be at least 300 yards apart. Do not consider creating a bluebird trail unless you are willing to monitor and care for the bluebirds to help ensure nesting success.

How to Monitor Your Bluebird Nesting Box
Contrary to popular belief, the adult will not abandon the nest if you observe them respectfully. You should monitor your nesting box weekly to make sure house sparrows have not taken up residence. Open the panel and look inside when the adult has flown away. You can count the eggs and keep track of their progress. Only monitor the nest during warm, dry weather. Do not open the box once the nestlings are 12 days old, as they may try to jump out before they are able to fly. Keeping a journal is an educational and enjoyable way to monitor the bluebirds you invite to take up tenancy.

Other Considerations
Between spring and fall, a bluebird’s diet consists mainly of insects from short-grass areas such as lawns. Deciding not to use chemicals on your lawn is beneficial to bluebirds and other birds. Remember that the baby birds in your birdhouse can be poisoned more easily by these kinds of toxins if they are being fed insects that have been foraged from chemically treated lawns or that contain small amounts of these chemicals. Clean the nesting boxes after each set of fledglings vacate. That way the nesting material does not build up inside the box, moving the next occupants precariously closer to the entrance opening.

Sources:Laubach, R., and Laubach, Ch. M. (1998). The backyard birdhouse book: building nestboxes and creating natural habitats. North Adams, MA: Storey Publ.McNeil, D. (2002). The original birdhouse book: Step-by-step plans for 26 birdhouses: Build feeders and baths: Tips for bird landlords: Baffle predators & pests. Marietta, OH: Bird Watcher’s Digest.North American Bluebird Society. (n.d.). Getting started with bluebirds. Darlington, WI: NABS.Shalaway, S. (1995). A guide to bird homes: Nesting & roosting space for your backyard birds. Marietta, OH: Bird Watcher’s DigestStokes, D., & Stokes, L. (1998). Bird gardening book: The complete guide to creating a bird-friendly habitat in your backyard. New York: Little, Brown & Co.