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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 21h

Bald eagle in Beaverton! They are migrating now.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Fire burning near Underwood now:

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Never seen Mt. Hood with so little snow on it. Tragic.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

comparison to past waves. While this year is lower, it's not dramatically so. Lots of sick people out there, with 9.7% test positivity.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

On 10/7, OHA reported no new COVID deaths in Oregon; the total is 10,979. Hospitalizations are at 1.6 per 100,000, compared to a national average of 1.1. Wastewater levels show a sustained increase at 10 sites. This wave is at peak levels & the chart shows 4 years of data for ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

On Sept. 30, OHA reported 3 new COVID deaths in Oregon; the total is now 10,979. Hospitalizations are at 0.9 per 100,000, compared to a national average of 0.7. Wastewater levels are the highest of the past year, with many cities reporting sustained increases & 10% test positivity statewide.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

livestock, possibly due to its ability to lower blood pressure. It's also a natural deterrent to the Colorado potato beetle & the larval food plant for 2 butterfly & 3 moth species including the northern checkerspot (Chlosyne palla). See journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

& flu. Finely mashed leaves were inserted into cavities to relieve toothache. Modern research has found the plant is a source of natural rubber. Commercial use is under study. Other important compounds include diterpenoids, flavonoids, & polyacetylenes. The plant is toxic to ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A Mormon metalmark nectars on rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, one of the late-season bloomers in desert areas of the east Gorge. Native Americans used the flowers to make a yellow dye. The roots were used as chewing gum. A decoction of the plant was taken for colds ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

the effort & its significance for improving habitat in the Gorge. We do it anyway, because the Gorge itself knows & it rewards us in its own way that we feel in our hearts, something very few people ever experience.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We harvested 8 lb. 2 oz. (3.69 kilos) of balsamroot seed for our restoration plantings this fall. If you tried to buy this seed commercially, it would cost around $800. But because the people doing the work are part of the LGBTQ+ community, you won't hear any recognition of ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Updated OHA wastewater report shows COVID test positivity at 12.2% as of 9/12, highest level since October 2025.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

On Sunday, we pulled invasive Cota tinctoria along the Mosier Tunnels Trail. We have been working the site for several years and the bulk of the work is almost done. We still need to return annually to look for seedlings. I discovered the plant and was directed by the Forest ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

On 9/16/26, OHA reported 1 new COVID death in Oregon; the total is now 10,976. Hospitalizations are at 0.3 per 100,000 compared to a national average of 0.7. After a brief drop in wastewater levels, they are rising again. Sustained increases reported in Tillamook, Dallas, ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

trackers that transmit a signal to mobile phones, similar to the way AirTags work. If you want to follow along, download their app and follow monarch ID: WR133 PLEXI. You can also donate to have your own monarch tracked! The tech will teach us loads about their migration journey.

Photo of a monarch with a radio tag glued to the butterfly's thorax. The tag has two tiny solar panels about 1/4 inch long and 1/16 inch wide, and an antenna about an inch long, which is a thin wire positioned along the butterfly's abdomen.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I adopted a monarch for radio tracking through adoptamonarch.org. It was released in Elkton, OR yesterday. It's not wasting any time. Today, it was tracked south of Port Orford, 79 miles away from where it was released! The organization uses tiny solar-powered radio ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This has been a bad year for peaches. Most have been dry & mealy. Columbia Blossom is the exception. Juicy & flavorful, though a bit small. New Seasons has them.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

There is at least one reference indicating antibacterial & anti-inflammatory activity for another species in the genus found in Kenya & used for medicinal purposes there ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Hooded ladies' tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) is an uncommon orchid growing in wet places such as prairies & meadows at all elevations to timberline in the Gorge. It's hard to find except on high slopes around Mt. Hood. Native Americans used it to treat venereal disease ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

A painted lady (Vanessa cardui) nectars on one of my zinnias.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Hood River Bridge closures planned starting 9/21. portofhoodriver.com

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

On 9/2/26, OHA reported 2 new COVID deaths in Oregon; the total is now 10,975. A fall wave is now underway, with increasing wastewater levels in many cities & a jump to 8% test positivity from near zero in late spring. Hospitalizations are at 0.4 per 100,000 compared to a ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Asters are a common late summer & early fall flower in the Gorge. They are great pollinator plants & many will grow in your garden. This one is likely alpine aster (Aster alpigenus), growing in meadows above 3,000 ft. A comma anglewing is nectaring on it.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

which is why you don't see much after the caterpillars munch the tree leaves & pupate. They seldom affect tree health, so there's no need to spray them. If a tree is suffering, cut off the nests & give the tree water if conditions are dry. Fact sheet: www.oregon.gov/odf/Document...

A fall webworm moth rests on a wooden plank. The moth's wingspan is about 2 inches. The wings are white with small black spots, sparsely arranged. The body is covered with white fur. The moth has fernlike antennae.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is spinning nests on cottonwood & alder trees in the Gorge right now. They are especially noticeable along I-84 between Troutdale & Cascade Locks. The caterpillars turn into a night-flying moth ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Yesterday, OHA reported no new COVID deaths in Oregon; the total is still 10,973. Hospitalizations are at 0.4 per 100,000, double the national average. COVID is active in OR. Wastewater levels are low, but test positivity is up significantly. A friend just tested positive.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

At high elevations, mountain ash (Sorbus scopulina or S. sitchensis) is beginning to show fall color. This one has a captivating pattern of green veining & magenta, something I've never seen before.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

The avalanche lily, Erythronium montanum, lives in subalpine forests & meadows above about 2800 ft. in the west & central Gorge. While it grows in shade, it can be spectacular after a fire in open areas. Mt. Hood is seen in the distance.

Avalanche lily flowers are about 2 inches across and have 6 recurved white petals with yellow centers. Each flower is borne at the end of a slender stem from 3 to 8 inches tall, sometimes branched, with up to five flowers per stem. The leaves are green, basal, and lanceolate with parallel veins.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala) has an interesting survival strategy of playing dead when it senses a threat.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Milbert's tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti) is a spectacular butterfly in the Gorge flying in mid-to-late summer. Its larval food plant is nettles, which are very common but in recent years the butterflies have been hard to find. There's no data yet indicating why this is so.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Current FIRMS imagery of the Grasshopper Fire. NIFC reports the state IMT is standing down. Given the looks of this infrared signature, I'm not sure that's a good idea.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Grasshopper Fire update: 34,659 acres, 19% contained, 1,264 personnel. inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-pub...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Current satellite timelapse shows smoke from the Grasshopper Fire drifting both to the SE at upper levels & through the Gorge to the west at lower altitude into Portland. Fires in northern WA are really picking up.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The Grasshopper Fire is a mess. It looks like it crossed Hwy. 35 moving westward, unless the hotspots are backburns. Mt. Hood Meadows has evacuated. A lot of prime recreational land has been burned, including Flag Point Lookout & Lookout Mtn., one of my favorite butterfly spots.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Smoke from the Grasshopper Fire is aimed directly at Portland. There's a Red Flag Warning in effect for the western Gorge through Wednesday night. Also applies to southern Willamette Valley. forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The Grasshopper, Shingle, Green Mountain, & Hagen fires are the major ones in eastern Oregon today. This week, winds will reverse & create hot, smoky conditions in the Willamette Valley with forecasted highs near 100 on Wednesday.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Fire weather watches & red flag warnings are in effect for areas east of the Cascades Crest in OR/WA: www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

On 7/29/26, OHA reported 1 new COVID death in Oregon; the total is now 10,973. Hospitalizations remain low at 0.2 per 100,000, the same as the national average. Wastewater levels are mostly plateaued except for The Dalles, Newport, Woodburn, & Grants Pass.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Smoke from the Grasshopper Fire SE of Mt. Hood yesterday.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Washington's Mt. St. Helens at sunset yesterday, with a veil of orange wildfire smoke.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

There will be a work party at the Gorge Discovery Center on Sunday, 8/2 to remove invasive weeds in their wildflower plot. From 10 am - 1 pm. Please RSVP. Barbara Robinson has maintained the plot for years, but recent fires have allowed invasives to get established.

Subject: Work Party with Barbara on 8/2
Date: July 29, 2026 at 2:41:45 PM PDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Hello, Naturalists!

Thank you to everyone who helped with our fire abatement project! We accomplished an incredible amount in the three days, and our building is now much safer if another fire sweeps through.

I spoke with Barbara this morning, and she would like to wrangle volunteers for a work party this Sunday, August 2nd, from 10:00 to 1:00 at the Discovery Center & Museum. The work will largely consist of weeding – no heavy machinery this time!

Barbara and I strongly ask that folks RSVP to me. I will be out of town, and neither of us wants her out on the grounds alone in case she has a fall.

Barbara will meet folks in the picnic area of the Discovery Center at 10:00. If you're not able to come until later, which is completely okay, you can find her on the West side of the grounds between the highway and the pond. Please bring gardening gloves!

For day-of communications, especially if you are no longer able to come, you may call Barbara at (541) 705-7767. If she doesn't answer, please leave a voicemail and send a text message.

We appreciate your support,
Britney

Britney Gitch
Program Director
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum
(541) 296-8600 ext. 212
(she/her)

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Current satellite view of OR/WA with FIRMS infrared. The big action right now is mostly central OR from Warm Springs to John Day. Lots of road closures, check if you're going out.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Current satellite image for OR/WA. If you're in The Dalles, you're getting smoke from the Grasshopper Fire SE of Mt. Hood (not labeled in FIRMS map).

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

medicinal uses for the plant include an infusion of ground stems & berries for treating lung hemorrhages & nosebleeds or as an astringent. The boiled plant was used as an emetic, & an infusion of the roots for treating gonorrhea. The stems were eaten raw or baked. The plant ...

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea) is a saprophyte growing in conifer & mixed conifer forests in the Gorge. It's not photosynthetic & depends on a root partnership with a mycorrhizal fungus for nutrients. Little is known about how the flowers are pollinated. Native American ...

A pinedrops flower spike is dark red with short, fuzzy hairs. The hairs are sticky and coat the yellow flowers, which are at the end of arching stems off of the main bloom spike. The flowers are nearly spherical but tapered at the tip with a small opening that flares out slightly.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

2 active fires on the east slopes of Mt. Hood right now. 8 Mile Fire (right) & Grasshopper Fire (bottom).

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Wednesday, OHA reported 1 new COVID death in Oregon; the total is now 10,972. The death trend has leveled off, which is encouraging news. Wastewater levels show a slight increase, but well below the levels of last summer.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

of the whole plant was applied to the head for headaches. It makes a great ground cover for the garden in a shady spot.

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