Oregon Coast Real Estate Blog - Living on the Oregon Coast » Oregon Beaches

Nature’s Ultimate Recyclers, Cathartes aura

Dean — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:44:34 +0000

Turkey Vultures are common from Spring though early Fall here on Oregon Coastal Beaches. These graceful soaring birds are a wonder to watch as they ride the air currents up to 4000 feet while smelling the gas (ethyl mercaptan) generated by freshly decomposing meat and fish. Quite a clean-up job they do as their digestive systems destroy all harmful bacteria that might otherwise be passed on to humans or pets. These picky eaters will not feed on long dead carcasses, rather they prefer fresher food. With wing spans of up to 6′ they are able to stay aloft for long periods of time before returning to the nest where incubating duties are shared with the life mate of choice. This Fall the Oregon Coast Aquarium will house a permanent display of these long lived (20 years) birds. Interestingly enough the Aquarium is waiting on DNA tests to determine if the new arrivals are a breeding pair or if they are same sex. I certainly hope the birds can tell the difference.

Winter Safety on the Central Oregon Coast

Dean — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:55:09 +0000

: Image by Tidewater Muse via Flickr

Fall is well underway here on the beautiful Central Oregon Coast and Winter is right around the corner. This time of year presents viewing opportunity’s that are unsurpassed. Many visitors travel to the Coast to watch spectacular storm and wave action. This is also the time of year that many migratory birds can be observed close at hand as they travel South for the Winter. This is made more enjoyable by our frequent weather breaks. The same conditions that create great storm watching also bring us clear and sunny skies from now through February. These are all on the plus side. There are cautions however.

Winter storms bring exceptionally high tides and big wave action. Floating debris such as logs and limbs are frequently tossed up on the beaches and present a real hazard to anyone caught by them. Some words of caution when enjoying the storm season. Stay off the rocky headlands except for designated viewing areas. Use established trails only. Never go on the beach after dark. Each year we have serious injuries and even fatalities when visitors attempt to use unmarked trails in the dark. Always carry a cell phone so that if trouble occurs emergency responders such as the US Coast Guard and local Emergency Response Teams can locate and rescue. Always dress for the weather with good outerwear and sturdy footwear. Flashlights are a great idea as darkness comes quickly on the Central Oregon Coast.

Come often and enjoy our special part of the world and come back for more marvelous photo opportunities and life long memories. Stay safe, however; we really don’t want to hear about your misadventures on the evening news!

Sea Lions on the Oregon Coast, a Word of Caution

Dean — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:45:55 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

The Oregon Coast is a great place to observe Sea Lions — both at the Sea Lion Caves near Florence or close to home on Newport’s Bayfront. The Sea Lion Caves is the largest sea cave in the world and home to several hundred sea lions. The Bayfront is home to between 50 and 100 sea lions who haul out of the water to bask on the rock jetty or the floating docks where they are very easy to observe and hear.

A word of caution is due because of the spread of a bacterial infection called Leptospirosis which is being found in large numbers of dead sea lions washed ashore. According to Jim Rice, a researcher at the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center,when transmitted to humans and dogs, the infection causes severe flu like symptoms in both. Dogs can be vaccinated against the infection. When walking on our beautiful beaches it is possible to occasionally come upon the carcasses of marine mammals washed up by the tide. Dogs are attracted and should be kept away just as humans are encouraged to avoid touching the carcasse. If one is found, the best action is to note the approximate location by landmark or mile marker and call the Oregon State Police 1-800452-7888.

Come on over and enjoy the Coast — just be aware of our unique environment and stay safe.

Oregon Coast Beach and Riverside Cleanup Fall 2010

admin — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:45:50 +0000

This weekend, volunteers can choose from more than 160 cleanup and watershed projects on the Oregon coast and inland rivers. This is the first year since the beach cleanups began in the 1980s that it has been expanded to include waterways that lead to the ocean. This is only possible because volunteer turnout is always so strong, numbering in the thousands. The selection of so many new locations (including a large number along the I-5 corridor) makes the opportunity accessible for more people than ever.

Here’s where to find what you need to know:

List of locations with link to register for each site
New interactive map to find locations in a more visual way
Coordinate a ride to the coast

Here’s what you should bring:

Clothing appropriate for the weather (which is looking fabulous for Newport) and sturdy shoes. (This isn’t a day for flip-flops.)
Sunscreen (a hat and/or sunglasses may also be welcome on a sunny day like we’re expecting!)
Mosquito repellent is recommended
Reusable containers for drinking water
A reusable bag or bucket to collect trash
A colander from home for sifting through sand to collect small pieces of plastic on the beach

The SOLV coordinators at each location will be providing:

Vinyl gloves and information on safe collection of debris
Litter bags for receiving debris from your personal bag or bucket
Instructions on where to get started
Biohazard/sharps containers

So… there you have it! It’s going to be a gorgeous weekend at the beach. Come out and make a difference on Saturday from 10 am – 1 pm — and enjoy the rest of the day here, too!

Oregon Beach Cleanup: One Man’s Daily Mission

Dean — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:06:58 +0000

I would like to introduce you to my neighbor, Bob. Bob is a retired gentleman in his 80′s who appears to be extremely fit. In fact, up until the past few years, Bob was an avid runner. Well, hip problems have slowed him down some so now he does a daily beach walk of at least 5 miles per day regardless of weather. During his walk he travels from Theil Creek, about 4 miles South of Newport, to Seal Rock. He carries a plastic bag which he fills with all sorts of debris like plastic bottles, cans, bags and broken fishing floats. These items go to either the recycling bin or trash — at home.

It’s not all about clean up, as Bob is a trained observer for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (read more about Bob’s work). One of the things he does is to report any dead sea birds and mammals on the beach. ODF&W uses this information to help track the well being of birds. In the case of marine mammals like seals, ODF&W works with The Hatfield Marine Science Center to determine cause of death and uses this to expand their knowledge base. This is an example of how citizen volunteers can make a difference and enjoy the beach at the same time.

Whether you’re able to attend one of this year’s Fall or Spring beach cleanups sponsored by SOLV, take a hint from Bob, and bring one of those dreaded plastic grocery sacks with you every time you walk an Oregon Beach! If we all do our part, the Oregon Coast will be an even more spectacular place to live.

Oregon Coast Beach Cleanup 2010

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:01:19 +0000

This year’s Spring beach cleanup is slated for March 20th. Volunteers come on their own or form up in teams on beaches from Astoria to the California border under the leadership of SOLV. This effort brings nearly 4,000 Oregonians out to help keep our beaches in pristine condition for residents and visitors alike. Consider forming a group amongst your friends, family or co-workers this year! This effort, which began in 1984, has expanded to a statewide effort and has helped make Oregon a great place to live.

This year, they’ve divided the coastline up into 43 Check-in Locations in 14 Zones. Zones 6, 7 and 8 correspond to the Central Oregon Coast where I live (and play). Each zone has a coordinator who will actually pre-assign a location to groups of 20 or more, so get in touch early if you’re putting together a team.

Zone 6 (Lincoln City & Depoe Bay)
Mark Saelens 541-574-1285 (w)
msaelens@co.lincoln.or.us

Zone 7 (Newport)
Charlie Plybon 541-961-8143 (w)
cplybon@surfrider.org

Zone 8 (South Beach through Yachats)
Doug Sestrich 541-867-7451 (w)
doug.sestrich@state.or.us

If you’d rather go to another part of the Coast, hereâ€™s the complete list of the check-in sites and zones. Either way, plan to pre-register online this year (a new feature) to streamline the check-in process.

And while youâ€™re in the neighborhood lending a hand, take time to check out some significant buys here on the Central Oregon Coast. E-mail or give me a call to set up a time to meet.

Myrtle & Maude Leave the Oregon Coast Aquarium for San Deigo

Dean — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:05:54 +0000

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

As a Founding Member of the Oregon Coast Aquarium, I take a special pride in their efforts. It was very gratifying to learn that they had managed to restore enough health to two rescued sea turtles that they could be moved to their next level of rehabilitation in San Diego. Maude, a green sea turtle and Myrtle, an Olive Ridley sea turtle were rescued in November along the southwest Washington coast and in nearby Agate Beach .

The search and rescue functions of the Coast Guard include the use of infrared imaging as well as radar. It has been reported that sea turtles are sometimes confused with humans as they bask on the surface and wave their flippers in the air. According to the co-pilot of the HC-130, Lt. Antone Alongi, “we see turtles from the air but this is the first time we’ve had any aboard.” The Sacramento-based Coast Guard crew transported the turtles to San Diego for further rehabilitation and hopefully eventual release into the wild.

Dan Lewer, a veterinarian at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, works on the Green sea turtle that was found on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington.

Read the full story about Myrtle and Maude’s rescues.

More information about their trip to San Diego.

The Aquarium is one of many really fascinating places to visit here on the Oregon Coast. Plan to include it on your next visit. You will not be sorry that you did.

Winter on the Oregon Coast

Dean — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:59:20 +0000

Winter is a spectacular time to visit the Oregon Coast. High winds and high tides combine to make some really awesome beach scenes. A word of caution is advised however, as waves can reach much farther onshore than in nice weather and many times carry big logs in the process. The conventional wisdom is that you never, ever turn your back on the surf. One never knows what might be propelled onto the beach in a big wave. The best places to safely observe and photograph this wild show is from road side turn outs and rocky promontories. The great temptation is to climb out on the rocks to capture that special shot. Careful, the rocks are wet and slippery and the water is really cold. The scene accompanying this post was taken on 12/16/09 at Seal Rock. The area in the close foreground is a favorite location for tide pooling in Summer and in this picture is under an estimated 20 feet of water.

Go Fly a Kite! Seriously… at Lincoln City this Weekend

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:25:02 +0000

The Fall Kite Festival returns this weekend, October 10th & 11th. This is Lincoln City’s “original” kite festival — it’s 31st to be exact! Come observe demonstrations by expert fliers, let the kids learn how to make their own kites, watch the Running of the Bols, and more. Activities are held at the D-River State Recreation Area – also known as the D-River Wayside.

Come join the fun October 10th & 11th

The Ariel Ballet of the Brown Pelican

Dean — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:46:28 +0000

Brown Pelicans

One of the many exceptional experiences I enjoy as a Coastal resident is watching flights of brown pelicans fishing our inshore coastal waters. When perched on jetties or rocky headlands these birds seem most ungainly. Then a magic transformation occurs as they take to the air over surf and bays in search of bait fish. They fly in line with hardly a wing movement as they follow the air currents. As they spot a school of fish the leader of the line hovers at 50 to 100 feet for an instant then crash dives into the water to rise with a bill full of fish. The ballet seems almost choreographed with no wasted movement.

These beautiful birds were driven almost to extinction during the 1950′s and 1960′s as a result of the widespread use of DDT as a chemical pesticide. This caused the shells of eggs to be fragile and easily broken which prevented the chicks from developing and hatching. In addition mercury was washed into the marine food chain as a from of mining and manufacturing resulting in a double whammy for the ocean food chain. The brown pelican has been removed from the Endangered Species list thanks to the efforts of state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners and has returned to historic levels.

Now is a good time to visit the Coast and see this performance before the pelicans migrate South for the Winter.