Painted Turtle Walk

Metro offers free Painted Turtle Walks at Smith and Bybee Lakes in North Portland, and our family decided to check them out.  The walks are lead by naturalist James Davis, who is the author of the Northwest Nature Guide.  He is very passionate about observing and sharing the wonders of nature.  I had been warned by another homeschooling mom who comes there often that it’s a prime spot for car break ins, and sure enough, the parking lot was festooned with safety glass.  But now I understand why she is definitely not discouraged from coming, and simply takes care not to leave any valuables in her car.  It’s a gorgeous park, which Metro obviously has lavished a lot of attention on, and wildlife flourishes there.  Among its many treasures is a huge concentration of beautiful painted turtles.  Mr. Davis brought scopes so that people both short and tall could see the turtles up close, and they were stunning.  He explained that once the turtles come out of hibernation in the springtime (which this year happened ridiculously early, in February) they can be counted upon to be out sunning themselves whenever it is sunny (and they are underwater, breathing through their skin, when it is not).  We learned the hard way that not only do turtles generally jump in the water if you scare them with loud noises, but also if you point to them!  But they will come out again if you are patient.  Mr. Davis himself had towed logs down the lake with a kayak so that the turtles would have places to sun themselves that were also convenient for people to see them from the trail.   He says that the most he has ever been able to count in the park at one time is 101!   You can go there anytime in warm, sunny weather, and expect to see turtles.  Or you can check Metro’s calendar for upcoming turtle walks at  http://calendar.oregonmetro.gov/events/?lID=7

Mr. Davis showed us turtle shells up close and told us all about these fascinating creatures. 

A damselfly rests on a child’s hand.

Jasper examines evidence of the large beaver population.

A great blue heron waits patiently in the water.