Tales from a Northwest Naturalist with Jim Anderson

Jim Anderson - Gary Landers

October Nature Night

Born in 1928 and raised on a small farm in Connecticut, Jim Anderson's seemingly humble beginnings led to a life rich with adventure and wildlife. After learning to fly airplanes and a four year stint in the US Navy, he arrived in Bend, OR on his 1949 Harley-Davidson, and immediately found work fighting forest fires.

Jim's journey brought him to Portland in the 60's, where he worked at The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) as a naturalist, implementing outdoor education activities for families, students and teachers, and operating OMSI science camps. Jim was also the director of the Children’s Zoo and Conservation and Education in what is now the Oregon Zoo in Portland.

Jim has been studying and banding raptors in Central Oregon for over 50 years, specializing in Golden Eagles, Osprey, Ferruginous Hawks and American Kestrels. While working as the Resident Naturalist for the Sunriver Resort, Jim used his experience to conduct educational programs for children and adults state-wide, including continuing education programs for Central Oregon Community College campuses.

Jim has traveled to Australia, lived with Aborigines in the Northern Territory, and studied spiders in Melbourne. He was the manager of The Nature Conservancy’s Ramsey Canyon Preserve in SE Arizona for three years, and has traveled throughout Arizona and the Northwest conducting a variety of natural history studies, including, spiders, condors, hawks, eagles and owls.

Many of Jim's adventures with wildlife are recounted in his book, Tales From a Northwest Naturalist. A collection of short stories, the book has been a favorite for family reading. Families and friends will enjoy an evening with Jim Anderson, who many will remember as the Pied Piper of OMSI. Join us for a delightful presentation as Jim shares his life as a Northwest Naturalist. Special Guest, Dr. Matt Maberry, whose book, Packy and Me, recounts his life with Oregon’s most famous elephant, may join Jim, “weather” permitting.

Nature Night is free and open to the public.  Location: Heron Hall, Audubon House, 5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR  97210