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A Gift of Autumn Equinox Wes and I are canoeing on Elk Lake in the company of thousands of California tortoiseshell butterflies. Like flying embers, they cross the sparkled and breezed waters with …

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · 20d

Ready for a Cascade of Butterflies? Always there are lessons to apply to the times we are in--when do we camouflage and when do we spread our bright wings wide? And isn't it time for an irruption of millions who care about our planet and Democracy? See my new blog: marinarichie.com/2025/09/24/a...

A Cascade of Butterflies

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Sep 15

Countdown to submitting your comment by Friday, Sept. 19 to show your love for roadless areas. Oppose the move to rescind the Roadless Area Rule of 2001. Share your comments with Congressional reps and your governor, too.
www.regulations.gov/commenton/FS...

Joseph Canyon, Marina Richie photo

Save the Heart of Wild America

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Sep 1

Just out--my new blog on saving roadless areas: marinarichie.com/2025/08/31/s...

“A road is a dagger placed in the heart of a wilderness” – William O. Douglas, Supreme Court Justice from 1939 to 1975. Where the roads end, wildness begins. The clock is ticking for all who care a…

Save the Heart of Wild America

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Sep 1

Speak up for Roadless Areas--the Heart of Wild America.
marinarichie.com/2025/08/31/s...

@oregonwild.bsky.social @birdallianceoregon.bsky.social @biologicaldiversity.org @wilderness.org @nationalwildlife.bsky.social @sierraclub.org @greatoldbroad.bsky.social @audubon.org @earthjustice.org

“A road is a dagger placed in the heart of a wilderness” – William O. Douglas, Supreme Court Justice from 1939 to 1975. Where the roads end, wildness begins. The clock is ticking for all who care a…

August marks the coming deadline for delivering my new book manuscript to Chelsea Green Publishing. That leaves little space for writing new blogs. Since summer can be a dreamy time to read outdoor…

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Aug 12

Kingfishers Out Loud

For your listening pleasure-- 9 1/2 minutes.

Teaser quote: "Seeking kingfishers near rippling or tranquil waters, worries tend to mist away."

marinarichie.com/2025/08/12/k...

#birder #kingfisher #beltedkingfisher #rivers #halcyonjourney

Kingfishers Out Loud

Readers respond: Conserve roadless areas to protect the wild

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Aug 11

Conserve roadless areas to protect the wilds. Read my letter to the editor in the Oregonian: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

@oregonwild.bsky.social #roadless #climateforest #wilderness #badgercreekwilderness #stoptrump

Letters to the Editor can be submitted to [email protected] with full name and place of residence.

www.oregonlive.com

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Aug 4

So true. (And with real cheetos taped to the poster). From Bend, Oregon's Fight Fascism Rally, August 2nd. #fightfascism

The Dave Richie Tree Survived Hurricane Helene

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Aug 2

Wild birds are solace. As I write, my eyes flick to fluttering wings--Black-headed Grosbeak, Mountain Chickadees, Rufous Hummingbirds hovering, sunflower-bright Lesser Goldfinches, & Red Crossbill juveniles at the water baths. I've injured my hamstring and rely on closeby nature. Do you?
#birder

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 30

A Rufous Hummingbird is a fireball. Two in the air are dervishes! We love that they have nested within our tangled native yard. Fact: The Rufous Hummingbird makes one of the longest migratory journeys of any bird ( measured by body size). #birder #hummingbird #migration
(photo: Marina Richie)

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 28

Hope for renewal, the meaning of legacy, words about my father ,Dave Richie, and gratitude for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and MountainTrue.

marinarichie.com/2025/07/28/t...

#appalachiantrailconservancy #mountaintrue #hurricanehelene #bigtree #birder #appalachiantrail

Earlier this summer, I received an email from Josh Kelly of MountainTrue that resonated on a deep personal level: Hi Marina, I accompanied the ATC crew to treat the trees at Moffett Laurel Botanica…

50% OFF Halcyon Journey: In Search of the Belted Kingfisher

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 27

Endangered Marbled Murrelets link marine reserves to protected old-growth forests. Their fate is our fate. I saw and heard my first murrelets flying into the wild forests at Cape Perpetua last week—citizen survey. Life changing ! Thanks Bird Alliance of Oregon. #birder #marbledmurrelet

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 15

While I love to see people reading my book outdoors by a stream, river, pond, or lake, or bay with kingfishers... the audiobook version is on sale.
If you're seeking Halcyon Days tranquility/peace/ myths of transformation/ memoir:
www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...
#kingfisher #birder #audiobooks

Winner of the 2024 John Burroughs Medal for Distinguished Natural History Writing More than one hundred species of kingfishers brighten every continent but Antarctica. Not all are fishing birds. Th...

www.audiobooks.com

GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON: · John Lewis Actions

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 14

I'm attending John Lewis Actions's event, “GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON:” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/john-lewis-a...

Rally at Peace Corner to make some Good Trouble--there will be chanting! There will signs! There will be calls to action beyond this event! Join 50501 Central Oregon and Indivisible Bend as we once...

www.mobilize.us

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 13

Lewis's Woodpeckers are nesting in ponderosa snags within a nearby forest. The parents are tireless in feeding and guarding their young. This photo by fellow observer Michelle Kellogg shows a parent feeding wax currant berries to the chicks. We could learn lessons from birds on parenting.
#birder

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 13

This is a critical New York Times OpEd to read after the tragic floods in Texas!
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/o...
Written by my friend Tim Palmer--river champion and author of a must-read book. Order one for your library: Seek Higher Ground: The Natural Solution to Our Urgent Water Crisis.

Opinion | Stop Building in Floodplains

www.nytimes.com

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 4

marinarichie.com/2025/07/04/i...

Interdependence Day Revisited

Six years ago I wrote this post, Interdependence Day: Time for a New Celebration that begins: This July 4th morning I woke, contemplating why Interdependence Day resonates more than Independence Da…

Opal Creek Ancient Forest: Abundance After Wildfire

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jul 1

I found hope and renewal last weekend while helping with a postfire bird survey in beloved Opal Creek.

marinarichie.com/2025/06/30/o...

#opalcreek #wildfire #wildfirerenewal #birds #birder #merlinapp #savingwilds #oldgrowth #ancientforest #wilderness #beachiecreekfire @oregonwild.bsky.social

The word “abundance” is on the tip of our sweetened tongues. Melt-in-your-mouth blackberries burst from the native vines twining along the ground. Lazuli Buntings are singing their hear…

Save the Heart of our Public Lands

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jun 28

Thanks for reading on a Friday! It's all so urgent to save the wilds.
#roadless #wilderness #savewilds, #protectwilderness #publiclands

marinarichie.substack.com/p/roadless-f...

Roadless Forever!

marinarichie.substack.com

No Fireworks Allowed On Beaches Or State Parks

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jun 25

Message from the kingfisher! Fireworks endanger birds. Be responsible on July 4th. Let's make good trouble instead and protest to save birds, public lands, wilderness, and all we hold dear.

www.oregoncoastbreakingnews.com/post/no-fire...

Oregon State Parks welcomes Fourth of July celebrations, but fireworks and explosives are strictly prohibited within Oregon State Parks and the entire ocean shore. Park staff encourage visitors to cel...

www.oregoncoastbreakingnews.com

Trump Administration to End Protections for 58 Million Acres of National Forests

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jun 25

Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · Jun 24

“The unspoiled land in question includes millions of acres of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho…”

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/c...

www.nytimes.com

Let's Flood the Senate With Our Outrage

Reposted by Marina Richie

Robin Smith @geonuc.bsky.social · Jun 19

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jun 19

I believe how we treat nature and how we treat people are closely linked. Thanks for stepping up to save our public lands.
#juneteenth #savepubliclands #selwayriver #isafriveralive @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Step Out of Our Human Selves: Urgent Message from Selway River

substack.com

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Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jun 17

I just called my reps with @5calls.org, you should too: 5calls.org

5 Calls

Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.

5calls.org

Marina Richie @kingfisherjourney.bsky.social · Jun 17

marinarichie.com/2025/06/17/s...

#savepubliclands #publiclands #wildrivers #birder #birds #naturewriting #photography #selway #wildriver #wilderness

Selway River Speaks

Here, there is no cell service. Here, the news is heralded by the wheep wheep wheep of a Spotted Sandpiper calling from a silky white sand beach. Here, I am sheltered from the torrents. Here, I br…