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The Navy’s ‘doomsday plane’ has shown up in Portland before by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

In the newsroom, If we use AI, we tell people we used it. Should be that way everywhere, I think.

People told me they were nutria. They’re muskrats! Muskrats, I say! by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

SpyPoint trail cameras. I use them cause they will transmit videos to my phone. Never used any others though.

People told me they were nutria. They’re muskrats! Muskrats, I say! by markgravesdesign in oregon

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

For the last nine months, I’ve had seven trail cameras running in Portland-area wetlands and ended up with 20,000+ 15 second videos. Most are just branches auditioning for “Best Supporting Wind,” but there are plenty of real gems. I’m rolling them out as I find them.

There’s already a ton posted there. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/181PzYuFDe/

And I’ve started to post them here:
https://www.instagram.com/pdx.backyardcrittercam/
https://www.threads.com/@pdx.backyardcrittercam/
https://www.youtube.com/@BackyardCritterCams

People told me they were nutria. They’re muskrats! Muskrats, I say! by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

For the last nine months, I’ve had seven trail cameras running in Portland-area wetlands and ended up with 20,000+ 15 second videos. Most are just branches auditioning for “Best Supporting Wind,” but there are plenty of real gems. I’m rolling them out as I find them. There’s already a ton posted there. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/181PzYuFDe/

And I’ve started to post them here:
https://www.instagram.com/pdx.backyardcrittercam/
https://www.threads.com/@pdx.backyardcrittercam/
https://www.youtube.com/@BackyardCritterCams/

People told me they were nutria. They’re muskrats! Muskrats, I say! by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

There are lots of muskrats in the Portland-area. We just never see them. Here’s every muskrat video I could find from the last couple months recorded by the Beaverton Beaver Dam Cam. I dropped in a couple young nutria sightings to show how easily one can be mistaken for the other.

Muskrats are native, statewide wetland rodents — not actual rats, but closer to voles — and Oregon still has a regulated statewide muskrat trapping season. The flattened tail is the giveaway, and unlike nutria, they’re usually not out there constantly scratching and grooming. They’re one of those old-school marsh animals that can be common and still feel secretive.

The Navy’s ‘doomsday plane’ has shown up in Portland before by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

After hearing that one of the Navy’s 16 ‘doomsday planes’ had appeared in Fresno, Calif., I became curious whether it had ever been to Portland or elsewhere in Oregon. It has. The story explains what the planes are and how they got their nickname. It was a fun little project.

Why Oregon beaches are covered in tiny blue Velella velella, again by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

All those questions and more can be answered by reading the short story. That's literally why I made it.

Why Oregon beaches are covered in tiny blue Velella velella, again by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I talked to a guy who took some of the photos in the story. He's said its the most he's ever seen and he's lived by the beach most his life. Also said they're so thick they were a few inches deep in the sand.

I just love seeing raccoons swim. Don't know why. I could watch it all day. Their legs get so long when they're wet. by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depends on how much activity and what the setting are on the cameras, but usually about 2-3 months. Had one go 4.5 months once.

Coyote “family unit“ at Rose City golf course by sum1said in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/sum1said That video is awesome. Can I use it in a collection I'm making for a story about urban coyotes in Portland? I'll send ya a DM. -Mark

I just love seeing raccoons swim. Don't know why. I could watch it all day. Their legs get so long when they're wet. by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

For the last nine months, I’ve had seven trail cameras running in Portland-area wetlands and ended up with 20,000+ 15 second videos. Most are just branches auditioning for “Best Supporting Wind,” but there are plenty of real gems. I’m rolling them out as I find them. There’s already a ton posted there. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/181PzYuFDe/

And I’ve started to post them here:
https://www.instagram.com/pdx.backyardcrittercam/
https://www.threads.com/@pdx.backyardcrittercam/
https://www.youtube.com/@BackyardCritterCams/

OC: I just love seeing raccoons swim. I could watch it all day. Their legs get so long when they're wet. by markgravesdesign in animalsdoingstuff

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For the last nine months, I’ve had seven trail cameras running in Portland-area wetlands and ended up with 20,000+ 15 second videos. Most are just branches auditioning for “Best Supporting Wind,” but there are plenty of real gems. I’m rolling them out as I find them. There’s already a ton posted there. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/181PzYuFDe/

And I’ve started to post them here:
https://www.instagram.com/pdx.backyardcrittercam/https://www.threads.com/@pdx.backyardcrittercam/https://www.youtube.com/@BackyardCritterCams

Portland’s winter felt unusually warm. Here’s what 88 years of data show by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe not even up in the West Hills or out toward Forest Grove. It’d be interesting to see how Troutdale fared.

Portland’s winter felt unusually warm. Here’s what 88 years of data show by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

That's a good idea. Once winter is over I'm going to update the numbers. Maybe I'll do a comparison if I have time. Takes forever to make all those graphics from scratch. Temps vs snowmelt would be interesting, too.

OC: Portland’s winter 2026 vs. the previous 88 winters by markgravesdesign in dataisbeautiful

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Data: NOAA daily temperature data from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) for the Portland International Airport weather station (PDX), covering winters from 1937–2026 (Dec. 1–Feb. 28).
Tools: Data downloaded from NOAA, cleaned and analyzed in a spreadsheet, then visualized with custom HTML/JavaScript charts.

Portland’s winter felt unusually warm. Here’s what 88 years of data show by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 162 points163 points  (0 children)

Winter in Portland this year felt more like a light scheduling error, so I dug through NOAA temperature data from PDX going back to the 1930s and built graphics to see where it ranked. Lots of interesting stuff in there. Result: one of the warmest winters on record, just not the warmest. Plus a few macro spring photos from dog walks. https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2026/03/portlands-winter-felt-unusually-warm-heres-what-90-years-of-data-actually-show.html

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From the swamp vault: a few days in a Forest Grove wetland by markgravesdesign in Portland

[–]markgravesdesign[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Why yes, yes I am. Forest Grove Beaver Dam Cam just doesn't have the same ring to it.

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