How did you spend your evening of the last full moon? Here at NorthWest EcoExcursions we spent it kayaking on Beaver Creek. A spur of the moment decisions turned into one of the best nights I have had here on the Oregon Coast. The trip was an adventure, unloading and launching in the dark, but it was well worth it once we were on the water. I was in awe of the unruffled beauty, lit solely by the moon. There were no clouds which provided for great visibility, of both the night sky and the creek. The stars were gorgeous and it made me wish I knew more about them so that I could identify more constellations while I had such an extraordinary vantage point.

On a typical trip on Beaver Creek there is a little noise from the nearby Highway 10. It couldn’t have been more different that night. The only noises we heard aside from the wildlife was the ocean. It was stunning to float along the water, listening to the sound of the ocean and watching the moon reflect off the water. It was Beaver Creek in its purest form, and it was absolutely incredible.

I would have been content with the moonlight paddle if it had just been us and the moon. But to our surprise we had a river otter jumping near our boats! I must have jumped a mile high the first time we heard the splash, and I think the kids did too! Throughout the entire trip a few otters playfully swam with us, and teased us by jumping just far enough away that none of us ever spotted them. It was extraordinary to see that they were comfortable with us in their habitat during unusual hours, and that they were willing to jump and play.

Kayaking during daylight is breathtaking, but kayaking by the light of the moon added a bit of magic to the experience. You can join us for our next moonlight excursion. Take a break from your hectic schedule and relax as you paddle and enjoy true serenity. This is a trip you do not want to miss!

The Newport News Times published a story on Tracie and her efforts in the Gulf!

Check out the article: Wildlife rehab specialist to help Gulf oil clean up

Today we went to Beaver Creek with two groups of kids from the local rec centers!! It was great to see the kids on the water discovering how to paddle and that it could be relaxing! Most were scared at first but calmed down after the first few strokes. As they worked out how to paddle they gained confidence and surged ahead of us. As we pulled out of the water their smiles were huge and they were all excited about kayaking. A lucky few got to paddle a second time and you could really see the improvement in such a short time.

We believe in getting everyone on the water, no matter the age! We welcome everyone to be on the water and experience nature from a unique point of view. Bring the whole family for your next kayaking adventure!!

Tracie has been hard at work helping out the oiled birds! She loves working with the animals and seeing them be stabilized, cleaned, and released. The Sun Herald published an article on the current state of the birds. Accompanying the article is a photo of Tracie in action!!!! It is great to see people stepping up and helping out!

Check out the article to see the latest on the Oiled Birds Recover in Gulfport.

Whew! A lot has happened in the last couple of days!

The founder and operator of NorthWest EcoExcursions has left for the Gulf of Mexico to help out with the oil spill. Tracie will be helping with the rehabilitation of the wildlife that have suffered since the spill. We sure miss her at the office but she is doing her part to help clean up the oil and restore the beautiful waters and wildlife of the Gulf.

We have taken a few very exciting trips recently!

The birds are out, and it is a great experience watching them from the water. We  saw a group of turkey vultures out on the water, they must of seen something yummy. We were just hoping it wasn’t us! The osprey have been out hunting for food too. We never saw them get any fish but they came close. Being out on the water and seeing animals is very peaceful. It is the world with no worries, unless you happen to be the food!

While we were out on Devils Lake we saw a family of ducks! When we first saw them they were taking a nap on a log. They were so adorable! Later we saw them on the other side of the lake and the six ducklings were trailing along behind their mom.  She was being protective of her young.  Even with her protectiveness, we were lucky to be able to paddle alongside them for about five minutes.

We want to share these wildlife sightings with you! Come join us on the water!

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