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Burrowing owls are just one of those species that are on all of our lists to try and catch a glimpse of when visiting Malheur NWR in the spring or summer. Burrowing owls will lay 2-12 eggs and the female will incubate for 28-30 days while the male stands guard and goes hunting to feed her. This behavior will result in the male's plumage being sun bleached by the time his family joins him above ground.
Photo by Volunteer Photographer Lane Wintermute
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Things change every day. Changes come in small and big ways, ways that are predictable and sometimes ways that we could not have imagined. July had been a ... unique ... month in Harney County on and off the Refuge.
July visitation has been higher than what we have seen the last couple of years and with it an increase in new Memberships for July. People love this place and are committed to not only experiencing and connecting with it but supporting it through their donations and stewardship. Of course, I share that enthusiasm not only for Malheur Refuge but in how I feel about my colleagues here, our community, and the greater landscape that Harney County encompasses.
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Of course, if you have been to Malheur in July - or you've been watching the news - you will no doubt be aware of the ongoing wildfire activity to the north. The smoke has made no secret of the fires that are burning much of Malheur National Forest. You may have also noticed the final collapse of the iconic juniper along Hwy 205 which has hosted nesting ferruginous hawks for the last several years. Photo taken by Katie Sorenson on July 22nd.
Changes. In the face of much devastation and seemingly negative change it is a good reminder to exist in a place of gratitude and that some of this change will be good. The forest will regenerate and move through its next stage of succession. The hawks will find a new home or one will be erected for them. Our community, the tight knit one that loves our Public Lands will be hardened in our gratitude for those that risk everything to protect it. It takes all of us in all of our ways.
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In Service to and Celebration of Malheur,
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director
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A correction and humble apology.
In the Director's Message of the July Issue I stated, "BONUS - Pianist Hunter Nock himself interviewed me for his podcast..."
This was a misspelling of the esteemed Hunter Noack's last name. Learn more about Hunter's work with IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild at www.inalandscape.org
Mid-performance, Hunter Noack during the June 16 concert at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. Photo by Arthur Hitchcock
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Y3 of Passive Acoustic Monitoring
Written by Teresa Wicks, Bird Alliance of Oregon
Photo ARUs in diverse locations by Tresa Wicks
In 2021, we partnered with the refuge and Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative partners to pilot an effort using autonomous recording units (ARU) to expand monitoring efforts in the Harney Basin. Despite some glitches, the ARUs were successful enough that in 2022 Malheur National Wildlife Refuge purchased 10 ARUs to expand passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to 16 sites in the Buena Vista subregion. This year our PAM work expanded exponentially, and we now have four PAM projects. These projects include:
1) 32 sites in wet meadow, upland, and woody riparian habitat from Sod House Ranch south to P-Ranch;
2) Tern Island monitoring;
3) a reed canarygrass and climate study that has seven sites in the Silvies Floodplain and five sites at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; and
4) an off-refuge Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative supported project monitoring birds in the wet meadows of Oregon Desert Land Trust’s Trout Creek Ranch south of Fields. Read More
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Tribal Stewards Program Wrap-up
Written by Peter Pearsall
Photos by Richard Hamilton, Lomakatsi Restoration Project
The 2024 Tribal Stewards have finished their six-week summer fieldwork program. The six-person crew, all members of the Burns Paiute Tribe, participated in conservation work at Malheur National Forest, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
During the first week, the crew was busy collecting and planting more than 2,000 willow stakes along creek beds and other riparian habitats in Malheur National Forest. They also created enclosures for the willow stakes in open areas to prevent trampling by cows, deer, or people. Read More
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Friends of Malheur NWR are able to support this program with the generosity of donors like YOU! | | |
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Summer Lake Trumpeter Swan Release Event
Written by Gary Ivey, PhD.
Photo of Alice Elshoff holding onto a trumpeter swan while retired biologist Marty St. Louis secures its bands.
A large release of 25 juvenile trumpeter swans took place at Summer Lake Wildlife Area on June 29th to further the goals of the Oregon Trumpeter Swan Project. This Project’s goal is to reach the Pacific Flyway objectives for Oregon of at least 15 breeding pairs and 75 adults, by building a wild flock, centered at Summer Lake and eventually connecting that flock to the remaining Malheur trumpeter swans. The project is conducted via a partnership between the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), The Trumpeter Swan Society, and the Fish and Wildlife Service (Malheur Refuge).
Don't forget to Follow That Swan!
Monthly update by Gary Ivey, PhD.
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Technician Emilee's Update
Written by Emilee Gooch, FOMR Seasonal Bio Tech
Photo of Emilee holding a newly banded crane colt
July has been a very exciting (and very hot!) month for me here at Malheur, and it provided many more great opportunities to grow my skill set. The month started out with the incredible opportunity to travel with Dominic to Modoc NWR in Alturas, CA and assist with the banding of sandhill crane colts. This was hands-down one of the coolest things I have gotten to be a part of, and the chance to handle wildlife for the first time was an incredible experience. Also in the bird world, I joined Alexa and Teresa for a survey of Boca Pond here at Malheur, one of the impoundments that serves as important waterfowl habitat. Working with both Alexa and Teresa is always such an informative experience and a great chance to continue to learn about the bird species found here at Malheur. Read More
Don't miss Emilee's Celebrating Malheur Speaker Series Presentation TONIGHT!
4:00 PM Via Zoom (Click Here) or in person at 484 N Broadway Ave Burns, OR
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Malheur Lake Update
Photo provided by Malheur NWR Wildlife Biologist, Alexa Martinez
The image below shows the current spread of Malheur Lake at approximately 30,000 acres and still connected to Mud Lake to the west.
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Species Spotlight: Wood Duck
Written by Peter Pearsall/ Photos by Peter Pearsall
The wood duck (Aix sponsa) is one of the most striking dabbling ducks in North America. The male, or drake, is especially colorful with a glossy green head, red eyes, and a white throat patch extending into stippling across the breast. The chest and flanks are rich chestnut, with iridescent blue and black across the back. The female, or hen, is more subdued in color, featuring a gray-brown body, white-stippled breast, and a distinctive white eye-ring.
Wood ducks are commonly found in wooded swamps, marshes, and along streams and rivers with abundant riparian vegetation. They prefer shallow waters with plenty of cover from shrubs and trees. Read More
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'Drama Flight'
Written by Susan Higdon
Image of a painting by Susan Higdon inspired by a Dan Streiffert photograph
When I first saw the exquisite photo by Dan Streiffert on the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Facebook page I was mesmerized. The combination of Red-winged blackbirds and the White-faced Ibis was both surprising and exotic. But the challenge of painting the pattern the birds make while flying was what most excited me. Read More
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Volunteering with Friends | |
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NEXT WEEK - AUGUST 9th - 11th: Historic Sod House Ranch Stewardship
EMAIL US TO SIGN UP & SECURE FREE HOUSING!!! friends@malheurfriends.org
Help clean the grounds and set up this historic site for its annual public open season from August 15 - October 1. We will also be constructing the long-awaited pavilion at the brand-new volunteer campground!
SEPTEMBER 13th - 15th: Trail Stewardship
Assisting with the connection of the River Trail and the Restoration Trail for the improvement of the Blitzen River Trail from P Ranch north.
OCTOBER 18th - 20th: Work for the Wild
P Ranch and Barnes Springs Homestead clean-up and barbed wire removal.
Housing will be provided for FREE to volunteers at The Malheur Field Station or P Ranch.
If you have any questions or would like to sign up for one or more of these Stewardship Weekends please email friends@malheurfriends.org
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NEXT WEEK - AUGUST 6th, 7th, & 8th - 7:30-9:30PM
We are embarking on a mission to capture information about what species and approximately how many bats are roosting within the buildings at Refuge Headquarters. Will you join us in conducting initial surveys? Equipment and guidance will be provided.
Tent camping at Refuge HQ available. Email friends@malheurfriends.org if interested.
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Outreach & Events
Be sure to check out the incredible opportunities below and see our website's event calendar for more. Click the links below to learn more about these programs and sign-up!
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While FOMR celebrates 25 years one of our Founding Members, Alice, is celebrating 90!
Our Fall Fundraising Event will be a Birthday Party to celebrate a shared legacy of conservation stewardship!
Registration will OPEN THURSDAY August 15th!
Do you live in Central Oregon?
LOVE Malheur Refuge? and EVENT PLANNING?
Yes? Yes? Yes?!? - We NEED You!
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If you are interested in helping us plan the official celebration of FOMR's 25th Birthday please email Janelle, friends@malheurfriends.org | |
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July's Most Popular
Every month there is excellent content on the Friends Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages. Here we will feature the most popular post of the month.
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July 10th, 2024: Color palettes of Malheur Refuge. The images from this post have been uploaded to our BLOG and can be seen HERE. The include:
- Buena Vista Ponds by Candace Larson
- High-desert shrub steppe at dusk by Alan Nyiri
- Blitzen River redband trout by Fly Fishers International
- Yellow-headed blackbird and camas by Peter Pearsall
- Monarch butterfly and showy milkweed by Peter Pearsall
- Camas blossoms by Teresa Wicks
- Lichen-covered rimrock, Double O Ranch by Kay Steele
- White-faced ibis by Dan Streiffert
- Lastly, pictured above, Blitzen River by Alan Nyiri
#highdesert #oregondesert #greatbasin #malheurnationalwildliferefuge #friendsofmalheur
Follow the Friends of Malheur on Facebook and Instagram at Malheurfriends!
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Membership Minute
The sustaining support of our members is more important than ever.
If you are unsure of your Membership status you can email us at friends@malheurfriends.org today!
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Current Membership Total: 1224
2024 New Members: 393!
Not a Member or need to RENEW?
Simply visit OUR WEBSITE!
Prefer to send a check? Easy.
Fill out THIS FORM and mail it with your dues to:
Friends of Malheur NWR
36391 Sodhouse Lane
Princeton, OR 97721
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Your Business can support Malheur NWR by joining our Business Alliance Program!
Questions? Email us. Friends@malheurfriends.org
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Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | 7 Days/Week
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Birds of Prey - A Falcon Guide
This is a handy field guide to the 55 birds of prey in North America featuring anatomically correct illustrations of the birds in flight and on the ground. You'll find detailed descriptions about each bird's prominent physical attributes and natural habitat making it easy to identify birds in your backyard, favorite parks, and wildlife areas. Informative and beautiful to peruse, this is the essential resource when you're out in the field. - Order today!
When you find yourself at Refuge Headquarters be sure to stop by the Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store, say Hi to our Volunteers, and meet our Manager, Jill!
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Malheur HQ Visitor Center
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | As Possible with Volunteer Support
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