Collared trumpeter swans Theta-64 and 2@1 at Benson Pond recently. These individuals, a mother and daughter, are among the last remaining resident trumpeter swans at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Photos by Gary Kegel

Every December I wax poetic about the same old things. I focus in on reflecting on the successes of the year ending and the exciting potential of the year that lays ahead. Of course, this is still on my mind but this December I am so consumed with thinking about people.

The people that work for the Refuge, including administrative, biology, and maintenance staff, are all so passionate about their work. With the retirement of Malheur's Project Leader AND Deputy Project Leader in 2023 and other vacancies the Refuge has been understaffed. You wouldn't know it by how hard they all work. These people inspire me.

The people that visit Malheur NWR every year come with a sense of wonder and curiosity whether it is their first or 100th visit! Birders and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds find themselves enamored with the views, the wildlife, and the surprises throughout the Refuge's 187,000 acres! These people excite me.

The people that volunteer for Friends of Malheur, sharing their time and talents with us in service of our mission never cease to amaze me. Our volunteers lead educational activities, clean up barbed wire, maintain trails, and are the welcoming face and wealth of information that visitors find when they come to the Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store. These people are my community.

It is the people - INCLUDING YOU - that love and support and work to uplift Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that truly feel like a gift. And on top of all of that, you give your financial support which is critical to funding our work.

On Giving Tuesday we raised over $5,000!

Since then, we have raised another $5,000+!

We are well on our way to reaching our $25,000 goal!

If you are looking to make a meaningful end of year donation there is still time. Make a donation today to make a difference for Malheur's tomorrow and all of the people who will enjoy it for years to come.

I hope you enjoy the special BLOG post below in which so many of 'our people' share the gifts they get and give to Malheur!

As always, thank you for being a Friend.

Janelle

A Message from Our President

Written by Wm. Tweed

It is our mission to both provide a conduit for each of us to support of important programs at Malheur NWR and, just as importantly, a means for us to receive the many gifts Malheur that has to bestow upon us. These benefits come in many forms, most of them directly based on our individual relationship to the refuge and its stories.



I had one of these experiences quite recently. I was coming out of the wonderful old building that serves as refuge headquarters after a pleasant and productive meeting with FWS staff. Outside now, I stopped and absorbed the scene. Absolute quiet reigned aside from a slight breeze blowing through the almost leafless trees. Read More

Geology of the Harney Basin; Briefly

Written by Peter Pearsall

Photo by Alan Nyiri



During the middle to late Miocene epoch (approximately 8-12 million years ago), a series of volcanic eruptions poured Columbia River flood basalts across the Pacific Northwest, covering portions of southern Washington, western Idaho, and northern and eastern Oregon with extensive lava flows.

Harney Basin, where Malheur Refuge is located, was formed when lava flows reached the basin and eventually separated its watershed from the Malheur River, a tributary of the Snake River. Read More

Loss of a Malheur Friend;

John Edgar Cornely

Written by Gary Ivey

Sadly, one of our longtime Friends, Dr. John Edgar Cornely, 77, of Larkspur, CO passed away on October 13, 2023, after a long battle with cancer.



Although John was as a mammologist by education (his master’s thesis on woodrats and his doctoral thesis on coyotes), he also became a waterfowl biologist in 1978 when he accepted the job as Supervisory Refuge Biologist at Malheur where he led the extensive biological monitoring program. He left Malheur in 1981 to work at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, another waterfowl-focused job, but Malheur never left him, as he continued to be involved in Malheur issues throughout his life. Read More

Steens Mountain Advisory Council

Written by Karen Withrow, State Environmental Representative



During the middle to late Miocene epoch (approximately 8-12 million years ago), a series of volcanic eruptions poured Columbia River flood basalts across the Pacific Northwest, covering portions of southern Washington, western Idaho, and northern and eastern Oregon with extensive lava flows.

Harney Basin, where Malheur Refuge is located, was formed when lava flows reached the basin and eventually separated its watershed from the Malheur River, a tributary of the Snake River. Read More

Follow That Swan!

December update by Gary Ivey, PhD.



Here’s an update on the locations of seven Trumpeter Swans marked on Benson Pond with GPS-GSM neck collars to track their migration. Five of the 7 summered in Alberta, one summered in NE British Columbia and the other summered in SW Northwest Territories. As of December 1, 3 had returned to Malheur, one was near Baker City, OR and another near Mackay, Idaho (Figure 1 shows summer locations of the 7 and current locations of the 5 that have migrated). The limited and dated data we have for the 2 remaining, shows them in Alberta. Here are the details of each swan: Read More

This concludes our 2023 Updates from Gary Ivey on the 7 Trumpeter Swans collared with GPS-GSM Transmitters. If you enjoy this content and want to support work like this, consider an End of Year Donation to the Friends today!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

Here on the refuge, we are seeing the transition of different migrant birds. Malheur Lake is full of swans, pintails, shovelers, snow geese, mergansers, and plenty of canvasback ducks! Also, the ponds are full of both tundra and trumpeter swans! And guess who has been blessing us with their presence?? Swan Θ76 is back and has been spending the last month down at the Knox Ponds. Welcome back Θ76!

Speaking of our different water bodies and what is out there, lets get to the real reason you read this monthly update... HOW BIG IS THE LAKE ALEXA?! Glad you all asked! As of November 27, the lake is around 16,131 acres.

As you can see from the satellite imagery, brought to us by Sentinel Hub EO Brower, the lake has been maintaining its size thanks to cooler temperatures and less evapotranspiration. Because it is started to get cooler we are finally starting to see the lake freeze up on the edges. 

Well folks, that brings us to the end of our short update. Hopefully you all enjoyed this month's installment of "HOW BIG IS THE LAKE?!" Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season!

~ Alexa Martinez, MNWR Wildlife Biologist

Species Spotlight: Mountain Bluebird

A Written by Peter Pearsall



The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a stunning and vibrant thrush of mountain meadows, grasslands, and sagebrush plains across the western half of North America.



Adult males display an intense, sky-blue plumage on their upperparts, head, and throat, which contrasts with a paler blue on their underparts. Females, juveniles, and non-breeding males exhibit more muted shades of blue with brownish tones. The blue hue of these birds comes not from pigment but from reflective keratin structures in their feathers. Read More

Malheur's Gifts That Keep on Giving

A collection of notes, poems, and photographs from Refuge Staff and Friends Volunteers



Play-Pals by Dan Streiffert, FOMR Volunteer 

One of the best parts of being a FOMR volunteer is living at Headquarters. This provides the opportunity to roam around after hours and enjoy chance encounters with critters that you would not have otherwise. Last June I encountered the three Owletts exploring the grounds. I just sat down on the ground and started taking photos. Check these out!

Click Here to Read More from Refuge Staff and Friends Volunteers

Stewardship Volunteering in 2024

Our Project Committee is courageously lead by Board Member Donna Owens with volunteer coordination support from the one and only Alice Elshoff. Together they have been busy crafting a schedule of 2024 volunteer opportunities for you! Mark your calendars:

MAY 17TH - 19TH: Spring Spruce-up

General groundskeeping support at Refuge Headquarters including help w/ xeric landscape implementation and volunteer campground phase 2.

AUGUST 9TH - 11TH: Historic Sod House Ranch Stewardship

Help clean the grounds and set up this historic site for its annual public open season from August 15 - October 1.

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

Walking for the Wild while you work! 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.

Registration for these Stewardship Weekends will open in the months to come. In the meantime, if you have any questions please email friends@malheurfriends.org

November'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.

November 3, 2023:

“and suddenly I saw

the heavens

Unfastened

and open,

Planets,

palpitating plantations,

shadow perforated,

Riddled

with arrows, fire and flowers,

the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,

drunk with the great starry

Void,

likeness, image of

Mystery,

felt myself a pure part

of the abyss,

I wheeled with the stars,

my heart broke loose on the wind.”

-Excerpt from “Poetry” by Pablo Neruda



Layers upon layers of stars, dancing across the sky and through space. Astral calendars and maps, guiding humans and wildlife since time immemorial. Photo by Peter Pearsall

#nightsky #astrophotography #highdesert #oregondesert #greatbasin #malheurnationalwildliferefuge #friendsofmalheur

Follow the Friends of Malheur on Facebook and Instagram at Malheurfriends!

Current Membership Total: 940

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

Pictured:Sandhill Crane by Dan Streiffert

The Sandhill Crane Society

Any supporter who contributes $1,000 or more through Membership dues and/or donations throughout the year will become a Member of this program.

There is still time to make your contribution THIS YEAR to become a 2024 Member of the Sandhill Crane Society.

Email Janelle, director@malheurfriends.org.

Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store

CLOSED for the Season. Will reopen on March 1, 2024

Looking for the perfect gift this Holiday Season?!

The birding or Malheur enthusiast in your life will LOVE some Refuge gear or a copy of the newly published Birding Harney County by Harry Fuller.



Lots of inventory BACK IN STOCK!

ORDER TODAY!

Malheur HQ Visitor Center

CLOSED for the Season.