Malheur Musings
April 2022
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Yellow-rumped warblers are among the first warblers to arrive at Malheur Refuge in spring. The Refuge hosts both North American subspecies of yellow-rumped warbler: the throat of male “Audubon” warblers is yellow, while male “Myrtle” warblers have a white throat.
Photo (left) of Audubon warbler by Peter Pearsall
Photo (right) of Myrtle warbler by Kay Steele
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It is that time of year when it's not an uncommon occurrence in my home or at the office for someone to exclaim - "The Geese" and have everyone run to a window or out the front door. We stand there in awe; watching and listening to the soul shifting chatter as hundreds if not thousands of white geese slide across the sky. Lines of birds shifting and swaying like ribbons.
Back at Refuge Headquarters you can catch glimpses of the Belding's ground squirrels scurrying about. Pregnant females are typically the first to emerge from their underground colonies. They are gathering grasses to line their burrows in anticipation of birthing their pups.
Meanwhile, lesser sandhill cranes are congregating in fields amongst the cattle. They increase in numbers each day in a way that resembles freckles brought out by the sun. The occasional greater sandhill crane pair can be seen standing out from the crowd. One can almost assume they are already scoping out a nesting site for the season. A safe place for which to lay and tend to their eggs beyond the risk of spring flooding and nearby foraging sites that the family can move into once the chicks hatch.
I always say there is never a bad time to visit Malheur NWR, but as you all know there is a particular type of magic in the air here during the spring. A new and exciting adventure can be had every day. With that in mind, I'm thrilled to share with you - My Friends - that my own chicks hatched on March 10th, 2022. Cliodhna Jewell and Oisin Forrest Wicks along with my wife Teresa and I are all settling into our nest together and enjoying the magic of Springtime in the Harney Basin.
Whether it be in the Nature Store over the coming months or at the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival this April 21-24th (more information below), we hope to see you out here enjoying it too!
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As always, Thank you for being a Friend.
Janelle L Wicks
FOMR Executive Director
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By Jeff Mackay, MNWR Project Leader
Although we only just said goodbye to 2021 what seems like only a few weeks ago, we’ve already jumped into 2022 like popcorn in a hot skillet! Now that I have a moment to reflect on 2021, I feel rightly proud of the accomplishments of Refuge staff and Refuge partners and would like to share with you a few of the highlights. Read More
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By Bruce Fischer
In 2018, when the Oregon Geographic Names Board (OGNB) received a proposal to name a geographic feature in Harney County, the road to approval appeared relatively smooth. However, as the proposal traveled along its road through the OGNB’s careful process, potholes began to appear. The proposal was suddenly in a jeopardy. Read More
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China Council Quarterly #55 July - September, 1994
Did you know that Dalai Nor and Malheur NWR are Sister Reserves? Read more about this unique friendship in the attached edition (1994) of the China Council Quarterly (see page 10). The attached photo is displayed in the main Refuge office to commemorate the friendship. Read More
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By Peter Pearsall
The natural world is full of deception. Choose almost any realm in nature and one will find organisms putting precious time and energy into appearing as something they are not—and often benefitting from the ruse.
Like parasitism, mimicry is a widespread and often successful lifestyle. Visually oriented organisms mimic the colors, shapes, and patterns of more dangerous or foul-tasting species; others may mimic odors, sounds, or behaviors. Read More
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By Walt Wolfe, Malheur NWR Friends Member
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This story appears because Janelle asked me if I would elaborate on what I told her in my Membership Renewal about my first visit to Malheur NWR in 1960. In May, my ornithology class at Eastern Oregon College, now EOU, made a long weekend field trip to Malheur led by our professor and my biology advisor, Dr. Charles Quaintance. About 5 of us caravanned down in cars to Malheur Refuge Headquarters (HQ) where we bivouacked in a big building on the east side that is now long gone.
Saturday morning observations began at the HQ grounds followed by the long trip down the Central Patrol Road (CPR) to the P Ranch and Frenchglen - giving the Peterson Field Guides a real workout. Like so many things in life, the firsts can be the most memorable. Like all the new birds followed by family style dinner at the Frenchglen Hotel. READ MORE
Thank you, Walt, for sharing your deep history and love
of Malheur NWR with us!
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Visit www.MigratoryBirdFestival.com to learn about online presentations and workshops (like 2021), our Bird Crawl Passport program, and LIVE - In Person events!
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Visit www.migratorybirdfestival.com or follow @migratorybirdfestival on social media for updates and information over the next few months. We’re looking forward to your participation!
Thank you for supporting the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival and our community!
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Birding Basics Class - Virtual & FREE
Presented by Lynda Paznokas
Sponsored by East Cascade Audubon Society
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Birding isn’t for the birds. It’s all ABOUT the birds! Explore the fascinating world of birding. Although the Zoom sessions are arranged sequentially, you are welcome to attend all or some, as your schedule allows.
April 6: Bird Id Strategies: Shape, size, color, behavior
April 13: Birding Resources: Books, apps, websites, games, equipment, birding ethics
April 20: Backyard Birding: Doing it Right: Bird feeders, bird baths, bird houses, gardening for the birds
April 27: Birding as a Social Activity: Birding locations, bird cams, organizations, events, citizen science
Presentations start at 7 p.m. (sessions open at 6:50 p.m.), ending at 8:00 p.m.
Registration: If you would like to receive the Zoom invitation, e-mail Lynda the following information at Lpaz@bendnet.com
- Your first and last name
- City and state where you live
- Your e-mail address
- Indicate whether you’re an ECAS member or guest
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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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Check out the new 2022 HOLOGRAPHIC Membership sticker!
Not a Member? Simply visit OUR WEBSITE, close the pop-up window and fill out the online form.
You can even set your Membership to Auto-renew with just the check of a box!
Prefer to send a check? Easy. Just fill out THIS FORM and mail it to us with your dues at:
Friends of Malheur NWR
36391 Sodhouse Lane
Princeton, OR 97721
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Current Membership Total: 1034! |
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March'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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March 1st: “Well aren’t you a pretty bird! Care to grace our ears with your melodious…Oh, wow. Okay…maybe just go back to perching prettily on those tules.”
Click image for VIDEO of male yellow-headed blackbird singing.
By Dan Streiffert
This post on Facebook reach of over 9,800 people! Follow both of our pages, Malheurfriends, to see more great content like this!
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Now Recruiting for 2022!

Needed: Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store Volunteers are needed for July-October 2022! Individuals must be comfortable interacting with the visiting public and carrying out day-day store operations tasks such as running a point of sale system, counting and stocking inventory. Volunteers also help to maintain the ground surrounding the Nature Center including filling and cleaning bird feeders, occasional light grounds keeping, etc.
Have your own Home on Wheels? Great!
Volunteers with an RV/Camper would have full hook-ups at the volunteer RV park.
All volunteers have access to bathrooms with showers, a fully stocked kitchen, a community room with DirectTV, WiFi, and laundry facilities.
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Volunteer opportunities continue to be contingent upon and will be subject to any local, state, or federal health and safety guidelines. Volunteering may be cancelled at any point. |
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If you wish to be considered for a volunteer position please email Janelle, director@malheurfriends.org |
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Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store |
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The Crane's Nest Online Store is
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
HQ Store NOW OPEN
7 Days a Week
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Aurora Potts grew up in Atlanta, GA watching wildlife on nature programs. She interned at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and at Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on their GIS manatee temperature probe project. She received a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a self-designed Film Studies concentration and a minor in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. She worked as a video editor and production assistant for KPG Creative in Mason, OH, and decided the corporate world was not for her. Read More
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Malheur HQ Visitor Center
NOW OPEN
7 Days a Week
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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36391 Sodhouse Lane
Princeton, OR 97721
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