January's Malheur Musings | |
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Strutting into 2024 with all the confidence of this male ruddy duck! While most ruddy ducks winter to the south of Malheur, a few linger and they are on our minds here in the Harney Basin. We are excited to announce that the regal ruddy duck will be the 2024 Harney County Migratory Bird Festival's Bird of the Year!
This incredible image by Gary Luhm
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THE FRIENDS OF MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ARE CELERBATING 25 YEARS OF STEWARDSHIP! This new year, 2024, is a benchmark birthday year and we couldn't be more excited on the opportunity it brings to reflect on our legacy and look ahead to new and exciting ways to support and celebrate Malheur NWR with all of you, our Friends. | |
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All this year we will use this newsletter to share stories from our past. Starting this month you will find an article below about our founding in 1999. Did you know that two of our founders are STILL members of the Board of Directors?!? Can you guess who they are?
We will revisit projects and programs from over the years in order to honor where we have been, but we will also be developing new programs to focus on the future! Our Celebrating Malheur Speaker Series, information below, will be a mix of both.
In addition to projects and events we are planning for 2024, we will also be focusing on the importance of long-term financial support for the work that we do.
Every Membership makes a difference.
Every sale in our Crane's Nest Nature Store helps. Every Donation secures our ability to continue the important work of stewardship and advocacy for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
We are VERY close to our End of Year Fundraising Goal of $25,000!
Will YOU help us raise the remaining $1,827?!?
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In Service to and Celebration of Malheur,
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director
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President's Note - January
Written by Wm. Tweed
As a new year begins and days begin to lengthen, the urge to start preparing for the coming seasons is hard to suppress.
This is true of both nature and we humans.
In January, most of Malheur’s spring and summer birds are far to the south, enjoying much more temperate weather than the Harvey Basin offers right now. Many are currently resident on the wildlife refuges of California’s Great Central Valley. Others have gone much further south, and we would have to visit Baja California or mainland Mexico to catch up with them. Wherever they are, all are beginning their preparations for returning north.
Our organization is also turning its attention to the new year. This summer we will celebrate a quarter century of supporting Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Anticipating that, our Executive Director is deep into planning celebratory events. Read More
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Founding Friends of Malheur NWR
Written by Alice Elshoff and Gary Ivey
Photo courtesy of Alice Elshoff
Friends of Malheur Refuge was founded in 1999 to promote the conservation and appreciation of natural and cultural resources at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Forrest Cameron, Malheur Refuge Manager from 1989-1999, actually came to us and said he would like to have a Friends Group. So Gary, Cal, and I invited folks from Burns to a meeting at the Refuge. There were maybe a dozen in attendance, and we decided that day to form the group. We originally wanted the name to be Malheur Wildlife Advocates, but one staff member felt that was too “pushy”, and we became the tamer Malheur Wildlife Associates, which eventually changed to Friends of Malheur Refuge. Read More
Can you spot Alice and Gary in the image above?
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Follow That Swan!
January Update by Gary Ivey, PhD.
One of the collars (@19) has not transmitted data since late August when it remained on a small wetland in west-central Alberta, near Goodfare. Here’s a summary of the travels of the other 6:
Neck Collar Codes @10, @11, @13. @16, and @20 – These 5 remained at Malheur all month, using Benson Pond, Boca Lake and Knox Ponds.
Neck Collar Code @17 – This adult male had arrived in south-central Idaho at Mackay Reservoir the beginning of December, moving to on use Silver Creek near Gannet, Idaho on December 13. On December 17, he began moving west, bypassing Malheur Refuge and spending the night on the Roaring Springs Ranch in Catlow Valley. On December 18, he returned to Malheur Refuge and has been using Benson Pond, Boca Lake and Knox Ponds through the end of the month. Read More
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Christmas Bird Counts
Written by Peter Pearsall
Photo by Rick Vetter
Christmastime is all about traditions. Getting together with friends and family, exchanging gifts and good wishes, reflecting on one year’s end and looking forward to the next—all are part of the yuletide tradition, celebrated annually around the world.
Depending on which circles one moves in, Christmastime is also about birds —live birds, in situ. Not just basted turkeys. Nor that mixed flock of “four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree”. The Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, a citizen science effort aimed at monitoring bird population trends on a massive scale, is a long-standing tradition dating back to 1901. Read More
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2023 CBC4Kids & Families
The 2023 Christmas Bird Count for Kids and Families had a great comeback after needing to be cancelled in 2022. Six families with a total of 15 youth got out and went birding on the morning of December 16th.
This year, instead of being assigned a 'Count Circle', families were given their count booklet with Scavenger Hunt style clues that would direct them to their count locations. They knew they were on the right track when they found our signature CBC4Kids Geese!
They were thrilled to return and submit their bird lists, talk about their sightings, and participate in making bird themed holiday crafts. FOMR provided pizza for lunch and Shop Harney Gift Cards as prizes.
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2023 P Ranch CBC Report
This year, 13 field birders navigated a partially dense patchy foggy and occasionally sunlit landscape that became fully engulfed by dreaded fog by end of the count. Temperatures were mild (25-39) compared to last year’s record low of -18°F. The lack of snow, partially open water, relatively high number of observers and a day of scouting before the count combined for a high count. Our local refuge residents missed the count but left well-stocked bird feeders attracting several species that may have been missed otherwise. And we welcomed 6 new local birders (3 from the USFS, 1 from MNWR, 1 from the Agricultural Research station, 1 from Hines Middle School) and 3 out of town observers, 2 that were new. Read More
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How Big is Malheur Lake?
Stay tuned for updates that will resume in spring.
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Species Spotlight: Common Goldeneye
Written by Peter Pearsall
Photo by Peter Pearsall
The common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized diving duck belonging to the Anatidae family. The species is named for its golden-yellow or sometimes amber eye, which is particularly striking against the dark head of the male.
The common goldeneye drake boasts a striking black and white plumage. It has a glossy greenish-black head with a distinctive circular white patch between the eye and bill. The body is predominantly white with black back and wings. Females, on the other hand, exhibit a more subdued brownish-gray plumage. Read More
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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
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December'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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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: 939 | |
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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
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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.
Monthly giving makes becoming a Member easy! Set up a monthly donation of $85 and become a 2025 Sandhill Crane Society Member! Email Janelle, director@malheurfriends.org.
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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
CLOSED for the Season. Will reopen on March 1, 2024
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What about the other 364 days of the year? There's always a reason to gift Malheur to your friends & family!
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!
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Malheur HQ Visitor Center
CLOSED for the Season
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