September Malheur Musings | | You know them, you love them. They pose all day on fences or in branches and then perform aerial displays all evening into the night to feed on flying insects. Did you know that the common nighthawk, a member of the 'goat sucker' family, has a fossil record dating as early as the late Pleistocene era. Fossils of this species are dated at up to 400,000 years old. Photo by Lane Wintermute | | |
Oxford defines inspired as being
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of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse.
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(of air or another substance) that is breathed in.
I can find ways in which both of these definitions feel genuinely connected to the experience of being on and connecting with Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. There is no shortage of people deeply inspired by Malheur. Its sights, sounds, and smells can feel like they are washing over you such that you can breathe them in deeply. Fill yourself up with that magic combination of wildness and some strange familiarity.
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These feelings can ignite a creative impulse that may manifest in any number or ways. Some to be expected and typically associated with the creative drive: Photography. Watercolors. Nature Journalling. Poetry. Prose. (Pictured left: Pastel and watercolor artwork produced by Harney County youth during annual Artist in Residence Program)
But it is this same impulse that inspires scientific research, advocacy for water rights, and habitat restoration. The likes of which might not be thought of as creative enterprises in the traditional sense. Make no mistake, the approach that Prunus LLC takes to conservation style pruning and care for trees across the refuge is an inspired one.
On Saturday, October 18th we are throwing a party to celebrate the inspiration that Malheur ignites in each of us; all in our own unique way. Come out to learn more about the work Friends of Malheur NWR is engaged in and BE INSPIRED into the generosity that powers FOMR's mission, a commitment to the future of Malheur NWR.
Learn More and Register NOW!
Space is limited so please register early. Live and silent auction items will be better than ever before including guided birding adventures with the likes of Dr. Gary Ivey or Teresa 'Bird' Wicks, an airboat ride on Malheur Lake, a Gazelle electric bike, and SO MUCH MORE! Your ticket will include dinner, drinks and all the Malheur Inspiration you can handle in one night! I hope to see you there.
Inspired by Malheur,
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director
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President's Message; September 2025
Written by Bill Tweed
Photo of white-faced ibis by Lane Wintermute
It is no accident that the word at the center of our organization’s title is “Friends.” If you look the word up in your dictionary, you will find that it covers many different sorts of relationships, and nearly all of those apply to FOMR and its membership.
Let me offer some examples. Friends come together voluntarily. Friends share interests. Friends help each other. Friends add value to each other’s lives. The list goes on and on, but you get the idea. All these definitions describe the relationships that define our organization and its very special membership. Read More
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Enjoying Malheur After Dark 2025
Written by Janelle Wicks, FOMR Executive Director
Photos by Janelle Wicks and Teresa 'Bird' Wicks, Bird Alliance of Oregon
It takes 29.5 days for the moon to complete a phase cycle from new moon to new moon. This means that typically there is just one new moon every month. Occasionally, because our calendar months are ever so slightly longer than a moon cycle, there can be a second new moon in a month. That second new moon is called a Black Moon which really has nothing to do with how dark the night sky is or is not.
So, as it were, on the evening of August 22nd 50 people gathered at Sod House Ranch for the annual Malheur After Dark event featuring a night sky with a Black Moon. Attendees of all ages came from as close as the Narrows or Double O Rd and as far flung as Portland and Boise. Read More
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Redband Trout in Malheur NWR & Harney Basin Part II
Written by W.G. Duffy, FOMR Board Member / Image by ODFW
Part one of this series provided a brief review of the geologic history of the northern Great Basin and how it eventually constrained water exchange between subbasins and thus also constrained the genetic interactions of redband trout populations in the region. It also briefly introduced redband trout in the Harney Basin.
Efforts to estimate the size of redband trout populations in the subbasins of the northern Great Basin suggest that the Harney Basin is an important area for the species. During 2007 to 2012, maximum annual population sizes for these subbasins were: Catlow Valley (42,000), Chewaucan (155,000), Fort Rock (87,000), Goose Lake (125,000) Warner Lakes (160,000) and Harney (470,000). Thus, the Harney Basin or Malheur management area contains 35% to 40% of the redband trout in the seven basins. Read More
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Lisa's Farewell
Written by Lisa Leen, FOMR Bio Tech
My time at Malheur has sadly come to an end, and looking back, I am incredibly grateful that I could spend my summer working as diversely as I was able to at Malheur Refuge. Especially during a historic water year.
Some activities that I was involved with during my last few weeks included duck banding at Boca Lake on Malheur and at Summer Lake Wildlife Management Area in Lake County. This was a joint effort between U.S. Fish & Wildlife and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife with a few third parties also involved. Most of the species we banded at Boca were green-winged teals, blue-winged teals, cinnamon teals, gadwalls, mallards, northern shoveler, with a few redheads and ruddy ducks. Read More
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News from the Neighborhood
This section will rotate in and out of our monthly newsletter as we receive content from our Friends in the Neighborhood.
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Fire on Hart Mountain | Part I
Written by Karl J. Findling, President, Friends of Hart Mountain
With a bit of time and sense of adventure, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (Hart) can be found in Lake County of eastern Oregon, 65 miles northeast of Lakeview or 120 miles southwest of Burns in Harney County. The refuge encompasses a prominent, rugged fault-block ridge which rises steeply about ¾ of a mile above the sweeping valley wetlands and meadows below. Surrounding and throughout the refuge is a wide expanse of sensitive and critically threatened sagebrush steppe habitat. Read More
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Species Spotlight; Burrowing Owl
Written by Peter Pearsall / Photo by Dan Streiffert
The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small, long-legged owl with big personality and a lifestyle unlike any other North American owl. Instead of perching in trees, these charismatic raptors make their homes underground, inhabiting burrows in open landscapes from Canada to South America.
Burrowing owls have bright yellow eyes, white “eyebrows,” and slender bodies perched atop long, stilt-like legs. They lack the ear tufts common in many owl species, giving them a round-headed appearance. Read More
| | Volunteering with Friends | | |
August Volunteers at Malheur were a HUGE help in the Nature Store and beyond! We could not be more grateful. Thank you to all of our August Volunteers and a huge Kudos to FOMR's Crane's Nest Manager, Jill Bachman, for volunteer coordinating!
Craig Walker, Mickey Weaver, Mary Towes, Susan Gyorog, Linda Craig, Shanti Devi, and Dan Streiffert!
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The 2025 Stewardship Project Schedule
SIGN UP NOW! FREE HOUSING! September 19-21
Come out and help your Friends clean-up ad enhance the Frenchglen Wayside which also serves as a trailhead to the Barnes Springs Homestead. This area is in need of weeding, planting, debris removal, spilt-rail fence repair, and more. With extra time the team will harvest willow whips that will be dried and used by October's work party volunteers.
October 10-12 - Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week by giving back to Malheur NWR for this weekend of stewardship. The major tasks for the weekend will include improving wildlife habitat at Barnes Spring Homestead by removing old barbwire fencing and some willow fence enhancement at Refuge headquarters using the willow that was harvested in September!
If you have any questions or would like to sign up for a Stewardship Weekend,
please email friends@malheurfriends.org
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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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UPCOMING PRESENTATION: Corvallis Academy for Lifelong Learning
Malheur NWR; A High Desert Oasis in Need of Friends
Sept 23rd @ 9:30 AM
Corvallis Community Center
2601 NW Tyler Avenue, Corvallis, OR
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August'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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You all surprised me this month! THIS was our most popular post?Not the silly burrowing owl posing with its family or the #internationalcatday post about bobcats? I think this goes to show just how much we all value being a part of a community that supports Malheur NWR.
August 15, 2025 - What an evening! Thank you, East Cascades Bird Alliance, for hosting me at your monthly Birder’s Night program. There were easily 50 people in the room, all excited to learn more about Malheur refuge, the challenges it faces, and how our organization is engaged and active on the ground! And thank you to Worthy Brewing for being such a perfect venue. 'Usie' by Janelle Wicks
Follow the Friends of Malheur on Facebook and Instagram at Malheurfriends
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Amazon Wish List!
The needs of the Friends and Refuge's programs are changing all the time. This Amazon WishList will be updated seasonally with items supporting the Biology Dept, Volunteer Program, Stewardship Projects and general operational needs!
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Annual Membership
Membership does more than contribute funds that sustain our work in service to Malheur NWR. FOMR's 1415+ members demonstrate a strength in community and that community's passion for Malheur NWR.
Unsure of your membership status? Email us at friends@malheurfriends.org
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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
Photo (left) Sandhill crane by Lane Wintermute
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Crane's Nest Nature Center & Store
OPEN 7 Days/Week from March 1 - October 31
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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NEW ONLINE STORE - LIVE NOW!
All of the classic Malheur apparel and keepsakes, books, gifts, and more are now available through our new and improved online store.
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Malheur HQ Visitor Center
OPEN 7 Days/Week from March 1 - October 31
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Refuge HQ Visitor Center is completely dependent on the availability of volunteers. When volunteer availability is low the VC will be closed, but the Nature Store will remain open. Visitors are encouraged to ask any questions of the volunteers or staff in the Crane's Nest Nature Store at Refuge Headquarters.
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