While it is still possible to catch glimpses of Sage and Willow tending to their chick, the view has been obstructed by... waste. Some (un)lucky viewers have even had the privilege of observing the young chick, we're calling Sprig, back right up to the camera and contribute. Please know we are making plans to modify the set-up when it is responsible to do so after the birds have left the nest for the season. In the meantime, you can still catch glimpses and it makes for excellent background noise! | | |
When I think of Malheur Refuge I feel unabashedly patriotic. Capital P - Patriotic, flag waving, eagle saluting kind of pride swells in me when I think of the National treasures our country is safeguarding; National Marine Monuments, National Parks, Wilderness Study Areas, and so much more including the National Wildlife Refuge System of which Malheur is just a single unit.
The Refuge System is managed under the mission to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
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This last week I traveled to Portland to attend the National Wildlife Refuge Association's Board meeting. We gathered in the conference room at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. The room filled up with NWRA Board members, NWRA staff, Friends of Tualatin River staff and board members, and then the Tualatin River Refuge staff and a handful of representatives from their community partners.
All across the country there are coalitions of people coming together like this to work in service to public lands - this great American idea.
Thank YOU for being a part of this TOO!
In Service to Malheur,
Janelle Wicks
FOMR Director
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President's Message
Written by William Tweed, FOMR President
If I asked you if Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is a natural place, I suspect that nearly all of you would answer yes. And you’d be right, and wrong, too. Let me explain.
Last month I wrote in this space about how the headquarters complex Is a man-made oasis—a place where nature prospers because of human intervention. The trees and gardens at headquarters reflect continued work by many generations of humans—a saga that stretches from Indigenous Peoples to refuge managers. READ MORE
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Tribal Stewards 2026!
Written by Ian Snyder
Tribal Stewards week at Malheur Refuge kicked off with the Lomakatsi Inter-Tribal crew arrived on Monday June 15th. The crew was led by Carl Jackson and Seneca Hescock along with K’Shalee Thomas, Jordan First-Raised, Alexis First-Raised, Del Marsh, and Teddy Edwards. All of this year’s participants are back again for their second or third season!
This year the 6 weeklong program kicked off with their first week at Malheur Refuge. The crew is working 4 – 10hr days a week so that they can make the most of their travel time to field locations and enjoy three day weekends. READ MORE
Their time at Malheur was coordinated by Friends Director, Janelle Wicks and looked like this:
Monday: Thule ducks w/ Burns Paiute Tribe Educators & Bat Surveys w/ Friends
Tuesday: Fish Traps and Grebe Rescue w/ Refuge Staff
Wednesday: Vegetation Monitoring w/ Refuge Staff & Sandhill Crane birding w/ Bird Alliance of Oregon
Thursday: Snowy Plover Surveys w/ Bird Alliance of Oregon
THIS PROGRAM COSTS $14,000 A WEEK
WE COULD USE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO ENSURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO HOST TRIBAL STEWARDS AT MALHEUR NWR EVERY SUMMER!
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Heading to Friends Academy
Written by Janelle Wicks, FOMR Director
In just a few weeks, Director Wicks will join peers from across the country at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Friends Academy.
This is a unique, immersive program designed to strengthen the people behind the partnerships that support our nation’s wildlife refuges. The conference, of sorts, takes place at the National Conservation Training Center just outside of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. It is here where public lands professionals from across the country gather for any sort of necessary course running the gamut from drone operation or community engagement. READ MORE
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2026 June Bat Emergence Surveys
Written by Janelle Wicks/Ian Snyder
For a couple of years now, the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has been taking a closer look at the bats that roost in the historic CCC-era buildings at Refuge Headquarters, using both visual emergence counts and acoustic monitoring to better understand the relative abundance of bats and a general assessment of species present. We are curious about the bats themselves, but also which structures are most important to these nocturnal residents.
During surveys conducted June 15–17, observers recorded 2,688 bat emergence observations across multiple roost locations. Because some sites were counted on more than one night, this number reflects total observations rather than a unique population estimate. Read More
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It's Feeding Time! Keeping Feeders Clean
Written by Linda Hendricks Spence, BirdingBeyondtheFieldGuide.com
Photo of rufous hummingbird By Dan Streiffert
Focus: Keeping Hummingbird, Oriole, and Bluebird Feeders Clean
Besides keeping the feeders stocked with clean and fresh food, feeders also have to be kept clean – this is of the utmost importance. And with hummingbird, oriole, and bluebird feeders, the food offered can become full of harmful bacteria – especially on hot summer days. If you cannot keep these feeders clean on a strict schedule, it is better not to put them up. Your goal is to assist birds with food, not to spread disease. Mark your calendars! READ MORE
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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Great-tailed Grackle
Written by Janelle Wicks/ Photo by Dan Streiffert
Great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) are a familiar and vocal presence in wetland and agricultural landscapes across the western United States, but not typically in the Harney Basin. At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, they are might be seen in open areas near marshes, irrigated fields, roadsides, and other edge habitats where water, forage, and perches… or feeders are available.
These medium-sized blackbirds are easy to identify by their glossy dark plumage, long keel-shaped tail, and pale-yellow eyes. READ MORE
| | Volunteering with Friends | | |
2026 Stewardship Work Parties
SIGN UP NOW! August 7-9 Sod House Ranch & Bat Flyout Surveys
FREE lodging has been arranged at Malheur Field Station Dorm E.
Volunteers will work during the day on sprucing up the space at Sod House Ranch and then gather at dusk as they are able to survey the flyout of bats from the buildings and bat condos at Refuge Headquarters. This work begins just before sunset and concludes about an hour (max) after. These surveys are critical to understanding the relative diversity and abundance of bats in the buildings and whether or not they have begun occupying the condos. Red light headlamps are recommended for this work.
EMAIL friends@malheurfriends.org
FUTURE Work Weekends with FOMR covered lodging at Malheur Field Station:
September 18-20 Tasks TBD
October 16-18 Tasks TBD
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Volunteer Special Shout Out!
We can't say enough good things about Linda Craig, Jennifer Devlin, and Nancy Hendrickson. Not only was Linda recently serving as Nature Store Volunteer, but she RETURNED with friends to spend three nights engaged in the annual bat emergence surveys at Refuge Headquarters. Big thanks to these three and the team from the Malheur Field Station who joined in the fun for one of the three nights!
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!!!
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Wilamette Valley Symphony to Perform:
Malheur Symphony | September 26th & 27th
Ashbrook Independent School, Corvallis OR
Enjoy a speech by honored guest, Composer Chris Thomas.
Friends of Malheur Director and Board Members will be present for the environmental lobby fair and look forward to seeing you there!
Watch and Listen NOW on YouTube!
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Plan Ahead...
Fall Friends Fundraiser: FUTURE TAKES FLIGHT | October 10th 2026 Bend OR
Harney Co Migratory Bird Festival | April 8th - 11th, 2027
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PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
If you know of or are associated with a group that would be interested in a Malheur NWR themed presentation, please reach out to FOMR Director Janelle Wicks to coordinate.
Potential topics are as diverse as the Refuge itself.
Virtual or in-person depending on seasonal availability.
Email: friends@malheurfriends.org
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June'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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June 2, 2026: Our seasonal Technicians are keeping BUSY in the field! They are installing protective panels around sensitive monitoring equipment. They are taking water and sediment samples on Malheur Lake from the airboat. They are collecting data and clearing fish traps. They are laying irrigation for wise water use on the enhancement of native dry-scaping at Refuge Headquarters. And sometimes they are behind the camera capturing exciting moments like the drive of 225 cattle with newly installed virtual fence collars!
YOUR donations make this work possible. Please support their efforts with a donation that will literally fund removing carp from the Blitzen River or enhance the pollinator habitat and more!
Every $42 is an HOUR of solid work by these two incredibly hard-working guys; Ian Snyder and Luke DuVall.
DONATE HERE: https://malheurfriends.app.neoncrm.com/forms/seasonal-stewardship-support/
Follow the Friends of Malheur on Facebook and Instagram at Malheurfriends
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Amazon Wish List!
We have added a few new items in anticipation of the 2026 field season with increased volunteer and seasonal lodging at Historic Buena Vista House!
Please consider an in-kind donation to support these programmatic needs.
| | | Note: Amazon is not the only way to support FOMR with tangible gifts. As an organization, we are aware of and sensitive to our environmental impact. Please think of this 'Wish List' as just that and consider purchasing needed items from small or local to you businesses. | | |
Friends Membership
Membership does more than contribute funds that sustain our work in service to Malheur NWR. FOMR's 1400+ 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 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Stop in and say Hi to FOMR's new Manager Kaitlin!
Can't make it to the Refuge?
Check out our ONLINE STORE!
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Happy Fourth of July from the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge!
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge sustains an awe-inspiring Bald Eagle roost that is one of the largest in Oregon. Can you believe it’s been monitored by refuge staff and volunteers for over 33 years?!
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Malheur HQ Visitor Center
OPEN 7 Days/Week 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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