Red fox kits! At Malheur Refuge, red foxes aren’t seen as often as their coyote cousins but both live here year-round, feeding on everything from small mammals, birds and invertebrates to carrion and fruit. Photo by Katie Sorenson | | |
Early in May the Friends Board of Directors and staff spent a full weekend engaged in visioning sessions and business meetings. It might not surprise you to read that I LOVE this sort of thing. The ideas and energy generated in those rooms are so inspiring to me.
Two current Board Members, Jerry Moore and Jennifer Haynes, renewed in their terms with a Membership vote. The Executive Committee saw two new officers installed with Rachel White as Vice President and Carla Burnside as Secretary; both in just the second year of their first terms as FOMR Directors. Board President William Tweed will serve another year in that role while Treasurer Larry Hill will also continue.
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Perhaps the most exciting part of the weekend was not the Annual Business Meeting or even the day and a half of visioning, but the FULL DAY tour of the Refuge with Manager Jess Wenick.
CLICK HERE TO REACH BOARD MEMBER RACHEL WHITE'S REFLECTION ON THE FIELD DAY
Pictured left is our whole crew including FOMR staff Kaitlin Clark and Ian Snyder at Benson Pond. It is only because of the power of our collective voice, energy, and talents with support from our Members and Donors that we are able to be a strong ally and partner to the Refuge. It's days like this that are a reminder of that.
Thank YOU for being a part of this TOO!
In Service to Malheur,
Janelle Wicks
FOMR Director
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Written by William Tweed, FOMR President
As a part of the recent Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, I had the opportunity over two days to watch several hundred people enjoy bird watching at Malheur’s headquarters complex. We all know the site. It is a complex of historic New Deal-era stone buildings surrounded by lawns and mature trees. The word “idyllic” comes to mind. Certainly, our avian friends think so.
But is it natural? The answer, simply and maybe even surprisingly to some, is no.
If we define natural as a landscape designed by native ecosystems and populated with native species, then this place that we all love is anything but natural. READ MORE
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A Tribute to Forrest W. Cameron
Written by Dr Gary Ivey
Sadly, one of our longtime Friends, former Malheur Refuge Manager, Forrest W. Cameron passed away May 8, 2026, surrounded by his children.
He began his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1969, serving for a total of 42 years before retiring in 2011. He started his career at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge outside Las Vegas, later serving at two North Dakota refuges; Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge and Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, before moving to Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada. He then went to the Northwest Regional Office in Portland, Oregon, later moving to Burns, Oregon to manage the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. READ MORE
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A Moo Tool to Combat Invasives
Written by Janelle Wicks, FOMR Director
Photos by Ian Snyder, FOMR Technician
Wet meadows across Malheur are buzzing with spring activity, but it is not all what you might expect. Biologists are continuing their work to monitor the bird communities with passive audio recording units, vegetation surveys are soon to begin, and water is being moved through the system to maintain quality habitat for a variety of species that are nesting or already raising young.
In one particular meadow, a single-site experiment is underway as part of the Malheur Wet Meadow Study, with the goal of testing whether virtual fencing and targeted cattle use can help suppress the rapid expansion of hybrid cattail and reed canary grass while supporting wet meadow habitat goals. READ MORE
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What is Canoe Takeout? And how will it help deliver water to the wetlands in the northern Blitzen Valley?
An interview with Jess Wenick, Refuge Project Leader, edited and condensed for clarity by Peter Pearsall
Approximately 30 years ago, or maybe more, there was a push for Malheur Refuge to have a visitor canoe opportunity along the Blitzen River, with the put-in near Rattlesnake Butte and the takeout in the northern Blitzen Valley (see map). Unfortunately, with water levels often too low to allow for canoeing, the effort was abandoned.
But the name for the location stuck: Canoe Takeout. Around that same period, Refuge Maintenance staff created a ditch there with the goal of delivering water to wetlands up north. Along with the ditch the Refuge staff created a diversion dam, Dunn Dam, to raise water levels high enough to reach the ditch and flow north. Read More
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ANNOUNCEMENT: Proposed Expansion of Hunting Opportunities
Comment period OPEN!
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the 2026-2027 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Proposed Rule, which proposes to open or expand more than 1,450 hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 111 field stations nationwide. This includes several proposed changes at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The Service seeks public comments on the proposed rule and an opportunity to provide suggestions for the Refuge’s hunting program for 30 days, beginning with publication in the Federal Register on May 27, 2026.
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It's Feeding Time! Goldfinches & Nyjer Seed
Written by Linda Hendricks Spence, BirdingBeyondtheFieldGuide.com
Photo of American goldfinch By Dan Streiffert
We have a feeder for Nyjer seed* hanging in our backyard. Like many of you throughout the U.S., here in central Illinois, we have American Goldfinches in our yard and at our feeders. If you live in our western states, you could also have Lesser Goldfinches. Both goldfinches relish Nyjer seed.
This past February, my husband opened a new bag of Nyjer seed, filled that feeder, and... nothing. Up to this point, goldfinches had been using that feeder every day for months. He waited a week, dumped the feeder, put in new seed from the same bag, but still nothing. Not one single goldfinch. READ MORE
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Bobolinks at Malheur Refuge
Written by Peter Pearsall
Photos above by Dan Streiffert
In early summer at Malheur Refuge, with the grasses of the southern Blitzen Valley lushly green and the mosquitoes nearing Biblical-plague status, dapper male bobolinks arrive to set up territories in wet-meadow habitat. Their virtuosic song, broadcast from perches or during fluttering flight displays, is a marvel to behold. Naturalists have colorfully described it as “a mad, reckless song fantasia—an outbreak of pent-up irrepressible glee”; also, “a bubbling delirium of ecstatic music that flows from the gifted throat of the bird like sparkling champagne.” Other oft-used descriptors include “metallic”, “buzzy”, tinkling”, “rambling” and “reminiscent of R2D2 from Star Wars”, but none of these do justice to hearing the live rendition on a calm summer’s morning. READ MORE
| | Volunteering with Friends | | |
2026 Stewardship Work Parties
SIGN UP NOW! June 15-17 Bat Flyout Surveys
Camping on site available.
Volunteers will work together 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:
August 7-9 Sod House Ranch & Bat Flyout Surveys
September 18-20 Tasks TBD
October 16-18 Tasks TBD
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Volunteer Special Shout Out!
It has been a BUSY spring at the Crane's Nest Nature Store. We would not have gotten through without the presence and passion of our volunteers. A HUGE thank you to Bill and Leila McCollam who arrived in March and just left us this last week. THREE MONTHS of service is a generous contribution of time but it was their daily support and care for the work we do that made an unforgettable impact!
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!!!
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First Ever Klamath Wetlands Week! | Registration OPEN NOW
Happening NOW: May 30th - June 6th, 2026
Partners of all kinds are coming together to celebrate what makes the Klamath Basin so special with this COMPLETELY FREE week-long lineup of events. Lead by Bird Alliance of Oregon's Eastern Program Biologist, Teresa 'Bird' Wicks, this series of programs will connect you and I with private landowners, federal and state public lands, and businesses throughout Klamath Falls. Don't miss this!
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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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May'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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May 13, 2026: The Refuge is alive with birds! 1) American goldfinch 2) Lark sparrow 3) Lazuli bunting 4) Willet 5) Wilson’s snipe 6) Black-necked stilt 7) Yellow warbler Brewer’s blackbird 9) Northern rough-winged swallow
Photos by Charlotte Ganskopp #oregondesert #spring #friendsofmalheur
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.
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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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Go wild with Charley Harper! It's almost summer break - snag these sweet activities for the wild kids in your life!
Wildlife Menagerie $29.95
- 17 buildable punch-out artboard figures inspired by Harper’s colorful flora and fauna
- Illustrated booklet to guide assembly
- Sturdy slipcase box with ribbon pull tab
- Printed on FSC paper with soy-based inks
Origami Animals $16.95
- 64 sheets
- 8 unique designs printed double-sided on high-quality origami paper
- Decorative envelope package with debossing and spot UV
- Includes instructions for folding models for beginners and kids
- Printed on FSC paper with soy-based inks
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Malheur HQ Visitor Center
OPEN 7 Days/Week 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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