M A L H E U
R N W R
Tucked away in the southeastern corner of
Oregon is
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - 187,000
acres of sagebrush, wetland and riparian habitat. Over 320
species of birds and 58 species of mammals benefit from the
refuge. And bordering Malheur is the recently de- signated Steens
Mountain Wilderness.
Many species come to Malheur to breed and nest, including short-eared
owls, sage grouse, western snowy plovers, sandhill cranes and trumpeter
swans. During
spring migration, hundreds of thousands of
waterfowl descend on Malheur's wetlands. Neotropical
songbirds also rest at Malheur during
their northward migration
in May and June: they are commonly seen at refuge headquarters, P Ranch
and Benson Pond.
In late summer, the songbirds return - their numbers greatest from
mid-August
through September. Southbound shorebirds attracted by
Malheur's
alkali playas and mudflats also stop the refuge. And joining
nesting sandhill cranes in September are migrating cranes drawn to the
fields of grain.
In
the fall, as wetlands evaporate, pelicans, ibises and herons
concentrate near the refuge's remaining ponds.
Beautiful tundra swans recuperate
at Knox Pond before continuing
their southward journey.
Many raptors
remain at Malheur during winter, including rough-legged
hawks, northern harriers, bald
eagles, golden eagles, prairie falcons and kestrels. They survive
by preying on wintering waterfowl, rodents and rabbits.
Also
staying through the winter are hearty sage grouse. There are
approximately 35,000 sage grouse in Oregon, and most are found in
Malheur, Lake or Harney counties. The males' booming courtship
displays begin during March.
Birders
attending the refuge's John
Scharff Migratory Bird Festival
and Art Show in early April can be rewarded with a pre-dawn journey to
a sage grouse lek.
|
L O D G
I N G - C A M P I N G
Malheur Field
Station
Run
by
the Great Basin Foundation, the Field Station offers dormitory lodging,
a mess hall and natural history classes.
Frenchglen
Hotel On the National Historic Register, this inn has
character and also serves excellent homemade pies in its restaurant.
Crane
Hot Spirngs Crane Hot
Springs offers campsites and
basic cabins. Even better are its
private soaking tubs and
hotsprings pond.
Hotel
Diamond This
bed and breakfast in Diamond offers comfortable
rooms, a continental
breakfast and an optional homestyle meal for dinner.
Motels
and restaurants are also available in the town of Burns.
CAMPGROUNDS
Page
Springs Campground Page Springs offers its own rewards -
including a riverside trail
winding
through a rimrock canyon. Other
BLM campsites are located
on
Steens Mountain road.
OTHER
PLACES OF INTEREST:
The Alvord Desert, including natural hot springs at Alford
Hot
Springs, approximately 100 miles south of Burns.
Hart
Mountain National Antelope Range located 65 miles northeast
of Lakeview, Oregon.
Oregon
Important Bird Areas: Malheur
Birds: Species
Checklist for Malheur NWR
Mammals: Species
Checklilst for Malheur
ODFW: Sage
Grouse in Oregon
USFWS: Wildlife
Observation and Photography
|
D I R E C T I O
N S
Follow
Highway 78 two miles east of Burns, Oregon. Go south on
Highway 205 for 24 miles. Go east on Harney County Road 405 for 6
miles and then
turn left at the top of the hill to arrive
at refuge headquarters.
Refuge Contact Info:
3691
Sodhouse Lane
Princeton,
OR 97721 - 9502
E-mail: Donna-Stovall@fws.gov
Phone: 541- 493-2616
|
|
