NWBirding Malheur NWR

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Synopsis

    Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is a birder's paradise. Though I've only been a couple of times so far, I have found each trip interesting and fulfilling. The refuge is comprised of marshes and wetlands surrounded by open expanses of sage and desert. It's a popular place for the birds year-round and especially as a migration stop.
    The refuge features a fairly long auto tour that takes well over an hour - more if you stop to get out of the car and walk around a bit. Wildlife is abundant, though it's harder to see when you're driving though the refuge, so it worth getting out of the car when you can. There are several small hiking trails located throughout the refuge, though I've only been on the East Canal Trail on the south end of the refuge.
    When we visit the refuge, we have stayed at the Page Springs Campground located on the south end of the refuge. This campground is popular with the fly fishers (as well as birders). There is also a RV park near the refuge headquarters. I think they offer tent camping, but it doesn't look appealing - too much like camping in a parking lot.
    The refuge is close to the Steen Mountains, which are known for there wild horse populations. I've also hear it's a great place to stay and hike around. Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge is located close by as well. It's a bit of a desolate drive, but it's another wonderful place to visit and stay.

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Pictures

	Golden-mantled Squirrel at Malheur NWR
	Gopher Snake at Malheur NWR
	Mule deer buck at Malheur NWR

Buena vista lookout at Malheur NWR

Great Horned Owl at the Malheur NWR headquarters

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Bird List

Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
Eared Grebe
Horned Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
American White Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
White-faced Ibis
Great Egret
Sandhill Crane
Canada Goose
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Gadwall
Canvasback
Redhead
Ruddy Duck
American Wigeon
Lesser Scaup
Prairie Falcon
American Kestrel
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Osprey
Turkey Vulture
California Quail
Ring-necked Pheasant
American Coot
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Wilson's Phalarope
Killdeer
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Wilson's Snipe
Western Sandpiper
Virginia Rail
Ring-billed Gull
Franklin's Gull
Black Tern
Forster's Tern
Morning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Long-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Belted Kingfisher
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Northern Flicker (red-shafted)
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Willow Flycatcher
Dusky Flycatcher
Gray Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Say's Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
American Crow
Black-billed Magpie
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bushtit
Canyon Wren
Rock Wren
Marsh Wren
House Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Townsend's Solitaire
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Sage Thrasher
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Yellow-breasted Chat
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Western Tanager
Dark-eyed Junco
Spotted Towhee
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bobolink
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch (black-backed)
Pine Siskin
English House Sparrow

Other Critter List

Coyote
Bobcat
Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Badger
Mountain Cottontail
Long-tailed Weasel
Short-tailed Weasel
Muskrat
Belding Ground Squirrel
Golden-mantled Squirrel
Least Chipmunk
Terrestrial Garter Snake
Western Fence Lizard
Great Basin Gopher Snake
Racer
Pacific Tree Frog
Rainbow Trout

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Information

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

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