Written by Debby de Carlo
First the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, scheduled for mid-April, was canceled. Then the Friends Annual Meeting and Weekend Gathering, was canceled. As COVID 19 spread around the United States, people scrapped their travel plans and stayed home.
For those who love Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, many of whom make an annual spring visit, it’s been especially difficult. But the vital work at the refuge continues, and FOMR Executive Director Janelle Wicks brought the experience to us via a virtual series of programs on Zoom. Each presentation is available on YouTube which you can get to from our Facebook page.
The first program began Monday, Aug. 17, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Janelle invited viewers to bring a glass of their favorite beverage to the computer or tablet and hear staff talk about their work for a virtual Happy Hour and Refuge Update.
Board director Gary Ivey presented a program on Trumpeter Swans Tuesday.
Wednesday afternoon’s program was Principles and Pitfalls of Bird Identification by prolific writer and birder Kenn Kaufman who spoke via zoom from his living room in Ohio. His tips numbered 12 in all, summarized here. “Focus on understanding and not just naming birds,” he began. “Think of it as a spectrum of understanding.”
Learn various aspects of the shape, color and feathers of a bird as well as habitat. Start with more common birds, he counseled. Notice the shapes as they fly. Put the bird in a family if you can. Get to know the fluidity of feathers, the tail pattern and colors keeping in mind color can change in the light and depending on the season. And understand it’s going to take time.
That evening musician and songwriter presented Stephan Nance with compositions inspired by avian life. There were some technical difficulties, but you can listen to Nance’s music on a variety of platforms.
Did you know adult male Sandhill Cranes are called roans, females mares and chicks, colts? Gary Ivey shared his extensive knowledge and experience with these magnificent birds with an extensive slide presentation Thursday.
He began with some history: While once abundant in the West, populations were reduced in the late 1800s and beyond due to hunting and habitat loss. By the 1940s, just 5 breeding pairs remained in California and 100 in Oregon. None remained in Washington State. While they have made a comeback, threats remain.
Dan Streiffert and the East Cascade Audubon group shared their Birders’ Night program Thursday evening. Dan gave his presentation Birding Malheur & Beyond which is a 3 part tour of birding through Harney County accompanied by his photography.
Friday afternoon brought the return of super birder Kenn Kaufman with a must-see (and hear) presentation on shorebirds. What IS a shorebird? Why are some found nowhere near water? Again, a detailed slide presentation filled with information and photographs helped those of us who have struggled for years with identifying these birds.
On Friday evening, Janelle was joined by her wife, Teresa ‘Bird’ Wicks for their 4th rendition of Malheur Trivia. This casual, pub-style trivia program allows for participants across the country to form or join groups to play and learn. This month’s winners were the Peeps and each will receive a bumper sticker!
Finally, the week was wrapped up on Saturday with a virtual auction that raised ~$400 off of items that were donated in large part by local businesses.
To see the whole line-up of programs, visit our Facebook page or website. Links to the YouTube presentations are available on the website.
