The Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge team spends a great deal of time thinking about the relationship between people and wildlife. Few things spark more public enthusiasm than a unique, personal experience connecting with wildlife. We are witnessing this spark illuminate in response to the newly unveiled osprey nest camera streaming live from the south end of the Refuge. As we celebrate the return of these birds and invite the community to help name them, we want to acknowledge that while naming wildlife can be a surprisingly meaningful endeavor, it is also a philosophically complicated act.

 

 

Giving a wild animal a name, is inherently an act for us. While it can deepen affection and perhaps advocacy or stewardship, it can also blur the line between appreciation and ownership. At a place like Malheur, where wildlife are the true residents and we are the guests, that distinction matters. Our goal is always to foster respect for wildness, not possession of it.

 

The naming of the ospreys who have so fully captured our hearts is an opportunity to invite people into a closer relationship with wildlife while still honoring the birds as wild beings with lives of their own. With that in mind, it may be that the very best names could reflect something about osprey behavior, habitat, natural or regional history. Names that help people learn while keeping the birds on their own terms.

 

We hope this naming contest inspires curiosity, observation, and a deeper appreciation for the species that depend on Malheur’s wild Donner und Blitzen River and associated wetlands. The nest platform, camera, and all the care behind this project are meant to create a window into osprey life, not to claim it. As the birds rebuild, fish, and hopefully raise their young, we are reminded that the Refuge exists to support wild lives, not tame them.

 

Please submit your votes and have fun with the contest while thinking carefully about the names you choose. The best ones may do more than identify the birds. They may help tell their story.