The month of July provided me with many unique opportunities at the refuge. The tasks and projects I get to work on are varied, and in July they seemed especially so. An aspect of my role with FOMR that I really appreciate is getting to have an impact on a wide variety of refuge-related work; from stewardship, conservation, and public outreach.
Duck banding was perhaps the most exciting and fun opportunity I was able to assist with this year. (Photo above is myself and HDP Biological Technician Kate Berry in the midst of late night banding.) Under the direction of Staff Wildlife Biologist Alexa Martinez, I was able to join in the fun that is duck banding. We banded several hundred ducks that night with the help of refuge staff and technicians, ODFW staff, and Hart Mountain NWR staff. The highlight of this night was getting to hold the Cinnamon Teals, who were much smaller and cuter than I previously imagined. This endeavor had us up from sundown to well past sunup, and my sleep schedule took a few days to recover. But it was well worth it and has become a night I won’t soon forget!
Other July highlights for me include days spent with Fishery Biologist and Technician Dominic Bachman and Luke DuVall. We did multiple outings on the Malheur Lake assisting with the USGS water quality surveys as well as identifying invasive weeds for removal. I also did a morning of electroshocking below the Grain Camp fish trap. We did not find any carp that morning, but moved several dozen Redband trout upstream past the low flowing dam.
We also became dark-sky compliant in the month of July, and I escorted Silvies River Electric to every site on the refuge to install dark-sky compliant lighting on all of our external light fixtures. We visited headquarters, the OO Station, Beuna Vista, P-Ranch, and South Station. They even brought a bucket lift and installed a light fixture to the top of the flagpole! Next time you are out at night at the refuge, take a look up and just maybe the stars will be shining just a little brighter.
Another project I have been working on is cleaning, reorganizing and inventorying our project center. We have accumulated a lot of tools and materials, especially recently. I am hoping to add a few more storage solutions and some work surfaces so that we can be even more effective while implementing projects.
Of course, I am still doing a lot of weeding and trail work when the mornings are cool and afternoons are slow. Shout out to our volunteers, especially Leslie Nelson and Kate Barry who have pulled tons of weed and debris from our public interface and volunteer housing areas.
Finally, this fall we are planning to do a September Work Party involving a fairly large planting of our habitat enhancement areas around refuge headquarters. Along with putting in fresh plants, we hope to replace some dead trees and shrubs and other failed plantings to reinvigorate these areas. Our Desert Rock and Worthy Pollinator Gardens are already doing well with light maintenance, and we hope to keep maintaining them with the help of myself and our volunteers. I am currently involved in getting all our project leaders and volunteers coordinated and assist with ordering all the plants and materials needed for the planting.
YOU’RE INVITED! If you are available the weekend of Sept 18 – 20th, please consider joining us for this planting-palooza! Lodging is being covered by FOMR for volunteers to stay at the Malheur Field Station in Dorm E. It is also possible to tent camp at Refuge Headquarters. Email me to sign up! [email protected]
