Refuge System Rebranding Effort
Refuge System Rebranding Effort By Janelle Wicks/ Photos by USFWS Are you familiar with Puddles, the Blue Goose? Do you know the flying goose and jumping fish shield? What is
Refuge System Rebranding Effort By Janelle Wicks/ Photos by USFWS Are you familiar with Puddles, the Blue Goose? Do you know the flying goose and jumping fish shield? What is
The long-eared owl, Asio otus, is an uncommon sighting on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, despite having a known history of nesting there. These birds are typically seen at the south end of the Refuge and usually observed by birders during the annual P Ranch Christmas Bird Count.
Long-eared owls are masters of camouflage with their streaky plumage and lanky bodies which seem to melt right into their surroundings. These nocturnal hunters are adapted to fly silently as is typical of owls. They will hunt for small mammals such as kangaroo rats, mice, voles, young rabbits, and similar critters.
Interestingly, the male’s can be heard over 1km when vocalizing. Anyone camping at Page Spring campground or staying at the Historic Frenchglen Hotel is encouraged to familiarize themselves with their call.
These large owls form monogamous pairs and move into stick nests made by other species such as magpies or ravens. They will lay 2-10 eggs and incubate them for 25 days before their fluffy white hatchlings demand an abundance of care and feeding. These chicks will ‘branch’ out before fledging and can make the family easier to spot.
While long-eared owls are classified as a species of relatively low concern their numbers are thought to be fluctuating from year to year and by locations. If you see a nesting pair or family of long-eared owls please remember to keep a distance significantly larger than your own comfort level any additional disturbance such as call back. We want these birds and others to feel safe returning to Malheur year after year.
A few weeks ago, we added our voice to those calling for the addition of more than five miles of Bridge Creek to Senator Ron Wyden’s proposed River Democracy Act that would enlarge Oregon’s wild and scenic rivers network. This section of Bridge Creek, all of it within the BLM’s Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area, flows into Malheur National Wildlife Refuge a few miles north of Frenchglen and adds its water to the Donner and Blitzen River.
Written by Peter Pearsall/Photos by Leland Dick In October 2022, members from the Burns Paiute Tribe participated in the first-ever ceremonial mule deer hunt at Malheur Refuge, in the Buena
In December 2022 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley on December 6 announced a new River Democracy Act that reflects input from communities across Oregon over the past year
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