In December we had the opportunity to be part of the Refuge Christmas Bird Count (CBC). We were stationed for three nights at the historic P Ranch with Rick Vetter and Joan Suther, two of Harney County’s finest birders, and Henry Burton who developed his excellent birding skills and his love of the Refuge by coming with his family ever since he was a small child.
This year, 14 field birders enjoyed near record breaking warm temperatures and mostly clear skies all day, with gorgeous views of the Steens mountains and Frenchglen cliffs to the west where golden eagles were already checking out nest sites for breeding season, just months away.
In 2021, we partnered with the refuge and Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative partners to pilot an effort using autonomous recording units (ARU) to expand monitoring efforts in the Harney Basin.
The 2024 Tribal Stewards have finished their six-week summer fieldwork program. The six-person crew, all members of the Burns Paiute Tribe, participated in conservation work at Malheur National Forest, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
This year, 13 field birders navigated a partially dense patchy foggy and occasionally sunlit landscape that became fully engulfed by dreaded fog by end of the count. Temperatures were mild (25-39) compared to last year’s record low of -18°F. The lack of snow, partially open water, relatively high number of observers and a day of scouting before the count combined for a high count.
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