

If you visit the Refuge this month, you may notice a crew of young adults assisting with lake surveys, harvesting willow for fence repairs, and learning how to conduct bird surveys.
The youth art contest encourages students from kindergarten through high school to observe, understand, and ultimately share what they have learned about migratory birds. By creating a unique art entry for the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, the students are provided an opportunity to artistically express their knowledge of the diversity, interdependence, and beauty of wildlife.
Over the course of a couple weeks, Carey, Karen, and I rolled into K-8 classrooms with carefully packed tubs loaded with art supplies, educational charts, and George, a Great Horned Owl, who since meeting his demise lives on as an ambassador of refuge educational programs, flying into the heart of every Harney County student he meets.
Donations are used across the Refuge for a variety of projects and programs that support our mission.