The Malheur Refuge lies in southeastern Oregon, about 30 miles south of Burns, at an elevation of 4100 feet.  Burns is about 500 miles from Bellevue. The refuge, 183,000 acres is composed of meadows, ponds and extensive wetlands surrounded by sage uplands and basalt rim rock. 

It is a major resting, nesting and feeding area on the Pacific Flyway and is on Roger Tory Peterson’s list of the ten best birding areas in the U.S!

More than 320 species of birds and many species of mammals have been observed on the refuge.  We will visit the main birding areas within the refuge and usually see 100-130 species.

We will take one day to drive to Burns (10-11 hours), spend 4 days birding while there and take one day driving home. We hope to carpool with 3-4 people per car.  The driving costs will be about $100 for the trip to and from Burns (1000 miles). At the refuge we will drive 120-130 miles each day at a cost of $10/day per passenger.

We will be staying at a motel in Burns.  At this time a motel has not been selected.  We will plan on breakfast in the motel, and fix a lunch in the motel to take along, then buy dinner at a restaurant.  We will plan to leave by 7:30 am, bird all day and return to the motel about 4-5 pm.
This is a high desert area, so plan on dressing in layers for temperatures ranging from freezing at night to 80 degrees during the day.  Rain can occur at any time.

Bring binoculars, rain gear, good hiking/walking shoes, insect repellant, sun block and a spotting scope if you have one.

Contact Stan Wood if you are interested in going by phone at 425-392-4557 or by e-mail at stanwood@mindspring.com.

Gambel’s Quail by Mick Thompson