Back in the days of ancient Egypt I was the refuge biologist at Malheur
(l960-64). I'm sure the situation has changed some but not very much.
Depends want you want to see. The best time to see passerines is from
midMay to the end of June. Before the mosquitoes. Start at refuge
headquarters. Visit the museum there. Talk to refuge personnel. Then
bird the large cottonwoods and planted pine trees. There's were most of
the rarities have been observed. Also should be a lot of the more common
ones at this time of the year. Lazuli Buntings, Chats, various
warblers.etc...

After that, drive down the Center Road along the Blitzen River. Lots of
passerines, Short-eared Owls, some Sandhill Cranes out in the field.
Stop and bird around Benson Pond on the way. There may be a family group
of Trumpeters there. Lots of Black-billed Magpie. In the willows look
for flycatchers. Also great Horned Owls, but may be a little late for
nesters of this species. They usually are nesting by early February.
Also in the fields and marshes should be White-faced Glossy Ibis,
Franklins Gulls, etc.

Continue on to Buena Vista. Again, Sandhill Cranes. Boca Lake and Grain
Camp. Lots of ducks. Canada Geese.

On to Frenchglen. Lark Sparrows, Bobolinks, etc. Yellow-headed
Blackbirds throught the refuge. They were more common than the
Red-wings. Page Dam campground good for various passerines.

Returning from Frenchglen look for Praire Falcons, Chukars, Valley Quail
in the rimrock habitat. In the willows on your right should be nesting
Swainson's Hawks, Long-eared Owls and more passerines.

That is almost too much birding for one day. Take your time. I don't
know if you can drive along Cole Island dike aways in Malheur Lake yet.
If you can, lots of phalaropes and shorebirds. Also Black-crowned Night
Heron in many places. Loud-mouthed Willets, Avocets, Black-necked Stilt.
Harney and Mud Lake used to supports nesting populations of White
Pelicans and various gull species. Look for Golden Eagle nests in the
rimrock in various places. but be careful when prowling around the talus
slopes below the rimrock because of rattle snakes. The Double O unit has
nesting black Tern and Western Grebe. In the sagebrush areas throughout
the refuge look for Sage Thrasher and Rock Wren.

Ducks. Lots of places. Mallards, Gadwall, Pintail, Cinnamon, Blue-winged
and Green-winged Teal. Canvasback, Redhead, etc..Might be ducks at the
display pool where there used to be a stone blind erected courtesy of

My advice is spend at least 4-5 days, maybe more, there because Malheur
is a large area and there is lots to see. Talk to Refuge people about
where to go so you don't spin your wheels.

Oh, to be younger and at Malheur again. Except in the winter.

Gene Kridler