CASUAL BIRDING AND GENTLE YOGA, JUNE 20-24, 2024

Join us for a 4-night program exploring the mindfulness and connection of bird watching and yoga at the field station, led by Shannon Rio.
Program, meals and lodging included in price of $750 per person. 
To register, call the office: 541-493-2629

• DATES: JUNE 20-24, 2024
• MEALS: Breakfast served at 8 am, sack lunch provided: lunch table is laid out during breakfast where you pack your own lunch to take in the field, dinner served at 6 pm.
• REGISTRATION: $750 per person
• To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

Led by Shannon Rio

This workshop is for the person who wants to learn birdwatching and to deepen birdwatching skills. 

Both yoga and birding share the practice of mindfulness.  They invite the process of becoming still and using the senses to notice what is around us.  It is from this place, that curiosity and awareness brings us to watching and listening to the birds (and other sounds in nature).  I like to ask myself:  what is that bird saying? Or what is that bird doing?  Before long I find myself connected to the landscape, the birds and mammals and all that nature offers to me.  THAT is birding.

Doing gentle yoga is connecting with the breath to do simple movements.  In this practice there is a moving meditation portion of the class that uses music to enhance flowing easy-to-do postures.

The schedule will allow for a morning yoga class (optional), outings to explore the Malheur Refuge and evening presentations to both learn about birds and generally have fun.

Shannon Rio is Board President of the Klamath Bird Observatory because of its work to preserve birds and wild places in nature. She is a wildlife educator with a goal to connect people (and herself) with nature so that they will want to protect what they love. She teaches classes in various settings and also teaches yoga, works as a nurse practitioner, is devoted to family and friends and community and loves learning anything about the natural world through hiking and birding and sitting quietly observing the wonder of it all.

Program Schedule

*Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather.

JUNE 20 - THURSDAY

• 12-4 pm: Arrival
• 4-5 pm: Introductions and gentle yoga
• 6 pm:  Dinner
• 7-8:30 pm:  Evening presentation, gathering

JUNE 21 - FRIDAY

• 7-7:30 am: Gentle yoga
• 8 am: Breakfast
• 9 am – 5:30 pm: Daily outing:  Visit Buena Vista overlook, to Diamond, to the Round Barn (where there is a store) and Diamond Craters.  Picnic mid-afternoon.
• 6 pm: Dinner
• 7-8:15 pm: Evening presentation: BEAUTIFUL BIRDS, BEAUTIFUL WORDS, celebrating poetry and birding.  Reviewing the bird list for the day, gathering

JUNE 22 - SATURDAY

• 7-7:30 am: Gentle yoga
• 8 am: Breakfast
• 9 am – 5 pm: Daily outing: Visit to Malheur Refuge Headquarters, visit Princeton Rim, drive to Crane Hot Springs for optional soak and to visit the birding ponds and have lunch.  Back on Ruh Red Road and to visit the Narrows.
• 6 pm: Dinner, reviewing bird list for the day, gathering

JUNE 23 - SUNDAY

• 7-7:30 am: Gentle yoga
• 8 am: Breakfast
• 9 am – 5 pm: Daily outing: Central Patrol Road from Krumbo road to P Ranch.  Picnic at Page Springs.  Visit burg of Frenchglen including the store. 
• 6 pm: Dinner, reviewing bird list for the day, gathering

JUNE 23 - SUNDAY

• 7-7:30 am: Gentle yoga
• 8 am: Breakfast
• 9 am – 5 pm: Daily outing: Central Patrol Road from Krumbo road to P Ranch.  Picnic at Page Springs.  Visit burg of Frenchglen including the store. 
• 6 pm: Dinner, reviewing bird list for the day, gathering

To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

ENTOMOLOGY WITH MATT MEDERIOS - DATES TBD (JULY/AUGUST)

Learn more about the insects of sagebrush county and their importance to the ecosystem.  This course will consist of a field trip to observe insects in the field, insect collecting demonstrations, and learning about insect anatomy and ecology in the classroom.

• DATES: To be determined (July/ August)
• MEALS: provided on site, breakfast and dinner in dining room; lunch table is laid out during breakfast where you pack your own lunch to take in the field.
• REGISTRATION: $750 per person
• To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

Led by Matt Mederios

Matt Medeiros (www.mattjmedeiros.com/) has been coming to MFS as a student, employee, and biologist since 1995, and is an experienced entomology instructor.  He is also an active researcher at the University of Hawaii who studies the biodiversity, evolution, and conservation of insects.

Program Schedule

*Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather.

DAY 1

• Late afternoon, introductory lecture

DAY 2

• Field trip

DAY 3

• Laboratory/ ID work

To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

BIRDING WITH HARRY FULLER - MAY 2024

Join Harry Fuller for a week of birding the Malheur basin and entire Steens Mountain loop. Participants will see Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawks, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagles, White Pelicans, Short-eared and Great Horned and Burrowing Owls, Loggerheasd Shrike, Sage Thrasher, Sandhill Cranes, Black Terns, Franklin's Gulls, White-faced Ibis, Rock & Canyon Wren, Sagebrush and Brewer’s Sparrow, Cinnamon Teal, snipe, Wilson's Phalarope, possible bittern.

There are likely to be usual (Lewis's Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak) and unusual (any bird that migrates to northern Canada) migrants at the hotspots. Participants will bird the basin and foothills of Steens Mountain.

• DATES: May 23 - May 28
• MEALS: Breakfast served at 7 am, sack lunch provided: lunch table is laid out during breakfast where you pack your own lunch to take in the field, dinner at 6 pm
• REGISTRATION: $900 per person
• To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

Led by Harry Fuller

Harry has lived in Oregon since 2011. He has been leading birding trips and teaching bird classes since the 1980's He annually leads birding trips for Klamath Bird Observatory, Road Scholar and Golden Gate Audubon.

Harry Fuller author of:
San Francisco’s Natural History: Sand Dunes to Streetcars
Great Gray Owls of CA-OR-WA
Freeway Birding
Birding website: http://www.towhee.net
Harry's birding blog: atowhee.wordpress.com

Program Schedule

*Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather.

MAY 23, THURSDAY

• Arrive at MFS, gather for a meet and greet.
• Introduction and dinner.
• After dinner enjoy a sunset walk around the MFS looking for owls, nighthawks, et al.

MAY 24, FRIDAY

• Walk around MFS before breakfast to hear the dawn chorus.
• After breakfast, visit the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters to look for migrants and any vagrants. Then, bird along Sodhouse Lane, the Narrows and along Hwy 205 north of the refuge.
• Return to MFS for a sack lunch and presentation in the classroom.
• After lunch, group will go east on Sodhouse Lane to Princeton, north to Crane and stop at Crystal Crane Hot Springs to observe birds on the pond. 
• Return to MFS for a home cooked dinner. 
• After dinner, group will look for Short-eared Owls along Center Patrol Road.

MAY 25, SATURDAY

• Before breakfast there will be an optional visit to the refuge headquarters (3 mi).
• After breakfast we will head south on Hwy 205, visiting Buena Vista, Krumbo Lake and Benson Pond.
• Enjoy a sack lunch at Krumbo Lake picnic grounds. 
• After lunch, bird along the road to Diamond, visit Diamond Craters for Rock Wrens and Canyon Wrens, the French Barn and Dry Lake. 
• Return to the MFS for dinner, perhaps an evening visit to the refuge headquarters.

MAY 26, SUNDAY

• After breakfast, leave MFS and head south on Hwy 205
• We will bird the basalt cliffs along the road, stop at P Ranch and then Page Springs for lunch.
• After lunch, continue search for Bobolink or head up into the lower reaches of the Steen Loop. If we can gain access we will also bird Boca Lake.
• Return to MFS for dinner.

MAY 27, MONDAY

• After breakfast, bird our way north on Hwy 205 to Hwy 78. Then to Hwy 20 south to Chickahominy Reservoir.
• Lunch at Sage Hen Rest Area for lunch.
• Back to MFS for dinner.

MAY 28, TUESDAY

• Breakfast, pack and depart. End of 5 night program!

To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

BIRDING WITH HARRY FULLER - SEPTEMBER 2024

Join Harry Fuller for a week of birding the Malheur basin and entire Steens Mountain loop. Participants will see Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawks, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagles, White Pelicans, Short-eared and Great Horned and Burrowing Owls, Sandhill Cranes, Black Terns, Franklin's Gulls, Loggerheasd Shrike, Sage Thrasher White-faced Ibis, Rock & Canyon Wren, Horned Lark, Cinnamon Teal, snipe, Wilson's Phalarope, possible bittern.

There are likely to be usual (Lewis's Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak) and unusual (any bird that migrates to northern Canada) migrants at the hotspots.

• DATES: September 6 - September 11
• MEALS: Breakfast served at 7 am, sack lunch provided: lunch table is laid out during breakfast where you pack your own lunch to take in the field., dinner at 6 pm
• REGISTRATION: $900 per person
• To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

Led by Harry Fuller

Fall migration is always interesting in Harney County. Harry has lived in Oregon since 2011. He has been leading birding trips and teaching bird classes since the 1980's He annually leads birding trips for Klamath Bird Observatory, Road Scholar and Golden Gate Audubon.

Harry Fuller author of:
San Francisco’s Natural History: Sand Dunes to Streetcars
Great Gray Owls of CA-OR-WA
Freeway Birding
Birding website: http://www.towhee.net
Harry's birding blog: atowhee.wordpress.com

Program Schedule

*Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather.

SEPTEMBER 6, FRIDAY

• Arrive at MFS, gather for a meet and greet.
• Introduction and dinner.
• After dinner enjoy a sunset walk around the MFS looking for owls, nighthawks, et al.

SEPTEMBER 7, SATURDAY

• Walk around MFS before breakfast to hear the dawn chorus.
• After breakfast, visit the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters to look for migrants and any vagrants. Then, bird along Sodhouse Lane, the Narrows and along Hwy 205 north of the refuge.
• Return to MFS for a sack lunch and presentation in the classroom.
• After lunch, group will go east on Sodhouse Lane to Princeton, north to Crane and stop at Crystal Crane Hot Springs to observe birds on the pond. 
• Return to MFS for a home cooked dinner. 
• After dinner, group will look for Short-eared Owls along Center Patrol Road.

SEPTEMBER 8, SUNDAY

• Before breakfast there will be an optional visit to the refuge headquarters (3 mi).
• After breakfast we will head south on Hwy 205, visiting Buena Vista, Krumbo Lake and Benson Pond.
• Enjoy a sack lunch at Krumbo Lake picnic grounds. 
• After lunch, bird along the road to Diamond, visit Diamond Craters for Rock Wrens and Canyon Wrens, the French Barn and Dry Lake. 
• Return to the MFS for dinner, perhaps an evening visit to the refuge headquarters.

SEPTEMBER 9, MONDAY

• After breakfast, leave MFS and head south on Hwy 205
• We will bird the basalt cliffs along the road, stop at P Ranch and then Page Springs for lunch.
• After lunch, head up into the lower reaches of the Steen Loop. If we can gain access we will also bird Boca Lake.
• Return to MFS for dinner.

SEPTEMBER 10, TUESDAY

• After breakfast, bird our way north on Hwy 205 to Hwy 78. Then to Hwy 20 south to Chickahominy Reservoir.
• Lunch at Sage Hen Rest Area for lunch.
• Back to MFS for dinner.

SEPTEMBER 11, WEDNESDAY

• Breakfast, pack and depart. End of 5 night program!

To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

GEOLOGY WITH MICHAEL CUMMINGS - Dates TBD

Ever wonder how the landscape of Harney County came to be? Check out the schedule for Geology of the Northern Great Basin hosted by Michael Cummings.

• DATES: To be determined
• MEALS: provided on site, breakfast and dinner in dining room; lunch table is laid out during breakfast where you pack your own lunch to take in the field.
• Registration: $570 per person
• To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

Led by Michael Cummings

Michael is a retired Professor of Geology from Portland State University and has a long history with Malheur Field Station. He has been leading university and general-interest geology trips in Northern Great Basin for decades.

Program Schedule

*Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather.

Day 1

• Evening arrival at MFS
• Introduction to the Field Study

Day 2

• Miocene welded tuffs at Buena Vista overlook
• Fault zone at the Pueblo Mountains front and the ancient North American continental margin.
• Miocene welded tuffs exposed east of the Pueblo Valley, Borax Lake and geothermal systems in the Alvord/Pueblo valleys. 
• Friday evening discussion.

Day 3

• 16 million year old rhyolites and their relation to the Columbia river Basalt Group.
• Dinner Creek welded tuff and its relation to the Columbia River Basalt Group.
• Littlefield rhyolite and the margin of the Oregon-Idaho graben.
• Western Snake River plain.
• Diatomite deposites and mines.
• Sturday evening discussion.

Day 4

• Breakfast and depart

To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

GEOLOGY WITH MICHAEL CUMMINGS - SEPTEMBER 2023

Ever wonder how the landscape of Harney County came to be? Check out the schedule for Geology of the Northern Great Basin hosted by Michael Cummings.

• DATES: September 21 - 24
• MEALS: provided on site, breakfast and dinner in dining room; lunch table is laid out during breakfast where you pack your own lunch to take in the field.
• Registration: $570 per person
• To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

Led by Michael Cummings

Michael is a retired Professor of Geology from Portland State University and has a long history with Malheur Field Station. He has been leading university and general-interest geology trips in Northern Great Basin for decades.

Program Schedule

*Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather.

SEPTEMBER 21, THURSDAY

• Evening arrival at MFS
• Introduction to the Field Study

SEPTEMBER 22, FRIDAY

• Miocene welded tuffs at Buena Vista overlook
• Fault zone at the Pueblo Mountains front and the ancient North American continental margin.
• Miocene welded tuffs exposed east of the Pueblo Valley, Borax Lake and geothermal systems in the Alvord/Pueblo valleys. 
• Friday evening discussion.

SEPTEMBER 23, SATURDAY

• 16 million year old rhyolites and their relation to the Columbia river Basalt Group.
• Dinner Creek welded tuff and its relation to the Columbia River Basalt Group.
• Littlefield rhyolite and the margin of the Oregon-Idaho graben.
• Western Snake River plain.
• Diatomite deposites and mines.
• Sturday evening discussion.

SEPTEMBER 24, SUNDAY

• Breakfast and depart

To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

ENTOMOLOGY WITH MATT MEDERIOS - AUGUST 2023

Learn more about the insects of sagebrush county and their importance to the ecosystem.  This course will consist of a field trip to observe insects in the field, insect collecting demonstrations, and learning about insect anatomy and ecology in the classroom.

• DATES: August 18 - August 21
• MEALS: provided on site, breakfast and dinner in dining room; lunch table is laid out during breakfast where you pack your own lunch to take in the field.
• REGISTRATION: $750 per person
• To register, call the office at 541-493-2629

Led by Matt Mederios

Matt Medeiros (www.mattjmedeiros.com/) has been coming to MFS as a student, employee, and biologist since 1995, and is an experienced entomology instructor.  He is also an active researcher at the University of Hawaii who studies the biodiversity, evolution, and conservation of insects.

Program Schedule

*Note: Itinerary is subject to change due to weather.

AUGUST 18, FRIDAY

• Late afternoon, introductory lecture

AUGUST 19, SATURDAY

• Field trip

AUGUST 20, SUNDAY

• Laboratory/ ID work

To register, call the office at 541-493-2629