Explore the geology of Harney County. In this three-night program, participants will learn about the Steens Mt. and geothermal activity in South Eastern Oregon desert. September 23 - 25, 2022

GEOLOGY FIELD STUDY - SEPTEMBER 2022

Explore the geology of Harney County. In this three-night program, participants will learn about the Steens Mt. and geothermal activity in South Eastern Oregon desert.

Program, meals and lodging included in price of $550 per person. 

  • DATES: September 22 - September 25
    (check in before 5 pm on Sept. 22; check out Sept. 25 after breakfast)
  • MEALS: Breakfast served at 7:00 am, pack-away lunch for the field, dinner served at 6pm.
  • AMENITIES: There are various bathroom stops along the way.

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 the Northern Great Basin for decades.


PROGRAM SCHEDULE

SEPT 22 THURSDAY

  • Arrive anytime, unpack into E-Dorm.  Meet at Malcolm Hall in the AV room at 5pm
  • Evening session at the station 
  • Dinner at 6pm in Dining Hall
  • Introduction to the geology of SE Oregon

SEPT 23 FRIDAY
NORTH OF BURNS ON HWY 395

  • Breakfast at 7:00 am in Dining Hall at MFS – depart for field trip to:
    • Accreted terrains and evolution of western margin of North American during the Mesozoic
    • Dinner Creek Welded Tuff (16million) and its local relation to older rocks (Silvies River valley)
    • Divine Canyon Welded Tuff (9.7 million) and the younger westward trend of rhyolites
    • Prater Creek Welded Tuff (8.0 million) and the newly discover caldera source west of Hines
    • Rattlesnake Welded Tuff (7.0 million) and characteristics of zones in welded tuffs
  • Dinner at 6pm in Dining Hall at MFSEvening session: 
    • Columbia River Basalt Group (CRGB) and its relation to rhyolite centers in Eastern Oregon.  Newly defined extent of the Picture Gorge Basalt, a member of the CRBG.

SEPT 24 SATURDAY
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF STEENS MOUNTAIN

  • Breakfast served at 7:00am in Dining Hall at MFS – depart for field trip to:
    • Explosion structures in Steens Mountain Basalt flows near the crest of Steens Mountain
    • Steen Mountain front and active faults
    • Mickey Springs – silica sinter deposits formed between about 30,000 and 18,000 years ago
    • Hot spring ecosystems
    • Pluvial Lake Alvord and shoreline features
    • Borax Lake – construction of a biomorphic mound and silica sinter from hot spring activity
  • Dinner served at 6pm in Dining Hall at MFSEvening session: 
    • Brief wrap up of what we’ve seen

SEPT 25 SUNDAY
Check out after breakfast, end of program


4

Entomology in the High Desert

Sept - TBA - Learn more about the insects of sagebrush country 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.

Matt Medeiros (http://www.mattjmedeiros.com/) has been coming to MFS as a student, employee, and biologist since 1995, and has taught Entomology at the high school and college level. He is also an active researcher at UNLV who studies the biodiversity, evolution, and conservation of insects in the Hawaiian Islands.

You will arrive on Tuesday afternoon, September ? and settle into E Dorm, meet and greet Matt and fellow learners. E Dorm is set up for cooking, the cafeteria will not be open.

September ?, first full day will be out in the field, September ?, second full day will be on station. You will depart on  morning of the ?.

The Field Station will be buzzing this time of year with our Members Meeting!

August 17-21, 2020 Join us under the darkest sky in the US! Learn about Astronomy and Astro-Photography in this 4 day course.

Astronomy / Astro Photography 2021

Dates TBA 
Instructor:  Robert Browning
is an Engineering Group Leader at Intel in Hillsboro. He has been at Intel for 24 years. He has a PhD in Applied Physics from Portland State University and is an avid amateur astrophotographer.

Day 1: Introduction and Overview / Software for Imaging
Day 2: Minimalist Imaging with a DSLR / Survey of Telescopes for Imaging
Day 3: Telescope Mounts and Guiding / Cameras and Imaging Calibration
Day 4: Operating in the Filed / Basic Image Processing

Instructor:  Doug McCarty was the Planetarium Director at Mt Hood Community College for twenty seven years and has taught astronomy at Lewis and Clark College and Portland State University. He lives in Portland.

Astronomy Schedule TBA

Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:

Sept 2-5, 2020 "Learn more about the insects of the sagebrush country and their importance to the ecosystem"

Entomology in the High Desert 2021

September 2021 Dates TBA      $300 per person $100 deposit/balance due by Aug 1 – Meals and Lodging included

“Learn more about the insects of the sagebrush country 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 the insect anatomy and ecology in the classroom”

Matt Medeiros (http://www.mattjmedeiros.com)  the instructor, has been coming to MFS as a student, employee, and biologist since 1995, and has taught Entomology at the high school level.  He is also an active researcher at UNLV who studies the biodiversity, evolution, and conservation of insects in the Hawaiian Islands.

Sept 2 : Arrive, check in by 4pm, settle into lodging. Dinner in dining hall at 6pm. Socialize getting to know each other.

Sept 3 : Classroom sessions & observing insects within walking distance of the classroom. Breakfast in the dining hall at 7:30am, packed lunch in the field, dinner in dining hall at 6pm.

Sept 4: All day field strip. Breakfast in dining hall, with pack lunch in the field.   Dinner upon return in Dining Hall at 6pm

Sept 5: Breakfast and departure.

Sept. 11 - Sept. 16 - Join Harry Fuller for a full day in the Steens where we will go to the peak at just under 10,000 feet elevation.

Birding - Fall September 11 - 16, 2021 CANCELLED due to covid variant

DATES TBA – Join Harry Fuller for a full day in the Steens where we will go to the peak at just under 10,000 feet elevation. In the late summer we may get access to areas closed during breeding season. There may be migrating raptors passing through the valley and mountains. While many insectivorous birds will be gone there will also be songbirds on migration including huge numbers of White-crowned Sparrows and their cousins from several species.

FIVE NIGHTS. Arrive for dinner on the 11th, depart after breakfast on the 116th. All meals and dorm accommodations provided by Field Station.

Full cost: $900 for 5 nights
$100 reservation deposit with full payment due by Aug 15, 2021

 

Harry Fuller has lived in Oregon since 2007. 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 Autubon.

author of: San Francisco’s Natural History: Sand Dunes to Streetcars:
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/sfnh/
author of Great Gray Owls of CA-OR-WA:
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/the-great-gray-owl-book/
author of Freeway Birding: freewaybirding.com
birding website: http://www.towhee.net
my birding blog: atowhee.wordpress.com

September 23-29, 2020 Ever wonder how the landscape of Harney County came to be?

Geology of the Northern Great Basin 2021

FALL DATES TBA
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.

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.

The order of the daily program may change due to weather. All days begin with breakfast in the Dining Hall, after which you pack a lunch for the day trip. Lunch and bathroom stops are incorporated each day along the way.

DATE TBA
The six-night class begins after settling into your E-Dorm lodging and having dinner in the Dining Hall with Michael Cummings, PhD. After dinner, there’s an introductory session on geology of the northern Great Basin.

DATE TBA
Interpreting across scale: Hike to top of South Coyote Butte for Interpreting across time: How does the landscape change through time?

Evening session: How do we integrate time, scale, and process when we interpret the evolution of a landscape.

DATE TBA
Visit the Northern fringe of the Harney basin. Welded tuffs: welding zones, structure, sources, interpreting accreted terrains – the old rocks. Dinner in Dining Hall

Evening session: Hydrogeology of the Harney basin – an ongoing study.

DATE TBA
South of the Field Station: Interpreting volcanic contributions to sedimentary environments and Hydrogeology of the Blitzen River.

Evening session: Integrating time, scale, and process in modern landscapes

DATE TBA
Long day! Explore the areas surrounding Steens Mountain; Fault block mountains, Crustal extension and geothermal systems including the Alvord Desert and Catlow Valley.

No evening session

DATE TBA
Exploring Steen Mountain – Steens Basalt and the Columbia River Basalt Group.

Evening session: Miocene evolution of the Columbia River Basalt Group and associated rhyolites.

DATE TBA
Breakfast and departure.

Full cost: $1000 or $950 if you have RV.
$100 reservation deposit with full payment due by August 24. 2020.

September 25-30, 2019-Ever wonder how the landscape of Harney County came to be?

Geology of the Northern Great Basin

September 25-30, 2019-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.

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.

September 25
The six-night class begins after settling into your lodging and having dinner with Michael Cummings, PhD. After dinner, there’s an introductory session on geology of the northern Great Basin.

September 26
Interpreting across scale: Hike to top of South Coyote Butte for Interpreting across time: How does the landscape change through time?
Evening session: How do we integrate time, scale, and process when we interpret the evolution of a landscape?

September 27
Visit the Northern fringe of the Harney basin. Welded tuffs: welding zones, structure, sources, interpreting accreted terrains – the old rocks.
Evening session: Hydrogeology of the Harney basin – an ongoing study.

September 28
South of the Field Station: Interpreting volcanic contributions to sedimentary environments and Hydrogeology of the Blitzen River.
Evening session: Integrating time, scale, and process in modern landscapes

September 29
Long day! Explore the areas surrounding Steens Mountain; Fault block mountains, Crustal extension and geothermal systems including the Alvord Desert and Catlow Valley.
No evening session

September 30
Exploring Steen Mountain – Steens Basalt and the Columbia River Basalt Group.
Evening session: Miocene evolution of the Columbia River Basalt Group and associated rhyolites.

October 1
Breakfast and departure.

2

September 16-22, 2019. Join Harry Fuller for a week of birding the refuge and Steens Mountain. Fall migration is always interesting in Harney County.

Birding Malheur & Steens Mountain

September 16-22, 2019. Join Harry Fuller for a week of birding the refuge and Steens Mountain. 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 Autubon.

Itinerary

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.

After breakfast we will visit the MNWR headquarters to look for migrants and any vagrants. From there we will 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 we will go east on Sodhouse Lane to Princeton, north to Crane and stop at Crystal Crane Hot Springs to observe birds on the pond. We will return to MFS for a home cooked dinner. After dinner we will look for Short-eared Owls along Center Patrol Road.

After breakfast we will head south on Hwy 205, visiting Buena Vista, Krumbo Lake and Benson Pond.

We will enjoy a sack lunch at Krumbo Lake picnic grounds. After lunch we will bird along the road to Diamond, visit Diamond Craters for Rock Wrens and Canyon Wrens, the French Barn and Dry Lake.

We will return to the MFS for dinner, perhaps an evening visit to the refuge headquarters.

We will leave MFS right after breakfast 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 we will continue our search for Bobolink (not in the fall program) or head up into the lower reaches of the Steen Loop. If we can gain access we will also bird Boca Lake. This will depend on Teresa Wick’s availability.

We will return to MFS for dinner.

We will leave after breakfast and bird our way north on Hwy 205 to Hwy 78. Then to Hwy 20 south to Chickahominy Reservoir, stopping at Sage Hen Rest Area for lunch. Back to MFS for dinner.

We will depart after breakfast to bird the Steen Mountain Loop, starting at the south entrance. Sack lunch while out in the field, dinner back at MFS dining hall.

Breakfast, pack and depart. End of 6 night program!

HARRY FULLER LINKS: http://atowhee.wordpress.com, http://www.towhee.net

Birding - Late Spring 2019

June 7 – June 12, 2019 – Join Harry Fuller for a chance to see most of the nesting species of Harney County. Common Nighthawks and American White Pelicans will be in the air. Bobolinks should be seen along with water-related birds such as Trumpeter Swan, Black Tern and Wilson’s Phalarope.

Itinerary

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.

After breakfast we will visit the MNWR headquarters to look for migrants and any vagrants. From there we will 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 we will go east on Sodhouse Lane to Princeton, north to Crane and stop at Crystal Crane Hot Springs to observe birds on the pond. We will return to MFS for a home cooked dinner. After dinner we will look for Short-eared Owls along Center Patrol Road.

After breakfast we will head south on Hwy 205, visiting Buena Vista, Krumbo Lake and Benson Pond.

We will enjoy a sack lunch at Krumbo Lake picnic grounds. After lunch we will bird along the road to Diamond, visit Diamond Craters for Rock Wrens and Canyon Wrens, the French Barn and Dry Lake.

We will return to the MFS for dinner, perhaps an evening visit to the refuge headquarters.

We will leave MFS right after breakfast 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 we will continue our search for Bobolink (not in the fall program) or head up into the lower reaches of the Steen Loop. If we can gain access we will also bird Boca Lake. This will depend on Teresa Wick’s availability.

We will return to MFS for dinner.

We will leave after breakfast and bird our way north on Hwy 205 to Hwy 78. Then to Hwy 20 south to Chickahominy Reservoir, stopping at Sage Hen Rest Area for lunch. Back to MFS for dinner.

Breakfast, pack and depart. End of 6 night program!

 

Harry Fuller
author of: San Francisco’s Natural History: Sand Dunes to Streetcars:
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/sfnh/
author of Great Gray Owls of CA-OR-WA:
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/the-great-gray-owl-book/
author of Freeway Birding: freewaybirding.com
birding website: http://www.towhee.net
my birding blog: atowhee.wordpress.com

1

Birding - Spring 2019

May 22 – 27, 2019 – Join Harry Fuller for a chance to see the results of on-going spring migration. Many nesting species will have just returned. Males will be singing and there will be territorial displays.

Itinerary

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.

After breakfast we will visit the MNWR headquarters to look for migrants and any vagrants. From there we will 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 we will go east on Sodhouse Lane to Princeton, north to Crane and stop at Crystal Crane Hot Springs to observe birds on the pond. We will return to MFS for a home cooked dinner. After dinner we will look for Short-eared Owls along Center Patrol Road.

After breakfast we will head south on Hwy 205, visiting Buena Vista, Krumbo Lake and Benson Pond.

We will enjoy a sack lunch at Krumbo Lake picnic grounds. After lunch we will bird along the road to Diamond, visit Diamond Craters for Rock Wrens and Canyon Wrens, the French Barn and Dry Lake.

We will return to the MFS for dinner, perhaps an evening visit to the refuge headquarters.

We will leave MFS right after breakfast 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 we will continue our search for Bobolink (not in the fall program) or head up into the lower reaches of the Steen Loop. If we can gain access we will also bird Boca Lake. This will depend on Teresa Wick’s availability.

We will return to MFS for dinner.

We will leave after breakfast and bird our way north on Hwy 205 to Hwy 78. Then to Hwy 20 south to Chickahominy Reservoir, stopping at Sage Hen Rest Area for lunch. Back to MFS for dinner.

Breakfast, pack and depart. End of 6 night program!

 

Harry Fuller
author of: San Francisco’s Natural History: Sand Dunes to Streetcars:
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/sfnh/
author of Great Gray Owls of CA-OR-WA:
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/the-great-gray-owl-book/
author of Freeway Birding: freewaybirding.com
birding website: http://www.towhee.net
my birding blog: atowhee.wordpress.com

Malheur Field Station