Guest Groups – Malheur Field Station

Great Basin Butterfly 2020

July 10-13, 2020 From Steens Mountain to the Alvord Desert, from alpine to meadow to sagebrush steppe, butterflies and moths abound in this hotspot for Northern Great Basin species.

RoseSeptember 5, 2019June 10, 2020

Great Basin Butterfly CANCELLED

CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

July 10-13, 2020 From Steens Mountain to the Alvord Desert, from alpine to meadow to sagebrush steppe, butterflies and moths abound in this hotspot for Northern Great Basin species. We will base our studies at Malheur Field Station, where we’ll learn both the typical and rare species historically seen in southeast Oregon in a classroom session and by examining collected specimens. Then we’ll foray over the weekend and into Monday, exploring desert canyons, lakes and roadsides and Steens Mountain streams, canyons, steppe and summit. Findings may include swallowtails, checkerspots, coppers, Admirals, fritillaries and blues and whites.

Instructor: Dana Ross, M.S.

Location: Meet and lodge at Malheur Field Station, Harney County, OR

Tuition includes 3 nights shared dorm room: $335 Commuter tuition: $245 Extra nights or single bedroom: add $30 per night

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Great Basin Butterflies

Alpine Pollinator Ecology 2020

August 14 - 16,2020 The unique mingling of desert and alpine plant communities makes Steens Mountain a hotspot for insect diversity.

RoseSeptember 5, 2019June 10, 2020

Alpine Pollinator Ecology - CANCELLED -

CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

August 14 – 16, 2020 Instructor and photo by August Jackson. The unique mingling of desert and alpine plant communities makes Steens Mountain a hot spot for insect diversity. In some years, large migrations of butterflies and dragonflies can be observed along the summit ridge. We’ll explore Steens Mountain’s varied habitats, identifying pollinators and their associated plant species with a particular focus on regional bee fauna. More than 300 species of bees are likely to be found on Steens, including more than a dozen bumble bee species. We’ll spend most of our time observing insects in the field, with some time for lecture and specimen observation at the Malheur Field Station.

Location: Meet and lodge at Malheur Field Station, Harney County, Oregon.

Tuition incl. 2 nights shared dorm room: $270 Extra nights or single bedroom: add $30 per night Commuter tuition: $210

Book direct with Siskiyou Institute below:

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Alpine Pollinator Ecology in Eastern Oregon

Great Basin Flora

July 19 - 21, 2019 - Cheryl Beyer, M.S. and Janel Johnson, M.S will lead this field course to investigate the endemics, Sierra relics and Great Basin native plants found at Steens and Hart Mountains' floristic “junctions.”

RoseJune 6, 2019November 20, 2019Leave a comment

Great Basin Flora: Botanizing on Steens and Hart Mountains

July 19 – 21, 2019 – Cheryl Beyer, M.S. and Janel Johnson, M.S will lead this field course to investigate the endemics, Sierra relics and Great Basin native plants found at Steens and Hart Mountains’ floristic “junctions.” We will observe the rejuvenation of species related to grazing recovery efforts at Hart Mountain and explore Steens endemics.

Rising out of southeastern Oregon’s Alvord Desert, the basalt fault block Steens Mountain is a unique floristic island shaped by glaciation and Great Basin plate “rumpling.” Its plant communities rapidly shift from juniper and sagebrush to aspen/riparian to high alpine glacial valleys and lakes near the summit at 9733 ft.

Students will have time to key out plants in a lab session (especially helpful for identifying eriogonum varieties) in addition to Saturday and Sunday trips in the field.

Sponsored by The Siskiyou Field Institute http://www.thesfi.org

Cheryl Beyer has a B.S. degree in Botany and an M.S. degree in Natural Resource Conservation. Cheryl’s expertise includes vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, and fungi.

Janel Johnson, M.S. has a Bachelor’s degree in botany from Oregon State University. Janel is currently employed at the Nevada Natural Heritage Program and has served as president of the Nevada Native Plant Society since 2011 and she and her husband Reese are co-editors of the Eriogonum Society newsletter.

Butterflies of the High Desert 2

July 12 – 14, 2019 – Dana Ross, M.S. offers a butterfly class at the Malheur Field Station sponsored by the Siskiyou Field Institute.

RoseMay 5, 2019November 20, 20192 Comments

Butterflies of the High Desert

July 12 – 14, 2019 – Dana Ross, M.S. offers a butterfly class at the Malheur Field Station sponsored by the Siskiyou Field Institute.

Harney County, Oregon is known as a butterfly hotspot as well as a migratory bird stop along the Pacific Flyway. We’ll learn both typical and rare species historically seen in southeast Oregon in a classroom session and studying collected specimens. Then we’ll foray to alkaline lakes and hot springs, landscaped areas, bogs and high-elevation sites including Steens Mountain in search of summer butterflies including checkerspots, swallowtails, fritillaries, metalmarks, blues and whites.

Dana Ross, M.S., entomologist, specializes in butterflies and moths. He has studied Oregon insects for over 30 years and currently works in rare butterfly conservation and documents insects at important sites.

Photo credits, Dana Ross

Reynolds High School 2019

Tadd Reaney a Reynolds HS science teacher, has spearheaded this four day event for Freshman each year. This year Tadd brought 69 students!

RoseMay 4, 2019November 20, 2019Leave a comment

Reynolds High School 2019

The Reynolds HS has been coming to MFS for the past 15 years, missing only 2018 when the station was down due to a water crisis. Tadd Reaney a Reynolds HS science teacher, has spearheaded this four day event for Freshman each year. This year Tadd brought 69 students!

According to Tadd, he says “Our four day journey, with 69 teenagers, consist of staying at the field station in Princeton while studying the Wildlife Refuge, Diamond Craters, the Pete French National Historic Round Barn, The Steens Mountain, and the Alvord Desert – The kids soak up the science, history and literature of these places and absolutely have their minds blown with how much they get to see and do in four days.”

The first thing upon arrival is empty the bus and hike up South Coyote Butte so that the students can get a perspective on their surroundings. Tadd says “the MFS has become a charming second home with great memories, wildlife and a taste of life in the desert.” We couldn’t agree more, and look forward to their return each year!

They arrive in awe and wonder, and depart with hugs and smiles. We are committed here at MFS in inspiring young people for the future.