BURNS AREA
Burns/Hines return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 09” N 119 03’ 16” W
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Burns City Information http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/oregon/burns
Hines City Information http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/oregon/hines
Location, Habitat, and Birds: The cities of Burns and Hines are often under-birded as many are in a rush to get to Malheur NWR. Many of the rarities seen on the Refuge are seen near Burns/Hines as well. There are some good local specialties that should not be overlooked. Rock Pigeons often hang out near the southeast part of town and Eurasian Collared-Doves are now nearly ubiquitous in the city. Study the gulls that hang out at the McDonald's parking lot in Hines. Scrub Jays are only just establishing a population so keep your eyes and ears open. Often, migrants can be found in good numbers in the large ornamental trees of town. The cemetery is located just NE of the high school on Hwy 20. Western Screech-Owls have been found here. Listen for them along the sidewalk on the south side of the cemetery or turn west off of Monroe Street and access the north side. The walking trail on the old railroad grade on the east edge of the cities is often overlooked. An excellent description of the birds and birding in Burns/Hines can be found at Don Baccus's website
Burns Sewage Ponds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 34’ 05” N 119 03’ 52” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located between the Fairgrounds and the walking trail. An elevated viewing platform on the walking trail offers good scope and photo opportunities in the afternoon. Viewing in the morning hours is served by entering the fairgrounds from Egan St. and proceeding east to the pond boundary fence. A elevated platform exists there for the brave. The ponds are often TOTALLY covered with white geese in the spring, Most of the divers are found here. Watch for rarities such as Sabine’s Gull and White-winged Scoter.
Fry Lane Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 09” N 119 03’ 16” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From the corner of Broadway and Monroe in Burns (this is the Jct of Hwys 20 and 78), travel east 1.7 miles to Fry Road. Turn left on Fry and continue until it connects with Hwy 20 (about 2 miles). Turn left again and take 20 back into Burns. This area can be very productive in the spring. Early spring will produce huge flocks of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes. A little later, gulls (Franklin's in particular) Long-billed Curlew, Black-crowned Night-herons, and assorted waterfowl crowd into the flooded fields along this route. A great early morning starter on your way to Malheur.
Greenhouse LaneLoop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 31’ 33” N 119 05’ 06” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: As most people access Harney County via Hwy 20, Greenhouse Lane Loop can be a good respite after the long, monotonous drive that is Hwy 20. Coming from Bend, travel 22 miles past Riley and look for Greenhouse Lane soon after the BLM Building on your right. Coming from Burns, travel 3.6 miles past the high school and turn left on Greenhouse Lane. Drive along Greenhouse for 4.1 miles, stopping frequently when you see birds. There is a large pond where the road turns from a southward direction to eastward and it is always productive. Continue east until Greenhouse intersects with Hwy 205. At this point, you can turn left and return to Burns or you can turn right and continue on to Malheur NWR. This loop can be a photographer's dream on an early spring morning. Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds occupy what seems like every other fence post. Those not taken up by the aforementioned species are often occupied by a Willet or a Wilson's Snipe. Long-billed Curlews and White-faced Ibis can be seen close up here. This area can have some of the largest flocks of white geese in April.
Hotchkiss Lane return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 33’ 24” N 119 03’ 34” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This is a favorite location for people who stay in Burns before descending on Malheur. In Burns at the Jct of Monroe St (Hwy 20) and S. Egan Avenue, turn south and drive slowly through town. California Quail are abundant here as are Eurasian Collared-Dove. Listen for Western Scrub-Jays as they have established a small population in Burns. As you begin to leave the residential area, you will see the fairgrounds on your right (See Burns Sewage Ponds). Continue until Egan intersects with Hotchkiss Lane. At this point, you have your choice of turning right and working your way back to Hwy 20 or turning left and meeting up with Hwy 205 which leads to Malheur NWR. It is recommended that you do both. In spring, there are flooded fields and small pools along this route. On the west end of Hotchkiss there are several large settling ponds (Hines Sewage Ponds) that will have abundant waterfowl and can sometimes be completely full of white geese. Watch for rarities here, as this is often the only open water in winter months. Later in spring, Western Meadowlarks sing along the route as mixed flocks of ducks, geese, gulls, and waders blanket the flooded fields.
Old Experiment Road Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 33’ 19” N 118 56’ 26” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: The Experiment Road Loop offers the largest flocks of waterfowl in the Burns area. Raptors enjoy this area as well. From the corner of Broadway and Monroe in Burns (this is the Jct of Hwys 20 and 78), travel east 6.6 miles to Old Experiment Station Road. Turn left on Experiment and drive slowly, birding from the road. This road will eventually meet up with Hwy 20. It is worth a quick detour here by turning right on Hwy 20 and traveling a couple of miles, scanning for big waterfowl flocks. Return to Burns along Hwy 20. This is one of the best places to find Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, and other dabblers. Franklin's Gull flocks can be large here and other gulls may be mixed in. Sandhill Cranes like this area as do Long-billed Curlew. Great Egrets are abundant at times and you can find the occasional Snowy Egret here as well.
NORTH OF BURNS
South Silvies Valley return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-1 geographic coordinates 43 53’ 58” N 118 56’ 13” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From Burns, take 395 for 23 miles to the southern edge of Silvies Valley. This is approximately 9 miles past Ildylwild Campground (see below). The northern half of Silvies Valley is in Grant County. Silvies Valley is predominantly open rangeland in private ownership, surrounded by ponderosa pine forests. Average elevation is 4600’. Check out the fields and ponds for waterfowl, cranes and geese.
Idylwild and Joaquin Miller Campgrounds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-1 geographic coordinates (Idylwild) 43 47’ 58” N 118 59’ 35” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From Burns, travel north on Hwy 395/20 a couple of miles out of Burns; then travel north14.3 miles along 395 to Idylwild Campground. Joaquin is 2 miles farther north. This is the most forested location most often visited by birders in Harney County. The campground provides large ponderosa pines which host Gray Jays, White-headed Woodpeckers, nuthatches, creeper, Clark's Nutcracker and Northern Pygmy-Owl. At night, you might be treated to the call of a Flammulated Owl or a Common Poorwill. Look and listen for Green-tailed Towhee in the Ceanothus. Most of the local forest species can be found here.
WEST OF BURNS
Chickahominy Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-8 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 24” N 119 36’ 55” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located north of Hwy 20 approximately 30 miles west of Hines, Chickahominy Reservoir materializes out of the desert and you have to pay attention or you can miss it. It's not always easy to see the water from the road so one should keep an eye out for the ubiquitous motor homes that stand out against the skyline. Access the area at the sign for Chickahominy. Stop at the Dam and look for sparrows and Rock Wrens. Continue on and work your way around the north side of the lake. There are numerous pullouts that give you good views of the shoreline and the waterfowl in the lake. In the lake itself, large numbers of American Coots, grebes, ducks, and even loons can be found in season. In the fall, the water levels drop and this becomes a hotspot for shorebirds. Snowy Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, and phalaropes can be found. Western, Least, Pectoral, Bairds, and Spotted Sandpipers can be present and the occasional Sanderling, Solitary Sandpiper, or Stilt Sandpiper are all possible. Both yellowlegs and dowitchers (mostly Long-billed) can be numerous.
Dry Mountain Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-8 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 29” N 119 32’ 13” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Silver Creek, Egypt Creek and Miller Canyon- From Riley take HWY 20 west two miles then turn right or north onto Harney Co. Rd 138 / Silver Creek Road. From Hwy 20 go north on Silver Creek Road after crossing Silver Creek about 0.5 miles take the next left and stay on Silver Creek Road. Follow this road until the pavement ends and you have crossed into the Ochoco NF lands at which point Silver Creek Road becomes FSRD 4130. Stay on FSRD 4130 until you come to FSRD 4135. Turn south onto this road and proceed until you come to a Y in the road. Stay to the left and proceed south. If you opt to go right at this Y you will need a high clearance 4x4 and you can take a rough road up a steep mountain to a spectacular view of the Harney Basin at the Dry Mountain Fire Lookout (6383'). This is a very under birded area and little is known of it. The author has been to this location twice and has yet to meet other birders who have been there. It has all the birds expected in the southern Blue Mountains. In May watch for ticks. It is great birding! As you proceed south on FSRD 4135 you will once again come to a split in the road, keep to the right and you will be in Miller Canyon which will take you back on Harney Co. Rd 139 to Hwy 20. Birding this loop requires that you stop frequently and listen while you search for birds. Watch for warblers and wetland birds along Silver Creek and Good Luck.
Riley Pond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-8 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 29” N 119 32’ 22” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Riley Pond is 1.8 miles west of Riley, OR. It has become a famous birding location because of the rarities that have occurred there. This small pond along Hwy 20 has produced far more than its share of rare passerines over the year. Many people make the pilgrimage to Malheur several times per year and a stop at Riley Pond is considered mandatory. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Riley Pond can be found at Don Baccus's website
Sage Hen Rest Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-9 geographic coordinates 43 31’ 57” N 119 19’ 11” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located 9 miles east of Riley and 15 miles west of Burns, this public rest stop is a great place to get out and stretch your legs after the long drive from Central Oregon. A nature trail exits the area at its SW corner. There are 18 bird boxes in the immediate area, housing Mountain Bluebird, Mountain Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Northern Flicker and American Kestrel.
47 Road and Emigrant Creek return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 47” N 119 05’ 05” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Travel south through Hines and go past the old Hines Mill. Look for the paved road that leads westward and up into the hills. This is forest road 47. It's also called the Hines Logging Road. Take this road and stop frequently as it travels through different habitats. Many of the common juniper species like Gray Flycatcher and Ash-throated Flycatchers can be found in the first few miles of road 47. After 7 miles, the road drops into a basin called Willow Flat. Look for Northern Flicker, Western Meadowlark, Vesper Sparrow, and Brewer's Sparrow here. There are often Pronghorns here for a non-avian treat. Continue on for 13 miles. There are several ponds along this route and they can often host surprising waterfowl. Wood Ducks and goldeneyes can be found along with Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, and Common Merganser. After 20 miles of travel, stop at Emigrant Creek and bird (see below).
41 Road Pine Springs and Egley Burns return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 B-9 geographic coordinates 43 38’ 33” N 119 15’ 46” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: 12 miles from Hwy 20 on the 47 Road, turn left on Forest Road 41 (both 47 and 41 are paved). Continue on this road for as much time as you have. It will eventually lead you to Delintment Lake and beyond. There are two good burns here. The first burn is called the Pine Springs Burn which happened in 1990. This burn was heavily salvaged so most of the burned trees are gone, replaced by Ceanothus. This is a great place to find nesting Northern Flickers and Green-tailed Towhee. Lewis's Woodpeckers are scattered throughout this area in summer. Continue on 41 until you get into a newer burn. This is the Egley Burn which happened in 2007. Black-backed, Hairy, Downy, and White-headed Woodpeckers utilize this burn. Williamson's and Red-naped Sapsuckers are pretty common here. You can check the bundles of mountain mahogany for signs of sapsucker activity. All the regular pine forest species can be found on this road.
Emigrant Creek return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 A-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 B-9 geographic coordinates 43 46’ 14” N 119 18’ 54” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This large patch of willows and sage is located 20 miles from Hwy 20 on Road 47. This thick patch of willows can harbor just about any migrant and can be very productive as the birds use Emigrant Creek to guide their way into the mountains. Spotted Towhee and Northern Flicker are abundant and Bushtit can be seen here.
Yellowjacket Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 A-9 geographic coordinates 43 52' 41.7" N 119 16' 3.2" W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To reach Yellowjacket Reservoir from Hines, take the 47 Road approximately 30 miles to the 37 Road. Turn right on 37 Road and go 2.3 miles to the 3745 Road. Turn right on 3745 and go 0.9 miles to USFS campground at Yellow Jacket Lake. Birds here include Osprey (nesting platform), Bald Eagle, Common Loon, and diving ducks.
Delintment Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 A-8 geographic coordinates 43 53’ 24” N 119 37’ 29” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This lake is 43 miles from Burns and a morning trip can be very productive as this route takes you through some diverse habitats and some good forested areas. It also takes you through some good burns that are very productive. From Burns, take the 47 road to the 41 Road (see above). Stay on the 41 road for 31 miles to the lake and bird as you go. Stop frequently in the burned areas for woodpeckers, both bluebirds, Cassin's Finch, nuthatches, and jays. Dusky and Hammond's Flycatchers are present in summer as are Olive-sided Flycatchers and pewees. Pygmy Owls can be found along with crossbills. Osprey, Bald Eagles, and diving ducks are often seen at this lake. There is a USFS campground here.
SOUTH OF BURNS (MALHEUR AREA)
Wright's Point return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 D-1 geographic coordinates 43 26’ 56” N 119 01’ 10” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This location is on the way to Malheur NWR. From Burns, take Hwy 78 1.7 miles east to OR 205. Turn right on 205 and go 9.5 miles to a large ridge that rises out of the flatlands. This is Wright's Point. It is actually an ancient river valley that was capped by a lava flow which has caused it to weather more slowly than the surrounding landscape. Hwy 205 goes up and over this landform. On the way to Wright's Point, stop and view the avifauna that carpets the landscape. There is a large stock pond near Island Ranch Road that often has Black Terns and waders along with ducks and geese. On the north slope of Wright's Point, look for a pull-off. Park here and investigate the foliage among the rimrock. During migration, warblers, vireos, and just about any other passerine can be found here. Sometimes Great Horned Owls hide in this thicket. On the top of the point, look for a dirt road that leads to a gravel pit. This area is often good for sparrows and Rock Wren. There are very good sage flats on the south side of the point and these can produce Sage Thrasher, Brewer's Sparrow. and even an occasional Black-throated Sparrow.
Double O Road return to the top
North Access DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-9 geographic coordinates 43 31’ 43” N 119 17’ 38” W
South Access DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 D-1 geographic coordinates 43 17’ 39” N 118 58’ 27” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: An excellent description of the birds and birding in this area can be found at Don Baccus's website
The Narrows return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 D-1 geographic coordinates 43 16’ 46” N 118 57’ 49” W
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Narrows History
Location, Habitat, and Birds: The Narrows are a "narrow" stretch of water connecting Malheur Lake to the east with Harney Lake to the west. Although Malheur and Harney are relatively permanent water sources, the water levels fluctuate greatly from year to year and season to season. The Narrows can be an avian hotspot or an avian dead spot depending on the water levels. To reach this area from Burns, take Hwy 78 1.7 miles east to OR 205. Turn right on 205 and go 9.5 miles to a large ridge that rises out of the flatlands. This is Wright's Point. Go up and over Wright's Point and continue south. The sage flats on both sides of the road can be productive for sage species like Sage Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, and Western Meadowlark. Look for Horned Lark as the sage gives way to dry scrub. Burrowing Owls can be found along this stretch so watch the fence posts. The road becomes elevated as a testament to water levels of days bygone. As you approach the Narrows, there will be pullouts provided so you can view the wildlife without obstructing traffic. The Narrows itself has been developed and you can use the pullout on the west side to view Mud Lake or you can pull over to the east side to view the channel that makes up the Narrows. This is a great spot for fall shorebirds and one of the best places to find Clark's Grebes if the water levels are high enough. An excellent description of the birds and birding at The Narrows can be found at Don Baccus's website
Malheur NWR Field Station return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 14’ 45” N 118 53’ 38” W
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Virtual Tour
Location, Habitat, and Birds: For directions to the Field Station, information on lodging, or information about ongoing programs The Field Station is a collection of buildings and mobile homes that house the staff and visiting birders. Small trees are found in this area and migrants will sometimes fall out here. The trees are small so a chance for a "birds-eye" view of Common Nighthawk or Chestnut-sided Warbler makes the quick detour to the Field Station worthwhile. Common Poorwill can be heard at night. An excellent description of the birds and birding at the Field Station can be found at Don Baccus's website
Malheur NWR Sodhouse Ranch return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 16’ 03” N 118 52’ 39” W
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USFWS Website
Location, Habitat, and Birds:
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates (Headquarters) 43 15’ 46” N 118 50’ 39” W
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Location: Headquarters - From Burns, travel two miles on Hwy 78 and turn right on Hwy 205. Head south on State Highway 205 for 24 miles to the Narrows RV Park and cafe. Head east on Harney County Road 405 (Narrows to Princeton Road) for 6 miles. Turn left at top of hill into the headquarters area.
Habitat and Birds -
Audubon Important Bird Area
US Fish & Wildlife Website
Don Baccus Photo Guide to Malheur
Hunting Map (Not an endorsement of hunting, just a good map)
Bird Checklist Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Noah Stryker's Birding Malheur Page
GORP Site
A very good description of the birds and birding at the Headquarters can be found at Don Baccus's website
Headquarters to Princeton via Narrows-Princeton Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 15’ 46” N 118 50’ 39” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From Headquarters proceed east on the Narrows-Princeton Road. This will eventually come out on Hwy 78. You can take 78 back to Burns by turning left or you can go right and access the Alvord Desert (see below). This road can be good for sparrows in summer and can be very good for hawks in the fall. A very good description of the road and it's birding opportunities can be found on Don Baccus's site
Malheur NWR Center Patrol Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-2 geographic coordinates 43 15’ 46” N 118 50’ 39” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From the Malheur HQ buildings, take the dirt road that goes directly south. This is the Central Patrol Road which bisects the refuge. A very good description of the road and it's birding opportunities can be found on Don Baccus's site at: http://donb.photo.net/malheur/places/cpr.html
Malheur NWR Buena VistaPonds and Overlook return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 04’ 02” N 118 52’ 03” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: A very good description of the birds and birding at Buena Vista can be found at Don Baccus's website
Foster Flat RoadSage Grouse Lek return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-1 geographic coordinates (Access road) 43 07’ 04” N 118 54’ 53” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From the Narrows, travel 11 miles south on Hwy 205 (just south of milepost 34) to Foster Flat Road. Take this road for 8.4 miles to the Sage Grouse lek. The lek will be on the left side between 50 and 200 feet from the road. The best viewing time is one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunrise from late March to early May. You are expressly forbidden to get out of your car at the lek. Photographs must be taken from within the vehicle.
Daily human disturbances on sage grouse leks could cause reduction in mating, and some reduction in total production. If flushed, grouse usually fly from the strutting ground and do not return again that day. Some leks are known to the public and are visited by photographers and other interested persons to watch the annual courtship rituals. Such activities need to be curtailed if they disrupt mating. Grouse are tolerant of automobiles and may be watched from fairly close range if the observers do not leave their vehicles. But the instant a person leaves a vehicle the grouse become alarmed and generally take flight, not to return again until the next day. Fortunately the mating season is fairly long (up to 2 months) so receptive hens will usually be mated.1
1Mayo W. Call and Chris Maser. Wildlife Habitats in Management Rangelands—The Great Basin of Southeastern Oregon: Sage Grouse. USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management. General Technical Report PNW-187. 1985. Page 19.
In addition to Sage Grouse, this area can be productive for other sage species such as Sage Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, and Sage Thrasher.
Diamond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-2 geographic coordinates 43 00’ 43” N 118 39’ 56” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Diamond is located 12 miles east of Hwy 205 on Diamond Lane. A very good description of the birds and birding the Diamond area can be found at Don Baccus's website and at Diamond.
Diamond Craters return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-1 geographic coordinates 43 04’ 37” N 118 44’ 45” W
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Virtual Tour (Look on the side bar and click Diamond Craters)
Location, Habitat, and Birds: To find the Diamond Craters, travel south two miles past Buena Vista (17 miles north of Frenchglen) on Hwy 205. Turn left on Diamond Lane. This is a paved road that will lead to Diamond, Diamond Craters, and the Round Barn. Travel 6.8 miles and turn left (north) on Lava Beds Road. Travel 4 miles and look for the signs to Diamond Craters. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Diamond Craters can be found at Don Baccus's website
Round Barn return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-2 geographic coordinates 43 07’ 57” N 118 38’ 32” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To find the Round Barn, travel south two miles past Buena Vista (17 miles north of Frenchglen) on Hwy 205. Turn left on Diamond Lane. This is a paved road that will lead to Diamond, Diamond Craters, and the Round Barn. Travel 6.8 miles and turn left (north) on Lava Beds Road. Travel 10 miles (past Diamond Craters) and look for the signs to the Round Barn. Don't forget to stop in at the gift shop. Cold drinks and a huge variety of novelties await you. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Round Barn can be found at Don Baccus's website
Krumbo Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-2 geographic coordinates 42° 57’ 13” N 118 48’ 43” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Krumbo is east of Hwy 205. The access road is 8 miles south of Buena Vista and 11 miles north of Frenchglen. Take this road east for 0.5 miles and stop to view the large marsh on your left (a scope is a must here). A little farther down is a very productive pond that is often packed with water birds. Even farther still is a small pond that is choked with cattails. Check this location for anything unusual (a Common Moorhen once). Finally, after 4 miles, you will come to Krumbo Reservoir. Park in the parking area near the west side and scan the lake. Later, drive down to the east side to view parts of the reservoir not viewable from the east side. A very good description of the birds and birding at the P Ranch can be found at Don Baccus's website
Malheur NWR Benson Pond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-1 geographic coordinates 42° 57’ 27” N 118 52’ 04” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To find Benson Pond, travel 8 miles south of Buena Vista (11 miles north of Frenchglen) to the Krumbo Reservoir Road. Turn left (east) on Krumbo Reservoir Road and travel 0.25 miles. You will see the Center Patrol Road which begins off to the right. Turn on the CPR and go a short distance to the first big water you see on your left. This is Benson Pond. Park here and walk into the grove of trees at the end of the road. A very good description of the birds and birding at Benson Pond can be found at Don Baccus's website
Frenchglen return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-1 geographic coordinates 42 49’ 32” N 118 54’ 51” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located 59 miles south of Burns on Hwy 205, Frenchglen offers many large deciduous trees that can provide nourishment for migrants and a few local nesters. Vagrant passerines can be found here in good numbers in the spring and especially the fall. From the main road, search the trees in the area for woodpeckers, sapsuckers, passerines, and even the occasional owl. The Frenchglen Hotel is located on the south end of town and they welcome birders on their property (this is also a great place to stay during a trip to Malheur NWR). Other properties in town are privately owned and birding should be restricted to the road. If the store is open, check with them (and support their existence) to get permission to bird their grounds. The school on the north end of town provides very good birding. Private land owners just north of the school feed the birds and a small donation for bird seed is always welcome. A very good description of Frenchglen and its birding opportunities can be found on Don Baccus's site
P Ranch return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-1 geographic coordinates 42 49’ 39” N 118 53’ 08” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: A very good description of the birds and birding at the P Ranch can be found at Don Baccus's website
Page Springs Campground return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-1 geographic coordinates 42 48’ 14” N 118 52’ 02” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To locate Page Springs, travel east from Frenchglen on the unpaved Steens Mountain Road. Travel for about 3 miles (past the P Ranch and the CPR). Turn right into Page Springs. Drive the campground and look for campers with hummingbird feeders. Though the cattails are sparse in the campground, they often host a pair of Virginia Rails. At the south end, there are two trails. One heads east into a canyon and the other heads south along the Blitzen River. Both are very good. Some of the species you might find here include Virginia Rail, Yellow-breasted Chat, Canyon Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Long-eared Owl. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Page Springs can be found at Don Baccus's website
Steens Mountain return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 B-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 C-3 geographic coordinates (Access Road) 42 48’ 33” N 118 52’ 04” W geographic coordinates (Summit) 42 39’ 58” N 118 33’ 54” W
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Location: The mountain is located about 60 miles south of Burns off of Hwy 205 east of Frenchglen, Oregon. The Steens Loop Road is about 66 miles long and is usually open from July 1 to October 31. The road ends 0.5 miles from the summit but the tremendous view makes the hike to the top worthwhile. The surface of the roadway can be variable but is generally rough and may not be acceptable to motor home traffic. It is gravel all the way with no guard rails so speeds should be kept below 35 mph. The "top" is nearly 10,000 feet in elevation so be prepared for bad weather or breakdowns on the mountain. From Frenchglen, travel 3 miles to the turn to Page Springs Campground. Veer left and take the Fish Lake Road to the top of the mountains. If time permits, stop at Fish Lake, Jackman Park, and South Steens Campgrounds as well as any number of "birdy" looking areas on your way up the mountain . Near the top, look for the signs to Kiger Gorge and take this 0.25 mile detour to view the gorge. Return to the road and continue your ascent. Look for the sign to the East Rim viewpoint. This area provides stunning views of the Alvord Desert. Return to the road and continue on to the top. Feel free to access the rim at any point along the way (take care to always stay clear of the edge and watch for loose rocks). Park at the top and hike to the summit. Many choose to retrace their steps and return to Frenchglen the same way they came up. Others choose to continue the loop and come out on Hwy 205 10 miles SW of Frenchglen. WARNING!!! Continuing along the loop instead of retracing your steps will bring you in contact with very rough roads and should not be attempted unless your vehicle has good clearance and a sturdy constitution. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Steens Mountain can be found at Don Baccus's website
Habitat and Birds: This road travels from the valley floor to the top of Steens Mountain. You enter and exit several life zones along the way so the birding can be very productive and interesting. Make sure you stop at several locations along the way. Most of the campgrounds provide productive birding and comfortable camping in the summer. Owling in these campgrounds can produce Saw-whet, Short-eared, and Great Horned Owls along with others. Sage Grouse are often seen along the road and Rock Wrens are fairly abundant. Migrating hawks are abundant in the fall and can provide quite an aerial show as they ride the updrafts created by the mountain. In summer, Rufous Hummingbirds use thistle and wildflowers while migrants of just about any ilk can be found along the slopes. Perhaps the most sought after bird on the Steens are the Black Rosy-Finches. Look for the finches along the major viewpoints. These nomads can be anywhere along the east rim. Getting there early and putting in some time checking the rim can pay off with a rosy-finch sighting.
Hiking on Steens Mountain
Photos of the Steens Mountain
Fields Oasis return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 C-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 D-2 geographic coordinates 42° 15’ 51” N 118 40’ 28” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Fields is located 50 miles south of Frenchglen on Hwy 205. The Oasis is on the east side of the road across from the gas pumps. A trail goes around a small pond and the whole area is surrounded with riparian vegetation. Walk around and around the pond. Many good finds occur after the second or third time an observer walks the ponds. You can also walk around the community. Migrants are often found in the trees away from the Oasis. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Fields Oasis can be found at Don Baccus's website
Catlow Valley return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 73 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 C-1 geographic coordinates 42° 36’ 51” N 118 57’ 39” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: The Catlow Valley is dotted with ranches that require water. It is these water features that offer some nice birding. Several ponds can be viewed from Hwy 205 and county rarities like Common Loon can show up in these ponds. Look for "seeps" or springs that come out of the canyon walls. Lush vegetation will give these away and you can often find Yellow-breasted Chat and Lazuli Bunting as well as Bullock's Orioles and other species. Check high up on the rimrock for White-throated Swifts and listen for calling Chukars.
Mann Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-3 geographic coordinates 42° 46’ 16” N 118 26’ 49” W
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Mann Lake Photos
Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located 40 miles north of Fields and 20 miles south of the Jct. of Hwy 78 and Fields-Denio Road is Mann Lake. Like many water features in the dry SE part of our state, this lake is an oasis amid dryness and salt flats. White Pelican, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, peeps, and ducks all occupy this lake in summer. Blackbirds and raptors are abundant here as well. Grebes ply the waters and terns cruise the surface in search for food.
Alvord Hotsprings return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-3 geographic coordinates 42° 32’ 37” N 118 32’ 03” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Alvord Hot Springs is 106.9 miles southeast of Burns. In Burns head east on Highway 78 to the turnoff for Fields which is about 65 miles. Turn right onto the Fields-Denio Road and travel on gravel to the turn off for the hot springs, 41.7 miles on the left. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Alvord Desert can be found at Don Baccus's website
Alvord Desert return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 B-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 C-3 geographic coordinates 42° 31’ 20” N 118 27’ 50” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Alvord Hot Springs is 106.9 miles southeast of Burns. In Burns head east on Highway 78 to the turnoff for Fields which is about 65 miles. Turn right onto the Fields-Denio Road and travel on gravel to the turn off for the hot springs, 41.7 miles on the left. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Alvord Desert can be found at Don Baccus's website
Pueblo Mountain Valleys return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 D-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 E-3 geographic coordinates (Little Cottonwood Canyon) 42° 09’ 53” N 118 36’ 14” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: If you plan on spending some time in the Fields area, a visit to the canyons south of Fields is a great idea. Lined with riparian vegetation, these valleys can harbor just about any migrant in the spring and fall. Warbling Vireos, Bullock's Orioles, and Western Wood-Pewees are common summer residents. Camping is available. Check in Fields for the best places to camp. Below you will find a terrific hike contributed by Mike Denny. Please heed the warnings about water, weather, and snakes.
Pueblo Mountains-Ten Cent Meadows/Van Horn Basin- 42 05' 00" 118 40' 00"Alert#1 take extra water and socks. Wear boots and a wide brim hat and take a camera! This is a three hour hike one way. Alert#2 The entire lower canyon below the wall is well populated with Western Rattlesnakes, please use common sense around these reptiles and once you have detected one leave it alone and walk away from it! Do notattempt to kill these snakes as they are an important part of this areas ecology. These snakes average 28" in this canyon and are to be expected anywhere after the onset of warm weather. Again, this is a three hour hike minimum!
This is a summer-mid fall ( mid-May to mid-October) hike only. This basin is in between Pueblo Mountain (8725') and the western spine of the Pueblo Range. It is a high spectacular basin that can be accessed from two points.
A. From Fields drive south 8.2 miles to Cottonwood Creek, cross the creek on HWY 292 and turn right onto the dirt track, go slow so as not to scrape the bottom of your rig and to also avoid running over any of the many reptiles in this desert area. Select one of the dispersed camp sites along Cottonwood Creek . This entire mountain range is under BLM management and large portions of these mountain areas are Wilderness Study Areas. Once you are settled be prepared to listen to Common Poorwills, Western Screech-Owls, coyotes and the rushing cold water stream beside you. Leave early and walk up stream along Cottonwood Creek, please stay along the north side of the canyon as you go. You will come to a natural stone wall after about 1.5 hours of walking. Watch not only for birds, but agates, geodes and many species of flowering plants. Once you are up and over the wall (which can be hiked up and over) you are a little over half way to the Van Horn Basin/Ten Cent Meadow. The birds of this area are numerous during spring to early fall. We have seen Bushtits, Mountain Chickidee, Short-eared Owls, Green-tailed Towhees, Rock Wren, Golden Eagle, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, and Black-throated Gray Warblers, to name a few. Watch the flycatchers on your way up as they include Dusky, Western, Western Wood-Pewee, and Gray Flycatchers. Also watch for eastern vagrants such as Common Grackle, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and many others. Follow Cottonwood Creek as it hooks to the south and fractals into many small branches. You have reached this beautiful basin and all of its birds. You are very high 6980' and there are no snakes here. The dominate trees are mountain mohogany, some aspen, and bitter brush. There are Cassin's Finches, Red Crossbill, Hermit Thrush and, at times, gray-headed Dark-eyed Juncos. This high mountain basin is intoxicating and time flies up there. Do not get caught in the dark on your hike down and out of this basin. Leave plenty of time for your hike out.
Access point B. Along Van Horn Creek- Alert! There are Western Rattlesnakes in the lower elevations of this canyon during warm weather so be alert as you hike. Once again this is a fair weather hike only. This is the rough way in and the trail is rudimentary at best. Once again stay to the north side of the creek and well up and away from the creek. This is a 2.5 hour hike into the Van Horm Basin. Watch for Indigo Buntings and other unexpected species. This is a steeper climb and not the walk up that Cottonwood Creek is. You will be surrounded by stunning vistas and views on this route.
EAST OF BURNS
Hwy 78 Burns to Princeton return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 09” N 119 03’ 16” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: While not the primary access route to Malheur, Hwy 78 can be a very productive side journey in Harney County. The big draw on this road is fall raptors. Red-tailed Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, Northern Harriers, Prairie Falcons, Bald and Golden Eagles all descend on hay fields to hunt for rodents and the density can be very impressive at times. From the Jct of Hwy 20 and 78 in Burns, travel 48 miles to the Princeton area. A side trip can be taken to access the little town of Crane and pick up some supplies if you forgot anything in Burns. There is no town of Princeton so don't expect an urban interchange out there. At 48 miles, turn back west on the Narrows/Princeton Road to Malheur NWR Headquarters.
Beebe Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-4 geographic coordinates 43 45’ 09” N 118 28’ 52” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Beebe is a reservoir on private land that can be viewed from Hwy 20. Located 35 miles east of Burns on Hwy 20, these lakes are marshy and water levels fluctuate with the seasons. Black Terns and Yellow-headed Blackbirds are here in summer. Other terns may be present in spring and fall. This location will not likely produce birds you can't see somewhere else in Harney County but if you are driving by, it can give you a good excuse to get out of the car. The road is narrow and there is little shoulder so park carefully.
BURNS AREA
Burns/Hines return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 09” N 119 03’ 16” W
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Burns City Information http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/oregon/burns
Hines City Information http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/oregon/hines
Location, Habitat, and Birds: The cities of Burns and Hines are often under-birded as many are in a rush to get to Malheur NWR. Many of the rarities seen on the Refuge are seen near Burns/Hines as well. There are some good local specialties that should not be overlooked. Rock Pigeons often hang out near the southeast part of town and Eurasian Collared-Doves are now nearly ubiquitous in the city. Study the gulls that hang out at the McDonald's parking lot in Hines. Scrub Jays are only just establishing a population so keep your eyes and ears open. Often, migrants can be found in good numbers in the large ornamental trees of town. The cemetery is located just NE of the high school on Hwy 20. Western Screech-Owls have been found here. Listen for them along the sidewalk on the south side of the cemetery or turn west off of Monroe Street and access the north side. The walking trail on the old railroad grade on the east edge of the cities is often overlooked. An excellent description of the birds and birding in Burns/Hines can be found at Don Baccus's website
Burns Sewage Ponds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 34’ 05” N 119 03’ 52” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located between the Fairgrounds and the walking trail. An elevated viewing platform on the walking trail offers good scope and photo opportunities in the afternoon. Viewing in the morning hours is served by entering the fairgrounds from Egan St. and proceeding east to the pond boundary fence. A elevated platform exists there for the brave. The ponds are often TOTALLY covered with white geese in the spring, Most of the divers are found here. Watch for rarities such as Sabine’s Gull and White-winged Scoter.
Fry Lane Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 09” N 119 03’ 16” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From the corner of Broadway and Monroe in Burns (this is the Jct of Hwys 20 and 78), travel east 1.7 miles to Fry Road. Turn left on Fry and continue until it connects with Hwy 20 (about 2 miles). Turn left again and take 20 back into Burns. This area can be very productive in the spring. Early spring will produce huge flocks of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes. A little later, gulls (Franklin's in particular) Long-billed Curlew, Black-crowned Night-herons, and assorted waterfowl crowd into the flooded fields along this route. A great early morning starter on your way to Malheur.
Greenhouse LaneLoop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 31’ 33” N 119 05’ 06” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: As most people access Harney County via Hwy 20, Greenhouse Lane Loop can be a good respite after the long, monotonous drive that is Hwy 20. Coming from Bend, travel 22 miles past Riley and look for Greenhouse Lane soon after the BLM Building on your right. Coming from Burns, travel 3.6 miles past the high school and turn left on Greenhouse Lane. Drive along Greenhouse for 4.1 miles, stopping frequently when you see birds. There is a large pond where the road turns from a southward direction to eastward and it is always productive. Continue east until Greenhouse intersects with Hwy 205. At this point, you can turn left and return to Burns or you can turn right and continue on to Malheur NWR. This loop can be a photographer's dream on an early spring morning. Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds occupy what seems like every other fence post. Those not taken up by the aforementioned species are often occupied by a Willet or a Wilson's Snipe. Long-billed Curlews and White-faced Ibis can be seen close up here. This area can have some of the largest flocks of white geese in April.
Hotchkiss Lane return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 33’ 24” N 119 03’ 34” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This is a favorite location for people who stay in Burns before descending on Malheur. In Burns at the Jct of Monroe St (Hwy 20) and S. Egan Avenue, turn south and drive slowly through town. California Quail are abundant here as are Eurasian Collared-Dove. Listen for Western Scrub-Jays as they have established a small population in Burns. As you begin to leave the residential area, you will see the fairgrounds on your right (See Burns Sewage Ponds). Continue until Egan intersects with Hotchkiss Lane. At this point, you have your choice of turning right and working your way back to Hwy 20 or turning left and meeting up with Hwy 205 which leads to Malheur NWR. It is recommended that you do both. In spring, there are flooded fields and small pools along this route. On the west end of Hotchkiss there are several large settling ponds (Hines Sewage Ponds) that will have abundant waterfowl and can sometimes be completely full of white geese. Watch for rarities here, as this is often the only open water in winter months. Later in spring, Western Meadowlarks sing along the route as mixed flocks of ducks, geese, gulls, and waders blanket the flooded fields.
Old Experiment Road Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 33’ 19” N 118 56’ 26” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: The Experiment Road Loop offers the largest flocks of waterfowl in the Burns area. Raptors enjoy this area as well. From the corner of Broadway and Monroe in Burns (this is the Jct of Hwys 20 and 78), travel east 6.6 miles to Old Experiment Station Road. Turn left on Experiment and drive slowly, birding from the road. This road will eventually meet up with Hwy 20. It is worth a quick detour here by turning right on Hwy 20 and traveling a couple of miles, scanning for big waterfowl flocks. Return to Burns along Hwy 20. This is one of the best places to find Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, and other dabblers. Franklin's Gull flocks can be large here and other gulls may be mixed in. Sandhill Cranes like this area as do Long-billed Curlew. Great Egrets are abundant at times and you can find the occasional Snowy Egret here as well.
NORTH OF BURNS
South Silvies Valley return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-1 geographic coordinates 43 53’ 58” N 118 56’ 13” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From Burns, take 395 for 23 miles to the southern edge of Silvies Valley. This is approximately 9 miles past Ildylwild Campground (see below). The northern half of Silvies Valley is in Grant County. Silvies Valley is predominantly open rangeland in private ownership, surrounded by ponderosa pine forests. Average elevation is 4600’. Check out the fields and ponds for waterfowl, cranes and geese.
Idylwild and Joaquin Miller Campgrounds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-1 geographic coordinates (Idylwild) 43 47’ 58” N 118 59’ 35” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From Burns, travel north on Hwy 395/20 a couple of miles out of Burns; then travel north14.3 miles along 395 to Idylwild Campground. Joaquin is 2 miles farther north. This is the most forested location most often visited by birders in Harney County. The campground provides large ponderosa pines which host Gray Jays, White-headed Woodpeckers, nuthatches, creeper, Clark's Nutcracker and Northern Pygmy-Owl. At night, you might be treated to the call of a Flammulated Owl or a Common Poorwill. Look and listen for Green-tailed Towhee in the Ceanothus. Most of the local forest species can be found here.
WEST OF BURNS
Chickahominy Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-8 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 24” N 119 36’ 55” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located north of Hwy 20 approximately 30 miles west of Hines, Chickahominy Reservoir materializes out of the desert and you have to pay attention or you can miss it. It's not always easy to see the water from the road so one should keep an eye out for the ubiquitous motor homes that stand out against the skyline. Access the area at the sign for Chickahominy. Stop at the Dam and look for sparrows and Rock Wrens. Continue on and work your way around the north side of the lake. There are numerous pullouts that give you good views of the shoreline and the waterfowl in the lake. In the lake itself, large numbers of American Coots, grebes, ducks, and even loons can be found in season. In the fall, the water levels drop and this becomes a hotspot for shorebirds. Snowy Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, and phalaropes can be found. Western, Least, Pectoral, Bairds, and Spotted Sandpipers can be present and the occasional Sanderling, Solitary Sandpiper, or Stilt Sandpiper are all possible. Both yellowlegs and dowitchers (mostly Long-billed) can be numerous.
Dry Mountain Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-8 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 29” N 119 32’ 13” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Silver Creek, Egypt Creek and Miller Canyon- From Riley take HWY 20 west two miles then turn right or north onto Harney Co. Rd 138 / Silver Creek Road. From Hwy 20 go north on Silver Creek Road after crossing Silver Creek about 0.5 miles take the next left and stay on Silver Creek Road. Follow this road until the pavement ends and you have crossed into the Ochoco NF lands at which point Silver Creek Road becomes FSRD 4130. Stay on FSRD 4130 until you come to FSRD 4135. Turn south onto this road and proceed until you come to a Y in the road. Stay to the left and proceed south. If you opt to go right at this Y you will need a high clearance 4x4 and you can take a rough road up a steep mountain to a spectacular view of the Harney Basin at the Dry Mountain Fire Lookout (6383'). This is a very under birded area and little is known of it. The author has been to this location twice and has yet to meet other birders who have been there. It has all the birds expected in the southern Blue Mountains. In May watch for ticks. It is great birding! As you proceed south on FSRD 4135 you will once again come to a split in the road, keep to the right and you will be in Miller Canyon which will take you back on Harney Co. Rd 139 to Hwy 20. Birding this loop requires that you stop frequently and listen while you search for birds. Watch for warblers and wetland birds along Silver Creek and Good Luck.
Riley Pond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-8 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 29” N 119 32’ 22” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Riley Pond is 1.8 miles west of Riley, OR. It has become a famous birding location because of the rarities that have occurred there. This small pond along Hwy 20 has produced far more than its share of rare passerines over the year. Many people make the pilgrimage to Malheur several times per year and a stop at Riley Pond is considered mandatory. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Riley Pond can be found at Don Baccus's website
Sage Hen Rest Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-9 geographic coordinates 43 31’ 57” N 119 19’ 11” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located 9 miles east of Riley and 15 miles west of Burns, this public rest stop is a great place to get out and stretch your legs after the long drive from Central Oregon. A nature trail exits the area at its SW corner. There are 18 bird boxes in the immediate area, housing Mountain Bluebird, Mountain Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Northern Flicker and American Kestrel.
47 Road and Emigrant Creek return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 32’ 47” N 119 05’ 05” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Travel south through Hines and go past the old Hines Mill. Look for the paved road that leads westward and up into the hills. This is forest road 47. It's also called the Hines Logging Road. Take this road and stop frequently as it travels through different habitats. Many of the common juniper species like Gray Flycatcher and Ash-throated Flycatchers can be found in the first few miles of road 47. After 7 miles, the road drops into a basin called Willow Flat. Look for Northern Flicker, Western Meadowlark, Vesper Sparrow, and Brewer's Sparrow here. There are often Pronghorns here for a non-avian treat. Continue on for 13 miles. There are several ponds along this route and they can often host surprising waterfowl. Wood Ducks and goldeneyes can be found along with Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, and Common Merganser. After 20 miles of travel, stop at Emigrant Creek and bird (see below).
41 Road Pine Springs and Egley Burns return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 B-9 geographic coordinates 43 38’ 33” N 119 15’ 46” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: 12 miles from Hwy 20 on the 47 Road, turn left on Forest Road 41 (both 47 and 41 are paved). Continue on this road for as much time as you have. It will eventually lead you to Delintment Lake and beyond. There are two good burns here. The first burn is called the Pine Springs Burn which happened in 1990. This burn was heavily salvaged so most of the burned trees are gone, replaced by Ceanothus. This is a great place to find nesting Northern Flickers and Green-tailed Towhee. Lewis's Woodpeckers are scattered throughout this area in summer. Continue on 41 until you get into a newer burn. This is the Egley Burn which happened in 2007. Black-backed, Hairy, Downy, and White-headed Woodpeckers utilize this burn. Williamson's and Red-naped Sapsuckers are pretty common here. You can check the bundles of mountain mahogany for signs of sapsucker activity. All the regular pine forest species can be found on this road.
Emigrant Creek return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 A-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 B-9 geographic coordinates 43 46’ 14” N 119 18’ 54” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This large patch of willows and sage is located 20 miles from Hwy 20 on Road 47. This thick patch of willows can harbor just about any migrant and can be very productive as the birds use Emigrant Creek to guide their way into the mountains. Spotted Towhee and Northern Flicker are abundant and Bushtit can be seen here.
Yellowjacket Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 A-9 geographic coordinates 43 52' 41.7" N 119 16' 3.2" W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To reach Yellowjacket Reservoir from Hines, take the 47 Road approximately 30 miles to the 37 Road. Turn right on 37 Road and go 2.3 miles to the 3745 Road. Turn right on 3745 and go 0.9 miles to USFS campground at Yellow Jacket Lake. Birds here include Osprey (nesting platform), Bald Eagle, Common Loon, and diving ducks.
Delintment Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 A-8 geographic coordinates 43 53’ 24” N 119 37’ 29” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This lake is 43 miles from Burns and a morning trip can be very productive as this route takes you through some diverse habitats and some good forested areas. It also takes you through some good burns that are very productive. From Burns, take the 47 road to the 41 Road (see above). Stay on the 41 road for 31 miles to the lake and bird as you go. Stop frequently in the burned areas for woodpeckers, both bluebirds, Cassin's Finch, nuthatches, and jays. Dusky and Hammond's Flycatchers are present in summer as are Olive-sided Flycatchers and pewees. Pygmy Owls can be found along with crossbills. Osprey, Bald Eagles, and diving ducks are often seen at this lake. There is a USFS campground here.
SOUTH OF BURNS (MALHEUR AREA)
Wright's Point return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 D-1 geographic coordinates 43 26’ 56” N 119 01’ 10” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: This location is on the way to Malheur NWR. From Burns, take Hwy 78 1.7 miles east to OR 205. Turn right on 205 and go 9.5 miles to a large ridge that rises out of the flatlands. This is Wright's Point. It is actually an ancient river valley that was capped by a lava flow which has caused it to weather more slowly than the surrounding landscape. Hwy 205 goes up and over this landform. On the way to Wright's Point, stop and view the avifauna that carpets the landscape. There is a large stock pond near Island Ranch Road that often has Black Terns and waders along with ducks and geese. On the north slope of Wright's Point, look for a pull-off. Park here and investigate the foliage among the rimrock. During migration, warblers, vireos, and just about any other passerine can be found here. Sometimes Great Horned Owls hide in this thicket. On the top of the point, look for a dirt road that leads to a gravel pit. This area is often good for sparrows and Rock Wren. There are very good sage flats on the south side of the point and these can produce Sage Thrasher, Brewer's Sparrow. and even an occasional Black-throated Sparrow.
Double O Road return to the top
North Access DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-9 geographic coordinates 43 31’ 43” N 119 17’ 38” W
South Access DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 D-1 geographic coordinates 43 17’ 39” N 118 58’ 27” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: An excellent description of the birds and birding in this area can be found at Don Baccus's website
The Narrows return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 D-1 geographic coordinates 43 16’ 46” N 118 57’ 49” W
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Narrows History
Location, Habitat, and Birds: The Narrows are a "narrow" stretch of water connecting Malheur Lake to the east with Harney Lake to the west. Although Malheur and Harney are relatively permanent water sources, the water levels fluctuate greatly from year to year and season to season. The Narrows can be an avian hotspot or an avian dead spot depending on the water levels. To reach this area from Burns, take Hwy 78 1.7 miles east to OR 205. Turn right on 205 and go 9.5 miles to a large ridge that rises out of the flatlands. This is Wright's Point. Go up and over Wright's Point and continue south. The sage flats on both sides of the road can be productive for sage species like Sage Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, and Western Meadowlark. Look for Horned Lark as the sage gives way to dry scrub. Burrowing Owls can be found along this stretch so watch the fence posts. The road becomes elevated as a testament to water levels of days bygone. As you approach the Narrows, there will be pullouts provided so you can view the wildlife without obstructing traffic. The Narrows itself has been developed and you can use the pullout on the west side to view Mud Lake or you can pull over to the east side to view the channel that makes up the Narrows. This is a great spot for fall shorebirds and one of the best places to find Clark's Grebes if the water levels are high enough. An excellent description of the birds and birding at The Narrows can be found at Don Baccus's website
Malheur NWR Field Station return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 14’ 45” N 118 53’ 38” W
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Virtual Tour
Location, Habitat, and Birds: For directions to the Field Station, information on lodging, or information about ongoing programs The Field Station is a collection of buildings and mobile homes that house the staff and visiting birders. Small trees are found in this area and migrants will sometimes fall out here. The trees are small so a chance for a "birds-eye" view of Common Nighthawk or Chestnut-sided Warbler makes the quick detour to the Field Station worthwhile. Common Poorwill can be heard at night. An excellent description of the birds and birding at the Field Station can be found at Don Baccus's website
Malheur NWR Sodhouse Ranch return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 16’ 03” N 118 52’ 39” W
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USFWS Website
Location, Habitat, and Birds:
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates (Headquarters) 43 15’ 46” N 118 50’ 39” W
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Location: Headquarters - From Burns, travel two miles on Hwy 78 and turn right on Hwy 205. Head south on State Highway 205 for 24 miles to the Narrows RV Park and cafe. Head east on Harney County Road 405 (Narrows to Princeton Road) for 6 miles. Turn left at top of hill into the headquarters area.
Habitat and Birds -
Audubon Important Bird Area
US Fish & Wildlife Website
Don Baccus Photo Guide to Malheur
Hunting Map (Not an endorsement of hunting, just a good map)
Bird Checklist Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Noah Stryker's Birding Malheur Page
GORP Site
A very good description of the birds and birding at the Headquarters can be found at Don Baccus's website
Headquarters to Princeton via Narrows-Princeton Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 15’ 46” N 118 50’ 39” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From Headquarters proceed east on the Narrows-Princeton Road. This will eventually come out on Hwy 78. You can take 78 back to Burns by turning left or you can go right and access the Alvord Desert (see below). This road can be good for sparrows in summer and can be very good for hawks in the fall. A very good description of the road and it's birding opportunities can be found on Don Baccus's site
Malheur NWR Center Patrol Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 C-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-2 geographic coordinates 43 15’ 46” N 118 50’ 39” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From the Malheur HQ buildings, take the dirt road that goes directly south. This is the Central Patrol Road which bisects the refuge. A very good description of the road and it's birding opportunities can be found on Don Baccus's site at: http://donb.photo.net/malheur/places/cpr.html
Malheur NWR Buena VistaPonds and Overlook return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-1 geographic coordinates 43 04’ 02” N 118 52’ 03” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: A very good description of the birds and birding at Buena Vista can be found at Don Baccus's website
Foster Flat RoadSage Grouse Lek return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-1 geographic coordinates (Access road) 43 07’ 04” N 118 54’ 53” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: From the Narrows, travel 11 miles south on Hwy 205 (just south of milepost 34) to Foster Flat Road. Take this road for 8.4 miles to the Sage Grouse lek. The lek will be on the left side between 50 and 200 feet from the road. The best viewing time is one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunrise from late March to early May. You are expressly forbidden to get out of your car at the lek. Photographs must be taken from within the vehicle.
Daily human disturbances on sage grouse leks could cause reduction in mating, and some reduction in total production. If flushed, grouse usually fly from the strutting ground and do not return again that day. Some leks are known to the public and are visited by photographers and other interested persons to watch the annual courtship rituals. Such activities need to be curtailed if they disrupt mating. Grouse are tolerant of automobiles and may be watched from fairly close range if the observers do not leave their vehicles. But the instant a person leaves a vehicle the grouse become alarmed and generally take flight, not to return again until the next day. Fortunately the mating season is fairly long (up to 2 months) so receptive hens will usually be mated.1
1Mayo W. Call and Chris Maser. Wildlife Habitats in Management Rangelands—The Great Basin of Southeastern Oregon: Sage Grouse. USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management. General Technical Report PNW-187. 1985. Page 19.
In addition to Sage Grouse, this area can be productive for other sage species such as Sage Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, and Sage Thrasher.
Diamond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-2 geographic coordinates 43 00’ 43” N 118 39’ 56” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Diamond is located 12 miles east of Hwy 205 on Diamond Lane. A very good description of the birds and birding the Diamond area can be found at Don Baccus's website and at Diamond.
Diamond Craters return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-1 geographic coordinates 43 04’ 37” N 118 44’ 45” W
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Virtual Tour (Look on the side bar and click Diamond Craters)
Location, Habitat, and Birds: To find the Diamond Craters, travel south two miles past Buena Vista (17 miles north of Frenchglen) on Hwy 205. Turn left on Diamond Lane. This is a paved road that will lead to Diamond, Diamond Craters, and the Round Barn. Travel 6.8 miles and turn left (north) on Lava Beds Road. Travel 4 miles and look for the signs to Diamond Craters. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Diamond Craters can be found at Don Baccus's website
Round Barn return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 D-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-2 geographic coordinates 43 07’ 57” N 118 38’ 32” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To find the Round Barn, travel south two miles past Buena Vista (17 miles north of Frenchglen) on Hwy 205. Turn left on Diamond Lane. This is a paved road that will lead to Diamond, Diamond Craters, and the Round Barn. Travel 6.8 miles and turn left (north) on Lava Beds Road. Travel 10 miles (past Diamond Craters) and look for the signs to the Round Barn. Don't forget to stop in at the gift shop. Cold drinks and a huge variety of novelties await you. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Round Barn can be found at Don Baccus's website
Krumbo Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-2 geographic coordinates 42° 57’ 13” N 118 48’ 43” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Krumbo is east of Hwy 205. The access road is 8 miles south of Buena Vista and 11 miles north of Frenchglen. Take this road east for 0.5 miles and stop to view the large marsh on your left (a scope is a must here). A little farther down is a very productive pond that is often packed with water birds. Even farther still is a small pond that is choked with cattails. Check this location for anything unusual (a Common Moorhen once). Finally, after 4 miles, you will come to Krumbo Reservoir. Park in the parking area near the west side and scan the lake. Later, drive down to the east side to view parts of the reservoir not viewable from the east side. A very good description of the birds and birding at the P Ranch can be found at Don Baccus's website
Malheur NWR Benson Pond return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 F-1 geographic coordinates 42° 57’ 27” N 118 52’ 04” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To find Benson Pond, travel 8 miles south of Buena Vista (11 miles north of Frenchglen) to the Krumbo Reservoir Road. Turn left (east) on Krumbo Reservoir Road and travel 0.25 miles. You will see the Center Patrol Road which begins off to the right. Turn on the CPR and go a short distance to the first big water you see on your left. This is Benson Pond. Park here and walk into the grove of trees at the end of the road. A very good description of the birds and birding at Benson Pond can be found at Don Baccus's website
Frenchglen return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-1 geographic coordinates 42 49’ 32” N 118 54’ 51” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located 59 miles south of Burns on Hwy 205, Frenchglen offers many large deciduous trees that can provide nourishment for migrants and a few local nesters. Vagrant passerines can be found here in good numbers in the spring and especially the fall. From the main road, search the trees in the area for woodpeckers, sapsuckers, passerines, and even the occasional owl. The Frenchglen Hotel is located on the south end of town and they welcome birders on their property (this is also a great place to stay during a trip to Malheur NWR). Other properties in town are privately owned and birding should be restricted to the road. If the store is open, check with them (and support their existence) to get permission to bird their grounds. The school on the north end of town provides very good birding. Private land owners just north of the school feed the birds and a small donation for bird seed is always welcome. A very good description of Frenchglen and its birding opportunities can be found on Don Baccus's site
P Ranch return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-1 geographic coordinates 42 49’ 39” N 118 53’ 08” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: A very good description of the birds and birding at the P Ranch can be found at Don Baccus's website
Page Springs Campground return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-1 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-1 geographic coordinates 42 48’ 14” N 118 52’ 02” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: To locate Page Springs, travel east from Frenchglen on the unpaved Steens Mountain Road. Travel for about 3 miles (past the P Ranch and the CPR). Turn right into Page Springs. Drive the campground and look for campers with hummingbird feeders. Though the cattails are sparse in the campground, they often host a pair of Virginia Rails. At the south end, there are two trails. One heads east into a canyon and the other heads south along the Blitzen River. Both are very good. Some of the species you might find here include Virginia Rail, Yellow-breasted Chat, Canyon Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Long-eared Owl. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Page Springs can be found at Don Baccus's website
Steens Mountain return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 B-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 C-3 geographic coordinates (Access Road) 42 48’ 33” N 118 52’ 04” W geographic coordinates (Summit) 42 39’ 58” N 118 33’ 54” W
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Location: The mountain is located about 60 miles south of Burns off of Hwy 205 east of Frenchglen, Oregon. The Steens Loop Road is about 66 miles long and is usually open from July 1 to October 31. The road ends 0.5 miles from the summit but the tremendous view makes the hike to the top worthwhile. The surface of the roadway can be variable but is generally rough and may not be acceptable to motor home traffic. It is gravel all the way with no guard rails so speeds should be kept below 35 mph. The "top" is nearly 10,000 feet in elevation so be prepared for bad weather or breakdowns on the mountain. From Frenchglen, travel 3 miles to the turn to Page Springs Campground. Veer left and take the Fish Lake Road to the top of the mountains. If time permits, stop at Fish Lake, Jackman Park, and South Steens Campgrounds as well as any number of "birdy" looking areas on your way up the mountain . Near the top, look for the signs to Kiger Gorge and take this 0.25 mile detour to view the gorge. Return to the road and continue your ascent. Look for the sign to the East Rim viewpoint. This area provides stunning views of the Alvord Desert. Return to the road and continue on to the top. Feel free to access the rim at any point along the way (take care to always stay clear of the edge and watch for loose rocks). Park at the top and hike to the summit. Many choose to retrace their steps and return to Frenchglen the same way they came up. Others choose to continue the loop and come out on Hwy 205 10 miles SW of Frenchglen. WARNING!!! Continuing along the loop instead of retracing your steps will bring you in contact with very rough roads and should not be attempted unless your vehicle has good clearance and a sturdy constitution. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Steens Mountain can be found at Don Baccus's website
Habitat and Birds: This road travels from the valley floor to the top of Steens Mountain. You enter and exit several life zones along the way so the birding can be very productive and interesting. Make sure you stop at several locations along the way. Most of the campgrounds provide productive birding and comfortable camping in the summer. Owling in these campgrounds can produce Saw-whet, Short-eared, and Great Horned Owls along with others. Sage Grouse are often seen along the road and Rock Wrens are fairly abundant. Migrating hawks are abundant in the fall and can provide quite an aerial show as they ride the updrafts created by the mountain. In summer, Rufous Hummingbirds use thistle and wildflowers while migrants of just about any ilk can be found along the slopes. Perhaps the most sought after bird on the Steens are the Black Rosy-Finches. Look for the finches along the major viewpoints. These nomads can be anywhere along the east rim. Getting there early and putting in some time checking the rim can pay off with a rosy-finch sighting.
Hiking on Steens Mountain
Photos of the Steens Mountain
Fields Oasis return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 C-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 D-2 geographic coordinates 42° 15’ 51” N 118 40’ 28” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Fields is located 50 miles south of Frenchglen on Hwy 205. The Oasis is on the east side of the road across from the gas pumps. A trail goes around a small pond and the whole area is surrounded with riparian vegetation. Walk around and around the pond. Many good finds occur after the second or third time an observer walks the ponds. You can also walk around the community. Migrants are often found in the trees away from the Oasis. An excellent description of the birds and birding at Fields Oasis can be found at Don Baccus's website
Catlow Valley return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 73 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 C-1 geographic coordinates 42° 36’ 51” N 118 57’ 39” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: The Catlow Valley is dotted with ranches that require water. It is these water features that offer some nice birding. Several ponds can be viewed from Hwy 205 and county rarities like Common Loon can show up in these ponds. Look for "seeps" or springs that come out of the canyon walls. Lush vegetation will give these away and you can often find Yellow-breasted Chat and Lazuli Bunting as well as Bullock's Orioles and other species. Check high up on the rimrock for White-throated Swifts and listen for calling Chukars.
Mann Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-3 geographic coordinates 42° 46’ 16” N 118 26’ 49” W
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Mann Lake Photos
Location, Habitat, and Birds: Located 40 miles north of Fields and 20 miles south of the Jct. of Hwy 78 and Fields-Denio Road is Mann Lake. Like many water features in the dry SE part of our state, this lake is an oasis amid dryness and salt flats. White Pelican, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, peeps, and ducks all occupy this lake in summer. Blackbirds and raptors are abundant here as well. Grebes ply the waters and terns cruise the surface in search for food.
Alvord Hotsprings return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 A-3 geographic coordinates 42° 32’ 37” N 118 32’ 03” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Alvord Hot Springs is 106.9 miles southeast of Burns. In Burns head east on Highway 78 to the turnoff for Fields which is about 65 miles. Turn right onto the Fields-Denio Road and travel on gravel to the turn off for the hot springs, 41.7 miles on the left. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Alvord Desert can be found at Don Baccus's website
Alvord Desert return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 B-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 C-3 geographic coordinates 42° 31’ 20” N 118 27’ 50” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Alvord Hot Springs is 106.9 miles southeast of Burns. In Burns head east on Highway 78 to the turnoff for Fields which is about 65 miles. Turn right onto the Fields-Denio Road and travel on gravel to the turn off for the hot springs, 41.7 miles on the left. A very good description of the birds and birding at the Alvord Desert can be found at Don Baccus's website
Pueblo Mountain Valleys return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 D-2 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 86 E-3 geographic coordinates (Little Cottonwood Canyon) 42° 09’ 53” N 118 36’ 14” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: If you plan on spending some time in the Fields area, a visit to the canyons south of Fields is a great idea. Lined with riparian vegetation, these valleys can harbor just about any migrant in the spring and fall. Warbling Vireos, Bullock's Orioles, and Western Wood-Pewees are common summer residents. Camping is available. Check in Fields for the best places to camp. Below you will find a terrific hike contributed by Mike Denny. Please heed the warnings about water, weather, and snakes.
Pueblo Mountains-Ten Cent Meadows/Van Horn Basin- 42 05' 00" 118 40' 00"Alert#1 take extra water and socks. Wear boots and a wide brim hat and take a camera! This is a three hour hike one way. Alert#2 The entire lower canyon below the wall is well populated with Western Rattlesnakes, please use common sense around these reptiles and once you have detected one leave it alone and walk away from it! Do notattempt to kill these snakes as they are an important part of this areas ecology. These snakes average 28" in this canyon and are to be expected anywhere after the onset of warm weather. Again, this is a three hour hike minimum!
This is a summer-mid fall ( mid-May to mid-October) hike only. This basin is in between Pueblo Mountain (8725') and the western spine of the Pueblo Range. It is a high spectacular basin that can be accessed from two points.
A. From Fields drive south 8.2 miles to Cottonwood Creek, cross the creek on HWY 292 and turn right onto the dirt track, go slow so as not to scrape the bottom of your rig and to also avoid running over any of the many reptiles in this desert area. Select one of the dispersed camp sites along Cottonwood Creek . This entire mountain range is under BLM management and large portions of these mountain areas are Wilderness Study Areas. Once you are settled be prepared to listen to Common Poorwills, Western Screech-Owls, coyotes and the rushing cold water stream beside you. Leave early and walk up stream along Cottonwood Creek, please stay along the north side of the canyon as you go. You will come to a natural stone wall after about 1.5 hours of walking. Watch not only for birds, but agates, geodes and many species of flowering plants. Once you are up and over the wall (which can be hiked up and over) you are a little over half way to the Van Horn Basin/Ten Cent Meadow. The birds of this area are numerous during spring to early fall. We have seen Bushtits, Mountain Chickidee, Short-eared Owls, Green-tailed Towhees, Rock Wren, Golden Eagle, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, and Black-throated Gray Warblers, to name a few. Watch the flycatchers on your way up as they include Dusky, Western, Western Wood-Pewee, and Gray Flycatchers. Also watch for eastern vagrants such as Common Grackle, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and many others. Follow Cottonwood Creek as it hooks to the south and fractals into many small branches. You have reached this beautiful basin and all of its birds. You are very high 6980' and there are no snakes here. The dominate trees are mountain mohogany, some aspen, and bitter brush. There are Cassin's Finches, Red Crossbill, Hermit Thrush and, at times, gray-headed Dark-eyed Juncos. This high mountain basin is intoxicating and time flies up there. Do not get caught in the dark on your hike down and out of this basin. Leave plenty of time for your hike out.
Access point B. Along Van Horn Creek- Alert! There are Western Rattlesnakes in the lower elevations of this canyon during warm weather so be alert as you hike. Once again this is a fair weather hike only. This is the rough way in and the trail is rudimentary at best. Once again stay to the north side of the creek and well up and away from the creek. This is a 2.5 hour hike into the Van Horm Basin. Watch for Indigo Buntings and other unexpected species. This is a steeper climb and not the walk up that Cottonwood Creek is. You will be surrounded by stunning vistas and views on this route.
EAST OF BURNS
Hwy 78 Burns to Princeton return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 77 B-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 81 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 09” N 119 03’ 16” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: While not the primary access route to Malheur, Hwy 78 can be a very productive side journey in Harney County. The big draw on this road is fall raptors. Red-tailed Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, Northern Harriers, Prairie Falcons, Bald and Golden Eagles all descend on hay fields to hunt for rodents and the density can be very impressive at times. From the Jct of Hwy 20 and 78 in Burns, travel 48 miles to the Princeton area. A side trip can be taken to access the little town of Crane and pick up some supplies if you forgot anything in Burns. There is no town of Princeton so don't expect an urban interchange out there. At 48 miles, turn back west on the Narrows/Princeton Road to Malheur NWR Headquarters.
Beebe Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-3 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-4 geographic coordinates 43 45’ 09” N 118 28’ 52” W
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Location, Habitat, and Birds: Beebe is a reservoir on private land that can be viewed from Hwy 20. Located 35 miles east of Burns on Hwy 20, these lakes are marshy and water levels fluctuate with the seasons. Black Terns and Yellow-headed Blackbirds are here in summer. Other terns may be present in spring and fall. This location will not likely produce birds you can't see somewhere else in Harney County but if you are driving by, it can give you a good excuse to get out of the car. The road is narrow and there is little shoulder so park carefully.