Field Trip Reports: Audubon Members Hit the Road This Summer!
Thank you to trip leader Dave Parent for sharing reports from expeditions to Malheur Wildlife Refuge and Westport, WA.
Malheur Wildlife Refuge June 2-6
A very enthusiastic group of 14 participants toured the refuge and vicinity. Most of us camped at Page Springs BLM Campground, while some stayed in local lodging. Each night around the campfire we discussed the day’s finding and planned the next day. We also observed a few mosquitoes!
We toured the refuge, the town of Fields and its famous oasis, milkshakes and hamburgers, Cottonwood Creek leading into the remote Pueblo Mountains, Refuge Headquarters and Ruh-Red Road. A highlight was the often dry but this year well-watered Wrights Pond, where we observed just about all the area’s waterfowl and shorebirds. Some of us traveled up the South Steens Road where we saw the famous Kiger Mustangs. The gate at Page Springs to Steens Mountain was open to Fish Lake where we saw some additional montane avian species and a spectacular wildflower display.
Total avian species seen: 127. Favorite species were Burrowing Owls, Lazuli Buntings and Bobolinks as well as Leopard Lizards and Horned Lizards.
Westport Seabirds Field Trip August 16
A group of nine participants embarked on the vessel, Monte Carlo, in the early morning darkness to travel 35 miles offshore to the edge of the continental shelf. This was a wonderful opportunity to observe pelagic birds, mammals and fish that cannot generally be seen from shore.
Almost all participants, including some seasoned experts, reported life birds. As we headed west, we spent some time around the working shrimp boats with their hundreds of birds feeding on the catch as it was hauled aboard. Seeing the huge Black-footed Albatross is always a treat. In the words of ornithologist Robert Cushman Murphy in 1912: “I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the albatross.” The lovely Buller’s Shearwaters and Sabine’s Gulls stood out among their kin. One cooperative Tufted Puffin was a crowd pleaser.
A complete list of species seen can be found on the Westport Seabirds website, 2025 Trip Results, August 16 entry.
Marine mammals seen were Gray and Humpback Whales, Harbor and Dall’s Porpoise, Harbor Seals, California and Steller’s Sea Lions. Fish seen were Blue Sharks and many large Mola molas (Ocean Sunfish).