2012 Tours
Tours take place Friday through Sunday and depart from the Burns High School. Please arrive
early as tours depart at the
scheduled time. Tour guides make every effort to provide a quality experience. Please note there may be long stretches
between rest stops. Be sure to dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes that will keep your feet warm and dry. Participants with limited mobility should contact the Harney County Chamber of Commerce prior to booking tours. As
many of the tours travel to remote areas, we suggest that participants bring snacks, lunch or water.
Most of the vehicles used for the Festival's tours are generously provided by the following: Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Oregon Agriculture Research Center, Harney County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Emery & Sons Construction of Stayton, Oregon.
PRIVATE VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO FOLLOW TOUR VEHICLES.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED for the following tours. Must be 10 years or older to participate in the tours unless otherwise noted in the description.
Birding intensity of tours is as follows:
Basic bird watching skills, photo opportunities and learn about the area
Ability to sight and identify birds on your own is a plus
Fast paced, advanced bird watching
Banded White Geese:
Is it a Ross; Goose or a Snow Goose? Thousands of white geese use the floodplain around Burns as a spot over before moving northward to Arctic and subarctic breeding areas. This tour will introduce you to the exciting challenge of scanning large flocks of Ross's Geese and Snow Geese for colorful neck bands. Join Kelly Hazen, who has 10 years of experience reading arctic white geese neck bands, for a unique experience scanning the thousands of geese on agricultural fields surrounding Burns. After finding the bands, you will learn where the bird was banded and perhaps the bird's life history. By the end of this tour you will have a new set of birding skills and an appreciation of these magnificent white migrants.
Friday – 8:00 to 12:00; 4 hours.
Fee $40
Birding British Style:
One of our most popular tours!
Join Oxford-trained ornithologist Duncan Evered for an
insightful 8-hour field trip where we will make our subject
the bird--its behavior, ecology, 
migrations, digestion and,
well, you get the picture. Not just the name of the bird!
Having lived at the Malheur Field Station for fifteen years,
this Brit offers a unique perspective on birds and a pythonesque take on "The
Meaning of Birding." With a bit of luck, we'll learn that
identifying birds need not be the end of the pursuit, but
rather the beginning of a wonderfully fulfilling
experience. Participants must at least pretend to like Elgar's music and, after signing the liability waiver, everyone will sample Marmite done right. Come hone your observational skills while
having a jolly good time! Bring binoculars, lunch and water, and the walk of
your choice...
Friday, Saturday and Sunday - 8:00 to 4:00;
8 hours.
Fee: $80
Birding the Hot Spots [NEW TOUR]:
If you’re new to the area or just want someone else to do the driving - this is the tour for you! Join local wildlife biologists for a personalized tour of Harney Basin birding hot spots. They will answer all of your birding questions and provide insight into the habitat needs of many of our spring migratory birds. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to quiz an expert and discover the best birding spots in the Basin.
Friday – 1:00 to 4:00
Saturday – 9:00 to 12:00
Sunday – 8:00 to 11:00
3 hours; Fee: $30
Birds of Prey:
Come soar with the eagles and search
for raptors! View Bald Eagles exiting roosts, then drive
along agriculture fields observing eagles and raptors
hunting for prey. If weather and road conditions permit,
the trip will extend into the Malheur National Forest to
search for forest raptors. Local Forest Service biologist
Roy Sutcliff will teach raptor identification and explain
forest management practices that protect habitat for
specific raptors. Bring snacks or lunch, and water.
Friday and Sunday - 6:00 to 1:00, 7 hours.
Fee: $60
Digital Photography for Beginners:
This popular tour
is led by local photographer and wildlife enthusiast
Kainan Jordan who will introduce you to the basics of
combining bird watching with photography. The tour will
begin with a classroom session covering the basics.
Then travel to the field for photo opportunities, tips from
Kainan on composition and answers to your questions.
After a couple of hours in the field you will return to the
classroom to download your photos to a computer, learn
how to enhance and crop your photos, and then print
your final photos. You must bring your own digital
camera and your camera’s USB download cable – auto
focus cameras are just fine for this tour. Materials to print
the photos are included in the fee. Bring water and
lunch.
Saturday - 8:00 to 12:00; 4 hours.
Fee $45
Discover the Double-O [New Tour]:
A little visited area of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will be the venue for this tour. Located northwest of Harney Lake this tour will explore alkali playas, dunes, wet meadows, wetlands and ponds in an area of the refuge closed to public access. You will see waterfowl, cranes, shorebirds and passerines as you drive along willow lined dikes. Bring water, snacks and lunch.
Sunday – 8:00 to 2:00; 6 hours.
Fee $60
Extreme Birding [Formerly Sunrise to Sunset]:
The goal of this tour is to
view 100 plus species across the Harney Basin. Friday
tour 
participants will have the added bonus of an
evening multi-media review of species, including photo
highlights of the day during a no host dinner. Travel plans include
visiting habitats of ponderosa pine, western juniper,
sagebrush, agricultural fields, wetlands, sewage ponds
and backyards from Idlewild Campground through the
Silvies River floodplain, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
and Frenchglen. Everyone gets a window seat on this
tour! Local biologists will
serve as your tour guides for this jam packed day of birding. Bring snacks, drinks and lunch.
Friday - 6:00 to 6:00; 12 hours. Fee: $95
Saturday - 6:00 to 4:00; 9 hours. Fee: $80
Harney Basin Rock Art:
Join local archaeologists for a
rock art tour that focuses on the center of the basin and
explore different types of rock art made in ancient times
by the first people to live in southeastern Oregon. Visit
pictograph sites where the rocks were painted in
different color pigments and have survived for millennia.
Petroglyph sites, where the designs were made by
grinding or pecking the boulders with hammer stones,
will be viewed as well. The tour will be a loop from near
Harney Lake to Diamond and then back to Burns
through New Princeton and Crane. There will be a short
stop to visit the Round Barn Visitor Center and, if time
permits, a brief look at the historic Peter French Round
Barn. Bring rain gear, wear sturdy shoes or boots, bring
water and snacks and you will be back at Bird Central in
time for afternoon activities.
Friday – 8:00 to 12:00, 4 hours.
Fee $40
Harney Basin Working Llama Ranch:
Visit the Burns
Llama Trailblazers’ working llama ranch. You are invited to experience a hands-on session that
will provide you with detailed information concerning the
breeding, health maintenance and herd management of
performance animals. This is 
our females’ ranch, set
amid the meadowlands along the Silvies River, where
snow geese gather and hawks soar. The mama llamas
will be patiently awaiting the arrival of their babies or
nursing their new little ones. In just three hours you will
learn about the history of llama-human relations, llama
health and maintenance needs, birthing, training,
packing, and much more. Each participant will have the
opportunity to comb, lead and work with a llama. If you
like, you may walk them through the obstacle course and
take a short hike through the fields. This is great birding
country too. Geese, ducks, shorebirds, and raptors are
common, while eagles are an occasional treat. This is an
opportunity to find out what llamas are really like in a
lovely setting close to town.
Sunday - 9:00 to 12:00; 3 hours.
Fee: $30.
Harney County Cattlewomen’s Working Ranch:
Travel to a working cattle ranch 
with members of the
Harney County Cattlewomen as your hosts. You will be
introduced to the ranch owners -- multi-generation,
family ranchers. They will explain ranch management
techniques that are sustainable and support wildlife,
especially migratory birds, in the Harney Basin. Local
range scientists from the Eastern Oregon Agricultural
Research Center will provide a presentation on the work
they are conducting and the benefits it provides to
wildlife.
Coffee, water and cookies are provided at the ranch.
A beef tri-tip lunch (BBQ tri-tip, salad, cowboy beans,
bread and beverage) is put on by the HC Cattlewomen
at the EOARC and is included with the tour.
Saturday -- 7:30 to 2:30; 7 hours.
Fee: $35
If Llamas Could Fly…[NEW LOCATION]:
Once again the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will open a special area especially for you and the llamas. This year the tour will take place in the Double-O unit of the refuge. The birding is varied and always interesting. Let Burns Llama Trailblazers’ hard-working pack llamas carry your gear and escort you from the cliff tops to the water’s edge. Each birder will be assigned a llama companion. You may groom, saddle, and sneak treats to your companion if you wish. He will stay close to your side as we wander quietly through the vastness of the Great Basin. Our three mile hike follows a two-track road past playas and wet meadows, through dunes, and beside wetlands and ponds. Depending on the animal, llamas carry between 50 and 75 pounds, small folding camp chairs are acceptable. Cameras, collapsible tripods and scopes must be packed in a way that protects them from jostling. Do not bring fragile equipment that cannot withstand the rigors of field use. Bring snacks, lunch and water and warm clothes. Participants will travel 40 miles one-way from Burns in their own vehicles to begin this tour.
Friday & Saturday- 8:00 to 4:00; 8 hours.
Fee: $75.
Paradise Birding - Birding the Silvies River Flood Plain:
Join us for a half-day birding tour of the Silvies
River floodplain, where the snowmelt from the Blue
Mountains provides expansive water bird habitat before
it reaches Malheur Lake.
This region is characterized by
miles of privately owned grasslands and open pasture,
with some sagebrush uplands scattered throughout. The
start of irrigation season means these fields are filled
with water which draws an abundance of water birds.
We will search for more than eight species of raptors
and up to 20 different waterfowl, including thousands of
Snow and Ross's Geese. We can also expect early
arriving shorebirds and songbirds, plus large flocks of
sandhill cranes. We offer patient and enthusiastic bird
identification training for birders of all skill and ability
levels. We will discuss natural history and habitat
conservation for birds inhabiting the Harney Basin.
Friday - 12:00 to 5:00;
Saturday - 7:00 to 12:00 and 12:30 to 5:00; and
Sunday - 7:00 to 12:00;
5 hours
Fee: $50
Paradise Birding - Blue Mountains Woodpecker Tour:
Join Paradise Birding as we head for the hills in
search of resident woodpeckers of the Blue Mountains.
Our primary goal will be to find White-headed
Woodpecker, but we will also search for Hairy, Downy,
and Pileated Woodpecker, plus Northern Flicker and
possible wintering sapsuckers. In addition, we will enjoy
many other resident forest birds of the region, including
nuthatches, chickadees, finches, jays and more. Forest
raptors may include Northern Pygmy-Owl or Northern
Goshawk. We will plan multiple stops in varied forest habitats for maximum species diversity. Dress warmly
for the mountain weather.
Friday 12:00 to 5:00;
Saturday 7:00 to 12:00 & 12:30 to 5:00 and
Sunday 7:00 to 12:00,
5 hours
Fee: $50
Paradise Birding - Boca Lake Hiking:
Enjoy a leisurely 5-mile birding hike to one of the hidden gems of Malheur Refuge! Oregon naturalist Steve Shunk will guide you through this beautiful sub-basin of the Blitzen River Valley, exploring the wetlands and surrounding habitats of 600-acre Boca Lake. We can expect an abundance of waterbirds and plenty of upland species as we walk the road that circumnavigates the lake. Note that this area is normally closed to the public. Be prepared to be out of the vehicle for up to 6 hours; waterproof footwear and outerwear are recommended. Bring water and a bag lunch.
Saturday & Sunday - 6:30 am - 4:00 pm; 9.5 hours.
Fee: $95
Paradise Birding - Desert Birds of the Harney Basin Tour:
By mid-April, a few hardy songbird species have arrived in the uplands of the Harney Basin, and they begin singing across the sagebrush. On this unique exploration of the region’s desert habitats, we will be surrounded by Brewer’s Blackbirds and Western Meadowlarks, but our goal will be to get good looks at specialty desert songbirds such as Say’s Phoebe, Horned Lark, Loggerhead Shrike, Sage Thrasher, and Sage Sparrow. Weather permitting; we will spend as much time as possible out of the vehicle enjoying the early spring chorus.Saturday, April 14, 7:00am-12:00pm, and 12:30pm-5:00; 5 hrs.
Sunday, April 15, 7:00am-12:00pm; 5 hrs.
Fees: $50
Sage Grouse "Strutting" Early Bird:
Join biologists
from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife for dawn
viewing of the sage
grouse mating rituals on their lek.
This is your opportunity to view these elusive birds in
their natural habitat as they greet the beginning of spring
with their competitive struts and calls. Bring water and
snacks. This tour is weather dependent.
Refunds will be issued if the tour cancels.
Early Friday - 5:30 to 9:30 am; 4 hours.
Fee: $40
Sandhill Crane Discovery:
Discover the world of
Sandhill Cranes with crane biologist Gary
Ivey of the 
International Crane Foundation. This tour will
focus on finding sandhill cranes and learning about their
biology and their migration. Gary will also demonstrate
how wildlife biologists track cranes with radio telemetry.
Gary is the Foundation's Crane Conservation Manager
for western North America and works on research,
monitoring, environmental education, and habitat
conservation projects for the sake of crane conservation.
For more information about cranes around the world,
visit www.savingcranes.org . Bring water and snacks.
Friday - 1:00 to 3:00; 2 hours.
Saturday - 8:00 to 10:00; 2 hours.
Sunday - 8:00 to 10:00; 2 hours.
Fee: $25
Steens Mountain/Alvord Desert:
Tour the "loop" from
Burns through Crane, down the east side of Steens
Mountain along the Alvord Desert, into Catlow Valley,
then up Highway 205 bordering Malheur National
Wildlife Refuge and finally, back to Burns. Join expert
guides from the Burns District Bureau of Land
Management and learn the history and geology of this
great area. Be on the lookout for wild horses, mule deer,
bighorn sheep, and maybe even a cattle drive! A few
birding opportunities may also transpire. Bring snacks,
water and pack your own lunch or eat at the Fields Cafe
(not included in tour fee).
Saturday - 7:00 to 4:00; 10 hours.
Fee $90.
Waterfowl of Malheur Lake [NEW TOUR]:
Join expert bird watcher and Ducks Unlimited Field Biologist Mike Shannon for a tour to excellent waterfowl viewing locations on the north side of Malheur Lake. Mike will not only share tricks about identifying the waterfowl visiting the Basin, but will help you understand the life cycle needs of the birds you are seeing, and why they are visiting the area. High water levels on Malheur Lake have created excellent waterfowl habitat. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to bird watch with an expert!
Bring water and snacks.
Friday 7:00 to 12:00
Sunday 7:00 to 12:00
5 Hours. Fee: $50
MALHEUR REFUGE TOURS
These tours begin at Malheur Refuge Headquarters - 35 miles south of Burns
Behind the Gates Refuge Tour [NEW TOUR]:
Join refuge volunteers/staff for a tour of areas in the Blitzen Valley unit of the refuge closed to public access. Participants will have the opportunity to journey through the refuge with an
expert while bird watching in a variety of habitats. This tour will also include a visit to the heron and cormorant nesting colony at historic Sod House Ranch ~ this is the only tour accessing the colony this year! The first tour begins on Tuesday, April 10 if you are arriving before the festival begins and the last tour will be held on Saturday. The tour will travel through the refuge in a refuge provided vehicle. Bring snacks and water. Friday & Saturday - 8:00 to Noon and;
Tuesday through Saturday – 1:00 to 5:00 (SOLD OUT for Thursday, Friday & Saturday)
No Fee.
Call (541) 493-2612 before March 30th to reserve your place on this tour.
Introducation to Malheur Refuge [NEW SELF-GUIDED TOUR]:
Join refuge volunteers/staff for a 30 minute media introduction to Malheur Refuge before venturing along the Refuge’s Auto-Tour Route with our new audio CD guide. The audio guide is sponsored by the Refuge’s Friends Group – the Malheur Wildlife Associates – and participants of this tour will receive a free copy of this brand new CD. Presentations begin on the hour at Refuge Headquarters between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm beginning on Monday, April 9th and concluding on Sunday, April 15. Begin your tour of the refuge with an enlightening presentation at headquarters and then spend as much time as you would like exploring the Auto-Tour Route.
Monday through Sunday – 8:00 to 3:00
No Fee