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Southeast Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
July 10, 2024
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Harney County
Resident breeding waterfowl with broods are abundant around Malheur Lake.
Sandhill cranes can be found in agricultural fields throughout the Harney Basin.
Local breeding species include killdeer, avocets, black-necked stilts, white-faced ibis, curlews, willets, pelicans, egrets and a variety of grebe species, Forester's terns, black terns, franklins, ring-billed and California gulls can also be found.
Raptors continue to be found throughout the area. You should be able to view golden eagles, bald eagles and a variety of hawks perching on telephone poles and fence posts throughout the district. Resident raptors such as northern harriers and red-tailed hawks are very easily observed in open agricultural areas along with rough-legged hawks and an occasional ferruginous.
Mule deer, antelope, and elk young can be viewed traveling with mothers. Fawns are rarely abandoned by their parents so if you see young hiding in the brush, leave them alone and keep your distance so not to disturb them.
Klamath County
The Link River trail below Upper Klamath Lake, Lake Ewauna and the Wood River wetlands are excellent places to view many species of wildlife including deer, river otter, muskrat, mink and a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.
Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWR are good places to view raptor species such as eagle, hawk, falcon, and owl. Drought conditions have impacted the refuges but there are still some good viewing opportunities for raptors.
Klamath Wildlife Area
updated Nov. 6, 2023
Miller Island Unit
- The Miller Island Unit is located 6 miles south and west of Klamath Falls. Miller Island Unit is closed to all access from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
- Jan. 1 – Jan. 31: Open to public use daily; open to hunting during authorized game bird seasons.
- All other days are closed to all entry, except public roads, parking areas, boat ramp, designated birding trail and designated dog training area.
- Overnight camping is not allowed on the Miller Island Unit.
A Wildlife Area Parking Permit is now required to park on the Wildlife Area. Cost is $10 daily or $30 annually. Free with purchase of hunting license; just be sure to put it on your dashboard. Find out how to buy a parking permit.
Waterfowl
Flocks of Canada geese are scattered around the area.
Southern migrating waterfowl continue to move through the area. Duck species currently on the area include mallard, northern shoveler, gadwall, canvasback, redhead, American green-winged teal, Northern pintail, American wigeon, ruddy duck, wood duck, ring-necked duck, scaup, bufflehead, common goldeneye, and common and hooded mergansers.
Shorebirds, waders and other waterbirds
Great blue herons are readily observed on the area. American bitterns are also present but can be difficult to find. Other shorebirds may still be present, but their numbers are declining as they migrate out.
Virginia rails and soras can be heard throughout the area but can be difficult to spot. American coot can be found scattered throughout Miller Island.
Eared and pied-billed grebes can still be found on the area.
Ring-billed gull numbers fluctuate between very few sightings to very common. Other gull species can be occasionally observed.
Raptors
Look for great horned and barn owls at dusk. Red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned, rough-legged, American kestrels, and prairie falcons are foraging throughout the wildlife area. Eagle numbers are low, but several can usually be found scattered around the area.
Peregrine falcons can occasionally be seen but are rare sightings.
Upland Game Birds
California quail and ring-necked pheasant are scattered around the old homesteads and the headquarters area.
Songbirds and other passerines
Eurasian collared and mourning doves are scattered over the area.
American and lesser goldfinches, house finches, mountain chickadees, American robins, yellow-rumped warblers, western meadowlark, black-billed magpies, common raven and Northern flickers continue to be a common site throughout the area. White-crowned and golden crowned sparrows are also becoming common sites on the wildlife area.
Marsh wrens and song sparrows can be found in dense stands of tall emergent hard stem bulrush and broad-leaf cattail and are very numerous. Red-winged, brewers and Yellow-headed blackbirds can still be found, but their numbers are declining and will continue to do so with fall migrations.
Mammals
Dusk is the best time to spot beaver and muskrat. Dusk is the best time to spot beaver and muskrat. River otter, mink, long-tailed weasel, coyotes, stripped skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, mountain cottontail, California ground squirrels and raccoon can also be found using the Wildlife Area. Deer numbers continue to remain good.
Visitors might also spot river otter, mink, long-tailed weasel, coyotes, stripped skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, mountain cottontail, California ground squirrels and raccoon using the wildlife area. Deer numbers continue to remain good.
If you have any questions, please contact Klamath Wildlife Area at (541) 883-5732.
Lake County
The heat of summer has officially set in, with no relief in sight. Wildlife will be beating the heat through laying in the shade and using cooler riparian areas. Make sure to give wildlife extra space during these hot months.
This time of year, viewers looking for waterfowl in Lake Co may find Canada geese and some dabbling duck species on open waters near Valley Falls and in the Warner Valley. Most of the summer waterfowl residents have arrived, including cinnamon teal and the occasional blue-winged teal. Summer Lake Wildlife Area remains Lake County's best viewing opportunity for waterfowl in winter.
Shorebirds have arrived in the County. The larger species such as Willet, White-faced Ibis, American Avocets, and some Black-necked Stilts have arrived. Smaller peeps such as Least and Western Sandpipers, and phalaropes are present as well. Lake Abert can be a great location to see large numbers of shorebirds, along with Summer Lake.
Unique raptor species, such as the Swainson's hawk and Ferruginous hawk may be found in Lake County at this time of year. Other common raptor species present include red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, prairie falcons, northern harriers, bald eagles and golden eagles.
Great horned owls, barn owls, and short-eared owls can also be heard and seen at night. Short-eared owls can also be observed during the daytime more so than other species of owls.
You will find the most diversity of passerine species in riparian areas. As with other classifications of birds, passerine composition changes daily as birds use the county as a stopover for further travel or settle in for the summer season. Many of the migrators have arrived, and singing is abundant. Look for warblers in the forest, sparrows in the sagebrush, and everything else in between.
Mule deer
Most of the mule deer are on the summer ranges in the forest. Does have given birth to fawns, and those fawns are getting mobile and are running with does or in groups with other fawns. Bucks are often in bachelor groups with velvet on their antlers.
Mule deer that spend the summer in the surrounding forested big game management units migrate to traditional wintering grounds near the towns of Silver Lake, Fort Rock and Christmas Valley, Paisley and Lakeview to escape harsh winter conditions at higher elevations. Some mule deer that migrate to North Lake County come from as far away as Crater Lake in the Cascades.
Pronghorn
Pronghorn are mostly back on their summer ranges in the high desert such as Hart Mountain, west Beatys Butte and Warner. Look in areas of low sagebrush with water to have the best odds of finding pronghorn. Hart Mountain is a great place to start.
Pronghorn antelope have horns instead of antlers like mule deer and elk. Both buck and doe pronghorn antelope have horns. The outer sheath is shed annually by December as the new horn grows in underneath. This new growth will be complete by July the following year. A prominent prong or point on the horn can identify buck pronghorn antelope. In addition, the buck's entire nose appears black, and all bucks have a visible black cheek patch.
Doe pronghorn antelope generally do not have a prong or point, and the horn is usually less than 5-inches long. A doe's nose is much lighter colored, and a doe will not have a visible black cheek patch. If you see a group of pronghorn, remember to check behind the group. The dominant buck is often following well behind.
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep can be found on many of the canyon rims in Lake County.
Look for sheep on rims along Hwy 395 from the Christmas Valley Highway junction south to the Hwy 31 junction. Abert Rim just above Abert Lake along Hwy 395 offers good viewing. Hadley Butte, near Paisley, also offers viewing from Hwy 31 and the Summer Lake Hot Springs. Viewers wishing to observe bighorns should bring binoculars or spotting scopes, as sheep are generally found in steep rocky terrain and must be viewed from a distance.
Malheur County
Nesting season is a tremendous time to observe a variety of songbirds. Prime nesting activity for most birds continues throughout June. Malheur County hosts large populations of larks, sparrows, wrens and other small birds that are most obvious both in the sage country and around human developments this time of year. Late spring and early summer is also the best time to find rarer species like the long-billed curlew or black-necked stilt along creek and water edges, grasslands and agricultural fields.
While weather and growing conditions of the last several years have produced more big game on the landscape, these animals will be harder to find in the coming months. Ungulate species are all giving birth and raising young at this time of year and tend to stay secluded and isolated until offspring are capable of self-feeding and running with herds. ODFW reminds recreationists to use discretion when seeking big game viewing opportunities during this time of year.
Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Camping is permitted at four sites on the Wildlife Area. Campgrounds are primitive but each has vault toilets, trash barrels, and a few picnic tables.
- Wildlife Viewing Loop is open through early fall of 2024. Refuges are currently open to foot traffic.
- Access roads to campgrounds remain open, year-round. Windbreak Dike, Gold Dike, Bullgate Dike, and Work Road are currently closed to vehicle travel. Roads are marked with current access regulations. Parking is only allowed in designated parking areas.
- Non-motorized travel on spur levees or lateral dikes is permitted, as is cross-country travel.
Game bird hunting seasons are now closed. Viewing opportunities may be reduced by occasional extreme weather conditions.
The Schoolhouse Lake Wildlife Viewing blind provides an excellent opportunity to see a wide variety of waterbirds.
Breeding season is well underway for all nesting species. Broods are often visible. If you encounter a nest or brood, please step back and move away to avoid disturbing birds during this critical time of the year.
Waterfowl
Breeding season is well underway, and broods of many species can be observed. Mallard, gadwall, cinnamon teal, redhead, and ruddy duck are the most common species observed. Smaller numbers of other species can also be found.
Canada geese remain widely distributed across the wildlife area. Broods can easily be observed scattered throughout the area.
A few resident and non-breeding trumpeter swans remain widely scattered across the wildlife area. These birds are part of restoration efforts and will be neck-collared with green collars and white alphanumeric symbols.
Shorebirds, wading birds, and other waterbirds
Shorebirds numbers have been decreasing in the last few weeks. Visitors may see small numbers of killdeer, Wilson's snipe and Wilson's phalaropes
American bittern, black-crowned night-herons, and great blue herons can be found throughout the wildlife area. American coot are widely scattered across the wildlife area and courtship displays can commonly be observed, as well as broods. Virginia rail and sora can be found throughout the wildlife area. White-faced ibis, long billed curlews, American avocets, and black-necked stilts are breeding on the area.
Four species of grebes can be found on the wildlife area (Clark's, eared, pied-billed and western). Look for them in large open bodies of water such as Ana Reservoir, North Bullgate Refuge and North Levee Impoundment. Nesting activities are starting to occur.
Ring-billed gulls have returned and can be observed on the nesting island in the East Link Unit as well as Gold Dike Impound. Smaller numbers of Franklin's gulls are scattered throughout the wildlife area. Caspian and Forster's terns can be observed scattered throughout the wildlife area and black terns can occasionally be observed. Double-crested cormorants and American white pelicans can also be observed.
Raptors and others
Northern harriers and red-tailed hawks are common this time of the year. Swainson's and ferruginous hawks, American kestrel, peregrine and prairie falcons can occasionally be found. Bald and golden eagles are also found on a regular basis, since both species frequently hunt the waterbirds on the wildlife area. Osprey are nesting near Ana Reservoir.
Great horned owls remain widely scattered across the entire wildlife area, especially in the trees at campgrounds. Short-eared owls can sometimes be found in early morning or evening hours. Barn owls can sometimes be observed, as well.
Upland game birds
California quail and ring-necked pheasants can sometimes be observed near Headquarters and north end upland areas. Visitors may see broods of both species.
Songbirds and other passerines
Eurasian collared doves remain numerous and can be observed at Headquarters Complex and other areas. A few mourning doves are scattered throughout the wildlife area.
American robins, mountain bluebirds, loggerhead shrikes, Steller's and scrub jays are in varied numbers across the wildlife area, especially around Headquarters and old homestead sites. Black-billed magpie and common raven are also common throughout the area, as are Northern flickers.
There are very good numbers of marsh wrens and song sparrows in the dense stands of hardstem bulrush and broad-leaved cattail along dikes and levees throughout the wetlands. Savannah sparrows also can be found throughout the wildlife area.
Large numbers of red-winged, yellow-headed and brewer's blackbirds can be found throughout the wildlife area. Western meadowlarks can be found scattered in good numbers throughout the area, as well.
Swallows can be found nesting throughout the wildlife area and most young birds have already fledged. Most swallows are cliff and tree, but other swallow species can commonly be observed. Breeding warblers and flycatchers can often be observed feeding around trees and brushy hedgerows.
Habitat
Seasonal marsh areas are well flooded and wetland plants are well into their growth season. Summer Lake proper is decreasing in size and will continue to decrease through the summer.
For assistance and additional information, contact wildlife area staff at 541-943-3152.