Malheur National Wildlife Refuge & Annual Membership Meeting
2026-05-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave SWA 98001, Auburn, Washington, 98001, United States
by Dan Streiffert

For the past several years the low accumulation of snowpack and rainfall has resulted in a continual reduction in the size of Malheur Lake, to the point where the lake has nearly disappeared. But this changed in 2025 with a 150% snowpack. As a result, there is now enough deep water at the Narrows for Harney and Malheur Lakes to merge. This is both good and bad news.

The good news is an abundance of waterfowl throughout the spring with an extension of the nesting season to the point where many of the birds have had 2 – 3 broods of chicks.

The bad news is that with water everywhere, the birds are spread out all over the area, much of which has flooded making it hard to reach. The flooding was so bad that the north end of Burns flooded the week before the Migratory Bird Festival that was ultimately cancelled.

This presentation includes visits from both 2025 and the first two weeks of April 2026 for the spring Migratory Bird Festival.

Migratory Bird Festival | April 16-19, 2026

Green Valley in Late Spring
2026-05-23 08:00 - 13:00 | Washington
Leader: Steve JohnsonIn June, the migrant birds should be singing on their territory near Auburn and in the beautiful Green Valley east of Auburn. We’ll visit Academy Drive, Green Valley Road and Flaming Geyser State Park. We may see and hear warblers, thrushes, vireos, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Virginia Rail, flycatchers, and more. We may walk up to 2 miles on trails and roads.People who bring their own cars and want to leave early may do so.Bring: Lunch, snacks, drinks, hiking shoes, Discover Pass, if you have it. Scopes welcome.Meet: Auburn Safeway at Auburn Ave & Main at 8:00 AM. Directions: Take Hwy 18 to Auburn, and exit at Auburn Ave (Hwy 164). Turn north at the exit at Auburn Ave (Hwy 164). Turn north (right) on Auburn Way and drive 3 blocks north. Safeway sign and gas station is on the left. Park in the lot straight out from the north entry door of Safeway at 8:00 am.

Yakima River Canyon
2026-06-03 00:00 - 23:59 | Washington
We’ll join Roger Orness for an all day trip to the Yakima River Canyon.

We will focus on birds of prey, but we’ll also be looking for:

Golden Eagles

Lazuli Buntings

Bullock’s Orioles

Yellow-breasted Chats

Yellow Warblers

Eastern Kingbirds

Western Kingbirds

and more!

Meet at 6:00AM at Federal Way Hobby Lobby, next to Costco, to form carpools.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kKmaqGmKnm2GWCrj9

Flaming Geyser Nature Festival
2026-06-06 08:00 - 13:00 | Flaming Geyser State Park, 23700 SE Flaming Geyser Rd, Auburn, Washington, 98092, United States
