Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon)
$40,000  Northern Basin & Range 

The Harney Basin is a snowpack-dependent closed-lake basin in southeastern Oregon. Many species of migrating and nesting shorebirds and waterfowl depend on semi-permanent wetlands in the basin as a stopover location along the Pacific Flyway. However, increasingly variable weather patterns due to climate change and changing irrigation practices threaten the prevalence of these wetlands. Several bird species have already experienced population declines and are predicted to experience shifts in distribution and abundance due to climate change. Understanding how birds use wetland habitats in the Harney Basin is essential to prioritizing, developing, and evaluating the efficacy of restoration projects in this region–ultimately helping conserve currently-threatened birds and those at risk of decline from habitat loss. In addition, developing and deepening relationships with community members is essential for growing the grassroots support necessary to support current and future climate-resilient conservation efforts that protect birds and their habitats in the Harney Basin. This project is a three-pronged approach to understanding and helping conserve bird populations in the Harney Basin, specifically at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and in the Silvies Floodplain: 1) Formal bird surveys, 2) Local community scientist engagement, and 3) Environmental education opportunities that cultivate an appreciation for birds and their habitats, including the challenges they face. This project will be conducted with collaboration from the Harney County Library, Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative, and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), among others. This project will take place in the Northern Basin and Range ecoregion and will specifically benefit the Harney-Malheur and Upper Silvies River COAs. Conservation Strategy Species benefiting from this work include but are not limited to: Black-necked Stilt, Bobolink, Franklin’s Gull, and Greater Sandhill Crane.