Steens Mountain, from Buena Vista Overlook
Copyright © 1996, Don Baccus
Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
Buena Vista Station lies about a third of the way south in the Malheur Refuge, just east of State Highway 205. It can also be reached via the Center Patrol Road by turning west just before it terminates at Diamond Lane.
There's a small spur just west of the Station that leads to Buena Vista Overlook. There are signs along highway 205 inviting you to "Discover BV Overlook", and I recommend you check it out, too. From here you can see virtually the entire refuge, from Malheur Lake to up north to Steens Mountain, which overlooks the refuge to the south.
There can also be some pretty good birding at the overlook, with rock wren, cliff swallow, barn swallow, and other species near the cliff. With a spotting scope you can see most of the larger marsh birds and waterfowl. Yellow warbler, red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, and marsh wren can be heard down below.
Driving down to the marsh itself, park at the small bridge just east of the Station buildings. You're allowed to walk south along the small, willow-covered dike which borders this canal, and small birds are abundant here. Yellow warbler are by far the most common, but many other warblers are possible, along with the declining willow flycatcher.
One used to be able to walk north along the dike, as well, where another pair of great-horned owls nest. This was also the most reliable spot to get a canyon wren. The spot was closed off due to pictographs being in the area - the refuge has experienced some problems with pothunters and vandals. I only mention it because there's been talk among some Refuge biologists of opening the area up again - if there's no "Closed" sign, go for it.
The large pond to the south of the gravel road is managed on a cyclical basis, and birdlife varies. When full, one can usually see various grebes ( western and pied-billed most frequently), waterfowl, and other marsh birds. Every few years, though, the pond is drained to aerate the soil, and of course it is empty of birds, too.
The marsh bordering the gravel road to the north is home to nesting greater sandhill crane.
