Spring is here, and so are the birds! Time to look to the skies, open our ears, and witness the awe of migration right in our backyard! It’s also time to celebrate with the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival. 

Every March, Wildlife Refuge Specialist Carey Goss at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge teams up with the Artist-in-Residence Program to inspire and teach elementary students about the spring migration as the Artist-in-Residence provides the students with a new art technique. The team travels to all schools, K-8th, in Harney County to educate students about the value of the Refuge and the surrounding area to inspire their love for birds. 

This year’s Artist-in-Residence came from Portland, Oregon. Janet Stuart was hired by the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to assist Goss by teaching an art lesson. Stuart is an art teacher and loves the outdoors and birds. Fortunately, we had two additional artists, Tory Schmidt, and Doug Furr, to help with the program.

“As the Artist-in-Residence, it’s my job to teach an art lesson where students can complete a successful work of art in under an hour,” said Stuart. “I want to build their art skills, challenge them to try a new technique or medium, and build their confidence and appreciation for artmaking.”

In the classroom, Goss talks with students about the meaning of wildlife refuges and how refuges and open habitats like Harney County provide needed habitats for birds and other wildlife to rest, refuel, and seek shelter. Just like humans when they travel, birds need a stopover habitat along their migration journey. Students saw a map showing how Harney County is along a major migration route and that now the birds are beginning to arrive. 

To help connect students to birds, Goss played songs of familiar birds like the black-capped chickadee (song cheeseburger), and the sandhill crane, a harbinger of the migration. Goss also reminded them how their artwork will be displayed in the upcoming Migratory Bird Festival as part of the celebration. “The children’s eyes always light up to remember this tradition, and it’s a good feeling to know they live in a place that is uniquely special,” Goss said.

To begin the art activity, Stuart shows the students how to create a strong design using a photo of their chosen bird. They draw the bird large to fill the paper and add habitat like grasses, branches, or water. Next, Stuart demonstrated how to use the colored pastels. “I show them how to layer pastels to create new colors and how to blend to soften and mix the chalky color,” Stuart said. “I admired how students worked to replicate the colors, details, and patterns on their bird. Having only a short period to complete the artwork, they worked quickly with focus and confidence. Everyone seemed genuinely pleased and proud of what they had accomplished.”

For the past two weeks, the team has visited almost every school in Harney County and reached over 400 students. The student’s artwork will be displayed at storefronts throughout Burns and Hines during the Migratory Bird Festival, April 11-14.

The Migratory Bird Festival is a celebration of the spectacular spring migration. We encourage everyone to visit the storefronts throughout Burns and Hines to observe and see all the wonderful artwork by the local students.

Downtown Pole Banners

Thirty-four of our recent-years Youth Art Contest winners along with some Artist-in-Residence Program students now have their art featured on streetside light pole banners in downtown Burns.

“We are so excited to feature local youth artwork in such a meaningful way, and these pole banners will be displayed each spring for years to come,” said Carey Goss, Malheur Wildlife Refuge Specialist.

The first set of pole banners was created back in 2011 using artwork from the Youth Art Contest winners that coincide with the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival. After many years of wear and tear, it was time to replace the old pole banners.

This year’s pole banners are from students’ artwork from 2023. “The pole banners are so attractive and help brand awareness about the importance of youth art and birds,” Goss said.

A special thank you goes to the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and Malheur Refuge for generously supporting the Artist-in-Residence Program and the Youth Art Contest Scholarships, and to the City of Burns for their quick installation of the new pole banners.

Be sure to take a walk downtown and check out the masterpieces!

Winning Artwork By:

• Kindergarten: Hazel McCall, Morgan Schmidt, Seth Strain, Arem Boerem, Donte Washington, and Paisley Martinak

• 1st grade: Grace Chappell, Ruby Hussey, Taylor Rose Hammer, and June Branstetter

• 2nd grade: Bethany Whitehead, Isabella Haigh, Sawyer Schmidt, Caitlyn Allen and Wade Toelle

• 3rd grade: Adrian Jones, Luella Smith, and Thomas Garcia.

• 4th grade: Ayva Palmer, Cash Rusow, Henry Erbe, Madison Davis, Maiana Manibusan, and Will Frank.

• 5th grade: Ciera Camargo, Keira Smith, and Miller Maki

• 6th – 12th grades: Shiloh Schmidt, Amaya Ballard, Emily Martinez, Harlee Englestadter, – Kyla Sawyer, Kayli Dunten, and Sadie Davis.

It’s Time for the Youth Art Contest

The annual Harney County Migratory Bird Festival K-12 Youth Art Contest encourages students to observe, understand, and ultimately share what they know about migratory birds through a unique composition.

Entries for the 2024 contest are currently being accepted at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce. Submissions are due by April 5. Only one entry per youth and entry forms are required (available at the Chamber of Commerce).

Full submission guidelines are available by emailing carey_goss@fws.gov, but in general, we encourage all artists to complete a portrait of a local bird through your personal artistic choice – pencil, crayon, marker, paint, chalk, etc. – on your own time, away from school.

These pieces will be displayed at Harney County Fairgrounds Memorial Building in conjunction with the event’s Art Show & Sale from April 12-14 for viewing and public voting. Come down and rate your favorites! Contest scholarships are awarded to the top three winners in various age groups. And…drumroll please…