1. Home
  2. Lakes
  3. Harney Lake, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Harney Lake, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

View on Full Map View Surveys (3) View Sources (5)
Lake name:
Harney Lake, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Location:
Oregon
HydroLAKE ID:
771
Latitude:
43.228021
Longitude:
-119.045399
Surface area (km2):
122
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Management agency:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Region associations:
Harney Basin; Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Warm Springs Valley; Great Basin; Northern Basin and Range
Comments:
Harney Lake is both a Research Natural Area (RNA) and Conservation Opportunity Area (COA). The water is alkaline and has no outlet. Water overflowing from Malheur Lake, enters Mud Lake and Harney Lake through the Narrows. See individual entries for more details. Individual entries compiled for Harney Lake as a total for indexing purposes.

Summary of Surveys (3)

Survey Citation:
Spencer, K. 2003. Clark's Grebe. Pp. 37 in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference. D.B.Marshall, M.G. Hunter, and A.L. Contreras, Eds. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR.

  • Time period
    24 August 1985
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Adults N/A N/A N/A
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Only numbers is that 85% of a grebe count were Clark's grebes.

Survey Citation:
Littlefield, Carroll D. 1990. Birds of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR.

  • Time period
    July 1986
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 60 1986
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 60 1986
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks 101 to 500 several 1986
Most Recent Chicks 101 to 500 several 1986

Survey Citation:
Spencer, K. 2003. Western Grebe. Pp. 34-37 in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference. D.B.Marshall, M.G. Hunter, and A.L. Contreras, Eds. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR. (cites Littlefield 1990a) for nest # in 1983.

  • Type
    air
  • Time period
    1983
  • Source
    Book (species account)
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    Y
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 presumably >1000 1983, 1984
Most Recent Adults >1000 presumably >1000 1984
Max Nests >1000 1055 1984
Most Recent Nests >1000 1055 1984
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Peak #s in 1984 due to flooding which supported abundant young fish to feed on. At Malheur NWR (not specified where), low water years is when carp control is carried out and is when carp is too large for grebes. Malheur NWR (not specified where), in 1980-1998, populations averaged 2.5 higher in wet years versus dry years. At Malheur NWR (not specified where), in late 1950s, wave action destroyed Western grebe nest colonies.

Sources of Information

« Previous Back to Browse Next »