| MALHEUR OREGON PHOTO WORKSHOP May 1-6, 2012 |
Join professional photographers Nate Chappell and Ken Archer for an exciting 6 days of
photographing birds and wildlife at one of the top breeding bird locations in the US. This trip is
limited to 5 students to ensure a lot of personal instruction for each of the attendees. Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge in Southeastern Oregon attracts large numbers of nesting and migratory
birds, along with quite a few mammals. Large numbers of curlew, avocet, snipe, stilt, phalarope and
willet all nest on the refuge. Other avian highlights include several nesting pairs of Great Horned
Owls, displaying Sage Grouse and nesting waterbirds of many varieties. The shorebirds, waterbirds
and horned owls provide consistently excellent photo opportunities. As far as mammals go
Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, and Black-tailed Jackrabbit are common, while it is also a good area
for smaller, more elusive predators such as weasel, badger and bobcat.
Nate and Ken will provide in field instruction and answer any photographic questions that you may
have. Nate will also be giving digital presentations on photographing birds in the wild and technical
photography discussions featuring his images. In the evenings we will do some image review and
critique of photos for whoever wishes to participate.
photographing birds and wildlife at one of the top breeding bird locations in the US. This trip is
limited to 5 students to ensure a lot of personal instruction for each of the attendees. Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge in Southeastern Oregon attracts large numbers of nesting and migratory
birds, along with quite a few mammals. Large numbers of curlew, avocet, snipe, stilt, phalarope and
willet all nest on the refuge. Other avian highlights include several nesting pairs of Great Horned
Owls, displaying Sage Grouse and nesting waterbirds of many varieties. The shorebirds, waterbirds
and horned owls provide consistently excellent photo opportunities. As far as mammals go
Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, and Black-tailed Jackrabbit are common, while it is also a good area
for smaller, more elusive predators such as weasel, badger and bobcat.
Nate and Ken will provide in field instruction and answer any photographic questions that you may
have. Nate will also be giving digital presentations on photographing birds in the wild and technical
photography discussions featuring his images. In the evenings we will do some image review and
critique of photos for whoever wishes to participate.
Fees: 1,995 per person. This includes all lodging, instruction, guiding and permits. It does not
include meals, snacks, beverages or transportation. The fee for a nonphotographer spouse or
companion to join the trip is $400. For transportation you will need to arrange your own vehicle We
will carpool locally around the refuge. The nearest airport to Burns is Boise, Idaho, about a 3 hour
drive. To reserve your place on the tour we are requesting a deposit of $400.
Number of participants: Maximum of 5 photographers
Equipment needed: The longer the lens the more opportunities you will have at Malheur. The
minimum size lens that you would want to have would be 300mm. We have one Nikon and one Canon
lens of about 400mm each that are available to be lent out to participants.
include meals, snacks, beverages or transportation. The fee for a nonphotographer spouse or
companion to join the trip is $400. For transportation you will need to arrange your own vehicle We
will carpool locally around the refuge. The nearest airport to Burns is Boise, Idaho, about a 3 hour
drive. To reserve your place on the tour we are requesting a deposit of $400.
Number of participants: Maximum of 5 photographers
Equipment needed: The longer the lens the more opportunities you will have at Malheur. The
minimum size lens that you would want to have would be 300mm. We have one Nikon and one Canon
lens of about 400mm each that are available to be lent out to participants.
May 1, 2012 - Arrive in Hines/Burns, Oregon. Meet at the hotel at 5pm. After dinner Nate will give his
presentation, photographing birds in the wild. Lodging: Best Western, Hines, Oregon.
May 2, 2012 - We will have an early morning breakfast at the hotel and head out for a morning photo
shoot. The agricultural fields southeast of Burns attract lots of curlews, avocets, ibis and other
species such as Yellow-headed Blackbirds. After lunch Nate will give a presentation back at the
hotel on using flash for bird photography. Then we will drive to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
We will check a Golden Eagle nest that has been active most years and can be photographed from
one of the refuge roads. Then we will drive through the central and southern part of the refuge
(about a 40 mile drive) stopping at a few of the better ponds on the way. That evening we will stay at
the historic and comfortable Frenchglen Hotel. Lodging: Drovers Inn, Frenchglen Hotel comfortable
accommodation.
May 3, 2012 - In the morning we will drive down south of the refuge looking for wild horses and then
to an area where there has been a reliable close Great Horned Owl nest the past few years. In the
afternoon we will photograph waterbirds from the central refuge road. This road is excellent for
Ruddy Duck, Eared Grebe, Cinnamon Teal, Redhead, Ring-necked Pheasant and many other birds.
We will be shooting from our vehicles this afternoon, so a beanbag for support is very helpful. In
the evening we will review images together. Lodging: Drovers Inn, Frenchglen Hotel.
May 4, 2012 - This morning we will visit a Sage Grouse lek This is a spectacular experience with male
birds often fighting near the cars. In the afternoon we will visit the refuge headquarters. At this time
of year the Belding's Ground Squirrels have just had their young and they make for great photo
opportunities. All of those ground squirrels also attract predators, on the 2010 workshop we had a
Prairie Falcon make several passes through the visitor center before grabbing a ground squirrel.
There was also a Red-tailed Hawk nest there and many birds at the feeders. After dinner we will
review and critique images. Lodging: Drovers Inn, Frenchglen Hotel.
May 5, 2012 - After an early morning breakfast we will go the Sage Grouse lek again. In the afternoon
we will photograph around the hotel where there was an active Great Horned Owl nest last year.
There are numerous Yellow-headed Blackbirds here along with breeding Say's Phoebes. Evening
image review and critique. Lodging: Drovers Inn, Frenchglen Hotel
May 6, 2012 - Early morning visit to the Sage Grouse lek followed by return to the hotel for breakfast
and a bit of photography around the hotel. After checking out we will head back toward Burns
stopping at the refuge headquarters on the way back.
You can take a look at a few of my favorite Malheur images in my Malheur Gallery
Wilson's Snipe
Young Great Horned Owl
Long-tailed Weasel
To make a reservation for this workshop, please contact Nate Chappell at 253-512-1060 or email him
at nchappell@trogontours.net
at nchappell@trogontours.net
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