Diamond Craters, Oregon Copyright © 1996, Don Baccus (dhogaza@pacifier.com)
Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
This is a fascinating area of recent (in geologic terms) volcanic features, with cinder cones, obvious flows, collapsed craters, and other features dotting the landscape. From the road that meanders through the area, you can see where the flows terminate on the eastern edge of the Malheur Refuge. The slopes bordering the road are covered with paintbrush and larkspur in wetter years, and the well-drained edges of cinder cones dotted with bitterroot.
At the end of the road, a short walk brings you to the Malheur Maar, a collapsed crater filled with water, in which tule and bullrush are established.
The first major, collapsed crater which is on the lefthand side of the road is home to a pair of great-horned owls. Picking them out among the rocks is difficult, and approaching them nearly impossible, but its still fun to see the chicks. Rock wren can be heard singing here, and horned lark can be found in the sparse vegetation nearby.
There's a golden eagle nest in the vincinity, and they can often be seen soaring around. Turkey vultures also nest in the area.
The Malheur Maar is home to small numbers of the usual
waterfowl,
yellow-headed and
red-winged blackbirds,
pied-billed grebe and other
marsh species.