“What I love most,” says volunteer Malcolm Costello, “is that ONDA volunteers come from all walks of life and are bound together by a common sense of purpose.”

Having taken part in a wide range of volunteer opportunities that Oregon Natural Desert Association has to offer, Malcolm has been able to travel across Oregon’s high desert, meet other desert enthusiasts, and dedicate his time to benefitting the fragile high desert wildlands he loves.

There’s a desert experience for everyone who seeks to get involved, and in our recent article, “A Desert Adventure for Everyone,” Malcolm shares the enjoyable and rewarding opportunities one can have when volunteering with ONDA.

For those looking to take part in a single or multi-day volunteer service trip in the desert, stewardship trip registration is now open. And, volunteer opportunities from home or in our offices are available on an ongoing basis.

As winter wanes, eastern Oregon’s landscapes prepare to burst with color and abundance. When temperatures begin to rise and snow begins to melt, we look forward to seeing springs, rivers and lakes fill and wildlife emerge.

As this ecosystem prepares for its seasonal awakening, consider planning a trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge this spring. The refuge is a birder’s delight between March and May when the greatest numbers of birds arrive in their most colorful breeding feathers. Check out this guide for first-time visitors interested in observing migrating birds.

We’re halfway through ONDA’s 2025 High Desert Speaker Series, with our last two events coming up on March 12 and 19.

Join us virtually for one or both remaining events as experts dive into compelling topics ranging from fossils to mussels of the high desert. Gain a deeper understanding of ecology and an appreciation for the land, water and wildlife of eastern Oregon.

All 2025 Speaker Series events are free and hosted online via Zoom.

Registration is open for all upcoming events. View the full lineup for event details and registration. Raffle tickets and donation opportunities are available when you register for each event.

For the full list of ONDA events, visit onda.org/events.

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Photos: banner – Jim Davis, feature 1 – Sage Brown, feature 2 – Dan Streiffet, feature 3 – Jim Oleachea,
event 1 – Peter Nicholas, event 2  – ONDA Staff