365 Days of Beauty

Tyson Fisher   Website

voices

Durlin Hicock, Alice Elshoff Award winner

Durlin Hicock, Alice Elshoff Award winner

“Protecting public land is part of my spiritual being. It’s central to my identity to be in wilderness and to see it protected.” Durlin is proud to protect public lands for future generations, saying, “The highlight of my childhood was our family’s weekend outdoor trips. I look forward to my grandchildren having similar experiences outside in their lifetimes, and it wouldn’t be possible without ONDA.”

fact

What defines Oregon’s high desert?

What defines Oregon’s high desert?

Bounded by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Blue Mountains to the north, Oregon’s high desert covers approximately 24,000 square miles. Annual rainfall in the high desert varies from 5 to 14 inches. The average elevation is 4,000 feet; at 9,733 feet, the summit of Steens Mountain is the highest point in Oregon’s high desert. The terrain of the high desert was mostly formed by a series of lava flows that occurred between 30 and 10 million years ago.

Sources: The Oregon Encyclopedia; Wikipedia  

fact

Badger

Badger

Badgers are generally nocturnal, but, in remote areas with no human encroachment, they are routinely observed foraging during the day. They prefer open areas with grasslands, which can include parklands, farms, and treeless areas with crumbly soil and a supply of rodent prey.

Badgers are born blind, furred, and helpless. Their eyes open at four to six weeks.

Latin name: Taxidea taxus

Greg Burke and Jim Davis, both of Bend, are dedicated photographers who were part of the team that originated the calendar. The quality of their work has drawn other artists to participate over the years, like Tyson Fisher, a professional artist based in Silverton, Oregon, and Christof Teuscher, who turns his passion to imagery when not working as assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Portland State University.

Each edition of the calendar brings a new, spectacular visual feast. To celebrate new editions, ONDA hosts a Wild Desert Calendar release party each fall, where we debut the new cover image and display a more than a dozen stunning images, from the current year’s calendar and from previous years.

The Wild Desert Calendar is also a benefit of membership, and is mailed to all current ONDA members in mid-November.

Dozens of retail outlets around the state—ranging from Strictly Organic Coffee Company and GearFix in Bend to Powell’s Books in Portland—carry the calendar. It can also be purchased online directly from ONDA.

Davis says he’s proud of the role the calendar has played over the years in introducing others to the wonder of the high desert.

“These places in Oregon are wonderful, you just have to capture them,” says Davis. “The calendar provides a way to show how spectacular these places really are. It’s the only collection of photography dedicated solely to the Oregon desert.”

Learn more about the photographers who regularly contribute images to ONDA.

365 Days of Beauty

ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar highlights the beauty of Oregon’s high desert In 2004, a crew of motivated, scrappy and talented Oregon Natural Desert Association supporters dreamed up the idea of […]

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Sage Sustainers Membership

Live your values with a monthly gift in support of Oregon’s desert public lands, waterways, and wildlife. Sage Sustainers members propel critical conservation efforts alongside a dynamic community of advocates. […]

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The Wilderness Act of 1964

Thanks to the Wilderness Act of 1964, future generations of Americans can experience the same landscapes that we have the opportunity to explore and enjoy today. ONDA campaigns to see qualified desert […]

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Malheur Wild and Scenic Rivers

Malheur Wild and Scenic Rivers Bull Trout Habitat (ONDA v. U.S. Forest Service) Bull trout populations are beginning to recover in protected corridors along the Malheur and North Fork Malheur […]

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Restoring Lands and Waters

Oregon Natural Desert Association restores key habitats across Oregon’s high desert and advocates for management to support healthy ecosystems, clean water and high quality wildlife habitat. We partner with public […]

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