Friends of Ladd Marsh and the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area (LMWA) have two events coming up that you should mark down on your calendar. Thursday, February 5th is the annual owl night outing. We will meet at the LMWA HQ at 7:00 pm and will travel to several locations around the LMWA in search of owls. We may see a couple, but hope to hear a handful of our local night callers. Wear warm clothes, warm boots (we might have a little snow by then) and bring a flashlight for walking assistance. The Merlin app on your phone might come in handy as well.

Also coming up is the First Saturday Bird Walk for February. We will meet at the LMWA HQ on Pierce Road at 10:00am on February 7th. We will have a couple of options for the walk; one with a mile or so of easy walking and one mostly car-i-van through the Valley. Getting some snow in the coming week just might bring more winter birds down to the valley. There are also the usual winter habitants to be found among the willow tree rows and in dense marsh areas. All the open water is currently frozen in the marsh, so waterfowl viewing is limited except for the La Grande wastewater treatment ponds. We’ll have fun no matter where we decide to go. Dress warm, have good walking shoes, bring your binoculars, and don’t forget your Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife parking permit for both events.

For those who have renewed your membership for 2026 we say THANK YOU for your support and continued participation in the organization. It is not too late to renew if you have not yet done so. Visit Friends of Ladd Marsh website to renew either online or to download the hardcopy paper form to mail in.

Directions to Ladd Marsh HQ:

• From La Grande: Take the Union Highway (203) to Pierce Road (near B&K Auto Salvage). Turn right (south) on Pierce. Continue for approximately 1.25 miles to HQ on the right.
• From Union: Turn left on Pierce Road and continue for approximately 1.25 miles to HQ on the right.
• HQ can be reached from I-84: Take exit 268 (Foothill Road) then turn east. At the “T” with pierce Road, turn left (north). Continue about 1.5 miles to HQ on the left.