Camera and Binocular replacement

As executive director of the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge I both work and live on the refuge. In that capacity I often lead birding trips around the refuge and many of the photos I take are used on the Friends of Malheur NWR website and facebook page and also in publications across the nation. I never charge for the use of my photos, they are always free for anyone to use. I usually keep my binoculars and camera at Malheur NWR Headquarters and when I left for Christmas that is what I did.

As many of you know, Malheur NWR was taken over by armed militants in early January as a protest. It was during this occupation that my camera and binoculars were stolen from my office at Headquarters.

It is my wish that no money is used by the Fish and Wildlife Service or the Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to replace my personal items. There are plenty of places that money raised by the Friends group for the refuge and those moneys set aside for the cleanup and repair by the Fish and Wildlife Service need to be used. I wanted to set this gofundme site up and see if these items could be purchased without  any help from the Friends and FWS.

I wanted to get this money raised in fairly short order so I can begin posting photos again  to www.malheurfriends.com, www.harneybirder.com, and the Friends of Malheur NWR facebook page. As migration kicks up, birds arrive and Harney County wakes from its winter slumber. I greatly appreciate your help! Tim Blount