Western Meadowlark in Harney County by Owen Schmidt

Western Meadowlark in Harney County by Owen Schmidt

Ed. Note: Owen Schmidt passed away on May 7, 2026. He participated in this contest every month for many years. I ask his wife, Sharon Blair, if she would like to submit one a photo of his that she was particularly fond of as a tribute and rememberance. Here is here response: “I’ve included one our favorite passerine shots, the western Meadowlark mid-song. Not too sure when he took it but don’t think it was in the last three months.”

From his obituary:
He was the editor of Oregon Birds, a quarterly journal of Oregon Field Ornithologists, for 14 years and was a long-time member of the Oregon Bird Records Committee. He served on the
board of Portland Audubon (now Bird Alliance of Oregon) and led the Birders’ Night meetings.
He was known as an accomplished bird photographer with his images used in books, magazines and company websites.