Several ecosystems begin to stir on land and in the air once the sun goes down. Most people don’t notice or are surrounded by too much artificial light to witness it. The High Desert Museum is offering a chance to “Welcome the Night.” The family friendly event on July 16 is an opportunity to discover creatures that stir at dusk and to learn more about why a dark sky is critical for wildlife. There will also be activities for children of all ages.
Experts will be on hand to educate the public, including representatives with DarkSky.
Scientific studies, cited by DarkSky Oregon, state that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants. Nocturnal animals sleep during the day and are active at night. Chad Moore, a National Park Service expert and program manager for the Park Service’s Night Sky Team, is quoted online as saying, “When we add light to the environment, that has the potential to disrupt habitat, just like running a bulldozer over the landscape can.” Birds that migrate or hunt at night navigate by moonlight and starlight. Artificial light can cause them to wander off course. Many insects are drawn to light. Declining insect populations can negatively impact species that rely on insects for food or pollination.
Experts from the U.S. Forest Service will be stationed near the pond during “Welcome the Night” to look for and discuss the importance of bats in the High Desert. In the meadow, volunteers from Pollinator Pathway Bend will explore the world of nighttime pollinators such as moths. Two owl encounters will take place during the evening at the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. As soon as it’s dark enough, staff from the Sunriver Nature Center will be ready with telescopes to explore the night sky.
The interactive “Forest at Night” exhibition will also be open. Guests can step inside the display to witness a forest illuminated by stars and moonlight with animated representations of nightlife in the High Desert like the white-lined sphinx, great-horned own, skunk, crickets and the long-tailed weasel.
Inside the museum, guests will have passports, which they can get stamped at various stations set up throughout the building, Heidi Hagemeier, the museum’s director of communication and visitor experience, told the Source. One of the stations will be hosted by entomologist Dr. Jerry Freilich. He’ll have a microscope for the public to examine various insects.
There will also be games for children. One involves making a moth or bat headband for the Bat & Moth game. They can also get their face painted with their favorite twilight animal. Food and drinks will be available at the cafe, which will be run by Luckey’s Woodsman.
This is only the second time the museum has offered a “Welcome the Night” event. The first one was in 2023. The event begins at 6:30pm. Sunset on July 16 is 8:45pm. Anyone going is encouraged to bring a headlamp.
New Exhibit
A new art exhibit is opening at the High Desert Museum on July 5. “Art in the West” includes western- themed paintings, photographs and sculptures. The fine art exhibit celebrates the people, wildlife, landscapes, cultures and history of the High Desert, which stretches from the eastern slope of the Cascades and Sierras to the Wyoming Basin and Colorado Plateau. There are nearly 120 pieces included, made by artists from around the country. Those will be a part of a silent auction. Online bidding begins July 5 at 9am and runs through Sept. 20. There is an opportunity to buy a piece outright without bidding. Proceeds raised will support the museum’s programs and exhibitions about science, history and art.
This article appears in Source Weekly July 3, 2025.
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