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Author: Elva Manquera

Bird Banding with Klamath Bird Observatory Biologists: Science in Action

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Trips & Events.

Join KBO’s bird banding team in the field this summer for a bird banding experience. This is a unique opportunity to meet some of our scientists in a small group setting, learn about bird banding and see some of Oregon’s birds up close. You will experience a beautiful Upper Klamath Lake field station and observe live-action science, including mist netting and data collection. This is an excellent introduction to science in the field for kids and young adults (as well as great for non-birders, almost birders, and fully-fledged birders). Come and have fun in the field with us!

WHEN: Friday, July 21st, 6:30 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m. (including drive time to and from Ashland).
WHERE: Upper Klamath Lake
TRIP LEADER: Lisa Michelbrink, KBO Board Member
COST: Space is limited to 4 cars of 4 people each. Carpooling is essential. The price is $40 per person.

Please bring a water bottle and snacks. There will be a short amount of walking on uneven ground. Sturdy shoes/boots are recommended. Dress for the weather in layers, as the morning will be cool. No birding experience is necessary. Please bring binoculars if you have them. The Upper Klamath Lake has great birding.

Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, and as such, KBO events are offered with COVID-19 safety as a primary concern. Proof of “up-to-date” vaccination will be required for all in-person participants. Upon registration, all individuals attending an in-person event must also fill out KBO’s COVID Release Form and Waiver of Liability. Paper copies may also be available at an event upon advanced request. Please do not attend the event if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Bird Conmigo Saturday, June 17th, at 9 am

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Trips & Events.

Bird Conmigo provides Spanish/English bilingual bird walks at Bear Creek Park. Birding is a great family activity; these walks are great for bird likers at any level. This is a free event, and binoculars are available.

Join us this Saturday, June 17th, at 9 am.

Bird Conmigo ofrece recorridos de observación de aves con guías bilingües en Español/Inglés, los recorridos serán en el parque Bear Creek. La observación de aves es una actividad ideal para hacerse en familia y estos recorridos son excelentes para todos aquellos que disfrutan las aves. Este evento es gratuito y habrá binoculares disponibles para préstamo.

Acompáñanos este sábado 17 de Junio a las 9 am.

Click here to register

Welcome KBO’s New Science Director Ryan Terrill

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, KBO Family, Press Room.

Inti Tanager by Ryan Terrill

KBO is thrilled to introduce our new Science Director, Ryan Terill. Ryan grew up birding in the Santa Cruz mountains of central California and has a life-long interest in birds. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz and his Ph.D. in Biology from Louisiana State University, where his thesis focused on understanding how avian molt strategies interact with evolution over time. He has authored over 25 peer-reviewed articles in Ornithology and is an author of the Field Guide to the Birds of Bolivia. In addition to studying the ecology and evolution of avian molt, his research has also focused on the distribution and conservation of birds of the Americas. He was involved in discovering and describing a new species and genus of bird to science: The Inti Tanager (Heliothraupis onelilli) in Bolivia, and he continues to work to understand the population size, distribution, and risks for this species. His recent work has focused on understanding populations of Mexican birds over the 20th century from a framework of long-term distribution and occupancy trends, as well as the effects of climate change on the molting grounds of North American molt-migratory birds. He has served on various committees and boards, including the editorial boards of Western Birds and The Neotropical Naturalist journals, the California Bird Records Committee, and the Howard and Moore Checklist of the Birds of the World advisory committee.

As Science Director, Ryan will lead the development, design, and review of monitoring and research studies, including long-term monitoring, effectiveness monitoring, and theoretical research; oversee staff leading long-term bird banding (25+ year dataset), long-term monitoring, and applied ecology studies using point count methodology, and full-lifecycle limiting factors research focused on single species using multiple methodologies; advance KBO’s robust body of science focused on bird populations and their response to management and/or restoration of shrub-steppe, western forests, oak woodlands, riparian, and montane meadows of Oregon and northern California; and contribute to forest collaboratives, provide expertise specific to bird conservation and the application of birds as focal species to inform planning and evaluate success.

Ryan is thrilled to be joining like minds at the Klamath Bird Observatory. His scientific philosophy is that conservation, ecology, and evolution are integrally connected and are best informed by careful natural history study in the field combined with modern analytical tools. He joins KBO’s long tradition of just such work.

“Up to the Siskiyou Crest (and Back)”: A History-and-Birding Auto Tour

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Birds & Birding, Trips & Events.

Whether you’re a newcomer to the region or an old-timer, participate in a fun- and information-filled auto tour led by a renowned birder and KBO board president Shannon Rio and historian/author Jeff LaLande. The car-pool route will include various “History Stops” (but relatively little actual walking) at such important places as Railroad Tunnel #13, the old Siskiyou Pass, Grouse Gap shelter (just past Mt. Ashland), the 1850s-1860s “Mountain House” stage stop, the 1846 Applegate Trail, the Hill-Dunn cemetery, and other spots – returning the “back way” (through the upper-most Bear Creek Valley) to Ashland by mid-afternoon.

Along the Siskiyou Crest, we’ll hike a short stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail near Mt. Ashland. Wildflowers – lupine, gilia, Oregon sunshine, corn lily, and many species may be in profusion, and we will identify and enjoy as many of those as we can. Various raptors should be spotted, as well as many other birds – ranging from migrant Green Towhees, along the short stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, to Bullock’s Orioles and Acorn Woodpeckers down at Emigrant Lake’s historic cemetery.

Note: This event is limited to 20 people (including Shannon and Jeff). We will travel in a car-pool “caravan” of up to 5 vehicles (with up to four people in each vehicle). Participants must be fully Covid-vaxxed/boosted. Bring your binoculars, lunch, drinking water, or other beverage, and your questions for Shannon and Jeff. And feel free to share your knowledge about what we see!

When: Sunday, July 2, 8:30 AM. (We will be back in Ashland by no later than 4:30 and likely well before that.)
Where: Meet at the Rite Aid parking area in the lot’s north corner. (Car-pooling will be necessary to keep the group to as few vehicles as possible.)
Minimum donation per person: $50.

Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, and as such, KBO events are offered with COVID-19 safety as a primary concern. Proof of “up-to-date” vaccination will be required for all in-person participants. Upon registration, all individuals attending an in-person event must also fill out KBO’s COVID Release Form and Waiver of Liability. Paper copies may also be available at an event upon advanced request. Please do not attend the event if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

OakBirdPop

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in uncategorized.

 

Large mature oak tree with spreading limbs (c) Frank Lospalluto

OakBirdPop is an interactive tool to inform land managers and others in the Pacific Northwest in planning and implementing oak habitat management and restoration actions. The goal is to help assess the projected population response of 31 oak-associated bird species to oak habitat changes. OakBirdPop is an interactive supplement to the Land Manager’s Guide to Bird Habitat and Populations in Oak Ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.

Restoring Forest Health to Bring Back Western Forest Birds and Reduce Risks to People and Ecosystems

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in uncategorized.

John Alexander KBO Excutive Director, Jamie Ratliff Forest Wildlife Biologist on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and Sarah Evans-Peters U.S. Assistant Coordinator for Pacific Birds, co-wrote an article for the Society of American Forest – Western Region (SAF). This article was published in SAF’s Western Forester publication.

Full article available here: https://forestry.org/western-forester/

klamathbird.org/westernforester2023

 

Spring Birding at Rocky Point and Fort Klamath Wood River Day Use Area with Shannon

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Birds & Birding, Trips & Events.

Spring Birding at Rocky Point and Fort Klamath Wood River Day Use Area

Saturday, June 3rd, 7:30 am – 5 pm

This walking and birding outing will take us to Upper Klamath Lake for spring migrants and water birds. After exploring that area, we will visit Fort Klamath to picnic and bird and walk the Wood River Day Use Area. Expect to see White Pelicans, Bald Eagles, White-headed Woodpeckers, and many other mountain species. Also, expect glorious views of the lake and the landscape at this elevation of 4-5000 feet.

Dress in layers and bring your lunch, drinks, bino’s, cameras, and mosquito repellent (just in case).

This trip is limited to 4 cars of, 4 folks in each vehicle. Donations welcomed. Binoculars are available to borrow, please let us know ahead of time.

Register each person individually below.

Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and as such, KBO events are offered with COVID-19 safety as a primary concern. Proof of “up-to-date” vaccination will be required for all in-person participants. All individuals attending an in-person event must also fill out KBO’s COVID Release Form and Waiver of Liability upon registration. Paper copies may also be available at an event upon advanced request. Please do not attend the event if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Three Day Trip to Klamath Marsh NWR

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Trips & Events.

Klamath Basin Audubon Society and Klamath Bird Observatory sponsored trip to the Klamath Marsh NWR and surrounding areas and the Wood River Valley/Fort Klamath area

Trip dates are June 9th, 10th, & 11th, with two nights and two full days covering forest, riparian, and wetland habitats in the northern Klamath Basin. Those areas include the Klamath NWR area and the Wood River Valley around Fort Klamath. There is the potential for seeing or hearing more than 140 species of birds in beautiful settings, including night/evening outings for nocturnal birds.

Accommodations: in a house (with a sleeping bag on either bed, couch, or personal air mattress) both nights. Showers and restroom for use at the end of the day. Group dinners will be planned for both nights (to accommodate the group for the dinner meal); otherwise, participants will be on their own for other meals/snacks.

Walking up to 2 miles or more at some stops. Early departures, and excursions into the late evenings, both nights, make for long days that are all about birds at that time of year. Numerous areas not ordinarily accessible are on Saturday’s agenda. Carpooling is probable on Saturday. Mosquitoes will likely be out and could be vicious this year. Endurance, enthusiasm, and willingness to be out all day in any weather conditions will be needed, but the experiences and observations will be everlasting!

Current Itinerary:

Friday, June 9th
4:00 pm Arrivals (unpacking/greetings/settling in) walking around the grounds
6:00 pm Group Dinner (participants will have assigned contributions for vegan style meal)
8:00 pm Nocturnal Outing (Military Crossing/Williamson River will be at least one destination)
10:30 pm Lights out (maybe)

Saturday, June 10th
6:00 Awake, Breakfast coffee on your own
7:00 am Leave house (variety of walking at or driving too many parts of, Klamath Marsh NWR)
Lunch and/or snacks on your own during the day
5:00 pm Return to house
6:00 pm Group Dinner (participants will have assigned contributions for vegan style meal)
7:30 pm Nocturnal outing and based on what was experienced the previous evening
10:30 pm Lights out (probably)

Sunday, June 11th
6:00 am Breakfast and coffee on your own; pack personal items before leaving the house
8:00 am Leave the house and Klamath Marsh
9:00 am Arrive at Wood River Wetlands
11:30 am Arrive at Wood River Day Use Area; short stop at Dixon Road/Wood River bridge
2:30 pm Arrive at Seven-mile Guard Station
Other stops may include:
Short Creek, Mare’s Egg Spring, Nannie Creek, Rocky Point, and Rocky Point Residence.
4:00 pm Dispersal.. likely a formal ending time for the trip, although there is some flexibility.

This trip is free with max number of 12 attendees. There are still openings for this trip. Contact Kevin Spencer, rriparia@charter.net, to reserve a space.

About the Leader

Kevin Spencer has been interested in birds from an early age and has intensely studied and observed birds for more than 45 years. He has lived in the Klamath Basin since 1989 and has done USGS Breeding Bird Surveys, Point Counts, many for KBO in the past, and for BLM, a compiler for the Klamath Falls and Tule Lake CBCs, author for numerous species accounts in Birds of Oregon, General Reference, South Central Fieldnotes author for Oregon Birds publication by Oregon Birding Association, field trip leader for Winter Wings Festivals and Klamath Basin Audubon trips, and continuously out in the field. Received a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Humboldt State University, 1979. Teaching Credential, Humboldt State University, 1988, Masters in Teaching Science, Chico State University, 2009. Teacher at the Tulelake Basin JUSD for 30 years. Retired.