A Decade of Collaborative Oak Restoration Highlights 2011-2023
The Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot and area of conservation concern, with some of the most extensive remaining oak ecosystems in the western United States. Oaks here are most threatened by conifer encroachment, fire suppression, agricultural development, incompatible grazing practices, non-native species, and severe fire.
The Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network (KSON) is a regional collaboration between local agencies, tribes, and non-profit organizations that works to conserve oak ecosystems on private and public lands in southern Oregon and northern California. Since 2011, KSON partners have accomplished thousands of acres of strategic ecological restoration to enhance oak habitat, build climate resilience, bolster cultural resources, and reduce wildfire risk to the ecosystem and communities. This handout highlights the power of collaboration and a decade-plus of successful oak habitat restoration.
Take a trip to the Upper Klamath to a KBO banding station on Friday, July 21st. There you will get to meet this year’s banding crew and learn about the importance of bird banding. The fee from this FUNdraiser helps pay for the cost of running our six banding stations. This event is a family-friendly event. Click 
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!
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.
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.
When: Sunday, July 2, 8:30 AM. (We will be back in Ashland by no later than 4:30 and likely well before that.)
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For landowners in our focal region interested in learning more about funding oak restoration projects on private property,