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Author: KBO

NEWS RELEASE: New Streamside Restoration Guide for Private Landowners Available for Download

CONTACT: Sarah Rockwell, Research Biologist, Klamath Bird Observatory
541-201-0866 ext. 6#, smr@klamathbird.org

Healthy Riparian Habitat. Credit: Rachel Werling

Riparian habitats are the interface between land and water. They include the vegetation – flowers, grass, shrubs, and trees – that occurs at the edge of bodies of water such as rivers and streams. In western Oregon alone, over 350 species of vertebrates regularly use riparian areas, making them one of the most wildlife-rich habitats in our region. These areas provide critical fish and wildlife habitat as well as ecosystem services, including natural flood buffers, water quality improvements, groundwater recharge, temperature moderation, and nutrient cycling. Unfortunately, many of our historical riparian habitats have been lost or degraded due to human impacts, such as flood control and development. An exciting opportunity exists for landowners and conservation partners to work together to restore native riparian ecosystems and their diverse wildlife communities.

Restoring Riparian Habitats in Southern Oregon and Northern California: A Guide for Private Landowners

Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) and Lomakatsi Restoration Project (Lomakatsi), with support from six other local partner organizations, have released a new guide for streamside landowners interested in implementing restoration projects to improve wildlife habitat and stream health. Restoring Riparian Habitats in Southern Oregon and Northern California: A Guide for Private Landowners includes information on birds and wildlife that use riparian habitats, detailed restoration guidelines, and who to contact for technical or financial help when initiating a project. In addition, the guide shows how to identify common riparian birds and use them to monitor restoration progress, and contains a visual guide to common native and non-native streamside plant species.

KBO Research Biologist and co-author Dr. Sarah Rockwell has studied bird response to riparian restoration at several sites in southern Oregon and northern California. She describes the new guide as being unique because it focuses on birds as a way to connect with streamside landowners and generate interest in habitat restoration. “Birds are beautiful and engaging creatures that are fun to watch. They are also useful as indicators of specific aspects of healthy riparian vegetation that are important for other wildlife – including fish – and overall stream health,” says Rockwell. She hopes the guide will get people excited about the birds and wildlife that use their riparian properties, help them understand the habitat needs of those species, and inspire them to take action.

Lomakatsi’s Riparian Restoration Manager and guide co-author Niki Del Pizzo has been leading streamside habitat restoration projects in and around the Rogue Basin for 15 years. She looks forward to sharing lessons learned with the community, and inspiring people to play a more active role in stewarding these important natural areas. “The way we care for the land along rivers and creeks has a big impact on the health of fish, birds and other wildlife,” says Del Pizzo. “This guide has many tips and best practices to help you make your streamside land, or land you help steward, thriving and resilient.”

Are you interested in learning more about streamside habitat or starting a riparian restoration project on your land? View or download the guide here.

This project was completed with support from the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District and Rogue Basin Partnership.

KBO Community Education with Shannon Rio: Understanding Bird Migration at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Monday, February 22nd
6:00-7:30pm via Zoom

The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex is comprised of six separate refuge areas. The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge portion was established in 1908 by Teddy Roosevelt and is the first refuge protected specifically for the benefit of migratory birds. Nearby, Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 39,000 acres of open water and farmland that support migratory birds.

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NEWS RELEASE: KBO Data Supports The Common Nighthawk Migratory Connectivity Project

KBO Science Director Jaime Stephens attaches a GPS transmitter to a Common Nighthawk

In order for Klamath Bird Observatory’s work to inform effective conservation actions for migratory birds, we need to understand when and where in their annual cycle they are facing threats. We know that protecting and restoring healthy habitats where birds breed is important, but for many species, it is not enough.

In a new collaborative study in Ecography, Migratory Connectivity Project researchers sought to identify pinch points in Common Nighthawk migratory connectivity across the species’ annual cycle. This approach can inform single species conservation, but may also be telling for broader conservation efforts.

Three Common Nighthawks tagged by KBO’s field team transmitted data that contributed to the research findings. Watch the video below to see an animation of the migration routes of these and other nighthawks included in the study. Birds tagged by KBO originate as a greenish-colored data point in southern Oregon, then travel to South America and back.

Video by 422 South. Source: YouTube (https://youtu.be/-KFO0T92nSA)

Lead author Elly Knight emphasized that collaboration was crucial to the research. Oregon’s nighthawk population is one of the only populations in North America that appears to be increasing, and the research team needed a partner that was already working in the area. KBO answered the call. In a recent Partners in Flight news article, Elly stated, “Thanks to KBO, we’re now starting to quantitatively test potential causes of varying population trends… in breeding ground demographics. We look forward to sharing those results when they’re available” (from https://partnersinflight.org/the-common-nighthawk-migratory-connectivity-project/).

KBO Science Director Jaime Stephens was excited to partner on this critically important research. Thanks to KBO’s existing, robust bird monitoring programs, Stephens’ team was well positioned to implement a relatively small field effort in the Upper Klamath Basin of Oregon. In addition, “field crews enjoyed being able to do something extra, even though it meant late nights instead of early mornings!” said Stephens.

Click image to enlarge. Credit: Jamie Kaplan

Read the full research article in Ecography here.

NEW 2021 Job and Internship Opportunities: Oregon Vesper Sparrow

We are seeking one Field Technician and one Intern to help conduct our Oregon Vesper Sparrow demography research this summer. KBO is contributing to a range-wide study to understand causes of decline in this imperiled subspecies. Primary duties will include nest-searching and monitoring, color band resighting, vegetation surveys, and data entry. This is a great opportunity to camp and work in the beautiful meadows of the western Cascades.

Click here to view the Vesper Sparrow Field Technician Job Announcement

Click here to view the Vesper Sparrow Intern Job Announcement

NEWS RELEASE: Black-backed Woodpeckers found in greater density than expected in green conifer forests in their western range

NEWS RELEASE: February 1, 2021

CONTACT: Jaime Stephens, Science Director, Klamath Bird Observatory, 541‐944-2890, jlh@KlamathBird.org

Black-backed Woodpeckers are considered “keystone” species and indicators of bird community health. Considered specialists that prefer burned conifer forests, these woodpeckers favor sites where bark beetle larvae and other food sources are abundant after wildfires. Yet, Black-backed Woodpeckers are also known to inhabit green, unburned conifer forests, although the extent to which they use green forests throughout their range is poorly understood. Recent surveys revealed that Black-backed Woodpeckers are present in green forests in their western range in greater densities than expected, uncovering a need for greater understanding of the importance of unburned forests for conservation of this species.

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Shannon Rio Presents KBO’s Community Education Winter Series (2021)

Cozy up and have fun this winter connecting with the birds! Shannon Rio will present four unique, interactive virtual events about our feathered friends via Zoom in January and February, 2021. At each event someone in the audience will win a gift certificate to a local Ashland business! You can choose to sign up for one or more of the events in the series. No previous bird knowledge is necessary and all are welcome!

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KBO Community Education: “Birding the Klamath Basin” with Shannon Rio

Monday, December 7th
6:00-7:30pm via Zoom

A Bald Eagle in the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most amazing Wildlife Refuges in our country. It is part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex and was established in 1908 by Teddy Roosevelt. It is the first refuge protected specifically for the benefit of migratory birds.

We invite you to join Shannon Rio on December 7th via Zoom for a virtual presentation, “Birding the Klamath Basin.” Shannon will present a virtual visit to the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge by sharing beautiful photographs, and the history of the land and the birds.

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NEWS RELEASE: Oak associated bird community benefits from restoration, new paper shows

NEWS RELEASE: December 2, 2020

CONTACT: Jaime Stephens, Science Director, Klamath Bird Observatory
541‐944-2890, jlh@KlamathBird.org

Oak ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest are highly biodiverse and host more than 300 vertebrate species; yet a significant proportion of historic oak ecosystems in the region have been lost, and most remaining habitat is in a degraded state. Songbirds that are closely associated with oak ecosystems have experienced concerning declines, which is one of the reasons why research and restoration in oak habitats are priorities in our region.

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NEWS RELEASE: Migratory songbirds are not likely to show fidelity to molting sites

NEWS RELEASE: September 17, 2020

CONTACT: John Alexander, Executive Director, Klamath Bird Observatory, 541‐890‐7067, jda@klamathbird.org

Feather wear on a Yellow Warbler.

When playing at home, sports teams usually benefit from home-field advantage. A similar advantage exists among migratory birds that return to the same nesting site year after year to find familiar surroundings, food, and neighbors. The act of returning to the same site—site fidelity—has been documented in songbirds during nesting season for decades; however, what has remained a mystery is whether or not songbirds exhibit a similar site fidelity after the breeding season, during their annual molt, or replacement of feathers.

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