Lisa Michelbrink joined the board after volunteering for several years at the Mountain Bird Festival and other KBO events. She was so impressed she signed on for more!
Klamath Bird Observatory’s 2017 Conservation Science Stamp features the Oregon Vesper Sparrow. We feature this sparrow to raise awareness about its peril while also showcasing steps we are making for its conservation. The Oregon Vesper Sparrow is a subspecies that occurs to the west of the Vesper Sparrow’s core continental breeding range. To learn more about the Oregon Vesper Sparrow and its science-driven conservation CLICK HERE.
Klamath Bird Observatory’s Conservation Science Stamp is produced each year and sold as part of our annual Conservation Stamp Set. Proceeds support both regional and national conservation efforts. The 2-stamp set includes 1) KBO’s Conservation Science Stamp and 2) the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (i.e., the Duck Stamp).
Each year’s Conservation Science Stamp feature a different species that KBO studies, works to conserve, and highlights through community education programs. This $15 stamp brings attention to our science-based conservation programs and proceeds support these effort. Additionally, Conservation Science Stamp buyers are offered discounts on some KBO fee-based community education and conservation birding events.
The Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp is popularly referred to as the Duck Stamp. Why does the Klamath Bird Observatory sell Duck Stamps? Because we see birds and birding as our refuge, and by purchasing Duck Stamps birders and hunters alike directly contribute to bird habitat conservation efforts on our National Wildlife Refuges. The United States refuge system is one of the world’s best migratory bird conservation models. By buying Duck Stamps, birders make an important statement — we, a significant conservation constituent, hold non-game bird conservation, in addition to gamebird and endangered species conservation, as a societal priority. An additional perk is that a Duck Stamp provides access to National Refuges that charge admission or parking fees.
The Oregon Vesper Sparrow is a subspecies of the Vesper Sparrow, a migratory grassland-obligate bird. This subspecies nests to the west of the Vesper Sparrow’s continental breeding range. The Oregon Vesper Sparrow is at risk of becoming extinct. However, KBO’s science is informing important steps in its conservation.
In early 2017, new protections for Oregon Vesper Sparrows that breed in grasslands adjacent to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument were put in place when President Obama issued a proclamation that doubled the size of this Monument. The expansion increased the amount of grassland habitats that occur in the Monument, and thus in the Region’s network of protected areas.
Klamath Bird Observatory’s science informed President Obama’s decision to expand the Monument. The expansion focused on at-risk species and considered ‘ecological’ boundaries to provide further protection for the biodiversity for which the Monument was originally established. Specifically, Obama’s proclamation expanded protection for grasslands and oak woodlands that are critical for bird conservation — habitats that occurred near but not within the original Monument boundary.
One of KBO’s most recent peer-reviewed papers identified these habitats as underrepresented in our regions National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Monuments. President Obama’s expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was driven by this and other regionally relevant science. As a result the expansion benefited some of Oregon’s most at-risk and under protected birds, including the Oregon Vesper Sparrow.
Despite this success story, the Vesper Sparrow still faces significant conservation challenges.
A petition to list the Oregon Vesper Sparrow under the Endangered Species Act has been submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The species is at-risk of extinction because 1) it has a very small population (estimated at <3,000 individuals), 2) for the past half-decade this population has been declining by 5% per year, and 3) ongoing habitat loss and degradation continues to threaten the grasslands that Oregon Vesper Sparrows depend on for nesting. Adding to these challenges, there is uncertainty about why this species is in such decline.
For us to effectively save this species there are key questions we must answer about when and where during its annual cycle it is most threatened. Which threats — threats to its breeding, migratory stopover, or wintering habitats — are most ‘limiting’ to this subspecies? KBO is collaborating with the American Bird Conservancy and many other partners to answer these questions in order to better prioritize conservation actions that will stabilize and reverse its population declines.
The Oregon Vesper Sparrow is featured on KBO’s 2017 Conservation Science Stamp — CLICK HERE to learn more about our Conservation Stamp Set.
***NEWS RELEASE: September 27, 2017***
CONTACT: John Alexander, Executive Director, Klamath Bird Observatory, 541-890-7067, jda@klamathbird.org
Songbird Populations May Indicate Trouble in Northwestern Forests
Populations of many North American songbirds are declining, and in many cases we don’t understand why—for example, whether the problem lies with reproductive success or in the survival rates of adults. Conservation efforts need this information to be effective, and bird banding stations can help fill in the gaps, providing insights into how demographics vary across space and time. A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications presents ten years of data from banding stations across northern California and southern Oregon and offers new hints on what’s driving changes in the region’s songbird populations.
The Klamath Bird Observatory’s Sarah Rockwell and her colleagues used data collected at ten of the observatory’s bird banding sites between 2002 and 2013 to estimate the abundance and reproductive productivity of twelve songbird species, all either of regional conservation concern or indicators of coniferous or riparian habitat quality. They found that three species (the Purple Finch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Dark-eyed Junco), all indicators of coniferous habitat, were declining across the region, while two (the Yellow-breasted Chat and Black-headed Grosbeak) were increasing, though the trends varied from site to site. While breeding productivity declined in three species, adult abundance was correlated with the previous year’s productivity for only one species, the Yellow Warbler, suggesting that local productivity is not the primary culprit behind population declines.
“Before we can understand the impact of threats to bird populations, we first need to understand what’s happening where,” says John Alexander, the Executive Director of the Klamath Bird Observatory and a coauthor on the work. “This study presents trends from regional-scale monitoring and just begins to scratch the surface of understanding population dynamics, variation in demographic rates, and drivers of population change across our landscape, which is vital information for developing effective conservation plans. It also highlights concerns about forest-associated species in this region—the need to balance timber harvest, a mixed-severity fire regime, and endangered species management continue to present complex conservation challenges.”
“We have been so lucky to consistently get awesome field crews—we host six to ten interns each year, and they travel all over the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion, camping regularly throughout the field season. We have had interns from more than seventeen different countries, and they all receive extensive training and work very hard,” adds Rockwell. “This work is so important. We need robust baseline data if we are going to be aware of any kind of population change, let alone be able to do something about it!”
Spatial variation in songbird demographic trends from a regional network of banding stations in the Pacific Northwest published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications on September 27, 2017, at http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1650/CONDOR-17-44.1
This News Release adapted from American Ornithological Society press release — https://americanornithologypubsblog.org/2017/09/27/songbird-populations-may-indicate-trouble-in-northwestern-forests/
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About Klamath Bird Observatory: Klamath Bird Observatory advances bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships. We work in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the migratory ranges of the birds of our region. We developed our award-winning conservation model in the ruggedly beautiful and wildlife-rich Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California. Emphasizing high caliber science and the role of birds as indicators of the health of the land, we specialize in cost-effective bird monitoring and research projects that improve natural resource management. Also, recognizing that conservation occurs across many fronts, we nurture a conservation ethic in our communities through our outreach and educational programs. Visit Klamath Bird Observatory at www.klamathbird.org.
About the journal: The Condor: Ornithological Applications is a peer-reviewed, international journal of ornithology. It began in 1899 as the journal of the Cooper Ornithological Club, a group of ornithologists in California that became the Cooper Ornithological Society, which merged with the American Ornithologists’ Union in 2016 to become the American Ornithological Society. In 2016, The Condor had the number one impact factor among 24 ornithology journals, 2.654.
Conservation Birding – celebrating a love for birds and birding and
supporting science-driven conservation efforts
New York Times bestselling author (and birding superstar), Oregon’s own Noah Strycker, is coming to Ashland on September 23rd to help Klamath Bird Observatory and our community celebrate our love for birds and birding and to help support Klamath Bird Observatory’s science-driven conservation efforts. For more than 25 years we have been using birds as indicators of environmental well-being and the science of bird monitoring to advance ecosystem conservation in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California. During that same time birdwatching has become the fastest growing recreational activity in the United States — birders have been fueling local economies spending $13 billion annually in pursuit of this fascinating hobby, while raising attention to the importance of birds and bird conservation to human, economic, and environmental well-being.
Noah will keynote our September 23rd Mountain bird Conservation Fundraiser at the Historic Ashland Armory. This “conservation birding” event will feature Klamath Bird Observatory’s science and conservation in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Additionally we will unveil our 2017 Conservation Science Stamp, which all attendees will receive along with a 2017-2018 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.
Click here to learn more about the event and to register.
Why Noah Strycker? Klamath Bird Observatory President Shannon Rio explains — In 2015, bird nerd Noah Strycker became the first human to see more than half of the planet’s bird species in a single year. I am inspired by Noah’s story and I think you will be too. During Noah’s round-the-world birding trip he was scourged by blood-sucking leeches; he suffered fevers and sleep deprivation; he survived airline snafus, car breakdowns, mudslides, and torrential floods; he skirted war zones; and he had the time of his life. Birding on seven continents and carrying only a pack on his back, Strycker enlisted the enthusiastic support of local birders to help him see more than 6,000 species.
By bringing Noah to our event we will be furthering Klamath Bird Observatory’s dedication to wildlife education, which is my personal passion. Our education connects people with birds, building in them a passion and love for birds with an intention to build a community that protects that which we love – birds. So please come hear Noah’s story and help us advance bird conservation through science, education, and partnerships.
Why science and conservation in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument? Klamath Bird Observatory Science Director Jaime Stephens explains — The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument provides an example of how KBO’s science, when applied to decision making, has resulted in good things for birds and for the environment that we all depend on. The Monument, originally established in 2000 and expanded in 2017, is located at the crossroads of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou mountain ranges—the area has long been recognized for its unmatched biodiversity. KBO has worked with a team of scientists to inform management goals and the recent boundary expansion. Decisions informed by our science have led to further protection for species and habitats that our recent peer reviewed science identified as underrepresented on protected lands, including the imperiled Oregon Vesper Sparrow, a regional subspecies that spends its summers in the grassland habitats of the Monument.
Why conservation stamps? Klamath Bird Observatory Executive Director John Alexander explains — Each year the price of our annual conservation birding event includes the purchase of a Conservation Stamp Set. The set includes the 2017-2018 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, known as the Duck Stamp, and Klamath Bird Observatory’s 2017 Bird Conservation Science Stamp. Why the Duck Stamp? Because we see birds and birding as our refuge, and by purchasing Duck Stamps birders can directly contributing to bird habitat conservation efforts on our National Wildlife Refuges; the United States refuge system is one of the world’s best migratory bird conservation models. Plus the Duck Stamp provides you access to our Nation’s refuges. Why KBO’s Conservation Science Stamp? Proceeds from the conservation science stamp support and bring attention and the science-based programs, such as our work in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, and specific species we are working with. So please join us at our 2017 conservation birding event, the Mountain Bird Conservation Fundraiser, and put your stamp on conservation.
Klamath Bird Observatory’s Mountain Bird Conservation Fundraiser is an International Bird Day Event. The International Bird Day theme, helping birds along the way, recognizes the importance of stopover sites and their habitats. In our region the Upper Klamath Basin serves as a critical staging area for migrating waterfowl, and throughout the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion riparian habitats along lakes, river, and streams provide important stopover habitat for migratory songbirds. By supporting Klamath Bird Observatory you support the science that drives conservation for migratory birds and their stopover habitats.
Sign up now, only two spots left.
KBO Birding Adventure and Fundraiser led by Harry Fuller
September 12, 13, 14, 2017 with a pre-trip slide show September 11th, Monday 6:30 – 8:00pm
Cost of the trip is $565.00 which includes a tax deductible donation of $375. To sign up, contact Shannon Rio at shannonrio@aol.com or call her at 541-840-4655.
Click here to learn more about this conservation birding adventure.
Thursday, August 24th, 6:30-8:00pm
Ashland Outdoor Store, 37 3rd Street, Ashland, Oregon
This visual and auditory presentation teaches about local birds while exploring how they got their common and Latin names. Why is a Killdeer called a Killdeer and what does its scientific name tell us? Stories, scientific facts, photography, bird sounds, and even poetry — this is a fun opportunity to learn about the birds that live all around us. No birding knowledge necessary, however curiosity and humor are welcome prerequisites for coming to this presentation.
Shannon Rio is a wildlife educator and President of the Klamath Bird Observatory board of directors. Her passion is connecting people with nature so that they will want to protect what they love.
The cover article of Wednesday May 27th’s edition of the Ashland Daily Tidings featured the 2015 Mountain Bird Festival.
The article by John Darling highlights the economic benefits of birding. Bird enthusiasts generate billions of dollars of economic activity each year — The 2014 Mountain Bird Festival generated an estimated $70,000 of economic activity, benefiting local businesses in our region.
The article covers additional details about the Festival and Klamath Bird Observatory and also includes beautiful photographs by Jim Livaudais. Click here to read the article.
To learn more about the 2015 Mountain Bird Festival click here.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for a lecture or sign up for a class.
CANARY IN THE COAL MINE, BIRDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
EXPLORING MINDFUL BIRDING
HAWKS!
LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS
LEARNING MORE ABOUT BIRDS
ATTRACTING AND FEEDING BIRDS IN YOUR YARD
A new paper published in the journal Conservation Biology presents results from a novel conservation planning approach. This approach uses detailed data that predict the density of bird species across landscapes, as opposed to probability of occurrence models more typically used in conservation planning. These density-based models are better suited for identifying the highest priority conservation areas. The models were used to identify priority conservation areas in the Pacific Northwest. The results show a concentration of high ranking conservation areas in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion. The Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion is recognized as an area of great biological diversity and as an important area for avian diversity. This new paper further demonstrates that the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion stands out as an important area for conservation focus.
This newly released Conservation Biology paper, titled Improving Effectiveness of Systematic Conservation Planning with Density Data represents collaboration among scientists from Klamath Bird Observatory, American Bird Conservancy, and Point Blue Conservation Science and was made possible with funding from the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative and data contributed from many Avian Knowledge Network partners.