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Author: KBO

2015 Mountain Bird Festival Registration Opens February 11

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

OfficialArtwork_2014MountainBirdFestival_GaryBloomfield

*** PRESS RELEASE***

The award winning Mountain Bird Festival is back, celebrating the natural wonders of southern Oregon and northern California. The 2015 Mountain Bird Festival will be held in Ashland, Oregon from May 29th-31st. Registration for the Festival will be available on the Klamath Bird Observatory website at www.klamathbird.org. The Mountain Bird Festival offers guided bird walks, a keynote presentation, fine art galleries, local wine, microbrew, and food vendors, and a feel-good community atmosphere. Registration includes half-day or full-day field trips offered on both Saturday and Sunday.

The 2015 Mountain Bird Festival combines a celebration of the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion’s spectacular mountain birds and the stewardship ethic needed to ensure thriving landscapes for humans and wildlife. Every citizen who participates in the Festival helps to advance bird and habitat conservation in multiple ways. They contribute to habitat protection through the purchase of a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (a.k.a. the Duck Stamp), thereby supporting one of the most successful conservation programs in the United States. Festival attendees also purchase a Conservation Science Stamp with proceeds supporting Klamath Bird Observatory’s regional science and education programs aimed at achieving sustainable natural resource management. Additionally, every Festival goer serves as a citizen scientist contributing field trip bird sightings to eBird Northwest, a rapidly growing database that advances our knowledge about birds and their habitats.

This year’s Mountain Bird Festival features a keynote presentation by Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s International eBird project leader, Brian Sullivan. Brian will show us how eBird and its state of the art technologies are revolutionizing birding, making this popular recreation a powerful conservation science activity.

The Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, an absolute must-see for birders and naturalists. The 2015 Mountain Bird Festival offers guided bird walks to some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes of the region. Field trips will target highly sought after mountain birds of the Cascade, Siskiyou, and Klamath Mountains, as well as Klamath Basin specialties. Target birds include Mountain Quail, nesting Sandhill Cranes, dancing Western and Clark’s Grebes, Black Terns, Great Gray Owls, Calliope Hummingbirds, and the bird that will be featured on this year’s Conservation Science Stamp, the White-headed Woodpecker.

The Mountain Bird Festival has received national awards for becoming one of our nation’s leading conservation events. Please join us for the 2015 Mountain Bird Festival and become part of our efforts to elevate bird conservation.

Click here to view a a copy of the press release announcing the 2015 Mountain Bird Festival.

New Talks and Walks Added!

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note.

These incredibly popular Talks and Walks are selling out fast! Workshops are limited to 14 participants and costs $25.00 with proceeds supporting KBO’s science and education programs. To reserve your space, please contact KBO Board Member Shannon Rio at shannonrio@aol.com. All Wednesday Talks will meet at KBO’s Office: 320 Beach Street, Ashland, OR 97520. Walks locations TBD.

  • ***SOLD OUT*** Great Gray Owl Talk and Walk led by Harry Fuller (KBO Board President): February 4th and 7th
  • ***NEW EVENT ADDED*** Great Gray Owl Talk and Walk led by Harry Fuller (KBO Board President): TALK – Wednesday, February 18th, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and WALK – Saturday, February 21th
  • ***SOLD OUT*** Hawk and Waterfowl Identification Talk and Walk led by Dick Ashford (KBO Board Emeritus): TALK – Wednesday, March 4th, 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. and WALK – Saturday, March 7th, 8am til 5:00 p.m.-ish, Klamath Wildlife Refuge, 

The Klamath Bird Observatory‘s Talks and Walks series was created by KBO’s Board Members as a tool for community building throughout the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion. Each session is an opportunity for cultural enrichment and learning, where skilled birders of the region can share their knowledge and passion, and maybe even some secrets from the birds! We look forward to seeing you at KBO Headquarters!

Community Events

Here are some additional talks given by KBO Board Members at North Mountain Park Nature Center! To register call the nature center at 541-488-6606 or register online at www.ashland.or.us/register.
Winter Birds and Spring Arrivals – Perfect timing! Beat the winter blues with a reminder that spring migration is just around the corner! Presentation and field trip led by KBO Board President Harry Fuller.

  • Thursday, February 26th, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at North Mountain Park, 620 N Mountain Ave, Ashland, OR 97520
  • Saturday, February 28th Field trip time and location TBD.

Click here to sign up through Ashland Parks and Recreation.

Birds – KBO Board Member Shannon Rio will be sharing her love of local birds through a presentation combining beautiful pictures, facts, and poetry.

  • Wednesday, March 18th from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Click here to sign up through Ashland Parks and Recreation.

Mindful Birding – Kate McKenzie will be giving a presentation and field trip intended to help us reflect on our relationship with nature and the present moment.

  • Thursday, April 16th presentation from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 18th field trip from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Click here to sign up through Ashland Parks and Recreation.

Beautiful Birds, Beautiful Words – Friends of Hannon Library Lecture Series – Another great presentation offered by Shannon Rio at the Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library. Free of charge; please contact Shannon at shannonrio@aol.com.

  • Thursday, April 9th at 5:30 p.m.

Klamath Bird Newsletter Early Winter 2014 Edition

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, KBO History.

The 2014 Early Winter Newsletter has hit the shelves! The Klamath Bird Observatory staff and field biologists work hard throughout the summer months collecting data for KBO’s conservation science projects. This unique newsletter has the best of both worlds: scientific perspectives combined with thoughtful, personal reflections on the field season.

Enjoy!

 

A Tradition of Field Biology and Conservation

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Conservation, KBO History, KBO Science.

The Klamath Bird Observatory’s foundation is rooted in the study of Natural History and the art of Field Biology.  As an Observatory we are an institution that supports observation based science.  We prescribe intentioned observation to meticulously document our human experiences in the natural world.  Using explicit protocols and well-designed studies we document these experiences, collecting scientific information that we use to inform and improve the way our society manages the ecosystems on which all of Earth’s life depends.

Of course, as a Bird Observatory, birds are the focus of our science.  Birds are our focus because the study of birds serves as a cost effective tool for learning about the health of our lands, air, and water.  Birds are indicators, and each different species serves as a measuring stick, its abundance and behavior providing invaluable information about specific aspects of our environment.  They tell us about the condition and function of our forests; they help to guage the health of the important riparian habitats that grow along and protect our rivers and streams.  For example, the presence of various birds tells us many things about a forest—Pileated Woodpeckers and Brown Creepers indicate a healthy mix of standing large trees, both alive and dead, while the occurrence of Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Wilson’s Warblers, and Orange-crowned Warblers indicates a multi-story mix of conifers and hardwoods and a complex of forest floor vegetation.   Along our rivers and streams nesting success of certain species serves as an indicator of the health of the riparian habitats that shade and cool the water, stabilize the banks, maintain the water table, and serve as a buffer during flooding.  Successfully nesting Song Sparrows indicate early development of healthy riparian habitats, and then, as that habitat matures we expect to see a broader suite of nesting riparian species, such as Yellow Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats.

Ornithologists, and their scientific study of birds, have lead and formed the foundation for 20th and 21st century conservation.  Near the turn of the 20th Century professional and amateur ornithologists, through their affiliation with the American Ornithological Union, shed light on the alarming patterns of population decline and environmental degradation that their science was documenting, influencing Theodore Roosevelt’s ambitious conservation agenda, which included the creation of the United States’ Wildlife Refuge System.  Through sound science, the waterfowl community created one of the world’s most successful conservation programs—the North American Waterfowl Conservation Plan.  This plan guides protection and management of wetland habitats throughout the ranges of the migratory ducks that depend on these habitats during their entire life cycles.  And now more recently, the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, through the State of the Birds reports, is bringing to the attention of our top decision makers the fact that birds serve as the bellwethers of our own well-being.  Our environmental, economic, and social well-being is inseparably tied to the fate of our birds and we have the science and tools that we need to reverse declines of at risk species while keeping our common birds common—we simply need to make the investment.

With many conservation challenges yet to be overcome, Klamath Bird Observatory is striving to keep our tradition of Natural History and Field Biology alive and well, by ensuring its practice informs effective conservation and helps us to realize tangible benefits for birds and people.

This is an extended version of the Note from the Executive Director article that first appeared in the 2014 Early Winter edition of the Klamath Bird Newsletter.

Ashland Christmas Bird Count

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Birds & Birding, KBO Education.

Did you know that the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count is the longest running citizen science survey in the world? This year marks 115 years of devoted birdwatchers looking to build community and contribute to valuable data sets. Just over a week ago Ashland hosted its annual Christmas Bird Count and counted a grand total of 114 species! There were some great mountain birds observed, such as Townsend’s Solitaire, Williamson’s Sapsucker, and American Dipper, and four new species were added to the count circle. Perhaps the greatest new addition was the Great Gray Owl!

Check out KBO Board President Harry Fuller‘s blog for awesome photos of the Great Gray Owl, a list of all the birds seen on count day, and the history of the Ashland Christmas Bird Count.

Ashland was the only count circle in Oregon to observe a Great gray Owl. Want to add the great gray ghost of the north and other mountain specialties to your year list? Registration for the 2015 Mountain Bird festival goes live on the Klamath Bird Observatory website February 6th! Click here for the 2015 Mountain Bird Festival Flyer. Hope to see you there!

 

Talks, Walks, and Community Events

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note.

Great Gray Owl 72 dpi

Perhaps you’re interested in learning more about the elusive Great Gray Owl, or looking to sharpen your hawk identification skills?  Who sings the first song of Spring? Mark your calendars! Here are some great upcoming classes and field trips led by KBO Board Members!

Talks and Walks

Join KBO Board Members at the office and out in the field the first Wednesday and Saturday of January, February, and March to experience the best of winter birdwatching in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion!

***SOLD OUT*** Great Gray Owl Talk and Walk

Want to see the Great Gray in action? Check out this upcoming “Talk and Walk”, the first of a new community education series hosted by the Klamath Bird Observatory!

Talk: Wed, February 4, 2015, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, KBO Headquarters: 320 Beach St, Ashland, OR 97520

Walk: February 7th all day field trip, times and location to be announced.

This Talk and Walk session is limited to 14 participants and costs $25.00 with proceeds supporting KBO’s science and education programs. To reserve your space, please contact KBO Board Member Shannon Rio at shannonrio@aol.com.

 

 

***SOLD OUT*** Hawk and Waterfowl Identification Talks and Walks

035 193 Ferruginous Hawk 72 dpi

Not every hawk is a Red-tailed Hawk! Join KBO hawk master and Board Member Emeritus Dick Ashford for two Talk and Walk sessions to the raptor rich environments of the Upper Klamath Basin.

Talk: Wednesday, January 7th, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at KBO’s Headquarters: 320 Beach St, Ashland, OR 97520.

Walk: Saturday, January 10th, 8am til 5:00 p.m.-ish, Klamath Wildlife Refuge

Talk: Wednesday, March 4th, 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. at KBO’s Headquarters, 320 Beach St, Ashland, OR 97520

Walk: Saturday, March 7th, 8am til 5:00 p.m.-ish, Klamath Wildlife Refuge

These Talk and Walk sessions are limited to 14 participants and cost $25.00 with proceeds supporting KBO’s science and education programs. To reserve your space, please contact KBO Board Member Shannon Rio at shannonrio@aol.com.

Community Events

In addition to the Talk and Walk series, KBO Board President Harry Fuller will be leading these exciting community outreach events!

Great Gray Owls

KBO Board President Harry Fuller will be giving a presentation on Great Gray Owl ecology, nesting habits in Oregon and California, and threats to this charismatic great, gray ghost of the north– a true specialty in the Pacific Northwest.

Thursday, January 8th, 6:30- 7:30 p.m. at Klamath Basin Audubon: Student Union, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.

Winter Birds and Spring Arrivals

Perfect timing! Beat the winter blues with a reminder that spring migration is just around the corner! Presentation and field trip led by KBO Board President Harry Fuller, please sign up through Ashland Parks and Recreation.

Thursday, February 26th, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at North Mountain Park, 620 N Mountain Ave, Ashland, OR 97520

Saturday, February 28th Field trip time and location TBD.

Support KBO this Cyber Monday!

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note.

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There’s an easy way to enhance bird and habitat conservation this Cyber Monday, and every day, when you shop online with Amazon.  Amazon has a charitable giving program called AmazonSmile.  When shoppers use AmazonSmile 0.5% of their purchases are donated the shopper’s charity of choice.  Please visit http://smile.amazon.com/ch/93-1297400 and support Klamath Bird Observatory every time you shop!

2nd Spring Birds of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Trip Added (June 12th-15th 2015)!

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note.

Burrowing Owl

Our first trip is SOLD OUT, so we are officially hosting an additional trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge! It will be led by KBO board president and professional birding guide, Harry Fuller, and one additional trip leader TBD. Hurry and send in your $300 conservation donation to secure your spot!

This Klamath Bird Observatory conservation outing is truly an unforgettable trip. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is a world-renowned birding destination and the largest wetland in eastern Oregon. The area provides important breeding grounds for Sandhill Crane, Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawk, and Prairie Falcon, and participants should also see Bobolinks, Sage Sparrows, and Eastern Kingbirds, among dozens of other bird species. This special conservation outing is limited to 10 participants. Register soon before spaces fill. Click here to download the full trip flyer.

Cost
$500 (includes lodging, one evening bird presentation, two dinners, three breakfasts, & $300 tax-deductible donation in support of Klamath Bird Observatory’s bird and habitat conservation programs)

Transportation
Carpooling in four vehicles, gas costs shared among participants.

Food
Bring lunches, snacks, drinks, and a potluck dinner dish. Three breakfasts and two dinners are included.

To Register
Email Marcella for details at <admin@klamathbird.org>, or call Marcella at (541) 201-0866 ext. 4#.

Your Support Makes a Difference
Klamath Bird Observatory takes pride in conservation leadership and our internationally recognized conservation model. In our fundraising outings we combine a celebration of birds with the commitment needed to ensure their continued survival. Your participation in these outings not only puts you in touch with incredible displays of nature; it also makes a positive contribution to bird and habitat conservation. We are tremendously grateful for your support.

 

Now LIVE: eBird Northwest!

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

eBird NW Banner
eBird NW Sponsors Low Res JPEG

 

Regional birdwatchers and conservationists, rejoice! Observations can now be submitted into eBird Northwest, a new regional portal of eBird.  eBird Northwest will provide users with local and national news stories, helpful resources for bird identification, and opportunities to get involved in citizen science projects, such as:

  • Puget Sound Seabird Survey
  • Klamath-Siskiyou Oak Restoration Monitoring
  • Oregon 2020.

eBird Northwest is serving as the citizen science arm of Avian Knowledge Northwest, an Avian Knowledge Network node that provides information from current and comprehensive datasets on birds and the environment for scientists, natural resource managers, and other individuals interested in conservation science in the northwestern United States.

We hope that eBird Northwest will serve as a useful tool and support the efforts of regional birdwatchers and naturalists.

Click here to view a a copy of the press release announcing the launch of eBird NW.