Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) has launched a new webpage that brings its conservation travel program to life. Designed for nature lovers, birders, and eco-conscious explorers, this page showcases how every journey with KBO supports science, education, and habitat restoration. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious traveler, these trips offer a rare chance to connect deeply with birds, landscapes, and the people working to protect them. Check out what trips we have coming up in 2026 and secure your spot before they are gone.
Please join KBO board members Dick Ashford and Amanda Alford for a hawk-finding outing to beautiful Scott Valley, CA! November should show the early signs of raptor migration in the area; we will search for newly arrived migrants, birds just passing through, and local residents.
Join Shannon Rio and Kevin Spencer for a Fall Birding Outing in the Klamath Basin!
Spend a full day immersed in nature as we explore the rich birdlife of Rocky Point, Fort Klamath Area, and the Wood River Wetlands.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just curious about the feathered wonders of the Klamath Basin, this relaxed and scenic outing promises great company and unforgettable sightings. Let’s go birding!
Come experience bird science in action with Klamath Bird Observatory! On Friday, September 19th, we’ll visit our banding station near Wildlife Images for a half-day, family-friendly outing. We’ll carpool from Ashland* at 6:30 a.m. and return by noon.
Join us for Harry Fuller’s “Oaks and Other Creatures” presentation on May 12th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The presentation will be hosted at the KBO office in Ashland, and there is a virtual option.
Hawks and Ducks sounds like a title for a family-friendly board game, but early March is that time of year when both waterfowl and wintering raptors are present in the Klamath Basin. Please join KBO board members Amanda Alford and Dick Ashford for an all-day outing on March 8th, when we’ll look at everything “the basin” has to offer. We will follow a route that maximizes our chances of seeing the varied birdlife for which the Klamath Basin is famous. And we’ll have lots of fun doing it! This trip will be limited to just 11 attendees, and we will carpool (a must!) in 4 vehicles of 4 people each, with each car driven by one of our A+ hawk team co-leaders.
Join us on February 24th at 6 pm for a presentation on Bear Divide by KBO’s Science Director Dr. Ryan Terrill. Bear Divide is a recently discovered migratory bird concentration point near Los Angeles, CA. It is one of the only places in the western United States where you can see bird migration during daylight hours. Calling Bear Divide a migratory hot spot would be an understatement.
Join KBO on January 28th for a presentation by Shannon Rio on waterbirds of the Klamath Basin. She will be introducing her new waterbird book and ways to explore the picturesque Klamath Basin. This is a free hybrid presentation hosted at the KBO office in Ashland. The following weekend on February 2nd Shannon will be taking a group out to the basin to explore the waterbirds that are spending their winters there. This event is free and open to all ages.
oin us on an adventure to support bird science conservation beyond borders!
Register Now for the III edition of our Fundraising Field Trip: 13-22 August 2025.
If you love tropical birds and hiking in the mountains, listen closely. Over the course of ten days, you will be exploring wildlife and natural landscape, birding with local ornithologists, visiting national and state parks, and getting involved with local conservation efforts to protect birds and habitats at Atlantic Forest. If that wasn’t enough, the cost of this special trip will help fund the intern exchange program between KBO and OAMa and support the continuation of the bird monitoring program on the Mantiqueira Highlands in Southeast Brazil!
It is estimated that only 3,000 individuals of this declining subspecies remain. The small population size of the Oregon Vesper Sparrow is well-documented, but the causes of its at-risk status are not. As with all migratory birds, population trends may be caused by factors on their breeding grounds, wintering grounds, or migration stopover areas.
Since 2018 Klamath Bird Observatory has been trying to understand the cause of this subspecies’ decline. Getting a snapshot of how many of these birds there are in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument – and where they are – is important baseline data. This information will be especially important if the Oregon Vesper Sparrow is listed as federally endangered or threatened – it is currently in review with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for potential listing under the Endangered Species Act. Read todays article to learn about how many KBO found.
