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Birds & Birding

Nuestras Aves Compartidas

Come learn about the shared birds of southern Oregon and the western region of Mexico with Martín López Aguilar from Jalisco, Mexico. The presentation and bird walk will take place on November 23rd, from 9 am – 11 am, at the Talent Library. After his presentation on the migratory birds that connect us Martín will lead a bird walk at Lynn Newberry Park. Binoculars will be available to borrow. This presentation will be in Spanish and English.  Venga a aprender sobre las aves compartidas del sur de Oregon y la región occidental de México con Martín López Aguilar de Jalisco, México. La presentación y caminata de aves se llevará a cabo el 23 de noviembre, de 9 am – 11 am, en la Biblioteca de Talent. Después de su presentación sobre las aves migratorias que nos conectan, Martín guiará una caminata en el Parque Lynn Newberry. Se prestarán prismáticos. Esta presentación será en español e inglés.

Howloween with Frank Lospalluto

Join Frank Lospalluto for a haunting good time on the 25th at 5 pm. We will be traveling the Keno Access Rd. looking for Great Grey Owls and other silent predators of the night. The night will start at Rite Aid in Ashland to organize the carpool.

Join us in learning about water birds of the Klamath Refuge and the Federal Duck Stamp

This presentation is to acquaint you with how to go to the refuge and what you might see when you get there. Maps of the refuge will be provided. A book will be featured that invites you to take some young person (or any age person) to the refuge to learn about the wonders of the waterfowl refuge. We will also be introducing you to one of the most successful conservation programs ever created, the Federal Duck Stamp. The presenters will be Shannon Rio and Elva Manquera-DeShields. This is a hybrid presentation at the Klamath Bird Observatory office in Ashland on September 30th at 6 pm.  This is a free presentation.

Patty Buettner Memorial Hawk Watch

The Patty Buettner Memorial Hawk Watch will be on Saturday, September 28, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, at the Modoc Rim stationary viewing area, above nearby Hagelstein Park, north of Klamath Falls. This event has been a tradition for many years, observing the migrating raptors moving southward using the updraft caused by daily eastward blowing wind currents along the escarpment seen adjacent to Hwy 97 and Upper Klamath Lake.

Two Days of World Migratory Bird Day

KBO is excited to be at not one but two World Migratory Bird Day events this year. We will be at Rogue Valley Bird Day this Saturday, May 11th, 8 am – 12 pm at North Mountain Park in Ashland. The day will be chock-full of activities to participate in, with organizers offering bird walks every 15 to 30 minutes from the nature center pavilion; adult’s and children’s binoculars will be available for loan. Check out an article in the Rogue Valley Times about this weekend’s event or visit the Rogue Valley Bird Day website. The second World Migratory Bird Day event is on May 18th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Veterans Park, in Klamath Falls. See you there!

Winter Lunch and Learn with Shannon Rio

Join Shannon Rio at the Ashland Klamath Bird Observatory office for a series of 3 noon classes (Thursday, Feb 22 and 29th, March 7) and an outing on March 10th. Topics will include raptors, places to bird, use of guide books and phone apps, and learning about behaviors of our local birds. Winter is a perfect opportunity to learn. A PowerPoint presentation of photos will accompany the talks. No knowledge of birding is necessary. Bring your lunch and your curiosity. Shannon Rio is president of the board of the Klamath Bird Observatory. As a wildlife educator, she teaches in a style that is informal and welcoming to all knowledge levels. The focus is on having fun and connecting with the natural world. This is a free event. 

Bear Divide Trip Registration and Details

Klamath Bird Observatory is going on a 4-day trip to Burbank, California, where we will explore the wonders of Bear Divide led by Dr. Ryan Terrill, April 24th – 27th, 2024. There are only a handful of places in the United States where you get to experience bird migration in a new way. Calling Bear Divide a migratory hot spot would be an understatement. Every year — roughly between March 15 and June 15, with peak migration between April 10 and May 20 — thousands of birds funnel through the narrow pass.

Save the Date – Bear Divide Trip with Dr. Ryan Terrill

Join KBO’s Science Director for an avian awe-inspiring experience, a spectacle of spring bird migration that is on full display at Bear Divide in the western San Gabriel Mountains. Bear Divide’s topography is a funnel for long-distance migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. Visitors and scientists can see and study migratory birds up close and personal. 

Raptor Viewing in the Klamath Basin (Rescheduled)

November can be a great time of year to enjoy raptor viewing in the picturesque Klamath Basin! Please join KBO board members Amanda Alford and Dick Ashford on Nov 4th for a fun, day-long hawk-watching outing to Butte Valley and the lower Klamath Basin. We’ll look for resident and early-wintering hawks, falcons, eagles, and harriers (and there are possibilities for an owl or two 😊). We’ll depart Ashland at 8 AM and return around 5ish. Limited to 12 attendees, $40 per person. This will allow us to carpool (a must!) in 4 vehicles. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the Field Of Wonder!

End of Point Count Season Update

Each spring, KBO conducts a large-scale point count surveying effort to collect data on abundance, habitat use, and bird communities. Many species can only be surveyed during their breeding season when they establish territories and are easily detected by their unique songs. To take advantage of this, our point count surveys take place within a narrow window during the spring breeding season. With the help of a fantastic team of seasonal point count technicians, KBO completed another successful season of surveys this year.