“Observing KBO” is intended to be an ongoing, occasional feature of this KBO news-feed. It will include not only profiles of individual members of KBO staff, but also background stories “from the field” that otherwise might not appear in print. The KBO Observer met with Elva Manquera-DeShields at a noisy Ashland coffee house. We enjoyed our conversation amid the din. Learn more about Elva.
Meet banding intern Giselle Lares Ragoonanan. She is an indigenous naturalist, assistant field researcher, nature soundscape recorder, and wildlife conservationist. Her home is the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago at the end of the Caribbean archipelago. KBO is very excited to have her as an intern this year and are grateful for partnerships like BirdCaribbean for helping to make it happen. Follow the link below to learn more about Giselle and learn about the next banding station outing on September 28th.
Join past board member Harry Fuller on September 22nd at the Klamath Bird Observatory office at 6 pm to learn about Great Grey Owls. He will be discussing why they are here in Southern Oregon, where you might find them, how they are going to be impacted by climate change and much much more. This event is free and copies of his books will be available for sale.
The long search is over. KBO is thrilled to announce our new Science Director, Ryan Terrill. Ryan grew up birding in the Santa Cruz mountains of central California and has a life-long interest in birds. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz and his Ph.D. in Biology from Louisiana State University, where his thesis focused on understanding how avian molt strategies interact with evolution over time. Click below to read more about Ryan and his role at KBO.
To align KBO’s staffing to meet this forest bird conservation need, we are developing a new conservation delivery program area to help us further focus and scale up our efforts to translate science into even more conservation action. This new program area is poised for success because Jaime Stephens, who has been a leader at KBO for over 20 years, will be taking on a new role as KBO’s first Director of Conservation. Jaime has served as KBO’s long-time Science Director for many years, leading our extensive monitoring and research efforts. As the Science Director, Jaime has worked tirelessly to develop the partnerships and deliver our science, helping to grow KBO’s direct involvement in on-the-ground conservation efforts. These efforts have reached a level that warrants the creation of this new position.
Our board of directors volunteer their time and experience to help us care for the Klamath Bird Observatory. In that light, Lisa Michelbrink has shown exemplary leadership over the last few years. Always rolling up her sleeves and taking on whatever job needs to be done. These jobs include large scale fundraising events, leading the transition of our fundraising through the pandemic, and actively engaging with the bird banding program. For this, we are excited to award Lisa the 2021 Bullock’s Rose Oriole Award.
Thank you to everyone that attended Birding Beyond Borders. A special thank you goes to Shannon Rio and Luiza Figueira for presenting about the amazing connection that Klamath Bird Observatory has with Observatório de Aves da Mantiqueira and how this international connection is a great model for bird conservation across the globe. If you missed this presentation you can watch the Zoom recording by following the link.
The Mantiqueira Bird Observatory, in partnership with the Klamath Bird Observatory, invites you for a free online magical trip to the Atlantic Forest of Southeast Brazil. The presentation is on February 24th, 6 pm – 7 pm PT. There you will learn about their tropical birds and conservation efforts. In a live presentation, Luiza Figueira, former KBO’s intern, and current OAMa’s executive director will talk about the development of the bird observatory in Brazil, their research and outreach projects to promote bird conservation. You will also be led through a diversity of local birds and will “walk” the trails in the tropical forests where OAMa does the long-term bird monitoring. Click to register for the event.
The Klamath Bird Observatory family, would like to congratulate Laura Fleming on her Friend to the Environment Award (even though it may be a little late). Laura, owner of the Medford, Wild Birds Unlimited store received the prestigious Friend to the Environment Award in 2019, at the annual meeting of the Wild Birds Unlimited franchisees. Laura is a past board member and a continued supporter of the Klamath Bird Observatory.
Patty Buettner’s Family and friends have established this annual fund in her honor. During her life, Patty was personally and professionally committed to wildlife conservation and made significant contributions to the field. Among them was her formative influence on the creation of the Klamath Bird Observatory.
