Migrating Birds and Biologists

Migrating birds met migrating biologists in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion as Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) engaged community members on International Migratory Bird Day on May 11th. Tatiana Straatman of Brazil and Liberato Pop of Belize were among the KBO biologists demonstrating bird banding and survey methods used to monitor bird populations and inform conservation efforts.

KBO has an international capacity building program that is dedicated to empowering biologists to use standard monitoring techniques throughout the summer, migration, and wintering ranges of the migratory birds that are shared among the countries of North, Central, and South America. Through hemisphere-wide monitoring efforts we can untangle the threats that birds face throughout their life-cycles and use what we learn to protect the habitats and ecosystems that these birds depend on.

With support from the US Forest Service’s Wings Across the Americas Programs, Southern Oregon University’s International Programs, and the Rotary Club of Ashland, KBO has hosted and provided training to 35 international interns from 17 countries outside the United States.  We have hosted students from Argentina, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Holland, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Perú, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, and United Kingdom.