Oregon’s skies just got a little darker—and that’s great news for birds. Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve has been named the state’s second international dark sky park, a designation that highlights not only its stunning starry skies but also its role in supporting bird conservation. This achievement aligns with a growing understanding of the harmful effects of light pollution on wildlife, especially migratory birds.
In celebration of International Women’s Month, we would like to introduce you to some of the amazing women who make up the KBO Data Science Team. Here, they respond to a series of questions about their experience as women in science.
The State of the Birds 2025 report has been delivered to the American people by scientists from more than two dozen conservation groups and agencies, including Oregon-based Klamath Bird Observatory. This report paints a concerning picture of declining bird populations in the United States. The report also underscores the significant environmental, economic, and human benefits of bird conservation and birdwatching to millions of Americans.
At the Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO), we are a proud partner of the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network (KSON), which collaborates with the community and partners within the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion to promote the restoration and conservation of oak habitats. This week, we have two exciting announcements: a new website (https://oakalliance.org/partnerships/kson/) and The Prairie, Oaks, and People Investment Strategy is now LIVE!
Cat ownership has become a defining feature of American households in recent decades. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), between 2023 and 2024, approximately 46.5 million U.S. households owned at least one cat, representing about 35.4% of the total 131.43 million households. However, as the popularity of cat ownership soars, so does the impact on local ecosystems—particularly bird populations. By exploring this dynamic and promoting solutions like catios, we can strike a balance between caring for our cats and protecting the natural world.
Every year, KBO hosts and attends several events, and there is always more we wish we could do. To increase our outreach capacity, KBO is now accepting outreach volunteers. These volunteers could help table at events like Earth Day, assist in Bird Walks at local parks, and assist with field trips to banding stations. For these positions, we are looking for volunteers who are eager to share their love for the natural world, have good communication and people skills, and want to help communicate the vital work KBO does for bird conservation. To volunteer, you do not need to be a bird expert; you just need an eagerness to learn.
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 the Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) in celebrating International Women in Science Day. We will host a presentation by Mantiqueira Bird Observatory (OAMa) founder and Executive Director Luiza Figueira on February 10th, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. This presentation is for anyone interested in supporting women in science, learning about bird and habitat conservation in Brazil, or learning more about the international trip. It is free and will have a hybrid option. The in-person portion will be held at the KBO office in Ashland, and we will have light refreshments. There will also be a Zoom option for those unable to attend in person. The Zoom presentation will start at 5:45 p.m.
Join Dr. Sarah Rockwell for her presentation at the Redwood Region Audubon Society January 16 at 7:00 p.m. The program is entitled “To Southern California, Brazil, and Back: First GPS Tracking of Oregon Vesper Sparrow and Western Purple Martin Migration”. This presentation will be hosted on Zoom and in person. Zoom link can be found in this article
