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.
Start 2025 of right with one of KBO’s famous Hawk outings with Dick Ashford and Amanda Alford. On Jan 16th, we’ll enjoy a 6-8:30 PM lecture in the KBO “Spa” then enjoy a day-long outing to the Klamath Basin on Jan 18th or Jan 25th. In each case, we’ll depart Ashland at 8 AM and return around 5-ish. We will carpool (a must!) in 4 vehicles of 4 people each. Reserve your spot and register today!
The year is almost over and soon it will be 2025. To get ready for the new year KBO is searching for its 2025 field technician crew for its point count program. The avian point count surveys will take place from April 28th through July 18th, throughout the ecologically diverse and beautiful regions of southern Oregon, eastern Oregon, and/or northern California. Technicians will conduct work related to multiple projects including monitoring effects of oak and conifer forest restoration on species distributions and long-term monitoring on both private and public lands.
Plus check out how the 2024 season went! We are very thankful for our excellent point count crew this year, who put in an amazing effort to collect high-quality data throughout the region, while also navigating life in the field. In 2024 they recorded over 29,000 individuals of over 200 different species on surveys. At Klamath Bird Observatory, we are happy to have another successful season on the books and are looking f…
This Giving Tuesday, please support KBO in training the next generation of conservationists with a matching donation to our Avian Internship Memorial (AIM) Fund. The AIM Fund honors Patty Buettner’s formative influence on KBO. By contributing to the AIM fund, you will help thank Patty’s family and friends for creating this fund in her memory. Your donation will leverage their continued financial support.
Klamath Bird Observatory is going back to Bear Divide! Last April we took 10 people for the first time to Bear Divide to experience bird migration in a new way. This trip is led by Dr. Ryan Terrill KBO’s Science Director. As a postdoc at Occidental College Ryan helped establish the monitoring happening at Bear Divide. Even though he is now at KBO this place still calls him back. This KBO adventure is happening April 23rd – April 26th, 2025. Register Today.
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.
December can be a great time of year to enjoy raptor viewing in the picturesque Klamath Basin! Wintering birds have been arriving, and the weather is still (sorta) mild. Please join KBO board members Amanda Alford and Dick Ashford, who will share their enthusiasm and knowledge during an informative (and fun!) Hawk ID workshop.
On Dec 5th, we’ll enjoy a 6-8:30 PM lecture in the KBO “Spa” at 2425 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland. To afford everyone the best possible experience, attendance is strictly limited to 22 attendees. This will allow half the class to enjoy a day-long outing to the Klamath Basin on Dec 7th, while the other half will be in the field on Dec 15th. In each case, we’ll depart Ashland at 8 AM and return around 5-ish. We will carpool (a must!) in 4 vehicles of 4 people each.
A new research paper published in the journal Avian Conservation and Ecology by partners Bob Altman and Joel Geier and KBO scientist Sarah Rockwell presents the first estimates of post-fledging survival and site persistence of the Oregon Vesper Sparrow. The authors used mark-resight methodology, a method involving color-banding birds and observing them in the wild, to track the survival of fledglings in the weeks after they left their nests in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The authors found that their survival estimates, derived from mark-resighting, were substantially higher than those found in previous studies using radio-tracking in other grassland songbirds. Post-fledging survival of Oregon Vesper Sparrows in the Willamette Valley was the highest ever reported for similarly sized grassland birds – 62.9% for the first nine weeks out of the nest, typically the most vulnerable time in a bird’s life. These differences may be due to either the naturally high survival of this subspec…
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 KBO in celebrating fall at the Bear Creek Salmon Festival on Saturday, October 12, 11 am-4 pm at North Mountain Park in Ashland. This FREE, family event honors the return of fall salmon with kids’ games and activities, Native American cultural demonstrations, and live music all day. Enjoy the folksy sounds of McAlvage & Fretwell in the morning or boogie to hot, prohibition-era jazz with the Bathtub Gin Serenaders in the afternoon.
