Klamath Call Note

We now offer a Zoom option for the Holiday FUNdraiser — Contemplative Photography by Kirk Gooding. This presentation celebrates the power of photography. Kirk selected his favorite nature photos and created this inspirational series set to music. After a brief introduction, we ask you to sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds created in this stunning presentation.  This event takes place on December 11th from 5 pm – 8 pm and Zoom 6 pm – 7 pm. 

Join the Giving Tuesday movement. It is the biggest day of the year for generosity. By giving to Klamath Bird Observatory, you are helping to support long-term monitoring that provides information about changes in bird populations, in-depth theoretical research that advances our understanding of bird distribution and movements, and applied ecology that addresses natural resource management challenges. We ask that you help us with our continued efforts to protect birds, putting birds and KBO’s science at the forefront of conservation decision-making and action. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN END-OF-YEAR DONATION NOW!

Sunday, December 11th, 5 – 8 PM Nature photography can be deeply soul-soothing and meditative. It can be educational as it gives details about the appearance or behavior of a bird, and it can result in the protection of birds and landscapes. William Finley was a conservation photographer who presented to Teddy Roosevelt photos showing the mass slaughter of herons and egrets, prompting Roosevelt to set aside land as refuges for birds. Highlighting the importance of art in conservation. This presentation celebrates the power of photography. Kirk Gooding selected his favorite nature photos and created this inspirational series set to music. After a brief introduction, we ask you to sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds created in this stunning presentation. This holiday event will be held in a home in Ashland. Appetizers and beverages will be provided.

It is still 2022, but we are planning for 2023! In April, KBO will be traveling to Brazil to spend time with Mantiqueira Bird Observatory (OAMa)  and their fantastic team, Luiza and Pedro. Join us for a 10-day trip exploring the beauty of the Brazilian cloud forests, seeing exotic birds, discussing bird conservation with scientists from Brazil and KBO, bird banding in action, and eating delicious food. By attending this trip, you are donating to the intern exchange program between KBO and OAMa. Your donation helps cover the cost of travel, visa fees, stipend, and much more for an intern. Luiza will be hosting a presentation on November 20th at 5 pm to showcase all the amazing this we will see and do in Brazil and about OAMa. 

To help us tell the story about how sustained forest management investments in the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion may benefit birds, we invited Executive Director Terry Fairbanks from the Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative (SOFRC) to provide a testimonial. KBO is bringing multiple voices to the table to coalesce around a forest conservation movement to ensure investment if forest restoration benefits birds and people. As we restore our forest from years of fire suppression using birds to guide conservation action and evaluate restoration success, we are telling a complete ecosystem story. KBO Executive Director John Alexander, a contributor to the Report, gave a live interview with Jefferson Exchange host Geoffrey Riley, discussing this story. Terry Fairbanks’s video interview and John’s recorded interview can both be found in this blog.

January can be a great time to enjoy raptor viewing in the picturesque Klamath Basin! Please join longtime KBO board member Dick Ashford, who will share his enthusiasm and knowledge during an informative (and fun!) Hawk ID workshop. On Jan 5th, a classroom lecture will be held from 6-8:30 PM in the KBO “Spa” at 2425 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland. Then, enjoy a day-long outing to the Klamath Basin on Jan 7th. We’ll depart Ashland at 8 AM and return around 5-ish. To afford everyone the best possible experience, attendance is limited. We will carpool (a must!) in 4 vehicles of 4 people each.

Join Klamath Bird Observatory and Mantiqueira Bird Observatory (OAMa) for a presentation highlighting our FUNdraising trip to Brazil on April 12th-20th, 2023. Luiza cofounder of OAMa will present trip details and be available to help answer any questions you may have about this fantastic opportunity on November 20th at 5 pm. This is a hybrid event with in-person being held at the KBO office. During this trip, you will get the opportunity to bird with local scientists, visit beautiful national parks, participate in a photography workshop, and watch bird banding in action at OAMa

The KBO banding crew just finished another successful banding season! This year’s crew from across the world, captured over 5,000 birds throughout southern Oregon and demonstrated how much they learned by earning certifications at the Bander and Trainer levels from the North American Banding Council! Enjoy this short video highlighting this amazing team and the fantastic year they had. If you would like to help support future banding crew members and our long-term monitoring program you can donate to the Avian Internship Memorial Fund. 

The updated Partners in Flight Conservation Strategy for Landbirds in Sagebrush-Steppe and Riparian Habitats of Eastern Oregon and Washington (Rockwell 2022) brings forward recommendations to assist the planning efforts and habitat management actions of land managers and stimulate monitoring and research to support landbird conservation. This document encompasses sagebrush-steppe, riparian, and unique habitats in several ecoregions including the Owyhee Uplands, Northern Great Basin (sometimes referred to as Basin and Range), and High Lava Plains in Oregon, the Palouse Prairie in Washington, and the Columbia Basin in Washington and Oregon but also including an extension up the Okanagan Valley to the Canadian border.

It’s that time of year! Please join longtime KBO board member Dick Ashford for our first hawk watching outing of the season. Low water conditions on the Klamath Basin refuges mean we’ll have our best opportunities by visiting ranchlands, specifically those in Butte Valley and the lower Basin. There are no guarantees (it’s a natural show), but Dick will have scouted the areas beforehand to locate the best spots. If the birds are there, we’ll find ‘em! We’ll depart Ashland at 8 AM on Saturday, Nov 19th, and return around 5-ish. In order to provide everyone with the best possible experience, attendance will be limited. Therefore, we will carpool (a must!) in 4 vehicles of 4 people each. Because this outing is so popular (Hawks have charisma!), early signup is recommended.