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Tag: Amanda Alford

Join Amanda and Dick for the 2026–2027 Hawk Talk and Outing Series

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Birds & Birding, Trips & Events.

Red-tailed Hawk taken by Frank Lospalluto

Hawk-watching season is approaching! Join KBO Board Members Amanda Alford and Dick Ashford for another season of informative—and fun—Hawk Talks and outings.

Whether you are just beginning to identify raptors or have years of birding experience, these events offer an opportunity to sharpen your identification skills, spend time with fellow bird enthusiasts, and enjoy winter birding in two exceptional landscapes.

This season’s schedule includes:

November 21, 2026 — Scott Valley (outing only)
January 16, 2027 — Klamath Basin (talk on Thursday, January 14th)
February 6, 2027 — Klamath Basin (talk on Thursday, February 4th)
February 27, 2027 — Klamath Basin (talk on Wednesday, February 24th)
March 13, 2027 — Hawks & Ducks (outing only)

Talks will take place at the KBO office in Ashland, OR.

Choose one outing—or join us for several—and get ready to see hawks, ducks, and other winter birds in the Field of Wonder!

Each event requires a separate registration. Follow the links below to learn more and reserve your place:

November 21: Scott Valley — [Register here]
January 16: Klamath Basin — [Register here]
February 6: Klamath Basin — [Register here]
February 27: Klamath Basin — [Register here]
March 13: Hawks & Ducks — [Register here]

These popular talks and outings are a wonderful way to learn from Amanda and Dick’s knowledge and enthusiasm while experiencing the diversity of winter birds in our region. Space is limited, so we encourage early registration.  Your seat will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, tax-deductible contribution of $75 per person for a talk and walk, and $50 for the outing only events. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the Field of Wonder!

Please be sure to dress comfortably and bring lunch and liquids. Most of our birding will be from the roadside, with minimal walking.

 

Hawk Talk and Walk – Klamath Basin

Written by Elva Manquera on .

Hawk-watching season is approaching! Join KBO Board Members Amanda Alford and Dick Ashford for another season of informative—and fun—Hawk Talks and outings.

Whether you are just beginning to identify raptors or have years of birding experience, this event offers an opportunity to sharpen your identification skills, spend time with fellow bird enthusiasts, and enjoy winter birding in exceptional landscapes.

These popular talks and outings are a wonderful way to learn from Amanda and Dick’s knowledge and enthusiasm while experiencing the diversity of winter birds in our region. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.  Your seat will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, tax-deductible contribution of  $75 for this talk and walk. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the Field of Wonder!

Please be sure to dress comfortably and bring lunch and liquids. Most of our birding will be from the roadside, with minimal walking.

Scott Valley with Amanda and Dick (FULL)

Written by Elva Manquera on .

*This event is full; if you want to join the waitlist, email Elva at ejm@klamathbird.org. Check out the other great hawk trips. 

Hawk-watching season is approaching! Join KBO Board Members Amanda Alford and Dick Ashford for another season of informative—and fun—Hawk Talks and outings.

Whether you are just beginning to identify raptors or have years of birding experience, this event offers an opportunity to sharpen your identification skills, spend time with fellow bird enthusiasts, and enjoy winter birding in exceptional landscapes.

These popular talks and outings are a wonderful way to learn from Amanda and Dick’s knowledge and enthusiasm while experiencing the diversity of winter birds in our region. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.  Your seat will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, tax-deductible contribution of  $50 for the outing. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the Field of Wonder!

Please be sure to dress comfortably and bring lunch and liquids. Most of our birding will be from the roadside, with minimal walking.

Hawk ID Workshop

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Birds & Birding, Trips & Events.

Winter can be a great time of year to enjoy raptor viewing in the picturesque Klamath Basin! 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 Thursday, February 19th, from 6 – 8:30 PM,  we’ll meet in the KBO “Spa” at 2425 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, for a presentation on Identifying Wintering Hawks of the Klamath Basin. Then on Saturday, Feb 21st, we will travel to the Klamath Basin for an all-day outing, departing Ashland at 8 AM and returning around 5-ish. To afford everyone the best possible experience, attendance is strictly limited to 11 attendees. This will allow us to carpool in four cars, each driven by members of our KBO Raptor Team.

Please be sure to dress comfortably and bring lunch and liquids. Much of our birding will be from the roadside, and walking will be minimal.

Hawk Talk and Walk

Written by Elva Manquera on .

Winter can be a great time of year to enjoy raptor viewing in the picturesque Klamath Basin! 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 Thursday, February 19th, from 6 – 8:30 PM,  we’ll meet in the KBO “Spa” at 2425 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, for a presentation on Identifying Wintering Hawks of the Klamath Basin. Then on Saturday, Feb 21st, we will travel to the Klamath Basin for an all-day outing, departing Ashland at 8 AM and returning around 5-ish. To afford everyone the best possible experience, attendance is strictly limited to 11 attendees. This will allow us to carpool in four cars, each driven by members of our KBO Raptor Team.

Please be sure to dress comfortably and bring lunch and liquids. Much of our birding will be from the roadside, and walking will be minimal.

Scott Valley Raptor Tour with Dick Ashford and friends

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Birds & Birding, Trips & Events.

Please join KBO board members Dick Ashford and Amanda Alford for a hawk-finding outing to beautiful Scott Valley, CA! November should show the early signs of raptor migration in the area; we will search for newly arrived migrants, birds just passing through, and local residents.

We’ll learn about and identify the raptors we see along our route, taking us from just north of Fort Jones south to Etna, crisscrossing the valley as we go. The tour will be conducted at a leisurely pace with time to watch individual raptors and (hopefully) enjoy observing behavior, such as hunting, feeding, and inter and intra-specific interactions. There are no guarantees (it’s a natural show), but Dick will have scouted the area beforehand to locate the best spots. The image above is that of a bird Dick observed south of Fort Jones. Can you guess its ID?

Please be sure to dress comfortably and bring lunch and liquids. Most of our birding will be done from the roadside, and walking will be kept to a minimum. And, as is our custom, we will not have a formal lunch stop but will eat as the birds do – all day long!

We’ll depart Ashland at 8 AM and return around 5-ish. Because of the narrow farm roads, we are limiting this trip to just 10 attendees. We will carpool (a must!)

Cost: $50 per person

Date: November 22nd

We’re looking forward to seeing you in the Field Of Wonder!

If you require accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please contact Elva at ejm@klamathbird.org.

Waiver of Liability Form 

First Outing of 2025 – More Hawks!

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Trips & Events.

January is a great time of year to enjoy raptor viewing in the picturesque Klamath Basin! 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 Jan 16th, 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 Jan 18th, while the other half will be in the field on 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.

Please be sure to dress comfortably and bring lunch and liquids. Much of our birding will be from the roadside, and walking will be minimal.

Because this outing is so popular (hawks have charisma!), early signup is recommended. Your seat will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, tax-deductible contribution of $65 per person. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the Field Of Wonder!

We ask that you attend the classroom session and one field trip. No “outing-only” signups, please.

This event is full email Elva at ejm@klamathbird.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.

All Day Hawk and Duck Trip in the Klamath Basin

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note.

Join KBO board members Amanda Alford and Dick Ashford for an all-day outing on March 18th, where we’ll look at everything the Klamath Basin has to offer. Dick and Amanda will plan a route that will give us our best chances of seeing the varied birdlife for which “the basin” is famous. And, we’ll have lots of fun doing it!

You aren’t going to want to miss this waterfowl and raptor adventure!

This trip will be limited to 14 registrants, and we will carpool in 4 vehicles (max). The cost is $40 per participant, register below.

Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and as such, KBO events are offered with COVID-19 safety as a primary concern. Proof of “up-to-date” vaccination will be required for all in-person participants. All individuals attending an event must also fill out KBO’s COVID Release Form and Waiver of Liability upon registration. Paper copies may also be available at an event upon advanced request. Please do not attend the event if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Explore the Joys of Birding

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, KBO Education, Trips & Events.

Bird Walk at Rogue River Preserve

We are in the midst of fall migration and it is a great time to start birding. Join board member Amanda Alford for a Beginner Birder Talk and Walk where she will introduce you to birding basics. Birding benefits your mood, psychological well-being, mental health, and cognitive functioning. Learn how to begin your birding journey or how to get back to your basics.

The Talk will include all of Amanda’s best tips for:

  • Finding birds
  • Understanding and using binoculars
  • Identifying species by size, shape, suit, scene, and sound
  • Utilizing smartphone applications and online resources
  • And more!

The Talk will conclude with an in-depth look at just some of the species we will likely see during our Walk at Bear Creek Park. Come level up your birding skills and gain the confidence you need to have even more fun watching birds!

This outreach event is free. Bear Creek Park has paved walkways and handicap parking. Binoculars are available for use during the walk.

Talk: September 29th at 6 pm. This is a hybrid presentation. The in-person will take place at the Klamath Bird Observatory office (2425 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, OR 97520) or you can attend via Zoom.

Walk: October 1st at 9 am. The walk will take place at Bear Creek Park in Medford OR.

Proof of vaccinations is required to attend any in-person events.

 

Beginner Birder Talk and Walk

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note, Trips & Events.

Birding benefits your mood, your psychological well-being, your mental health, and your cognitive functioning. Join board member Amanda Alford to learn how to begin your birding journey or how to get back to your basics.

The Talk will include all of Amanda’s best tips for:

  • Finding birds
  • Understanding and using binoculars
  • Identifying species by size, shape, suit, scene, and sound
  • Utilizing smartphone applications and online resources
  • And more!

The Talk will conclude with an in-depth look at just some of the species we are likely to see during our Walk at North Mountain Park. Come level up your birding skills and gain the confidence you need to have even more fun watching birds!

Talk: Thursday, June 9th, 7 pm at the KBO office at 2425 Siskiyou Blvd in Ashland, with the option of watching via Zoom if you prefer

Walk: Saturday, June 11th, meet at North Mountain Park at 9 am.

Click here to register for the Talk and Walk

Click here to register for the talk ONLY.