Tag: Amanda Alford

Hawk ID Workshop

Written by Elva Manquera on January 21, 2026. 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 January 21, 2026.

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 October 22, 2025. 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 December 13, 2024. 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 February 16, 2023. 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 September 13, 2022. Posted in Klamath Call Note, KBO Education, Trips & Events.

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 June 5, 2022. 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.

Only a Few Spots Left!

Written by Elva Manquera on April 11, 2022. Posted in Klamath Call Note, Birds & Birding, Trips & Events.

There are only 3 spots left for the Talk and Walk led by Amanda Alford at the Rogue River Preserve. Help us celebrate Earth Day all weekend long, the walk is on Sunday, April 24th, 9 am – 11 am. Amanda is a KBO board member and a lover of all things bird and is excited to share. The preserve is owned and managed by the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. Its 352 acres include several distinct habitats that support remarkable biodiversity, including at least 32 rare, declining, and uncommon plant and animal species. There isn’t a better way to celebrate Mother Earth.

Check out eBird NW to see what has been spotted at the Rogue River Preserve and what you might see.

~~Click here to reserve your spot.~~ FULL

Amanda Alford fell in love with birds for the first time at the Klamath Bird Observatory’s Mountain Bird Festival in 2016. She has been hooked on all things bird ever since! She is supported in her obsession by her husband Greg and children Chance and Salome, who have all come to love the flocks that frequent their feeders in southern Ashland. Her birding is often interrupted by her day job as a physician anesthesiologist with Anesthesia Associates of Medford. She was drawn to the science-driven mission of the Klamath Bird Observatory, believing in the power of good science to change the world in all the right ways. She hopes her involvement will help protect KBO’s important work for generations to come.

Learn more about KBO’s board members.