New Conservation Science Stamp
With the release of the new Federal Duck Stamp comes a new Klamath Bird Observatory Conservation Science Stamp. The Duck Stamp is one of the most successful conservation initiatives in history. Since 1934, some $800 million has gone into that fund to protect more than 5.7 million acres of habitat on refuges. Conservationists buy duck stamps because they know that 98 percent of the cost goes directly to conserve wildlife habitat vital for many birds, fish, mammals, plants, and you and your family – and future generations. When you add on a Klamath Bird Observatory Conservation Science Stamp you are also supporting bird conservation partnerships, monitoring, and education.
This year’s Conservation Science Stamp highlights the Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis). The Lewis’s Woodpecker is a US Fish and Wildlife Service Bird of Conservation Concern and a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Oregon and other western states. Its population has suffered a 72% population decline. This species of woodpecker stands out with its unique coloring and behavior. It relies on flycatching insects during its breeding season and stores acorns for its non-breeding seasons. Lewis’s Woodpeckers have been impacted by habitat loss and the decline of insect populations at breeding sites and along avian migration routes. The funds raised from this stamp will support KBO’s role in partnership-driven restoration work in oak woodlands, a critical habitat for this species, and research to uncover mysteries about its migration and identify opportunities for better-focusing conservation efforts throughout the Lewis’s Woodpeckers full annual cycle.