Three Day Trip to Klamath Marsh NWR
Klamath Basin Audubon Society and Klamath Bird Observatory sponsored trip to the Klamath Marsh NWR and surrounding areas and the Wood River Valley/Fort Klamath area
Trip dates are June 9th, 10th, & 11th, with two nights and two full days covering forest, riparian, and wetland habitats in the northern Klamath Basin. Those areas include the Klamath NWR area and the Wood River Valley around Fort Klamath. There is the potential for seeing or hearing more than 140 species of birds in beautiful settings, including night/evening outings for nocturnal birds.
Accommodations: in a house (with a sleeping bag on either bed, couch, or personal air mattress) both nights. Showers and restroom for use at the end of the day. Group dinners will be planned for both nights (to accommodate the group for the dinner meal); otherwise, participants will be on their own for other meals/snacks.
Walking up to 2 miles or more at some stops. Early departures, and excursions into the late evenings, both nights, make for long days that are all about birds at that time of year. Numerous areas not ordinarily accessible are on Saturday’s agenda. Carpooling is probable on Saturday. Mosquitoes will likely be out and could be vicious this year. Endurance, enthusiasm, and willingness to be out all day in any weather conditions will be needed, but the experiences and observations will be everlasting!
Current Itinerary:
Friday, June 9th
4:00 pm Arrivals (unpacking/greetings/settling in) walking around the grounds
6:00 pm Group Dinner (participants will have assigned contributions for vegan style meal)
8:00 pm Nocturnal Outing (Military Crossing/Williamson River will be at least one destination)
10:30 pm Lights out (maybe)
Saturday, June 10th
6:00 Awake, Breakfast coffee on your own
7:00 am Leave house (variety of walking at or driving too many parts of, Klamath Marsh NWR)
Lunch and/or snacks on your own during the day
5:00 pm Return to house
6:00 pm Group Dinner (participants will have assigned contributions for vegan style meal)
7:30 pm Nocturnal outing and based on what was experienced the previous evening
10:30 pm Lights out (probably)
Sunday, June 11th
6:00 am Breakfast and coffee on your own; pack personal items before leaving the house
8:00 am Leave the house and Klamath Marsh
9:00 am Arrive at Wood River Wetlands
11:30 am Arrive at Wood River Day Use Area; short stop at Dixon Road/Wood River bridge
2:30 pm Arrive at Seven-mile Guard Station
Other stops may include:
Short Creek, Mare’s Egg Spring, Nannie Creek, Rocky Point, and Rocky Point Residence.
4:00 pm Dispersal.. likely a formal ending time for the trip, although there is some flexibility.
This trip is free with max number of 12 attendees. There are still openings for this trip. Contact Kevin Spencer, rriparia@charter.net, to reserve a space.
About the Leader
Kevin Spencer has been interested in birds from an early age and has intensely studied and observed birds for more than 45 years. He has lived in the Klamath Basin since 1989 and has done USGS Breeding Bird Surveys, Point Counts, many for KBO in the past, and for BLM, a compiler for the Klamath Falls and Tule Lake CBCs, author for numerous species accounts in Birds of Oregon, General Reference, South Central Fieldnotes author for Oregon Birds publication by Oregon Birding Association, field trip leader for Winter Wings Festivals and Klamath Basin Audubon trips, and continuously out in the field. Received a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Humboldt State University, 1979. Teaching Credential, Humboldt State University, 1988, Masters in Teaching Science, Chico State University, 2009. Teacher at the Tulelake Basin JUSD for 30 years. Retired.