Patty Buettner Memorial Hawk Watch
The Patty Buettner Memorial Hawk Watch will be on Saturday, September 28, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, at the Modoc Rim stationary viewing area, above nearby Hagelstein Park, north of Klamath Falls.
This event has been a tradition for many years, observing the migrating raptors moving southward using the updraft caused by daily eastward blowing wind currents along the escarpment seen adjacent to Hwy 97 and Upper Klamath Lake. Among the more common raptors are: Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, falcons such as Prairie, Peregrine, American Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Turkey Vultures, and others. Passerines and songbirds move through also. There have been large groups of Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, California Scrub Jays, Mountain Chickadees, smaller groups of Band-tailed Pigeons, and even some wayward Acorn Woodpeckers. As for raptors, occasionally, a Broad-winged Hawk will move through, but that is quite rare and very exciting! And Northern Goshawk sometimes too! The chance to see an unusual bird requires constant scanning and identifying each and every bird going through. With several observers, the chance of getting by the group is low.
The location is at the edge of the rim overlooking Upper Klamath Lake. It requires a short hike through the brush, from the parking area, which is accessed via a steeper grade of wash-boarded gravel road starting near Hagelstein Park. While standing most of the time constantly scanning, the reward is seeing birds in the distance and attempting to ID, and although closer views are fleeting as they fly overhead or off to the side, on good days it can be rather busy, and there is constant discussion of raptor characteristics, overall shapes, and plumages. Since there are numerous observers scanning, taking a break, and scanning from a campchair is welcome, then standing when a bird of interest approaches can help. There are times when it’s not so busy, so time for drinking water, eating, sitting for a bit, or talking about raptors. Or, you can just continue to scan and maybe be the first to spot another approaching bird of prey!
Details
Due to the primitive location, there are no restrooms. A hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water are musts. Lunch and snacks are necessary, and a chair is recommended. There are plenty of people there to assist if one can’t carry everything. Be aware that it is a primitive site, this is a stationary event, in an open area exposed to the elements. A scope is necessary to see raptors from a distance initially, but with closer views, binoculars are good. It is possible to meet at Hagelstein Park and carpool from that location.
If interested in participating, please contact: Kevin Spencer for more details: rriparia@charter.net
Support Klamath Bird Observatory’s Avian Internship Memorial Fund
Since this is an event named in Patty Buettner’s honor, there is an ask to donate in her honor, to the Klamath Bird Observatory. KBO was a part of her early career as a biologist here in the Klamath Basin. Building on her passion for monitoring and habitat restoration and protection of wildlife. She was involved in the initial groundwork with the Klamath Bird Observatory in the Klamath Basin.
If you are interested in donating any amount in her honor you can donate to the Avian Internship Memorial Fund. The Avian Internship Memorial Fund (AIM Fund), was started by the friends and family of Patricia Buettner (Patty). The AIM Fund helps support KBO’s long-running internship programs. Klamath Bird Observatory’s internship program offers a positive learning experience for students. Our interns also make considerable contributions that help the international bird conservation community advance bird and habitat conservation.
Join us for this extraordinary final family-friendly bird banding outing of the year! This fundraiser for our renowned banding program includes an opportunity to meet and chat with KBO’s new Banding Program Manager, Lucinda Zawadski, PhD., Martín López Aguilar from Mexico, and the KBO interns. You will learn about the importance and unique contribution of bird banding to science and see some of Oregon’s birds up close. You will also get to experience one of our field stations on beautiful Upper Klamath Lake and observe science in action, including mist netting and data collection, AND interact with the biologists. After the field station visit, we have a unique opportunity to bird from the deck of Rocky Point Resort with Lucinda and Martín, with light refreshments provided by Rocky Point.
Join KBO’s bird banding team in the field this fall for a bird banding experience. This is a unique opportunity to meet some of our scientists in a small group setting, learn about bird banding, and see some of Oregon’s birds up close. You will experience a beautiful Upper Klamath Lake field station and observe live-action science, including mist netting and data collection. This is an excellent introduction to science in the field for kids and young adults (as well as great for non-birders, almost birders, and fully-fledged birders). Come and have fun in the field with us!
Shannon Rio is the board president of the Klamath Bird Observatory because of its work to preserve birds and wild places in nature. She is a wildlife educator with a goal to connect people (and herself) with nature so that they will want to protect what they love. She teaches classes in various settings and also teaches yoga, works as a nurse practitioner, is devoted to family and friends, and community, and loves learning anything about the natural world through hiking and birding and sitting quietly observing the wonder of it all.