Snow Geese and rainbow at Klamath Marsh NWR © Kirk Gooding

October 11, Thursday 6:30-8:00pm at Ashland Outdoor Store

Presented by Shannon Rio, President of the Board of Klamath Bird Observatory

The stunning photography and dramatic history of the Birding the Klamath Basin’s National Wildlife Refuges presentation will take us to some of the most amazing wildlife refuges—all within the Klamath Basin right here in our southern Oregon and northern California backyard. One of these, the Lower Klamath, was the nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge, established by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1908 specifically for protection of migratory birds. The Klamath Basin refuges are recognized far and wide for sweeping vistas and spectacular birding.

This presentation is an invitation to visit the Refuges with public access and will include information on how to find them and what glory you might expect to see there. We will also discuss the Federal Duck Stamp’s role in protecting lands for wildlife and encourage the purchase of these stamps that support the Refuge. KBO Executive Director John Alexander will speak briefly on conservation, our wildlife refuges, and how we as individuals can make a difference on their behalf.

This presentation is free. The Outdoor Store is located at 37 North 3rd Street in Ashland, Oregon.

Shannon Rio is a wildlife educator who believes that when we connect with nature, we will naturally want to protect what we love: the birds and wild places.

Klamath Bird Observatory advances bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships.

Global Big Day—the massively international collaborative birding event—is October 6! The Global Big Day held in May the last four years has been such a success, another worldwide eBird Big Day in October makes perfect sense! Why October? Because spring is rejuvenating the southern hemisphere and the northern reaches of the world are in the midst of migration. No matter where you are, we’re confident you can find some great birds on October 6. Let’s see what we can find together on the first October Big Day!

Join eBird watchers all over the world for this single day of birding together. Information about participating in this eBird event and tips for finding more species are at the eBird Northwest website.

CLICK HERE for more information and to join the eBird Global Big Day October 6.

*** News Release: September 24, 2018 ***

Contact: John Alexander, Executive Director, Klamath Bird Observatory, 541-890-7067, jda@KlamathBird.org

In 2018 World Migratory Bird Day celebrates Year of the Bird and the actions you can take to help birds; Design and Illustration by Paula Andrea Romero

2018 is the Year of the Bird. To celebrate Ashland-based Klamath Bird Observatory’s Community Education Program is fostering a deeper love for birds and a better understanding of bird conservation and its importance. KBO’s Community Education Program is part of the World Migratory Bird Day education campaign. This year World Migratory Bird Day celebrates 2018 as the Year of the Bird. As such, KBO Education Programs are focusing on the actions we all can take to help birds, 365 days of the year. Every day is World Migratory Bird Day at KBO.  

KBO’s board president Shannon Rio has a passion for teaching about birds. Rio explains, “I have always loved birds, and the more I learn about them the more I understand that there is an urgent need to protect birds and their habitats.” Under Shannon’s leadership, Klamath Bird Observatory’s Community Education Program strives to teach people about birds. Shannon believes that the more we know about what we love the more we will be able protect what we love — birds.

Conservation birders visit the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on a multi-day KBO Community Education field trip. Photo by Kirk Gooding

Rio has created KBO’s Talks and Walks. Talks and Walks offers a series of classroom lectures and follow-up field trips that teach community members about birds, science, and bird conservation. Talks and Walks focus on a variety of subjects including bird identification, photography, citizen science, and conservation success stories. One of the program’s recent themes focuses on the value of the United States Wildlife Refuge System. Over 100 years ago, the Refuge System was created to protect habitats that are critical to the survival of migratory birds during their entire annual cycles (that is, breeding, migration, and over-wintering periods). Many KBO Walks and Talks highlight the nearby Klamath Wildlife Refuge Complex, one of our country’s oldest and most important set of migratory bird refuges.

The 2018 Conservation Stamp Set includes the Federal Duck Stamp and KBO’s Conservation Science Stamp. Illustrations by Bob Hautman and Nathan Trimble

One way everyone can help is to support the protection of migratory bird habitat and the science the drives bird conservation. KBO offers a unique Conservation Stamp Set that directly benefits bird habitats and conservation science. The two-stamp set includes: The Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (the Duck Stamp) and KBO’s Conservation Science Stamp. The Federal Duck Stamp is among the most successful conservation tools ever created. Duck Stamp sales contribute directly to habitat conservation on our National Wildlife Refuges. KBO’s Conservation Science Stamp builds on this success by bringing additional support and attention to their regional science-driven conservation efforts. By purchasing this set of conservation stamps, together, birders and hunters send a powerful message — “We believe conservation of non-game birds, gamebirds, and endangered species is a priority for our society.”

To learn more about and participate in Klamath Bird Observatory’s Community Education Program, or to purchase a Conservation Stamp Set, visit www.KlamathBird.org. Also, on October 7th, KBO is holding their Wings and Wine Gala at Grizzly Peak Winery in Ashland, Oregon. Please join the KBO Community for this World Migratory Bird Day event and raise your voice for science-driven bird conservation.

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About Klamath Bird Observatory:

Klamath Bird Observatory advances bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships. We achieves bird conservation in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the migratory ranges of the birds of our region. We developed our award-winning conservation model in the ruggedly beautiful and wildlife-rich Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California. Emphasizing high caliber science and the role of birds as indicators of the health of the land, we specialize in cost-effective bird monitoring and research projects that improve natural resource management. Also, recognizing that conservation occurs across many fronts, we nurture a conservation ethic in our communities through our outreach and educational programs. Visit Klamath Bird Observatory at www.KlamathBird.org.

About World Migratory Bird Day:

Word Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), formerly known as International Migratory Bird Day, is an educational campaign that is celebrating its 25th year in 2018. WMBD celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas – bird migration. WMBD is coordinated by Environment for the Americas, a non-profit organization that strives to connect people to bird conservation. As a part of WMBD as many as 700 events and programs are hosted annually to introduce the public to migratory birds and ways to conserve them. Through WMBD the conservation community combines our voices into a global chorus to boost the urgent need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. In 2018 World Migratory Bird Day celebrates Year of the Bird and the actions you can take to help birds, 365 days of the year. For more information about WMBD visit www.migratorybirdday.org.

About Year of the Bird:

In 2018, we mark the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed. In honor of this milestone, more than 100 organizations and nature lovers around the world are joining forces to celebrate the “Year of the Bird” and commit to protecting birds today and for the next hundred years. Year of the Bird is 12 months of storytelling, science, and conservation aimed at heightening public awareness of birds and the importance of protecting these critical species. Each month of Year of the Bird has a call to action — a simple but meaningful way individuals can help birds. By harnessing the collective passion and expertise of bird lovers around the world, we can champion causes for birds and inspire more people to work towards proven solutions. For more information about Year of the Bird visit www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/year-of-the-bird.

Window decals in urban landscape. Photo by Mike Fernandez

Our Call to Action this September in the Year of the Bird is to do everything we can to help birds have a safe migration this fall. Each year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall. Along the way, though, they now face all sorts of human-made challenges. Whether it be from vast expanses of concrete to invisible windows and confusing artificial lights, the number of migrating birds that die every year is estimated to be as many as 1 billion.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Making windows bird-safe, turning off your lights, planting native plants, encouraging bird-friendly architecture in your community—these are all ways you can help birds have a safer migration. So for September, our Year of the Bird ask is to do everything you can to help birds have a safe migration this fall. You can read more about how to do this and how lights and windows pose dangers to migrating birds in the featured Year of the Bird post and KBO info handouts below.

CLICK HERE to visit the National Audubon Society’s September’s Featured Action: Help Birds Have a Safe Migration post.

And check out KBO’s info handouts: Reducing Bird Collisions with Windows, Birdify Your Yard, and Cats and Wildlife—available at our website (see link below).

CLICK HERE to view KBO’s Reducing Bird Collisions with Windows info handout.

CLICK HERE to view KBO’s Birdify Your Yard info handout.

CLICK HERE to view KBO’s Cats and Wildlife info handout.

2018 is Year of the Bird! The National Geographic Society is celebrating the centenary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with a year-long celebration of birds. Dozens of Year of the Bird partners, including Klamath Bird Observatory, are coordinating Year of the Bird activities.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Year of the Bird at the National Geographic Society’s website.

KBO Field Technicians Alex Flores and Tessa Wardle paddle to a study site. Photo by Sarah Rockwell

Conducting field research always comes with its fair share of unexpected obstacles, and the 2018 season was no exception. This year KBO began a new partnership with the Salmon River Restoration Council (SRRC) in northern California. The Salmon River has a long history of human impacts, particularly due to mining, and the SRRC has plans to restore several sites along the North and South Forks to

As you know, Klamath Bird Observatory’s Wings and Wine Gala is back; join us on October 7th at Grizzly Peak Winery – CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT AND TO BUY TICKETS NOW.

10 Day New Zealand Island Getaway

To increase broad participation in this important fundraising event, we are offering an online auction that is now open. This online auction gives all of our supporters an opportunity to bid on auction items. The online auction will feed directly into the live and silent auctions that will culminate during the Gala itself. This online auction is featuring items that include a trip to New Zealand, amazing artwork, tickets to the Rogue Valley Symphony, and so much more. CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR ONLINE AUCTION. To participate create a login and begin bidding.

Also, help us celebrate more than 20 years of KBO efforts to advancing bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships by coming the 2018 Wings and Wine Gala. Please help us continue our work by participating in this fundraiser. Tickets are available online – CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY.

Great Gray Owl Framed Photograph by Mel Clements

For questions about KBO,the Wings and Wine Gala, and our auction please contact Jacob McNab at jmm@klamathbird.org or call 541-201-0866.

KBO Science Director Jaime Stephens with her Partners in Flight Leadership in Conservation Award at the North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference March 27, 2018.

The accomplishments of Klamath Bird Observatory’s Science Director Jaime Stephens have been recognized by the international bird conservation consortium Partners in Flight (PIF)—presenting her with its prestigious Leadership in Conservation Award. The Leadership Award honors an individual or group that demonstrates outstanding guidance and direction that contributes, or has contributed, to advancing Partners in Flight conservation efforts. Jaime accepted the award at the North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference in Virginia earlier this year.

In nominating Jaime, colleague Barb Bresson, Regional Avian Program Manager with the US Forest Service and 2013 Leadership Awardee, stated “Jaime exemplifies excellence in leadership as KBO’s Science Director supervising and mentoring a team of incredibly effective, passionate, and productive biologists while also actively engaging and taking on leadership roles in PIF and within other conservation focused initiatives.”

Since her start with KBO in 2002, Jaime has placed her indelible stamp on bird conservation at all scales, local to international. It is the breadth and depth of her accomplishments that prompted this recognition. As Science Director, she directs the science program at KBO, conducting and publishing her own work on bird conservation but collaborates extensively with colleagues on other science. She has been instrumental in driving the discussion on bird data management nationally, has led the way for bird conservation partnerships across the west to greater and more permanent conservation action, and continues to seek new opportunities to improve and align bird conservation. Her effectiveness stems from her steadfast belief in a data-driven approach to bird conservation science, and from her infectious enthusiasm, optimism, and engaging leadership style which brings together partners from similar and disparate groups.

Jaime served as Chair of the Western Working Group of Partners in Flight (WWG) for three years (2012-2015). During her tenure, the WWG established new internal policies of governance lending long-term stability to the organization, expanded the Group’s reach and diversity of participants, and advanced new conservation initiatives which continue today. This is consistent with her steady and reasoned leadership style which engenders trust and credibility. When Jaime talks, people listen. Despite having rotated out of the Chair position, Jaime continues to lend her expertise and experience to the WWG, and continues her strong and positive influence on the direction of the WWG’s conservation initiatives in the west, from Mexico to Canada.

Jaime embodies the mission of Partners in Flight—to advance full life-cycle conservation of landbirds in the Americas via sound science, integrated conservation partnerships, habitat delivery on public and private lands, and targeted citizen outreach. Her accomplishments hold significance. Please join us in congratulations to Jaime for this well-deserved recognition.

Yurok Tribe biologists, Tiana Williams-Claussen and Chris West, examine a captured Turkey Vulture. Photo: Yurok Tribe © 2018.

California Condors are not only the largest avian scavenger in North America, they are a species of cultural significance for the Yurok Tribe of Northern California. Yurok ancestral territory is in the heart of the historical range of California Condors and the tribe has been working with Klamath Bird Observatory research associate, Dr. Jared Wolfe, to assess the feasibility of condor reintroduction. The researchers used Turkey Vultures and Common Ravens as surrogate species to determine the amount of lead and mercury avian scavengers are exposed to in Humboldt and Del Norte counties of Northern California. Their results were published by the American Ornithological Society’s Condor: Ornithological Applications journal as “Feasibility of California Condor recovery in northern California, USA: Contaminants in Surrogate Turkey Vultures and Common Ravens”.

“Lead poisoning is the number one threat to condor recovery thus far and an understanding of exposure in local avian scavengers is crucial prior to establishment of new release sites” says Chris West, Senior Wildlife Biologist with the Yurok Tribe. “Condors ingest lead from scavenging animals or offal from animals that were shot with lead bullets. In addition to lead, mercury exposure from feeding on washed-up marine mammals may represent an additional, at this time unassessed, threat that reintroduced condors must contend with.”

Here are three important highlights from the study:
• Although lead levels detected in ravens were lower than levels detected from a similar study conducted in Wyoming, there was still a significant increase in lead exposure during the hunting season in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
• Lead detected in vultures and ravens increased with distance from coastline suggesting a connection to the greater availability of inland public lands accessible to hunters in Humboldt and Del Norte counties where the study occurred.
• Mercury detected in vultures and ravens decreased with distance from the coastline indicating that scavenging birds are likely exposed to mercury from marine resources rather than at inland locations in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

“These results highlight some of the conservation challenges associated with condor reintroduction” says Dr. Wolfe. “Recognizing these challenges, the Yurok Tribe has done an excellent job working with the hunting community to switch from lead ammunition to condor friendly non-lead ammunition.”

The researchers believe that continued outreach to hunting communities will limit the amount of lead on the landscape for all avian scavengers and, crucially, for future populations of condors. Hunter outreach and a California-wide ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting scheduled to go into effect in 2019 may present new opportunities for California Condor recovery in Yurok ancestral territory and beyond.

CLICK HERE to view the paper Feasibility of California Condor recovery in northern California, USA: Contaminants in Surrogate Turkey Vultures and Common Ravens by Christopher J. West, Jared D. Wolfe, Andrew Wiegardt, and Tiana Williams-Claussen.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Yurok Tribe’s California Condor Reintroduction Program.

The ‘I’iwi was one of several Hawaiian honeycreepers in the study. Photo from the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii March 2012 (© Noah Kahn/USFWS).

Native Hawaiian birds are renowned for their beauty and unique evolutionary history, where numerous species rely on native plants for food in the form of nectar and fruit. Many of these important native plants that provision food for birds rely on climatic cues – such as rain and temperature – to time their flowering and fruiting activity. Understanding how birds respond to climatically-induced changes in their food web represents an important step towards predicting the effects of climate change on vulnerable wildlife species.

To better understand these complex relationships, Klamath Bird Observatory research associate, Dr. Jared Wolfe, and KBO research advisor, Dr. C. John Ralph, used data collected from the Big Island of Hawaii to measure long-term relationships between changes in climate, fruit and flower production, and the timing of breeding and molting in native and non-native birds. Their results were recently published in the scientific journal Ecology in a paper titled “Bottom-up Processes Influence the Demography and Life-cycle Phenology of Hawaiian Bird Communities”.

“Flower and fruit abundance at our study site were strongly affected by seasonal changes in rain, which had cascading effects on the timing of important lifecycle events of birds, such as breeding seasonality”. says lead author Wolfe. “Our results suggest that changes in climate can cascade up the food chain and strongly affect wildlife at higher trophic levels.”

Results from the analysis suggest that three native birds that commonly feed on nectar, the ʻiʻiwi, ʻapapane and Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi, all timed their breeding season with the availability of ʻōhiʻa lehua flowers, which in-turn, used heavy rains to time flowering activity.

“Our project is one of the first from Hawaii to combine long-term climate, plant phenology and bird monitoring data to disentangle these complex trophic relationships” says co-author Ralph. “These types of studies are rare because they rely on long-term and labor-intensive field work. But, findings from long-term studies such as this one are critically important because they provide insights into how changes in climate might affect native Hawaiian birds.”

CLICK HERE to view/download a “Bottom-up Processes Influence the “Demography and Life-cycle Phenology of Hawaiian Bird Communities” by Wolfe, Ralph, and Wiegardt.

A young birder getting started early © Rael Hodges 2018

The Year of the Bird July call to action is to take a child into nature. Even with school out, summer is a great time to learn! Spending time with children outside, and discovering new things, may spark a lifelong passion and value of environmental stewardship—plus it’s an easy and cheap venue for fun!

Today, children are spending less and less time outdoors. A Nature Conservancy poll showed that only about 10% of kids spend time outside every day. Studies have shown that bird watching and other outdoor recreation activity can help kids build creativity, attention span, confidence, and happier and healthier lives.

To help the young people in your life get started early as a birder visit this National Geographic page for some great family friendly birding activities such as “Being a Detective” to identify a species or discover where birds live. You can also visit Klamath Bird Observatory’s K-12 Education Curriculum, programming in science and outdoor education that align with state and national standards. Use this month’s call to action to get the children in your life out into nature.

CLICK HERE to visit the National Geographic Society’s website for information about helping young people in your life get started early as birders.

CLICK HERE to visit KBO’s K-12 Education Curriculum with science- and place-based programming and materials available for download.

If you haven’t already heard, 2018 is Year of the Bird! The National Geographic Society is celebrating the centenary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with a year-long celebration of birds. Dozens of Year of the Bird partners, including Klamath Bird Observatory, are coordinating Year of the Bird activities.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Year of the Bird at the National Geographic Society’s website.