Birds

Birding Trips (General Info)Birding Trips Schedule Klamath Basin Bird News
Bird Counts Check Lists Birding Ethics Banner Birds

Marsh Wren. Lesser Scaupe. Great Egret.

Birds: Birding Trips (General Info)

Area field trips are scheduled on various weekends and usually on Thursday with the Thursday Birding Bunch. They range from half-day outings to birding hot spots to the occasional weekend trips. Field trips are open to KBAS members and nonmembers alike. You do not have to be a birding expert: only one who enjoys the phenomenal natural opportunities that abound.

Physical Difficulty
All our field trips are considered easy to moderate physical activity. If a trip is expected to be more difficult, it will so noted in the description.

What to Bring?
It's a good idea to bring a small backpack with rain gear, hat, sunscreen, field guide, and binoculars. A drink and a snack may be advisable as well, to keep the energy up. Wear suitable shoes. Subdued colored clothing is preferable but not essential.

For full day outings take your lunch. Ask whether you will be returning to the cars for lunch. Many people also take a drink and a snack to have at the end of the walk.

What about Bad Weather?
Weather or the availability of leaders may require changes. Trips go in light rain or drizzle. If in doubt, call the leader up to an hour before departure. If you are coming from some distance, call the leader and confirm departure point and time.

What about Transportation?
Carpooling is encouraged. Riders should offer expense money for gas to the driver; tolls and entry fees, if any are shared equally by driver and riders.

In the directions, the term "carpool time" refers to the actual time that the participants depart from the meeting site.

Looking for the Field Trip Schedule? Check out the Calendar or the latest Grebe Newsletter or look under the "Birding Trips Schedule" tab.

Also see either the latest Grebe Newsletter or the Klamath Basin Bird News for birds seen on recent field trips and by birders in general.

Birds: Birding Trips Schedule

Thursday Birding Bunch: Local trips every Thursday, all birding skill levels. The pace will be slower and the leaders will help each participant find the birds that have been noted. Contact Marilyn Christian, 541-850-0084 or Julie Van Moorhem 541-882-4488 for start time and location.

September 26: Name that Shorebird! Kevin Spencer, leader [Grebe]

Oct. 3: Birds of Williamson River Delta Preserve. Heather Hendrixson, Preserve Manager, The Nature Conservancy [Grebe]

Oct. 9-11: Oregon Coast Preserves weekend trip. Darrel Samuels, leader [Grebe]

Oct 24: Beginning Bird Watching in the Moore Park Hills. Dave Potter, leader [Grebe

Birds: Klamath Basin Bird News

Klamath Basin Bird News.

Klamath Basin Bird News is an informal "Google group" of birders and other folks interested in bird sightings and bird-related information for the Klamath Basin of Oregon and California. Paricipate at the Klamath Basin Bird News website.

Birds: Bird Counts

Birds: Check Lists

Birds: Birding Ethics

Following is the American Birding Association Code of Birding Ethics, developed and promoted by ABA and reprinted with permission. The ABA website is www.aba.org.

1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.

1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.

1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.

Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area;

Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.

Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.

1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.

1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.

2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.

2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.

2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.

2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.

3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.

3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.

3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.

3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.

4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.

Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.

4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.

4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.

Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].

4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.

4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.

4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.

4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).

4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.

Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others

Birds: Banner Birds

If your web browser has Flash Player installed, you will see the birds in our banner change every few seconds. There are more than 100 birds to see! This page will help you identify them and learn more about their habitats in our area.