Our Chapter
Membership - How to JoinBoard and Committee ChairsChapter HistoryBylaws
Our Chapter: Membership - Join KBAS
We invite you to join Klamath Basin Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society.
Why become a member of Klamath Basin Audubon Society? To become a vital part of efforts related to local conservation issues and educational opportunities for members and the community.
How do I become a Member? Easy! Print the membership form , fill it out and send it and your dues to the address on the form.What are the Membership Benefits? Annual membership in Klamath Basin Audubon Society provides:
- Subscription to our wonderful newsletter, The Grebe.
- Opportunities to volunteer in a variety of important capacities.
- You get the inside scoop on important KBAS programs and field trips.
- Learn more about what we do.
Board of Directors and Committees
General members are always invited and welcomed to attend the KBAS Board meetings to help in planning future activities and to discuss Board policies. See the Calendar or the latest newsletter for meeting dates, times, and places.
| Officers & Board Members | Office | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathy McKeehan | President | 541-882-0291 | |
| Darrel Samuels | Vice President | 541-850-5832 | |
| Julie Van Moorhem | Secretary | 541-882-4488 | |
| Mary Kelley | Treasurer | 541-783-3690 | |
| Bob Kinkead | Member | 541-882-4910 | |
| Ken Johnston | Member | 541-883-7671 | |
| Sherry Perry | Member | 541-882-1980 | |
| Molly Russell | Member | 541-884-3868 | |
| Beth Zemke | Member | 714-287-6988 | |
| Committee Chairs | Committee | Phone | |
| Marshal Moser | Conservation | - | |
| Ellen Minichiello | Education | 541-576-4444 | |
| Beth Zemke | Education | 714-287-6988 | |
| Kevin Spencer | Field Trips | 541-884-5739 | |
| Jim Rooks | Programs | 541-851-0209 | |
| Marilyn Christian | Grebe Editor | 541-850-0084 | |
| Beth Philips | Hospitality | 541-723-2161 | |
| Jo Massey | Membership | 541-883-7671 | |
| Darrel Samuels | Publicity | 541-850-5832 | |
| Ralph Opp | Historian | 541-882-8488 | |
| Jim Rooks | School Grants | 541-851-0209 | |
| Diana Samuels | Winter Wings Festival | 541-850-5832 | |
| Anne Wenner | Winter Wings Festival | 541-882-1219 | |
Our Chapter: Chapter History
Following enactment of the Endangered Species Act and Oregon's classification of the Bald Eagle as endangered within the state in 1973, biologists from California and Oregon learned of the significance of the Bear Valley area southwest of Klamath Falls to these iconic birds. Ralph Opp, one of those biologists who mapped the Bear Valley area, worked with The Nature Conservancy who brokered the transfer of private lands to the Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1978, 4000 acres of Bear Valley became the Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 1000 acres being designated as the core eagle roosting area. In the same year, the Bald Eagle was placed on the federal endangered species list.
In 1980, the first Bald Eagle Conference was held in Klamath Falls with the help of the Portland and Eugene Audubon chapters and the Klamath Basin Wildlife Refuges. Issues of bald eagle management relative to the habitat, politics, and the economy of the area were discussed by professionals and conservationists. The conference included a fly-out experience at Bear Valley. The Klamath Basin Audubon Society (KBAS) was chartered in 1983 and began sponsoring the Bald Eagle Conference in 1984. The Bald Eagle Conference continued annually in February until 2005 when it was expanded and renamed the Winter Wings Festival. KBAS continues to produce the Winter Wings Festival, which draws hundreds of visitors annually to enjoy the eagles and many other bird species that make their winter home in the Klamath Basin. The Winter Wings Festival has been recognized by birding magazines as the oldest birding festival in the United States.