Summer birding at the Klamath Basin Wildlife Refuges

The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, in eastern Siskiyou County and southern Oregon, is a great place to see birds anytime of the year – when you visit will determine what you see. Refuge staff frequently update the list of recent sitings, which you can check on the refuge website. This time of year you can expect to see the fall shorebird migration peak through July, August and September and the arrival of the fall migration Western Sandpipers. White-fronted geese aren’t far behind as the fall migration begins in August and September. Behind the Refuge headquarters, just outside of Tulelake, Northern Orioles nesting in the trees are just one of the summer highlights.

There are many ways to search for birds and wildlife at the Refuge. This time of year the canoe trails on Tule Lake (you can rent canoes near the Upper Klamath refuge or bring your own) are open, as are the waterfowl photo blinds. The Tule Lake and Lower Klamath refuges in California have self-guided driving routes that will take you along lake shores and wet lands. Even driving down the highway you’ll see a plethora of bird life. The staff at Refuge headquarters can tell you where to go if you’re looking for a particular bird and tell you whats been happening with the many species of birds that use the Refuge lands. Across the street from headquarters you can walk a short interpretive trail through a wetlands area.

If you’re planning a visit, be sure to check in with Refuge staff for tips on what to see. If you can’t visit just yet, scan the seasonal wildlife calendar to determine if there is a species you want to plan a trip to see. The Refuges are home to a huge bald eagle population in the winter months that draws many visitors to the area.

Klamath Basin Wildlife Refuge Opens New Canoe Area

What’s better than the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars?  For the wildlife enthusiast it just might be canoeing under the trees! This unique opportunity is now available at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge complete with a canoe for visitors to use free of charge.  The new canoe area dedicated to former refuge employee, David Champine, has recently been opened to the public.  While visitors may use their own non motorized boats, there is also a canoe available at the site which visitors may checkout during the hours the nearby refuge visitor center is open.

The canoe area has been developed as a cooperative effort of the refuge staff and many friends of David Champine.  Mr. Champine died in 2009 after battling a lifelong heart condition which hampered his health but not his enthusiasm for life. The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Association has been instrumental in making this opportunity available.  The Association is a membership group dedicated to supporting refuge interpretive and educational programs.  For membership information contact the refuge at (530) 667-2231. A group of David’s friends donated the canoe which visitors will be using on the trail.  The canoe area is located in a remote portion of Discovery Marsh which is within walking distance of the refuge headquarters and visitor center.  The marsh is expected to dry up during the late spring and summer months most years so visitors should call in advance if they are planning a trip which includes use of the canoe area.

Wildlife viewing opportunities will vary seasonably with recent reports of interesting sightings along the trail including bird species such as Cinnamon Teal, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Long-billed Dowitcher, Violet-green Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Marsh Wren and Common Yellowthroat.

The Refuge visitor center is located at 4009 Hill Road about 5 miles west of the town of Tulelake, California. Center hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 pm on weekdays and 9:00 to 4:00 pm on weekends and holidays. Contact the refuge at (530) 667-2231 for additional information.

Spring Warber Watching

Birding Video Showcases Variety of Species Available in Upper Klamath Basin

Ready to take a tour of the Upper Klamath’s birding possibilities? This wonderful video takes you on an armchair ride through what is one of the USA’s most interesting birding areas – the Upper Klamath:

Here’s what the producer had to say:

This video gives a glimpse at a few of the multitude of bird species that can be found in the Upper Klamath Basin of Oregon and California in early April. Virtually all the birds migrating on the Pacific Flyway come through this area in the spring and fall. The largest group of bald eagles in the lower 48 states assembles here during the winter. Many species are residents year-around. The Klamath Basin Birding Trail was created to help visitors find the widest array of bird species possible. This area is truly a bird-watchers paradise. For all the details see: http://www.klamathbirdingtrails.com

Kisling’s Corner: Eagles

Welcome to Kisling’s Corner: This week’s topic is eagle identification.

Eagle identification is not always easy. If all bald eagles looked as they do when they reach adulthood, identifying eagles would be much simpler, unfortunately, that is not the case. All raptors go through a time when their plumage differs from their adult plumage. This does have the benefit of saving young birds from adults of the same species who might look upon them as sexual rivals, but it presents some problems for those of us who are trying to identify them.

Both golden and bald eagles require at least four years to attain adult plumage, with five years being the norm. Any good field guide can point out the subtle plumage difference between these two species, but there are a few things that field guides rarely cover. If I see a brownish eagle, I first look at the size of the head. On occasion, a golden eagle may appear to have a normal sized head for a bird its size, but most often, it appears that the head is a bit small for such a large bird. If you see a small group of eagles and there is an adult bald eagle among them, check the head size of the brown eagles near it. If they all appear to have a head about the same size of the adult bald, they are all young bald eagles.

Since bald eagles have a larger head and beak than do golden eagles, they also have a different head to tail ratio then goldens. When seen in flight, bald eagles have a tail projection that is about one and a half times the head projection whereas golden eagles have a tail projection that is two to two and a half times longer than the head projection. If this seem a bit hard for you to absorb, I can make remembering it easier. It is the bald eagle that has the big head and who wouldn’t get a big head if they were the national bird? That may sound a bit silly, but it does make it easy to remember.

There are a few other differences between the species that may be of help when the lighting is not good. Bald eagles hold their wings fairly flat when soaring while golden eagles fly with their wings held up in a shallow V that resembles the way turkey vultures fly, except that vultures are always tilting side to side and eagles only do so when it is very windy. One other difference between the two eagle species is something I have never seen in print, but it works. If you see an eagle fly a long distance and it flaps continuously, it is certainly a bald eagle. Golden eagles may flap for a bit, but a large part of their flight consists of soaring. A bald may also flap a while and then soar, so be careful, since both species flap and soar. It’s only when the flapping goes on for long while that you may be confident it is a bald eagle.
Questions, comments? Kiss@cot.net

Charlotte, Thanks for the insight that only comes from years of experience. I would add that Charlotte’s neck of the woods – the Dorris and Tulelake area – is a hot spot for eagle sightings, especially in the winter and early spring. You can learn more by visiting the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge website. The website provides a seasonal list of birds you expect to see, no matter when you’re planning a visit. Summer time means waterfowl and marsh birds, early morning expeditions on the driving tours and spending the hot afternoons in the cool caves at Lava Beds National Monument, which borders the Tule Lake Refuge.
Thanks again,
Renee