April 2023

Welcome to the many new subscribers this month. We had so many new subscribers, we had to upgrade our email plan to accommodate all of you! Thanks, and lets keep this group growing! If this is your first newsletter, you can find the archive of our previous newsletters here. If you haven't already, please join our Facebook discussion group. We would love to get to know you!

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In this issue:

  • Weather, Water and Wetlands

  • Moving Forward from Loss and Grief

  • Invitation to participate

  • Book announcement

  • Field Report: March 18-19

  • Species Spotlight: Greater White-fronted Goose

  • Event Calendar

  • Share this Newsletter

Weather, Water and Wetlands

-by Loree Johnson

 

Lately, I've been fielding questions on our facebook page and in emails about the wet winter we are having and how it must be beneficial to the wildlife refuges. The answer is...not necessarily.

 

By most accounts, this winter is above average in terms of precipitation and snowpack in the Klamath Basin. Not all the data is in yet, but it's shaping up to be a good, although not exceptional, year. I suppose it seems exceptionally wet after the past three years, which have been well below average. This is good news, but it's not something we can count on in the future.

 

Aside from historical averages, there are other reasons why a wet winter may not improve conditions much for our wildlife refuges. This article will attempt to offer a brief explanation of why. My intent here is not to provide an in-depth discussion of the political and economic complexities of the situation, but rather an overview of some of the major physical alterations to the landscape. Hopefully, this will help explain the differences between the natural wetlands of the past, which advanced and receded with the weather, and what we have today. A comprehensive timeline of developments and decisions affecting water in the Basin was covered in our very first newsletter, which you can read here.

 

There are many accounts of conditions in the Klamath Basin prior to the establishment of the Klamath Project. Perhaps the most famous is the description "Everglades of the West," the largest freshwater wetlands west of the Mississippi River. At the time, however, the benefits of wetlands were largely unknown and most people considered them "useless swamps" with little value aside from the rich soil beneath them.

When early settlers came to the area, the goal was to drain the wetlands and convert them to productive farmland. So when the Klamath Project was authorized in 1905, efforts to dry the upper Klamath Basin began in earnest. A small group of conservationists, led by William L. Finley, a wildlife photographer, recognized the value of wetlands as bird habitat and petitioned the president to set aside part of Lower Klamath Lake as the country's first waterfowl refuge. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt established what is now known as Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

 

In 1909, The Southern Pacific Railroad completed a line from Weed, California to Klamath Falls. The rail line was built atop a dike north of Dorris Hill, essentially cutting off the natural flow of water from the Klamath River to Lower Klamath Lake. For a time, there was a tunnel under the dike that allowed some water to flow to the wetlands, but it was eventually sealed off in 1917. “Some 85,000 acres were dried up,” William Kittredge wrote, and “by 1922 all that remained was a 365-acre pond.” Now, instead of water flowing from the river directly to the Lower Klamath Refuge, it is captured and directed through a complex series of dams, dikes, canals, and drainage ditches directing water to farms.

 

In 1928, the Tule Lake Bird Refuge (now Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge) was created. By this time, most of the Lake had already been dried up and converted to farmland. The natural flow of water from Clear Lake to Tule Lake had been redirected via the Lost River Diversion Dam, built in 1912.

 

On the map below, you can see what the area looked like prior to development of the Klamath Project.

On the map below, the red oval indicates the location of the Southern Pacific Railroad Line dike, which cut off the main source of water for Lower Klamath Lake. The yellow circle indicates the location of the Lost River Divervsion Dam, which cut off the main source of water for Tule Lake. With the completion of these two major alterations to the natural landscape more than 100 years ago, the wildlife refuges became dependent on irrigation infrastructure to provide wetland wildlife habitat.

The Klamath Project was opened to homesteading in 1917. Competing interests between the Klamath Project and the wildlife refuges led to passage of the Kuchel Act in 1964. This federal law precluded any homesteading within the bounds of the wildlife refuges. In return, the refuges were required to lease refuge land for purposes of agriculture, as long as it was consistent with refuge purposes. The law remains in effect to this day. Note that this is not a general law that applies to all National Wildlife Refuges. It is specific to Lower Klamath and Tule Lake.

 

In 2013, The Klamath Water Rights Adjudication process affirmed the Klamath Tribes rights to water levels in upper Klamath Lake and instream flows in its tributaries with a priority of “time immemorial.” It also ruled that although the Lower Klamath NWR has senior water rights, water cannot be used for wetland management because Klamath Project water is intended for agriculture.

 

With surface water currently prioritized for lake levels and river flows to protect endangered fish, the Klamath Project has suffered major shortfalls in water for irrigation. Since only "excess" irrigation water can be utilized for refuge habitat, the result has been devastating to our wildlife refuges and the birds who call them home. We can hope this winter will produce enough water so that the excess can flow to the refuges, but this situation cannot be resolved by favorable weather alone.

 

To summarize:

 

  • Natural flows to the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake wildlife refuges were cut off as part of the development of the Klamath Project more than a century ago, making both refuges dependent on water deliveries through irrigation infrastructure.

  • The Bureau of Reclamation controls the irrigation infrastructure and therefore makes decisions about where the water goes, including for the protection of endangered species.

  • Water in the Klamath Project (where the refuges are located) is only intended for agriculture, on or off the refuges. Only excess water can be diverted for wetland/habitat management.

  • So, even in well above average precipitation years, it is entirely possible refuge habitat might not receive enough water. It has happened before. And it is all but inevitable that in dry years, wetlands will continue to be neglected.

  • In the absence of a water use agreement which takes wildlife habitat on the refuges into account, our refuges, and by extension the Pacific Flyway, remain in a precarious situation.

 

I don't know how to solve this, but I believe the more people who understand the origins of the situation, the more opportunities there are to find solutions.

 

Note:

 

At the time of this writing, there is some water flowing into Lower Klamath NWR from the Klamath Drainage District and some water flowing into the Tulelake NWR from Tulelake Irrigation District. While this is positive and helpful news, as far as I know there is no formal agreement or requirement that these flows will continue either this year or in future years.

 

Moving Forward from Loss and Grief

-by Mary Williams Hyde

 

There are few in our community not currently affected by grief from several important sources of loss.  The Klamath Tribes lost their land and their culture. They remember what the land looked like when it was healthy and are sad beyond speaking at the damage done in every way to their lives since settlement. The upper Klamath Basin and Project farmers are grieving how the dramatic unpredictability of water supplies from year to year affects their ability to make a living and grow food. Downstream Tribes and ocean fisherman are equally sad at the changes to salmon fisheries affected by poor water quality and insufficient stream flows. Downriver agriculture families are frightened and worried about the changes they may experience with dam removal. And those of us who love wildlife and who feel an imperative to be protective of Pacific Flyway migrating bird habitat are incredibly sad that restoration of Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge are such low priorities in the complicated political processes that we feel haven't found fair solutions so far. And it is certainly worth remembering how the death of the timber industry in the late 1980’s still negatively affects our economy and our lives even after four decades of recovery efforts.

 

As happens when a beloved family member, friend, or pet dies, it is important to recognize and understand the process of working thru the grief and profound loss experienced with these hurtful community wide changes. It is well documented that human beings go through predictable phases from time of loss to acceptance and recovery. In general, people need to be encouraged to feel their feelings and be given their space to do so without an over reaction from others who may be experiencing their own grief. There is much to read on the internet about the stages of grief so I picked this from verywellmind.com

 

7-Stage Model of Grief

 

Some suggest that there are seven stages in grieving. This more complex model of the grieving process involves experiencing:

 

  • Shock and denial. Whether a loss occurs suddenly or with some advanced notice, it's possible to experience shock. You feel emotionally numb and may deny the loss.

  • Pain and guilt. During this stage in grieving, the pain of the loss starts to set in. You may also feel guilty for needing more from family and friends during this emotional time.

  • Anger and bargaining. You may lash out at people you love or become angry with yourself. Or you might try to "strike a bargain" with a higher power, asking that the loss be taken away in exchange for something on your part.

  • Depression and loneliness. As you reflect on your loss, you may start to feel depressed or lonely. It is in this stage in grieving that you begin to truly realize the reality of your loss.

  • The upward turn. You begin to adjust to your new life, and the intensity of the pain you feel from the loss starts to reduce. At this point in the grieving process, you may notice that you feel calmer.

  • Reconstruction and working through. This stage in grieving involves taking action to move forward. You begin to reconstruct your new normal, working through any issues created by the loss.

  • Acceptance and hope. In this final stage of the grieving process, you begin to accept the loss and feel hope for what tomorrow might bring. It's not that all your other feelings are gone, just more so that you've accepted them and are ready to move on.

 

I maintain everyone living in the Klamath Basin has experienced great loss, though for different reasons. The grieving process can put into context the rage, anger, lawsuits and the tears that resulted. The good news is, sad as the experience has been for all affected, our community as a whole may be closer to completing the grieving process. In general, I see many signs that the reconstruction and working through process is well underway with acceptance and hope within reach.

 

Now would be a perfect time to reflect on our common humanity and help each other to the finish line…. to reach out with offers to work with other groups as we rebuild our community to a healthy balance for maybe the first time ever. I think we can be successful because leaders are emerging that are right for the times. I am already at the hopeful stage...anger and rage were not good for my health and surely are not good for your health either…please join me. We can do this.

Do you have something to say?

 

We have been receiving helpful and informative feedback to this newsletter. Maybe you would like the group to hear your perspective. We would be happy to publish it. If you would like to write an article for the newsletter, just reply to this one and let us know. We'd love to hear about it!

Common Waterbirds of the Klamath Basin is here!

 

"In 2022 a group of motivated photographers from the Klamath Basin area freely pursued an environmental education project that is intended to help visitors connect with our wild areas through spectacular imagery and informative waterbird fact sheets. In 2023 over fifty water bird fact sheets were gathered and turned into one comprehensive book called Common Waterbirds of the Klamath Basin: A Collaboration by People who Love the Wild Birds. This book is an excellent example of how the average person can make the greatest differences on our public lands by donating their time and talents to help people get connected with nature."

-Steve Rooker, Park Ranger

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Friends of Klamath Basin Birding, together with Klamath Bird Observatory, are proud to announce the release of our book Common Waterbirds of the Klamath Basin. The book is now available in electronic format (~10MB pdf) for download at no charge by clicking the image below. Subscribers to this newsletter are first to get a peek at this incredible resource. It will be made available to the general public on our website next week.

Included are 59 of the most common species of waterfowl and other water birds found in the Klamath Basin. Each species can be printed as a two-sided, single page fact sheet. The entire book can be downloaded and printed, or loaded into your Kindle or other e-book reader app for viewing on your tablet or mobile device.

 

Appropriate for birders of all ages, from beginning to experienced, you will appreciate the full color photos by Mary Williams Hyde, Loree Johnson and Jack Noller. In addition to the photos, each page is filled with information and fun facts about the birds written by Shannon Rio of Klamath Bird Observatory and Loree Johnson of Friends of Klamath Basin Birding. Together, we hope this book will inspire you to get out there and enjoy the birds!

Field Report: March 18-19 2023

-by Kevin Spencer

 

When I used to live in Tulelake, the geese would wake me up in February, March, and sometimes into April. They were miles away, but their dense flocks was this constant distant applause. In the evenings and in the mornings, thousands would skein over my house, going and coming between their feeding fields and nighttime roost. It seemed like Snow Goose numbers peaked, at least around Tulelake, about mid-March, so it was sort of a tradition to head out after school and find one of those potato or stubble grain fields where they were assembled, pull over, roll my window down, and wait. I would look for the often 30 to 40 thousand in a flock, but sometimes they were 50K or over. There were usually several flocks around.  I waited for an eagle. There were always eagles nearby a large flock, and their eventual flyby strafing run would certainly cause a stir. Their presence was like yelling "Fire!" in a theater, and there was an instant, in unison lifting of each one of the geese in the flock.  It was that moment of liftoff that was the rush. Each one of the geese "screaming", and the cumulative noise of all of their wings accelerating to get away. Yes, it was still loud while they circled and eventually returned. But that first lift-off was like a jet take-off. And the din made the noise coming from the field when they were settled, normal and calm. Which it really wasn't. 

 

So, this last weekend, I was on two trips. One leading Klamath Basin Audubon Society field trip to Miller Island, on the 18th. That location is known for its Ross's Goose numbers, although there are still Snow Geese in those all white flocks. Then on the 19th, I was with Shannon Rio, Stacy Taeuber, and Becky Nankivell, to visit the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWRs. The purpose of that trip was to generally see what was there, and to find out where concentrations of birds were.

 

Miller Island, south of Klamath Falls, still has wetlands that have water, and there are large wetlands along the Klamath River in that area. There are some stubble grain fields mixed in. It is likely the least changed area south of Klamath Falls in the basin during the last several years of low precipitation. While there we watched clouds of white geese in flight, a mass of sprinkling specks against the distant hills and mountains that made it look like a blizzard coming our way. Tundra Swans were in small groups of 50 or less. Their numbers are reducing as they leave the basin and head north. They will most likely all be gone by the end of March. We heard Sandhill Cranes and eventually four flew over and landed nearby. We paused while driving by for some amazing looks. At the entrance there was a single Great-tailed Grackle. They have been reported from that spot over the last two-three years. There may be nesting in the area. There have been reports of Yellow-headed Blackbirds arriving, but there were none seen on that day, well, OK, two maybe (I have been corrected!). I would expect them to be at Miller Island soon, setting up their colony. Red-winged Blackbirds are already staking out their territories. There were also other waterfowl present: Canada Goose, Greater white-fronted Goose, Mallard, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, Green-winged Teal, and a few Northern Pintail. While leaving our group saw a Red-shouldered Hawk. Other raptors seen were Bald Eagles of numerous ages, Red-tailed Hawk, and American Kestrel. 

 

On the nineteenth, our group of four started from the kiosk entrance of the Lower Klamath NWR. We traveled from A-B-C intersections, then west along the southern part of the longer Auto Tour Route, over to F, then over to what I call the "old growth willow row" and exited out at Hwy 161, or Stateline Road. The birds were basically absent until there was water. Water was present in a canal along the western part of the tour route. The majority of the waterfowl along there was about 300 total and included: Mallard and Green-winged Teal, mostly. A surprise was a Northern Shrike, seen in a stand of smaller willows. We looked hard for owls in all of the willow, but saw none, but there were a few perched Bald Eagles. We drove north on the "Oregon Drain" which  is west of the tour route, runs north and south between Stateline Road and Township Road. There were several thousand ducks, mostly American Wigeon and Northern Shoveler. Scanning through the ducks on the flooded field I counted nine Eurasian Wigeon. I likely didn't see them all, and those were just the males I saw.

 

We drove east on Township Road with a plan to head down the road on the east side of Straits Drain, but that road is blocked again. The water in the drain is being used to flood fields in the refuge. Eventually I think that the water will be re-used and drained, or pumped across the Stateline into Lower Klamath NWR there. The source of that water is the Klamath Drainage District. I hope that cooperation expands and continues. So, we headed to the Six Mile marker on Township Road and headed south. That gravel road is about 2.5 miles to Stateline Road. Most exciting was the flock of approximately 400 Sandhill Cranes seen from that road, on the south end. They were likely foraging in the stubble grain field there. And, nearby was a rather dense assembly of at least twenty-five Bald Eagles, all on the ground, and numerous ages. I could only speculate that the flooded field had forced up rodents, but I wasn't sure since that would have attracted more ravens and buteos. It could have been they just hadn't changed their dining location yet. About a week before there were over 80K geese and ducks at that location, with mostly it mostly being Northern Pintail.

 

Over at Tule Lake NWR we concentrated on checking "The League of Nations", the area of leased lands on the east side of Sump 1-A. We drove off of East West Road, onto a refuge entrance road, on the east side of the Lost River. After a left curve and a right turn we were on A Dike Road. Following that road down to nearly Sump 1-B, you would be where a flock of approximately 35K Snow/Ross's Geese was seen loafing in a flooded field. Along the close shore we had better looks at a couple of thousand ducks. And scanning through the Green-winged Teal can sometime turn up a Eurasian subspecies. The American Green-winged Teal has a vertical whitish bar at the forward part of its wing seen while they swim around, but the Eurasian Green-winged Teal has a horizontal white bar just below its back scapulars, and without a vertical bar. One of the Eurasian subspecies was spotted there. There were scattered Bald Eagles there. Funny was a group of large black birds, which were Common Ravens hopping round a carcass with a nearby adult Bald Eagle. Mixed in was an American Crow, smaller, with a more straight end of its tail, and smaller bill. It was by no means more timid. After the more formidable raven left this crow hopped right up to the eagle and darted in at the carcass for a possible morsel. Those were the most interesting observations there at Tule Lake NWR.

 

Besides waterfowl numbers lacking, raptors are noticeably few, which is very unfortunate. Since the wetlands, and Sumps, remain dry, the water in the flooded fields seem to be attracting and holding the white geese on their traditional path to their breeding grounds. But right now, the din and numbers of white geese is not like it used to be. I wonder if there will ever again be late winters where I could be awakened, or watch endless flights pass over. I hope that the hoards of birds on the Pacific Flyway don't change and by-passes the Klamath Basin. It's too important.

Species Spotlight: Greater White-fronted Goose

-by Shannon Rio

-Photo by Loree Johnson

 

This goose is nicknamed “specklebelly” because of the black markings on its tummy! The white area around the pink/orange bill is the face hence the name white-fronted.

 

These geese mate and have babies in the far north of Alaska and Canada. They are seen in large flocks in the winter as they come south to spend their days eating seeds, grains, grasses, berries and insects. Geese in general like to call loudly when in flight. The common honk of the white-fronted goose is a high pitched yelling “ho-leeleek.” It rather sounds like they are laughing! These medium-sized geese tend to choose a mate for life so pairs stay together for years, migrate together and keep their baby geese with them for many months. Parent and sibling relationships may even continue throughout their lives. This is pretty unusual in the world of birds.

 

Event Calendar

 

(Please send us information about your birding-related events so we can get the word out!)

 

April 2023

 

12th - 20th

Vacation for Conservation - Brazil

Klamath Bird Observatory

Join KBO’s dynamic duo Director of Conservation Jaime Stephens and Board President Shannon Rio for a memorable 9-day trip to Brazil.

Funds raised from this trip will support KBO's intern exchange program. 

Information and Registration

 

29th

Carpool Birding Trip

Klamath Basin Audubon Society

Skillet Handle of the Running Y

9:00am - 1:00pm

Meet at Locomotive at Veteran's Park

Email for more Information

 

May 2023

 

20th

Carpool Birding Trip

Klamath Basin Audubon Society

Wood River Wetlands

7:30am - 12:30pm

Meet at Locomotive at Veteran's Park

Email for more Information

 

20th

World Migratory Bird Day

USFWS

10am - 4pm

Veteran's Park - Klamath Falls

USFWS fun and educational Event to celebrate birds. More details to come.

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