Urgent Call to Action

To those concerned about Klamath Basin wildlife,

Botulism is again active and spreading quickly at Tule Lake and Lower Klamath NWR. The conditions are similar to the time of July through October 2024 when over 150,000 waterfowl and shorebirds perished from botulism. The greatest potential for botulism is with shallow stagnant or very slow-moving water. Those are the current conditions at Tule Lake and Lower Klamath NWRs. If those conditions do not change then the consequences will be catastrophic.

Call your representatives and declare your interest in avoiding this predictable and coming botulism disaster that has occurred previously under nearly exact conditions, and to do something about it by directing the BOR to release adequate water to solve this issue, or to have water flow through the refuges.

Full letter of concern

Representative Contact Info, Phone Script, and Talking Points

The Klamath Basin Audubon Society presents…

Have a great summer! Our monthly program meetings and field trips will resume in September.

In the meantime, check out these events:

Weekly Community Bird Walks continue every Saturday. Meet at the Locomotive in Veterans Park (Downtown Klamath Falls) at 9am.

Klamath Basin Audubon Society will have its annual Summer Picnic for members in September. Date and location to be announced—JOIN KBAS to be notified.

PLEASE NOTE: DONATIONS ARE IN ADDITION to membership dues. Each must be done separately. To join or renew Click on the link below.

What are the Membership Benefits? Annual membership in Klamath Basin Audubon Society provides:

• Opportunities to volunteer in a variety of important capacities.

• You get the inside scoop on important KBAS programs and field trips.

• An email subscription to the our newsletter, The Grebe. You can read past issues here: The Grebe

• Learn more about what we do.

• Read our Chapter By-Laws.

Board of Directors and Committees

General members are always invited and welcome to attend the KBAS Board meetings to help in planning future activities and to discuss Board policies.  We meet the first Wednesday of every month from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. 

Board Members

Contact Info email: rriparia@charter.net

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 produced the Winter Wings Festival through 2023.

Looking for something fun to do while you stay home and stay safe? The National Audubon Society has put together some fun bird stuff for everyone to enjoy.

 A birdy “care package” is a webpage with all of Audubon’s best bird photos, videos and stories.