American Avocets - common shorebirds of Klamath Basin.
There's a lot going on for wildlife in the Klamath Basin and so much to learn about the amazing waterbirds that depend on its wetlands.
FOR EDUCATORS! We have ideas and resources to help you bring Klamath birds into your classroom and on field trips.
Download Klamath Basin educational resources for your students
Download Klamath Basin Nongame Waterbirds 2004 Final Report (pdf file)
Download maps for Klamath Basin Nongame Waterbirds 2004 Final Report (3 MB pdf file - NOTE: this document may take several minutes to download)
We greatly appreciate the support of National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for the development of this webpage and our Klamath Basin bird education resources.
Why is Klamath Basin so important for waterbirds?
The vast Klamath Basin straddles the border of California and Oregon, east of the Cascade Range. Surrounded by the great ‘Sagebrush Sea’, the wetlands of the Klamath Basin support nearly 80% of the Pacific Flyway’s waterfowl, and thousands of shorebirds and other waterbirds. There's a lot/ going on for wildlife in the Klamath Basin and much to learn about the amazing waterbirds that depend on its wetlands.
Migratory birds, like all travelers, need safe and reliable places to rest and re-fuel before continuing on their journey. The wetlands of the Klamath Basin are some of the few that remain to cater to the hundreds of thousands of birds that migrate along the inland portion of the Pacific Flyway. It is also a very important place for many of these species to nest and raise young – some in enormous colonies that are fascinating to observe.
Klamath Basin provides both migratory and resident birds with plenty of food and places to rest and avoid predators. It also happens to be a very important place for birds to nest and raise their young. On this web page you can learn about some of the Klamath's waterbirds that gather in enormous colonies to nest.
The Lower Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1908 and one of six National Wildlife Refuges in the Basin, was the first refuge created for ducks and geese in the United States. To explore all the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges, visit Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge's website: http://klamathbasinrefuges.fws.gov/
What's a waterbird?
"Waterbirds" include many different types of birds, all of which depend on water in their life cycle:
- Loons & Grebes
- Pelicans & Coromorants
- Herons, Egrets & Ibis
- Ducks and Geese
- Shorebirds
- Gulls & Terns
- Seabirds
Each of these groups has slightly different habitat, food, and nesting requirements. A healthy and diverse ecosystem provides all of the resources necessary for a variety of species to thrive. Some of the food resources important to Klamath bird species include: a variety of water plants, insects, other invertebrates like shrimp, clams, and worms, and vertebrates like fish and amphibians.Learn about 4 amazing waterbirds that depend on Klamath Basin wetlands to nest and raise their chicks:
Mammoth Waterbird Colonies
Many waterbird species gather in great colonies to nest and raise young. PRBO biologist, Dave Shuford, has studied colonial waterbirds of Klamath Basin for many years.
To keep track of colonies, Dave photographs them from a plane flying low enough to identify species, without causing them to the birds to flush from their nests – a fairly difficult trick that requires expert piloting.
An aerial view of an American White Pelican colony at
Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge in 1999.
Each white dot is one pelican.
An aerial view of a Double crested Cormorant colony on an island in
Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in May 1999.
Each dark dot on the island is a cormorant on its nest.
What's under the purple dot in the picture above?
We've zoomed in to show you!
American White Pelican and Double-crested Cormorany colony at
Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge in May 1999.
California Gull colony at
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in 1994.
There are important waterbird colonies across the western US! Below is a photograph of a waterbird colony at the Salton Sea, in southern California, taken in May, 1999. We've zoomed-in on the yellow square to find two Great Blue Herons at their nest!
Waterbird Colony at the Salton Sea
What's under the yellow square?
Check out photo below for a zoomed-in look at the pair of
Great Blue Herons at their nest and their egret neighbors!
Photos PRBO.
Try out what it's like to be a waterbird biologist and learn more about Klamath Basin's incredible waterbird colonies Click here!
Klamath Waterbird Profiles
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Artwork Jerry Buzzell (Copyright PRBO)
Description:
The largest pelican in North America, it has a wing span of 9 feet! It is almost entirely white except for its black wing tips, orangey-yellow bill, and orange legs and feet.
Voice:
Usually does not make noise, but when nesting it can make a quiet grunt.
Habitats:
Wetlands, including lakes, marshes, salt ponds, and coastal lagoons.
Feeding:
Fish hunter. White 'pelies' work together in small flocks to round up fish at the surface and scoop them into their large net-like pouches under their bill. They do not dive from the air like their relative, the Brown Pelican. Check out a picture of White Pelicans nesting in Klamath Basin.
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Artwork Jerry Buzzell (Copyright PRBO)
Description:
One of the largest cormorants in North America.
Voice:
Usually quiet, but makes a hoarse, bullfrog-like grunting when nesting.
Habitats:
One of the only cormorants that live in fresh water in North American. Found in open water from inland ponds, wetlands, to oceans.
Feeding:
A fish hunter, this waterbird dives underwater and propoels itself using its large, powerful feet. Check out a picture of Double-crested Cormorants nesting in Klamath Basin
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Artwork Jerry Buzzell (Copyright PRBO)
Description:
A common gull across most of North America. At one year-old, most have a white head, neck and belly, light gray wings and yellow legs. A black ring around their bill is visible at one year-old, a characteristic that gives them their name: "ring-billed".
Voice:
A high pitched scream with squeels.
Habitats:
Found near fresh or salt water, including lakes, wetlands, and coastal beaches.
Feeding:
It's an opportunist, which means that it will eat just about anything that it finds. Pecking at food with its strong bill.
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
Artwork Jerry Buzzell (Copyright PRBO)
Description:
One of the largest terns in North America
Voice:
Deep, harsh, growly scream "aaayayaar"
Habitats:
Found near fresh or salt water, including wetlands, rivers, or coastal beaches
Feeding:
Fish hunter. Flies and hovers above water looking for fish and dives in quickly, grabbing small fish that are close to the surface using its strong, sharp bill, then flies away.
More Pictures of Waterbird Colonies.
The following photos are from the Salton Sea, California. Pictures of Klamath Basin colonies coming soon!
In this photo, taken in May, 1999, you can see a flock of black birds in the water below the nesting colony. These are Double-crested Cormorants, that are likely hunting for fish to bring back to their growing young in the nest.
If you look to the left of the cormorants, at the edge of the photo, you can see two White Pelicans in the water.
Be the Waterbird Biologist
Count the number of nesting waterbirds at this colony.
1. Double-crested Cormorants are larger, dark birds.
2. Great Egrets are white birds.
3. There is only one nesting Great Blue Heron in this photo - it's gray. Can you find it?
Answer
Downloadable Klamath Waterbird Resources - Coming Soon!
Student Artwork.
Waterbirds are inspiring to all ages: they are easy to spot, and are fun to study. Bring waterbirds into your classroom with these resources (please check back with us soon for all resources):
Or visit the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge with your class, family and friends.
Answer
- Orange dots: 6 Double-crested Cormorants (and one half cormorant at the top of the picture!).
- Purple dots: 53 Great Egrets. If you guessed close to 50 Great Egrets, you're pretty close (counting is tough work!).
- Green dots: 1 Great Blue Heron on right side of photo.
