Klamath Basin Audubon Society

Chapter History

A Timeline History of the Klamath Basin Audubon Society and the Bald Eagle Conference

1973 - Federal Endangered Species Act passed
1973 - Oregon classified the bald eagle as endangered within the state
1976-77 - Finding of Bear Valley, the nation's largest wintering roost for bald eagles
1976 - Goose Nest Ranger District of Klamath National Forest in California studied eagle movement and winter roosting habits in the lower Klamath Basin of Northern California and Southern Oregon and noticed eagles headed in to Oregon in late afternoon from northern California feeding areas. They initiated a study of what became known as Bear Valley. For 2 years, they worked with Ralph Opp, who was mapping this area in preparation for the Federal Fish and Wildlife to classify Bear Valley as a critical habitat area for eagles. His mapping and lobbying played a critical role in the Oregon state land use planning process, which was relatively unique in the late 70's. Ralph helped to specify the total number of eagles in the entire Klamath Basin, about 500, seen in one day's count. This was also part of a nationwide study on eagles.
1977 - 78 - Establishing Bear Valley as a Wildlife Refuge: Ralph Opp contacted National Wildlife Federation to help preserve the Bear Valley habitat. They were unable to do it, so he contacted Nature Conservancy. They served as a broker to begin transfer and purchase of the property of 17 owners (mostly private, including Boise Cascade and Weyerhauser) to Federal Fish and Wildlife to establish the 4000 acres of Bear Valley Refuge, 1000 acres of which were designated as the core eagle roosting area.
1978 - Federal listing of the bald eagle as endangered
1979, December - Portland Audubon members, including Mike Houck and Mike Uthoff come to Klamath Falls to "bird" the area. Ralph Opp, who frequently gave tours and talks about the area, gave them a "slide show" that helped them see the political and economic issues related to bald eagles. Discussion began about the need to educate local folks about these issues, which lead to the Eugene and Portland Audubon chapters helping to host the first Bald Eagle Conference. Bob Fields, the Klamath BasinWildlife Refuges manager, helped sponsor the conference.
1980, February - Bald Eagle Conference #1: Held at the Favell Museum, it focused on the very controversial issues of bald eagle management in the Klamath Basin as they related to the preservation of habitat, politics, and the economy of the area. The conference was primarily attended by professionals and conservation oriented folks in the wildlife management field, although it was intended for the general public. The conference agenda was primarily composed of speakers, with a Sunday field trip and the fly-out experience at Bear Valley. This conference was later recognized by birding magazines as the oldest birding festival in the United States.
1981, February - Bald Eagle Conference #2
1982, February - Bald Eagle Conference #3
1982 - Shortly after the conference, which was bringing together local birders, Mark Kelley, Ralph Opp, and other interested birders held a breakfast meeting at which the possibility of starting an Audubon chapter was discussed. Although the eagles were a rallying point for this discussion, "birding the Klamath Basin" was the primary aim. Discussions with the Eugene and Portland Audubon members who attended the conference helped stimulate the development of a Klamath Chapter.
1983, February - Bald Eagle Conference #4 - conference moves to Oregon Institute of Technology 1983 - The Klamath Basin Audubon Society was officially chartered.
1984, February - Bald Eagle Conference #5 becomes sponsored by the Klamath Basin Audubon Society 1985, February - Bald Eagle Conference #6
1985 - "Grebe" chosen as chapter logo, name of the chapter newsletter: The grebe was chosen instead of the eagle because the artwork for the grebe was the best available artwork at the time. Also, another Audubon chapter in Oregon was already using the eagle.
_____??? First Grebe newsletter sent out
1986, February - Bald Eagle Conference #7 at OIT
1987, February - Bald Eagle Conference #8 at OIT
1988, February - Bald Eagle Conference #9 at OIT
1989, February - Bald Eagle Conference #10 at OIT
1990, February - Bald Eagle Conference #11 at OIT
1991, February - Bald Eagle Conference #12 at OIT
1992, February - Bald Eagle Conference #13 at OIT
1993, February - Bald Eagle Conference #14 at OIT
1994, February - Bald Eagle Conference #15 at OIT
1995, February - Bald Eagle Conference #16 at OIT
1996, February - Bald Eagle Conference #17 at OIT
1997, February - Bald Eagle Conference #18 at OIT
1998, February - Bald Eagle Conference #19 at OIT
1999, February - Bald Eagle Conference #20 at OIT
2000, February - Bald Eagle Conference #21 at OIT
2000, Summer - Bald Eagle conference website and logo developed, thanks to Jerry Haugen, Anders Tomlinson, and John Boice - at OIT
2001, February - Bald Eagle Conference #22 at OIT
2002, February - Bald Eagle Conference #23 at OIT
2003, February - Bald Eagle Conference #24 - conference held at Klamath Community College because of Student Union renovations at OIT
2004, February - Bald Eagle conference #25, at newly renovated, but not yet completed OIT Student Union - A special 25 year scrapbook was produced by Leslie Lowe and Anne Wenner and given to Ralph and Charlotte Opp, Conference originators - Ralph and Charlotte Opp also received a special quilt memorializing many of the logos and posters from previous years, masterfully produced by Mary Kelley
2005, February - the Bald Eagle Conference fledges to become the Winter Wings Festival, co-sponsored with Klamath Wingwatchers for the first time - the Festival opens for the first time on a Thursday with a special festival art walk in Downtown Klamath Falls; Lin Warner, who had been coordinating the summer 3rd Thursday programs for the Arts Council, now partners to make the conference in to a festival, with art, music, food, and activities up and down Main Street - the Festival adds a Saturday Activity Day that is free to the public, with over 50 vendors, entertainment from 9 am - 6 pm in the OIT Student Union Auditorium, special children's booth activities, and a Friday concert.
2006, February - Winter Wings Festival #2
2007, February - Winter Wings Festival #3
2008, February - Winter Wings Festival #4

KBAS continues to sponsor birding workshops and the children's poster contests very successfully.