09/09/2026
Klamath Bird Observatory and Cal Poly Humboldt Applied Avian Ecology Lab just finished a second field season monitoring the response of oak obligate breeding birds to oak restoration efforts in the Rogue Valley of Oregon. The crew had a wildly successful season, finding 20 Ash-throated Flycatcher, 37 Oak Titmouse, and 15 White-breasted Nuthatch nests and completing 288 vegetation surveys! Let’s meet the technicians and interns who made this all possible:
Project Lead: My name is Samantha Webb, and I am a master’s student in the Applied Avian Ecology Lab at Cal Poly Humboldt and the Project Lead on the Oak Birds Project at Klamath Bird Observatory. I am interested in understanding how restoration and different management techniques influence habitat quality and avian population trends. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with such a fantastic team this summer and to spend some beautiful days nest searching at Table Rocks.
Field Technician: My name is Aurora Gowin, and I am a recent graduate from Iowa State University. Last season, I worked with Wood Thrush in the forests of western Iowa, giving me some fun experience in bird research. This season, I had the opportunity to work on the Oak Birds project, allowing me to see Oregon for the first time. I really enjoyed getting to know the ecology of the area and seeing the unique habitat of Table Rocks. My favorite parts of working on the Oak Birds Crew was getting to know the personalities of individual birds, banding our study species, and working with an awesome crew! I am super grateful for this opportunity as it helped shape my skills and experiences for my future in conservation, and I can’t wait to visit Oregon again.
Willamette Valley Student Intern: Hi! My name is Marcus Varner. I am originally from Southern California, but I am currently an undergraduate at Willamette University double majoring in Environmental Science and Spanish, with a focus in forest management and avian ecology. This past season, I was lucky enough to participate in Klamath Bird Observatory's Oak Birds field study. This project was special to me because of the welcoming and open atmosphere, which allowed me to easily integrate into the team. Not only did Samantha Webb quickly orient me to the expectations of the project, but also provided opportunities to learn and develop new skills. I have been a birder for roughly 2 years now, and this project showed me how magical the life of birds truly is, making it impossible not to be inspired to pursue a career in ornithological research and conservation.
Cal Poly Humboldt Student Intern: Hi! I’m Olive, an undergraduate Wildlife Biology student at Cal Poly Humboldt. I started working on the Oak Birds crew last summer, and the poison oak, ticks, and 100 degree weather lured me back to a second season. All jokes aside, I’ve learned so much about the ecology of Table Rocks and of our study species (Oak Titmouse, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and White-breasted Nuthatch) and even felt like I got to know a few birds personally. Getting the best view in town of the sunrise everyday was absolutely the highlight of my summer, regardless of how tough the trek into the study sites was. I’ve loved my time here and am so grateful to be able to work surrounded by nature!
Cal Poly Humboldt Student Intern: Hello! My name is Rachelle, and I am an undergraduate at Cal Poly Humboldt majoring in Wildlife Biology and Management. This was my first time working on a project as a field tech, and what a season it has been! My favorite part of the job was nest monitoring the Ash-throated Flycatchers. They have so much character and are so fun to observe! I feel very lucky to have been able to work in such a beautiful study site, to see the sunrise every morning, and to be a part of the Oak Birds team :)
