This outing to the Klamath Basin highlights two great activities: Dancing Grebes in Klamath Falls and nesting herons, egrets, and raptors in Lower Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge. We expect to have plenty of other bird sightings along with these highlights. This year's trip should be extra exciting with the great water levels on the refuges.
Since best viewing is in the morning or late evening, we'll get a fairly early start with a return to Bend for a late dinner. Plan on bringing a picnic lunch, water, and snacks for this no fee outing.
First, we'll stop in Klamath Falls to witness "the chase", "the dance", "rushing", "bobbing", "preening": names for the fascinating mating behaviors of the Western and Clark's Grebes. They're the largest vertebrates with the ability to walk on water. We're fortunate to be so close to such an an amazing site within Klamath Falls.
ABOUT THE GREBES
Both the Western and Clark’s Grebe are commonly seen around lakes and freshwater marshes in Oregon. These two species look and behave similarly. The Western Grebe is larger than the Clark’s and the black cap on the head usually extends below the eye, whereas, on the Clark’s Grebe the black cap extends to just above the eye.
During the breeding season, many birds have set courtship behaviors that they follow. Breeding behavior between the Western and Clark’s Grebe is very similar, in fact, scientists considered them to be different color phases of the same species up until 1985. Both birds have two courtship ceremonies that they conduct. One is the “Rushing Ceremony” and the other is the “Weed Ceremony.”
The “Rushing Ceremony” consists of advertising calls made to a potential mate, dip-shaking where heads are dipped into the water and shaken on the way out, rushing wherein pairs run on the surface of the water side by side flapping their wings, and finally diving head first into the water. They sprint up to 66 feet (20 meters) across the water in coordinated groups of two or more in about seven seconds. The birds make between 14 and 20 steps per second. In comparison, the fastest humans can make perhaps five or six steps per second. Each grebe's step started with a splayed foot slapping the water, generating between 30 to 55 percent of the vertical force needed to keep the animals from sinking. The rest comes from the bird actually pushing its foot underwater.
In the “Weed Ceremony,” pairs have already been formed. This ceremony consists of neck-stretching, bob-shaking/dip shaking, weed diving, and bob-preening. During the weed diving, they will gather vegetation from below the water bringing it back up to the surface to display to their mate. They will then shake their heads side to side until all the weeds fall back into the water.
ABOUT THE REFUGES
After about an hour watching the grebes and friends in Klamath Falls, we'll head down to "Raptor Row"/"Eagle Row" on the Lower Klamath Basin Refuge hoping to see egrets, black crowned night herons and others raptors building nests. Time in Klamath Falls is limited in the morning to have good lighting along Raptor Row. The sun begins to backlight the area around 1pm.
While many of the snow geese and bald eagles have migrated north, an increase of waders and shorebirds have be moving through this popular flyway.
After exploring the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake Refuges, attendees may choose to stop in Klamath Falls for an encore performance of the dancing grebes when good lighting conditions should continue.
A worthy bonus option when returning to Bend would be a quick detour from Highway 97 to drive along the section of Klamath Marsh NWR that borders Silver Lake Road. Although sightings here can be variable, I also had my best day ever photographing birds at this location.
PHOTOGRAPHY CONSIDERATIONS
A telephoto lens of at least 200mm would help with getting photos that you can somewhat crop. A pair of binoculars would be helpful at watching the behaviors in detail. You also might want to try to take a video.
Tentative Agenda
07:45am Leave Bend Fred Meyer's
10:00am Pit Stop at Pilot Travel Center, Klamath Falls.
10:15 am Arrive at Putnam Point, Klamath Falls.
11:15 am Leave for Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
11:45 am Arrive at Lower Klamath NWR.
4:00pm Leave Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWRs
4:30pm Return Arrival at Putnam Point.
5:30pm Leave for Bend
8:00pm Arrive in Bend
