Latest Vesper Sparrow Research with partner at the Klamath Bird Observatory

Watch this presentation from our partners at the Klamath Bird Observatory, and the latest research being conducted to monitor the endangered Oregon Vesper Sparrow. Dr. Sarah Rockwell discusses the scope of this multi-year effort, the new MOTUS radio technology being used at the Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve, and work throughout other nearby meadows.

About the Oregon Vesper Sparrow monitoring in Southwest Oregon:

Oregon's Vesper Sparrow is a prime example of what birders call “little brown jobs” – small, drab, hard to identify birds that we sometimes overlook. But this little brown job is an imperiled subspecies unique to the Pacific Northwest, one that serves as an indicator of the health of our grassland ecosystems. It needs our attention and protection. With its small population size and declining trend, the Oregon Vesper Sparrow has recently been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Klamath Bird Observatory is undertaking a multi-year, full life cycle study to help determine the causes of its decline – always a challenge for a migratory bird that can be impacted by events on their breeding, migratory stopover, or overwintering grounds. However, new technologies such as miniaturized GPS tags and Motus Wildlife Tracking Systems are starting to uncover the secrets of where these birds go when they're away from our study sites. Dr. Sarah Rockwell will share some recent research on this unique at-risk subspecies, including what we've learned from detailed nesting studies and new migration tracking technology (Motus). Dr. Rockwell is a Research Biologist at Klamath Bird Observatory based in Ashland. She joined KBO in 2013 after completing her doctorate at the University of Maryland and Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, where she studied the ecology of the then-endangered Kirtland’s Warbler in her home state of Michigan. She currently studies avian response to coniferous and riparian habitat restoration, including bird abundance, diversity, and demography, to improve conservation and management. She also leads research on specific imperiled species, including Oregon Vesper Sparrow and Western Purple Martin. KBO is the only independent bird research organization in Oregon.