The Winter Wings Festival is Taking a 2024 Hiatus

Since 2005 the massive numbers and variety of wintering raptors, waterfowl and other bird species in the Klamath Basin has been a well-known attraction to birders and nature photographers throughout the country and provided a perfect platform for the Winter Wings Festival (WWF). The WWF is the primary fundraiser for the Klamath Basin Audubon Society (KBAS).

For several years now, the Klamath Basin has been wrestling with a drought-driven decline in suitable habitat for migratory waterfowl and the raptors that feed on them and a concomitant festival volunteer deficit. The good news is that there are multiple, creative efforts in the works to address this situation, but it is going to take some time to see the results.

The KBAS board and WWF coordinators decided to put the festival on temporary hiatus and use the remainder of 2023 and the 2024 calendar year to restock its volunteer pool and solicit suggestions on the next iteration of the WWF from its previous supporters and attendees, and set a solid foundation for a potential 2025 iteration. In the meantime, we hope all of you will enjoy all the other species that make year-round birding in the Klamath Basin so unique.

Featured Bird - Great Blue Heron by Judy Phearson

 

 

Thanks to Everyone Who Came to the 2023 Winter Wings Festival!

We are so excited about our 2023 Winter Wings Festival! About 450 visitors/locals attended. The weather was wonderful; almost spring-like. Bald Eagles, our iconic bird, showed up in good numbers. Waterfowl sought out available wetlands and flooded agricultural fields.  Our 2023 species count of 127 was a few higher than last year and visitors were very pleased overall with the diversity of birds in the Klamath Basin.

Some 2023 Highlights

★ Jen Hajj’s melodic voice in the Gifts of the Sky keynote with nature stories interspersed
★  Ray Hennessy’s fast-paced keynote with 200 stunning bird photos and his secret tricks to getting up close shots with birds
★ Tiana Williams-Claussen’s video of the Yurok Tribes’ momentous first Condor release that left many participants and her in tears
★ Incredibly knowledgeable presenters on Friday afternoon sharing the conservation and dam removal efforts in the Klamath Basin
★ A vendor area replete with nature products, optics, camera gear and great food
★ Great community hands-on nature activities for over 400 youth
★ A Sunday mixer for about 60 visitors and locals where we relaxed surrounded by beautiful art and history artifacts at the Favell Museum

Where are We Located? The Festival is headquartered at the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT), Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Who Produces the Festival? The Winter Wings Festival is produced by Klamath Basin Audubon Society volunteers with support from sponsors, grants, and participant registration fees. Proceeds from this festival support local grants to teachers and other entities for outdoor education and community nature-related projects.

Would You Like to Volunteer with the Festival? We are always looking for volunteers to help in a variety of ways before and during the event. If so please  contact  our Volunteer Coordinators Suzie Moser and Myki Spindle directly via email at or , respectively.

Birds? We typically have about 120 – 133 species.

Covid Policy? Here is our 2023 Covid 19 Policy. Please read it prior to coming to the Festival.

2023 Photo Contest Entries

2023 Put a Bird IN It! Photo Contest Winners

1st Place – Jacob Begis

2nd Place – Arlene Courtney

3rd Place – David Ramirez

4th Place – Tia Dufour

5th Place – Breanna Teschendorf

6th Place – Bruce Davis

7th Place – Michael Kaibel

Instagram Posts – Francene Grewe

Instagram Likes – Tia Dufour

2023 Sponsors

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Thank you!

W​e want to thank all of our sponsors; without you this festival would not be possible!

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