The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal…

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded $139,325.80 to Klamath Bird Observatory under the Natural Resource Stewardship Program (CFDA 15.944) on July 22, 2025, to conduct breeding bird population surveys across six national parks and monuments in Southern Oregon and Northern California through May 31, 2028. The Klamath Network encompasses Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic, and Redwood National Parks, as well as Lava Beds National Monument, Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Field crews will inventory bird species, assess their relative abundance within park ecosystems, and track population changes over time to fulfill the NPS mandate under the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 to monitor park resources.

The deliverables include annual field season reports, updated protocols published on the NPS DataStore in collaboration with park staff, and analytical objectives supporting wildlife management decisions. Data collection will incorporate public datasets, published reports, and peer-reviewed journal articles to provide park personnel with science-based information for visitor interpretation and resource management planning. The project results will directly support NPS stewardship responsibilities for evaluating ecosystem health and adapting natural resources to climate change impacts within the park system.

The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal resources, sustains biological communities on the lands and waters in parks, and actively endeavors to improve the resiliency of these natural resources and adapt them to the effects of climate change. To carry out and further this stewardship responsibility, NPS implements programs that encompass a broad range of research, operational, and educational activities by utilizing park personnel and contractor support or cooperative agreementsthis agreement engages a local non-profit bird observatory to determine trends in bird communities, per a mandate of the national parks omnibus management act of 1998 to inventory and monitor park resources. From 2026-2028, field crews will survey breeding bird populations in national parks of southern oregon and northern california, including the klamath network encompasses six parks, including crater lake, lassen volcanic, redwood national parks, lava beds national monument, oregon caves national monument and preserve, and whiskeytown national recreation area. The project focuses on identifying which bird species are present, their relative abundance in the parks, and changes in populations over time. This information will be used by park staff for wildlife management decisions and to answer visitor questions. Data will be gathered through public datasets, published reports, and journal articles. The results will include preparing and submitting an annual report for the field season, collaborating with park staff to publish updated protocols on the NPS datastore, and discussing analytical objectives for the associated report.beneficiaries include the general public.