Date: 11/18/24 7:49 am From: <rriparia...> Subject: [KlamathBasinBirdNews] Sending encouragement to BJ Matzen
I spoke with BJ Matzen yesterday. He informed me that he had pneumonia that sent him to the hospital back in October. He mentioned that recovery from that setback has been slow. It's affected his mobility, and with colder days, gaining muscle strength by being active and getting outside is a challenge. He also mentioned that he and his son Andy won't be able to do the Spring Lake area of the Klamath Falls Christmas Bird Count this year due to the slow recovery. This is something that I could tell in BJ's voice was really going to bother him. He is one of the remaining original participants from the initial 1979 count that he and Steve Summers got revived locally but with a different center, now at the Klamath Falls Airport. Through the years BJ has been a careful observer and his records show the gradual increase in Ferruginous Hawks in the Klamath Basin as they are now a yearly wintering species along Cross Road and hunting the alfalfa fields along there. He also has the notoriety of finding the first COMMON REDPOLLs in Klamath County, with about 2 dozen seen at the Mount Laki Cemetary, feeding on birch tree cones. Those birds remained and many birders came to see them. I missed that count. But, I was on the count where he located a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in a juniper tree along Hill Road. That also was a county first. He has seen many unusual birds on the Christmas Bird Count through the years. I spoke to him in early October and both he and Andy were out on the Lower Klamath NWR, Oregon side, and reported not only Greater Sandhill Cranes, but some Lesser Sandhill Cranes. I got out there to see that subspecies myself for the first time in my life! That was awesome!I mentioned to BJ in conversation that the count could still benefit from the report of what he finds at his yard. I know that an Anna's Hummingbird may still be seen at his place. Even though it's cold I have seen them overwinter here in town. If you could send BJ some words of encouragement, that would lessen his disappointment in missing the CBC. It could be a card, or an ecard.There may have been only one other occasion of missing it that I can recall. So, that means He's participated in over 40 counts! Words of encouragement could also help speed up his recovery. We all know how the mind works! His home address is: BJ and Sue Matzen5428 Northwood CourtKlamath Falls, Oregon 97603 His email is: <bjmatzen...> Thanks!Kevin <Spencerrriparia...>
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