For the past 20 years, Jaime Stephens has worked with Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) to advance bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships. In her current position as Director of Conservation, she works closely with the science team at KBO, as well as the staff at Pacific Birds, to answer the most pressing questions related to the decline of western birds. As science continues to elucidate the causes of decline for at-risk bird species, Jaime ensures we take the next steps to co-produce outcome-oriented conservation efforts. These efforts include not only conservation decision-makers, but community members, rights-holders and other interested parties.
Jaime earned her BS in Zoology and Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She started a fisheries internship in Oregon one week after graduation. Fieldwork suited her, as did the Oregon landscape, and she bounced around in seasonal positions for several years. Her first federal job was with the U.S. Forest Service Blue River Ranger District, where she surveyed for terrestrial mollusks. She was surrounded by an experienced field crew that taught her the basics – how to read a map, track distance by counting your strides, and navigate with a compass–and that cotton clothing is not suitable for working in the rainy season of the Oregon coast range! She spent a summer working on the long-term Bull Trout recovery project at Crater Lake National Park, an experience that was foundational to the scientist she would become.
After a few more seasonal federal jobs, she found herself in southwest Oregon, where she worked as a wildlife biologist for Boise Cascade Timber. She surveyed Great Gray Owls, Northern Spotted Owls, Peregrine Falcons, Goshawks, Western Pond Turtles, and Siskiyou Mountain Salamanders. In the narrow seasonal window with no animals to survey, she completed layout of retention patches to benefit wildlife within timber sale units. This experience of integrating somewhat disparate goals–wildlife priorities with timber management–is something she has carried forward throughout her career.
After these experiences, Jaime returned to school to get a graduate degree at Southern Oregon University. Her field study was completed with KBO, comparing the effects of various timber harvest prescriptions on forest interior songbirds. She unintentionally fell into what would become her career as an ornithologist and avian conservation biologist.
At that time, KBO was a young organization and Jaime’s career was able to grow along with the new non-profit. After completing her degree, she stayed at KBO running the avian point count program for several years while expanding her knowledge of avian ecology, conservation, field methodology, and study design. From 2008-2022, Jaime was KBO’s Science Director, overseeing and growing their long-term monitoring and applied ecology programs. During that time, she partnered with Pacific Birds on the Quercus and Aves project, a range-wide study of limiting factors for Oregon Vesper Sparrow, and the development of several Partners in Flight conservation plans. Currently, Jaime plays a key leadership role in the Pacific Birds led Pacific Northwest Oak Alliance and serves on the Pacific Birds Oak and Prairie Steering Committee.
In January 2023, Jaime stepped into a new role as KBO’s first Director of Conservation. In this position, Jaime integrates a foundation of forest ecology, bird conservation priorities, and regional avian science to inform land management decisions. She collaborates with a diverse suite of partners to guide resource management strategies and conservation actions that improve outcomes for birds and ecosystems.
Her work focuses on oak woodland restoration in the Pacific Northwest, particularly southwest Oregon and northern California. She coordinates the Klamath-Siskiyou Oak Network, a partnership that has leveraged millions of dollars to restore imperiled oak habitats. She is also involved in several forest collaboratives working to restore forests to reduce wildfire risks, increase climate resilience, and enhance wildlife habitat.
Jaime’s career has focused on birds, but on a personal level she enjoys faster-paced activities! She likes to move through the natural world by floating the rapids of the Rogue River, paddle boarding the Upper Klamath canoe trail, backpacking the wilderness areas of northern California, and hiking anywhere and everywhere. When recently asked where she hiked, she answered “in the woods.” Only later did she realize they were probably hoping for a more specific suggestion! Jaime also enjoys traveling and has been influenced by experiences she has had across Central and South America, Asia, and Europe. Mixing active outdoor pursuits with travel is amongst her favorite things to do.
