april 2007 redpoll newsletter arctic audubon society

8/8/2019 April 2007 Redpoll Newsletter Arctic Audubon Society

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A Biological Wildre:The Growing Problem ofInvasive Plants in Alaska

presentation by Trish Wurtz

Monday, April 9, 7:00 pm

Noel Wien Library Auditorium

The RedpollNewsletter of the Arctic Audubon Society, Fairbanks, Alaska

Vol. 29 Issue No. 6 April 2007

Mission of Arctic Audubon:

Earth has unparalleled natural

diversity, productivity, and

beauty, and provides for

life. Recognizing the fullvalue of nature, we work to

protect Alaskan ecosystems

by encouraging research,

education, and management

that will contribute to

appreciation and good

stewardship of this natural

heritage. We also strive to

conduct our own lives in

harmony with nature.

The Arctic Audubon Society

publishes The Redpoll for its

members monthly fall through

spring. National Audubon

Society (NAS) dues are $35;

new members are $20. NAS

membership includes local

chapter dues. Chapter only

membership is $10 and

includes the newsletter.

Inside

Birdathon ................... 5-6

Calendar .......................... 8

Camp Habitat ................... 7

Electronics Recycling ........ 2

Field Trips ...................... 3

Spring Bird Festivals ......... 4

Survey Request ................ 2

Volunteer Opportunities .... 3

Alaska is synonymous with pristine, natural ecosystems. Our state has ar ewer

invasive plants than any other state in the union. Unortunately, this situation ischanging, and ast. New, noxious and highly invasive plant species are turning up inAlaska every year, and landowners and agency land managers are scrambling to learnabout them, identiy them, and try to control them. How do they get here? Whatare their impacts? What can be done to prevent urther introductions or stop thespread o species that are already here? Protecting Alaskas natural ecosystems romthis biological wildre will require the inormed involvement o citizens, publicland managers and a wide spectrum o interest groups. Learn about the scope o theinvasive plant problem in Alaska today and what you can do to help protect Alaskasnatural ecosystems. Trish Wurtz is a Research Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service and an AfliateResearch Proessor o Forest Sciences at the University o Alaska Fairbanks.

White Sweetclover

Photo by Trish Wurtz

White sweetclover (Melilotus alba) has been sown widely in Alaska to help stabilizenewly constructed roadsides. Now it is spreading into natural ecosystems.

Photo by Trish Wurtz


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Page The Redpoll April 007

Electronic RecyclingSaturdays, April 21st and 28th

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Stan Senner, Executive Director of Audubon Alaska, accepts

a check for $1000 from Arctic Audubon representatives KristiMcLean (R) and Gail Mayo (L). Arctic Audubon thanks all whodonate to Birdathon, the fundraising effort that makes this kindof support for bird conservation possible. We encourage all who

participate in the Birdathon to continue their efforts and others tojoin the fun. For more information about the 007 Farthest NorthBirdathon, see page 5.

Audubon MembersAsked to Complete

On-line Survey

R

odrigo Alatorre i s a s tudentstudying economics at the Mexicos

Autonomous echnologic Institute(IAM). Working together with EnriqueSanjurjo rom the National EcologyInstitute (INE), he is conducting researchamong birdwatchers about the conservationo migratory shorebird wintering habitats.Teir goal is to conduct a survey directlyamong birdwatchers. A ew months agoArctic Audubon responded to an initialsurvey by email. On this survey we

supplied general inormation about ourorganization.

Te ollowing link is or the nal andmost important survey to be answeredby Arctic Audubon members. It is totallyanonymous. You will help with thehemispheric understanding o shorebirdconservation and youll be helping astudent get data directly rom birdwatchers.Tank you or participating!

http://www.ine.gob.mx/dgipea/birdwatchers_survey/cuestionario.html

Introduction toAlaskas BirdsOffered at UAF

May 10-19 (BIOL F195)

his two-weekend class includeslectures and eld trips to become

ami l i a r w i th p lumag e an dmorphological variation o birdscommon to interior Alaska. hecourse will eature discussions onmigration strategies, conservation,overwintering adaptations, habitatuse, and oraging habits. For detailssee www.ua.edu/summer/ or contactthe instructor, Anna-Marie Benson,at [email protected] .

Interior Alaska Green Star, along with several supporting groups,is planning the second annual Electronic Recycling event to beheld in Fairbanks. What is accepted? elevisions, computers andmonitors, laptops, keyboards, mice, modems, external drives, scan-ners, printers, copy machines, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, radios,phones, ax machines, camcorders, electric typewriters, microwaveovens, coeemakers. Fees or recycling range rom $5 to $25 .

On April 21st, this recycling event will be held at UAFs aku

Parking Lot; on April 28th

the event will be held at the LathropHigh School parking lot (Airport Road and Cowles). Both eventsrun rom 10 am to 4 pm.

More inormation is available on the Interior Alaska Green Starwebsite at www.iagreenstar.org.

Volunteers needed !!!Do you have a ew hours to post fyers or helpus pack electronic devices or shipping? ContactEva at 452-4152 or [email protected]


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April 007 The Redpoll Page

Volunteers Needed:Payoff Extraordinary

Arctic Audubon volunteers alwaysorm the backbone o the binocularand spotting scope guides during the

annual Spring Migration Celebrationwhich this year alls on the 28th day oApril, a Saturday. Tis duty is nothingbut privilege; youll get to watch birdsat Creamers Reuge or 2 hours or morenonstop. Youll get binoculars to share withthe general public who come to see thebirds and to nd out more about them.Youll also get to use 2 or more spottingscopes and share your views with otherenthusiasts. Volunteer today, youll be gladyou did! A brush up training session willbe held during the week beore April 28thand you can get background inormationabout the birds on the reuge at any time.o sign up call Gail Mayo at 479-2954or sign on at the April 9th meeting at theLibrary or try [email protected](get a conrmation).

I you have some time during the workdayweek consider joining a host o dedicated

volunteers who have a lot o un watchingbirds (as above) while helping with the 5thGrade Bird Watch during the last week oApril at Creamers eld. For this un wayto get out o doors call Mark Ross at 459-7301 or email him at [email protected]. raining is also available.

Arctic Audubon is responsible or cleaningup a mile o road. We chose a sectiono Ballaine Road where it goes through

Goldstream Valley. While cleaning upthe side o a road is not especially un, itis necessary, especially in the spring. Tebulk o the year-round eort is carried byFrank Keim, but in the spring we all turnout to help and watch birds. Last yearthere was a swan watching our scramblings.Let any board member know you wouldlike to help and we will be sure to let youknow the time and place well begin.

Arctic Audubon Field Trips

Each spring the Arctic Audubon Society oers several eldtrips to observe migratory birds as they return to InteriorAlaska. Led by local experts, these trips are designed to teach andenhance identication skills. Te eld trips are ree, and childrenare welcome to attend.

Each trip starts at the Creamers Field Farmhouse parking loton Saturdays at 9 am and usually lasts until noon. Bring rubberboots, binoculars, and a spotting scope i you have one. Te rsttwo trips typically include visits to Creamers Reuge, ananaLakes, and possibly the airport ponds. Carpooling is encouraged.For more inormation, contact om Greene at 452-6370 [email protected].

May 5 Waterowl Identication (rip leader BA)

May 12 Shorebird Identication (rip leader BA)

May 19 Birding by Ear led by David Shaw

Sandhill Crane Festival

August 24-26, 2007

Creamers Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge

Mark your calendars or the 10th annual anana ValleySandhill Crane Festival. George Archibald, ounderand ormer director o the International Crane Foundation, isreturning as the keynote speaker. Te weekend will eature craneviewing, walks, lectures, childrens activities, music, and more! Forinormation, contact Friends o Creamers Field at 452-5162.

Ted Swem


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Tundra Swan Ted Swem

Alaska & Yukon Bird Festivals

A Celebration of SwansApril 14-22, 2007 in the Yukon erritory

Te Yukons premiere bird estival celebrates the return o

thousands o swans during the third week o April eachyear. Te Swan Haven Interpretation Centre, just 40 kmsouth o Whitehorse at MClintock Bay on Marsh Lake,is the ocale point or many o the estivals activities.Visit www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/viewing or e-mail [email protected].

Stikine River Garnet FestivalApril 25-29, 2007 in Wrangell, Alaska

Tis estival celebrates the arrival o North Americaslargest springtime concentration o Bald Eagles as theyeed on the hooligan swimming up the middle and northarms o the Stikine River. For more inormation go to

www.wrangellchamber.org/StikineRiverGarnetFestival.htm

Copper River Delta Shorebird FestivalMay 3-6, 2007 in Cordova, Alaska

In early May, the tidal fats o the Copper River Deltashimmer with the activity o hundreds o thousandso shorebirds. Te estival includes shorebird viewing,childrens activities, workshops, and eatured guest

and author Scott Weidensaul. You can catch a boat toCordova rom either Valdez or Whittier. Inormation:www.cordovachamber.com or 907-424-7260.

Kachemak Bay Shorebird FestivalMay 10-13, 2007 in Homer, Alaska

Alaskas largest wildlie estival includes over 50 dierentevents, rom advanced ornithology workshops, beginningbackyard birding presentations, eld trips and boattours to arts events and childrens activities. Visit www.homeralaska.org/shorebird.htm to register.

Spring Migration CelebrationSaturday, April 28 Noon - 4 pm

Say good-bye to winter with a celebration o thereturn o migratory birds to Interior Alaska. Tisevent will include bird-viewing, a slideshow, artists

sketching stations, crat activities, nature hikes, a puppetshow, Camp Habitat registration, and more. Activitiesare ree and will take place at the Creamers ReugeFarmhouse, Alaska Bird Observatory, and AlaskaPublic Lands Inormation Center. Tis celebrationis sponsored by Friends o Creamers Field and theAlaska Bird Observatory, with support rom theArctic Audubon Society, US Fish & Wildlie Service,National Park Service, Calypso Farm & Ecology Center,and the Northern Alaska Environmental Center. Forinormation, call 452-5162.

Sharp-shinned Hawk Ted Swem

Raptor Tailgate PartyApril 21 & 22, 2007

Join the Anchorage Audubon Society and Mat-SuBirders or their annual weekend o hawk watchingat MP 118 o the Glenn Highway west o Glennallen.I the weather cooperates, 200+ raptors o 8-10 speciesmay be seen in one day. Tis is a great opportunity toimprove your raptor identication skills! Bring your

lawn chair, warm clothes, ood or the barbecue, andbinoculars. Sheep Mountain Lodge has cabins or rentand is opening their restaurant or dinner Saturday andbreakast on Sunday. Please call the lodge in advancei you plan to eat there so they can get a head count(745-5121). Visit www.anchorageaudubon.org or moreinormation.


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April 007 The Redpoll Page 5

The Farthest North Birdathon is an opportunity foryou to Go Birding for a Cause and win prizesno matter where you live or what birding skill level

you possess. The basic premise of a birdathon is

to collect pledges based on how many bird species

you can nd on any day you choose between May

12 and June 10. All proceeds will benet the Arctic

Audubon Society and the Alaska Bird Observatory

(ABO). Hard-core teams might cover many miles in

a 12- or 24-hour quest, while other folks just walkaround their neighborhood for a few hours. ABO and

Arctic Audubon offer guided Birdathon walks and

eld trips in Fairbanks for novice birders. If youre

not up for collecting pledges, you can make a at

donation. Every penny counts for the birds!

Prizes for participants!For every $50 you raise your name will be entered

in a drawing fortwo round-trip tickets on Alaska

Airlines (good for any Alaska Airlines or Horizon

Air destinations, including Mexico!). For every $250raised, your name goes in a drawing for a pair ofZeiss

Victory II 8x40 binoculars. Everyone that raises at

least $100 will also receive a Birdathon travel mug,

and everyone gets a Hot Licks Ice Cream coupon.

Lots of prizes and bragging rights will be awarded

in many categories, including Most Money Raised,

Rarest Species Seen, Best Team Name, Most Species

Seen, Youngest Counter, Farthest North/East/South/

West Teams, and Most Species Seen without using

gasoline.

For details, please contact ABO for a counterspacket, ([email protected]; 907-451-7159) or

online at www.alaskabird.org. A pledge sheet can be

found on page 6 of this newsletter.

Birdathon Potluck and Tally RallyJoin all of the other counters for an entertaining

potluck and awards ceremony on July 15 at ABO (in

Wedgewood Resort) at 4 pm.

Get ready for the Ultimate Alaska Birding Event

Guided Birdathon Walks & Field Trips

Guided Birdathon - Join Dr. Susan Sharbaugh,

ABO research biologist, for a guided day of

birding on Saturday, May 19.The group will startat Creamers Refuge at 7 a.m. and visit several

local birding hotspots. Plan on seeing at least 60

different species during this fun-lled day. Requires

a minimum of $60 in pledges (or just pay that fee).

Please pre-register by noon on May 18 by calling

451-7159.

Guided Walk at Creamers Refuge - Take a

leisurely stroll with Sherry Lewis from the Arctic

Audubon Society on Wednesday, May 23 at 6:00

pm. $5 minimum donation requested. Meet at the

Visitor Center. Call 451-7159 to register.

Guided Walk to Smith Lake - Take a leisurely

stroll with Arctic Audubon President Gail Mayo on

Saturday, May 26 at 9:00 am. $5 minimum donation

requested. Call 451-7159 to register.

Join an Arctic Audubon Society Field Trip

Shorebird Identifcation on May 12 andBirding

by Earon May 19. Everyone is welcome on theseFairbanks excursions that meet at 8 am in the

Creamers Farmhouse parking lot. Call Tom Green

at 452-6370 for more information.

Birding Hot Spots & SightingsFor a list of good places to see birds around

Fairbanks, visit Arctic Audubons website at

www.arcticaudubon.org or pick up a BirdwatchingAround Fairbanks pamphlet from ABO. Up-to-date

bird sightings can be found on Arctic Audubons

Birding Hotline (451-9213), ABOs sightings board

in their lobby, and on ABOs website.

Sponsored By

Farthest North BirdathonMay 12June 10, 2007

Win Alaska Airlines tickets or a pair of Zeiss Victory 8x40 binoculars!

You dont even have to see the most birds or raise the most money to win these awesome prizes!


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Sponsor Name Address Telephone Pledge Amount Due $ Paid

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Total due from

this page:

Total collected

from this page:

$

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

2007 Farthest North Birdathon Pledge Sheet

Counter Name: ________________________________ Daytime Telephone:_________________

Address: ___________________________ City: ______________ State:_____ Zip:________

Team Name: ____________________________________________________________________

# of Bird

Species

Total $ Raised

Instructions: Obtain pledges before your count and record them on this sheet. You may make copies of this form or re-

quest more from the Alaska Bird Observatory. After your count, collect your pledges (pledge X number of birds identied=

contribution).Have checks made out to the Alaska Bird Observatory. If your personal check is covering gifts from sponsors,

please indicate which sponsors. Let us know if any sponsors would like a receipt for their tax-deductible contribution.Send

this form and checks to ABO, P.O. Box 80505, Fairbanks, AK 99708. Questions? Call (907) 451-7159.

IMPORTANT!

To be eligible for prizes you must call in your results to

451-7159 by June 19 and turn in a copy of this form to

ABO by July 5. Pledges should be turned in by July 15. $


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April 007 The Redpoll Page 7

CampHabitatSummer2007 NatureEducation&Ecologyforyouthages411

at Creamers Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge

Preschool Programs (9:00 amNoon)

Nature Sprouts I (ages 4-5) June 18-22 $110Nature Sprouts II (ages 4-5) June 25-29 $110

Day Camp Program (9:00 am4:00 pm)Nature Detectives I (ages 6-7) July 9-13 $185Nature Detectives II (ages 6-7) July 16-20 $185Nature Detectives III (ages 6-7) July 23-27 $185 Water Striders I* (ages 8-9) July 9-13 $235Water Striders II* (ages 8-9) July 16-20 $235Reuge Adventurers* (ages 10-11) July 16-20 $235

*includes one night campout

Registration Information

A onetime registration ee o $20 is required per amily. uition and ees must be paid in ull to secure yourchilds registration. Call or inormation about scholarships.

By phone: Call Camp Habitat at (907) 452-5021; be prepared to give your Visa or MasterCardinormation.

By mail: Mail completed orm to Camp Habitat, 830 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701. Online: Online registration is available March 1st-June 1st at www.northern.org.

Questions? Call (907) 452-5021 ext. 32 or email [email protected].

Pledge Your Support for Bird Conservation

he annual Farthest North Birdathon is a crucial undraiser or the Arctic Audubon Society and Alaska BirdObservatory. We encourage birders o all abilities to participate, either by orming your own team or joining aguided count (see page 5). Or, you can make us do the counting by simply making a pledge to the Arctic Auduboneam. Just ll out the orm below or contact any board member listed on the back page. Tank you!

FarthestNorthBirdathonSponsorFormPlease accept my pledge of _____ per species or $______ total for:

_____ the Arctic Audubon Team, _____ the Birdathon Youth Team, or _____ both!

Name ________________________ Phone _______________ e-mail _____________________

Address _______________________ City _________________ State__________ Zip ________

Mail this orm to: Arctic Audubon BirdathonP.O. Box 82098Fairbanks, AK 99708

Make checks payable to Alaska Bird Observatory (ABO)

Now HiriNgfor Summer 07!Camp Habitat is looking or Day Camp Instructors(proessional teachers, outdoor educators, college juniors & seniors) and Junior Counselors(high school juniors & seniors). Please visit www.northern.org to view job descriptionsand download applications. Send all requiredapplication materials, including three reerencesto 830 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701 or byemail to [email protected].


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Arctic Audubon SocietyPO Box 82098Fairbanks, AK 99708www.arcticaudubon.org

Nonprot Org.US Postage

PAIDPermit No. 181Fairbanks AK

Upcoming EventsMark Your Calendar

A Biological Wildfre: Te Growing Problem oInvasive Plants in Alaska, Monday, April 9, 7:00pm, Noel Wien Library Auditorium.

Electronic Recycling, Saturdays April 21 and 28,10 am 4 pm. Details onpage 2.

Spring Migration Celebration, Saturday, April 28See page 4.

Arctic Audubon Field ripsMay 5: Waterowl IdenticationMay 12: Shorebird IdenticationMay 19: Birding by Ear

Farthest North Birdathon, May 12-June 10Go birding or a cause! Details on page 5.

Arctic Audubon Board of Directorsemail address: [email protected]

President: Gail Mayo (479-2954)Vice President: Open

Secretary: Openreasurer: Gail Mayo (479-29540

Education: OpenConservation: Kristi McLean (479-4874)

Hospitality: Brook Gamble (456-3775)Programs: Lauren Attanas (474-9736)Publicity: Open

Newsletter: Mary Zalar (479-4547)Membership: Mary Zalar (479-4547)

Field rips: om Green (452-6370)Birdathon: Sherry Lewis (479-0848)Web Site: Jim Logan

Alaska Audubon Board: Frank Keim (451-9308)

Birding Hotline(907) 451-9213Updated by Laurel Devaney & Ken Russell

Report interesting bird sightings;learn what others have spotted.

also at

www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/index.

National Audubon Society

New Member Form q Introductory rate, $20 q wo Year Membership, $30 q Student or Senior rate, $15

Membership includes both National Audubon and thelocal chapter, Arctic Audubon. You will receive NationalAudubons magazine, Audubon, and Arctic Audubonsnewsletter,The Redpoll.Name: _________________________________

Address: ________________________________

_______________________________________City State Zip

Amount enclosed: $______ (make check payable toNational Audubon Society)

Send to: Arctic Audubon Society A52

PO Box 82098 7XCHFairbanks, AK 99708

q Chapter Only Membership, $10

For membership in Arctic Audubon only, check the boxand make check payable to Arctic Audubon Society.

april 2007 redpoll newsletter arctic audubon society

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