The Redpoll

Newsletter of the Arctic Audubon Society, Fairbanks, Alaska

Vol. 28 Issue No. 6 April 2006

New Look for South Cushman Ponds:

Mission of Arctic Audubon:
Earth has unparalleled natural
diversity, productivity, and
beauty, and provides for life.
Recognizing the full value 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.
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area
presentation by Karl Kassel, FNSB Parks & Recreation Dept.
Monday, April 10, 7:00 pm
Noel Wien Library Auditorium
L earn more about the exciting plans to reclaim a magnificent wetlands and riparian
site located within the flood plain and former riverbed of the Tanana River and often
referred to as the South Cushman Ponds. The Tanana Lakes Recreation Area (TLRA)
project site encompasses several hundred acres of prime bird, fish, and wildlife habitat
and natural areas. This future recreation area is currently managed by both the Fairbanks
North Star Borough (FNSB) and the Department of Natural Resources. These two
government agencies have agreed to restore this area into a recreation area under the
management of the FNSB Parks and Recreation Department.
Located at the south end of Cushman Street along the Tanana River, the Tanana
Lakes Recreation Area is not a new concept. A draft project design was first introduced
continued on page 2

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
Birding Festivals .............. 3
Birding Reports ............... 8
Camp Habitat .................. 7
Denali Park Classes .......... 9
Forever Wild–2006 ......... 2
Sandhill Crane Festival ..... 2
Small Grants Awarded ..... 8
Thank Yous .................... 4
courtesy of FNSB Parks & Recreation Department
 2 The Redpoll
Mew Gull nest in the Tanana Lakes Recreation Area
project site. Photo by Ken Whitten
Tanana Lakes Project
continued from page 1
in 1997, and the initial phase of development was begun
with the excavation of a 30-acre lake on the west side of
the Lathrop Street groin. Progress stalled when the need
for gravel from the landfill lessened with the completion
of a new expansion cell.
Development of the site will take several years and
be completed in a planned, phased manner that allows
for the creation of a multi-use recreation area, with the
capacity to accommodate tens of thousands of visitors a
year. The completed recreation area could contain
amenities for fishing, swimming, motorized and
non-motorized boating, camping, bird watching, trail uses,
picnicking, and motor biking. We’ve just started to
explore the recreational opportunities but are confident
the increased positive use will meet the growing need for
developed recreational facilities for residents and visi-
tors of Fairbanks.
Arctic Audubon will help clean up the Tanana
Lakes Recreation Area this summer. Sign up
at the April 10th meeting for email or phone
updates on the project and to volunteer for
clean-up days.
Wild Arts Walk
Saturday, June 3, 10 am-2 pm
F riends of Creamer’s Field invites you to the first Wild
Arts Walk on June 3rd. Local artists will display and
sell their art along the farm road. Cost is $15 and in-
cludes a souvenir mug, beverage, and pastry. For infor-
mation, contact Jess Ryan at 4512-5162. Sponsored by
Design Alaska.
April 2006
Forever Wild–2006
Saturday, May 13, 7:00 pm
Schaible Auditorium, UAF
F orever Wild–2006 comes to Fairbanks Saturday,
May 13. Visiting all fifty states this year, the tour cel-
ebrates our nation’s rich natural legacy through nearly
100 free events. Working with hundreds of community
and conservation organizations from coast to coast, the
program draws attention to the three pillars of our wil-
derness heritage: wild lands, wild waters, and wild lives.
Each show shares the magic of the wild country via
Forever Wild, an award-winning multimedia concert fea-
turing wilderness troubadour, Walkin’ Jim Stoltz (brother
of Fairbanks singer/songwriter Susan Grace). His pho-
tographs, songs and stories (from 26,000 miles of
backcountry walking) have been inspiring audiences
across America for more than twenty years.
The event is geared to entertain, but also to inspire
and motivate the public to write letters and make phone
calls to their leaders urging them to act responsibly to-
ward our wild lands, wild waters, and wild lives. Learn
more at www.foreverwild.info.
Forever Wild–2006 is a project of Musicians United
to Sustain the Environment, an all-volunteer grassroots
organization using music to heighten environmental
awareness and raise funds for conservation projects. To
learn more about MUSE, visit www.musemusic.org.
Sandhill Crane Festival
August 25–27, 2006
Creamer’s Field Migratory Wildlife Refuge
T he 9th annual Sandhill Crane Festival will take place
on August 25, 26, and 27 (please note the revised
date) at Creamer’s Refuge Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
on College Road in Fairbanks. The keynote guest this
year will be Michael Forsberg, photographer and author
of On Ancient Wings: The Sandhill Cranes of North
America, a comprehensive book illustrated with spec-
tacular images. The Festival will include a weekend of
activities starting with a reception and a slide show on
the Creamer’s barn, continuing with walks, watches and
talks for all ages including an evening lecture by Mr.
Forsberg and concluding with a Tex-Mex dinner celebra-
tion at the Refuge amongst the cranes.
 April 2006 The Redpoll 3

More Spring Bird

Festivals in Alaska
I n addition to Fairbanks’ Spring Migration
Celebration on April 29th, there are birding
festivals throughout the state. Here are a few
suggestions of other festivals to enjoy:
Alaska Hummingbird Festival
Celebrate spring at Creamer’s Field Migratory Wildlife Refuge! Ketchikan, April 14-15
photo by Ken Whitten
Festival events include guided bird hikes, art
Spring Migration Celebration shows, a bird-banding station, and activities for
children. For more information, call the South-
Saturday, April 29, Noon–4:00 pm east Alaska Discovery Center at 907-228-6220.

W elcome back our migratory birds and join in on the fun at

the annual Spring Migration Celebration, Noon to 4:00
pm at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge and Alaska
Stikine River Garnet Festival
Wrangell, April 15-22
The Stikine River hosts the largest springtime
Bird Observatory (the “bird bus” will run between the two loca- concentration of Bald Eagles in the world! Events
tions). There will be many family friendly activities including bird include workshops, arts & crafts, and tours. In-
watching, nature walks, games, crafts, live birds of prey, and pre- formation at www.wrangellchamber.org/
sentations. Call 452-5162 for more information. garnet.php
Spring Migration Celebration will highlight all the birds that Hawk Watch on the Glenn Highway
arrive in Fairbanks at this time of year with special emphasis on April 22-23, 10 am. Sponsored by Anchorage
the waterfowl at Creamer’s Field and other local signs of spring. Audubon Society; meet at the wayside at Mile
It is cosponsored by the Alaska Bird Observatory, Arctic Audu- 119, Glenn Highway. Information at
bon, Friends of Creamer’s Field, Duck’s Unlimited, and the UAF www.anchorageaudubon.org.
Student Wildlife Society. It is also a celebration of International
14th Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival
Migratory Bird Day, which focuses this year on the birds of the
Homer, May 4-7
boreal forest.
This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Bernd
Heinrich. Information at www.homeralaska.org/
shorebird.htm.
Arctic Audubon Field Trips 17th Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival
by Tom Green, Field Trip Chair Cordova, May 4-7, 2006

A rctic Audubon is sponsoring a series of three birding trips in

May, all led by birding experts from the Fairbanks area. All
field trips meet at Creamer’s Field Farmhouse at 8:00 am Sat-
This year’s keynote speaker is Tim Gallagher.
Information at www.cordovachamber.com, click
on Festival link.
urday and usually last until noon. Bring binoculars, a snack, and
rubber boots if you have them. If you have a spotting scope, that Clean-Up Day
would be great! We’ll visit Creamer’s Field ponds first, and then
carpool to the South Cushman lakes, and perhaps the airport
ponds. Children are especially welcome. Contact Tom Green,
H elp Arctic Audubon clean up our
adopted roadway–a portion of
Ballaine Road–on Monday, May 8. We
452-6370 or fftkg@uaf.edu for more details.
hope to make it a fun evening with a pot-
May 6 Waterfowl identification luck social. Details to be announced later.
May 13 Shorebird identification Call Mary (479-4547) or Gail (479-2954)
May 20 Birding by Ear and Songbird identification for information.
 4 The Redpoll April 2006

Mucho Gracias–Thanks! Book Review

A s we near the end of the ‘indoor’ season and head
outdoors, we want to thank those who have con-
tributed to our successful public lecture series. Many
by Gail Mayo

R are Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled

Murrelet by Maria Mudd Ruth is an engaging read.
thanks to: Ms. Ruth describes herself as a person with ASD—at-
• Bob Ritchie and Ron Teel for their combined talk on tention surplus disorder—to explain how she came to
Bald Eagles and the Eagle Festival in Haines; compile and tell the story of the Marbled Murrelet. She
• Audrey Magoun for her amazing and popular presen- does so with humor, precision and a growing passion for
tation on Wolverines; the “cute and pudgy” fog larks. The only shortcoming of
this book for us might be that Alaska’s birds are not well
• Frank Keim for his off-the-beaten-track images of
covered, but that is another story, and the endangered
Mongolia;
California population featured deserves full attention. You
• Dave Shaw for the appreciative views of beautiful can find this book at the Noel Wien Library or your fa-
Bhutan; vorite bookshop. It is published by Rodale Press.
• Laura Phillips for her enlightening program on the
Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council and the Online Membership Information
ambitious program to make the river water drinkable,
thus protecting the environment and raising awareness.
So far, overall attendance is approaching 500. Last, but
A ccess your personal membership information for
National Audubon Society online at
www.audubon.org. Click on Give Now, then Join Au-
not least we thank Larry Bowman for his technical skills dubon, and Customer Service. You willl need the mem-
in bringing clear sound and bright images to our talks. bership number from your Audubon magazine label. You
can renew, change address, submit a customer service
request, and more.

Time to look in your pocket…

T he annual Farthest North Birdathon, which Arctic Audubon shares with the Alaska Bird Observatory, is
your chance to help both organizations. Please consider adding your name to the pledge list for the Arctic
Audubon team. You can sign up at the April 10th meeting, use the pledge form below, contact any board
member (see list on back page), or email us at arcticaudubon@netscape.net Any modest pledge will be most
welcome, and the more pledges the better. Another or additional way to support us is to do your own
Birdathon with your friends and family on your own or on one of the scheduled birdwalks (see page 5 for
details). Birdathon efforts are really fun and a great way to get out and see birds in their springtime finery.
✁○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Farthest North Birdathon Sponsor Form

Please 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 form to: Arctic Audubon Birdathon
P.O. Box 82098
Fairbanks, AK 99708
Make checks payable to Alaska Bird Observatory (ABO)
 April 2006 The Redpoll
Get ready for the Ultimate Alaska Birding Event…
Farthest North Birdathon
May 13–June 11, 2006
Win Alaska Airlines tickets or a pair of Zeiss Victory 8x40 binoculars!
You don’t even have to see the most birds or raise the most money to win these awesome prizes!
T he Farthest North Birdathon is an opportunity for
you to Go Birding for a Cause and win prizes—
no 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 find
on any day you choose between May 13 and June 11.
All proceeds will benefit the Arctic Audubon Society and
the Alaska Bird Observatory (ABO). Hard-core teams
might cover hundreds of miles in a 24-hour quest, while
other folks just walk around their neighborhood for a
few hours. ABO and Arctic Audubon offer guided
Birdathon walks and field trips in Fairbanks, including
one just for kids. If you’re not up for collecting pledges,
you can make a flat donation. Every penny counts for
the birds!
Prizes for participants!
For every $50 you raise your name will be entered in
a drawing for two round-trip tickets on Alaska Air-
lines (good for any Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air des-
tinations, including Mexico!). For every $250 raised, your
name goes in a drawing for a pair of Zeiss Victory II
8x40 binoculars donated by Beaver Sports. Partici-
pants that raise $100 or more ($50 or more for kids)
will receive a limited-edition print of a chickadee paint-
ing by Fairbanks artist DeeDee Hammond.
Lots of prizes and bragging rights will be awarded in
many categories, including Most Money Raised, Rarest
Species Seen, Best Team Name, Biggest Team, Most
Northern Pintails Seen, Farthest North/East/South/ West
Teams, and Most Species Seen without Leaving
Creamer’s Refuge, and more!
For details, please contact ABO for a counter’s
packet, (birds@alaskabird.org; 907-451-7159) or
online at www.alaskabird.org. A pledge sheet is can be
found on page 7 of this newsletter.
Steve Neumuth
Sponsored By Advertising
5
Guided Birdathon Walks & Field Trips
Guided Birdathon (Adults) - Join an ABO biologist
for a guided day of birding on Saturday, May 20. We’ll
start at Creamer’s Refuge at 6 a.m. and visit several lo-
cal birding hotspots.Plan on seeing at least 60 different
species. Requires a minimum of $60 in pledges (or just
pay that fee). Please pre-register by noon on May 19 by
calling 451-7159.
Guided Birdathon (Youth) - Kids can collect pledges
and then join Tricia Blake, ABO’s education coordina-
tor, and John Wright, retired manager of Creamer’s Ref-
uge, for a youth Birdathon on Saturday, May 20. Please
pre-register by noon on May 18 by calling 451-7159.
Guided Walk at Creamer’s Refuge - Take a leisurely
stroll with Sherry Lewis of the Arctic Audubon Society
on Monday, May 22, 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,
June 3 at 9:00 am. $5 minimum donation requested.
Call 451-7159 to register.
“Business Break Birdathons” - Form a team with
your co-workers, collect pledges, and we’ll provide you
with a guide to count birds on your lunch break or after
work. Special prizes will be awarded!
Join an Arctic Audubon Society Field Trip Shore-
bird Identification on May 13 and Birding by Ear on
May 20. Everyone is welcome on these Fairbanks ex-
cursions that meet at 8 a.m. in the Creamer’s Farmhouse
parking lot. Call Tom Green at 474-1559 or 452-6370
for more information.
 6 The Redpoll April 2006

2006 Farthest North Birdathon Pledge Sheet # of Bird

Species

Counter Name: ________________________________ Daytime Telephone: _________________

Total $ Raised
Address: ___________________________ City: _____________ State: ____ Zip: _______

Team Name: ____________________________________________________________________

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

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

Per Species

Set Pledge

IMPORTANT! Total due from

this page:
$
To be eligible for prizes you must call in your results to
451-7159 by July 1 and turn in a copy of this form to Total collected
ABO by July 5. Pledges should be turned in by July 21. from this page: $

Instructions: Obtain pledges before your count and record them on this sheet. You may make copies of this form or
request more from the Alaska Bird Observatory. After your count, collect your pledges (pledge X number of birds identi-
fied= 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.
April 2006 The Redpoll 7

Camp Habitat Summer 2006

Nature Education Camp for youth ages 4–17

Preschool Program (9:00 am–Noon) Registration & Employment

Nature sprouts I (ages 4-5) June 19-23 $105 Information
Nature Sprouts II (ages 4-5) June 26-30 $105 • Camp Habitat is looking for qualified day
camp instructors and junior counselors for
Day Camp Program our summer camp. Visit www.northern.org
Nature Detectives I (ages 6-7) July 17-21 $175 for job openings and descriptions. Send
Nature Detectives II (ages 6-7) July 24-28 $175 cover letter, resume, and three references
Water Striders* (ages 8-9) July 17-21 $200 to: Camp Habitat, NAEC, 830 College,
Refuge Adventurers* (ages 10-11) July 10-14 $200 Fairbanks, AK 99701, 907-452-5021.
*includes one or two night campout • Registration forms and information are also

Backpacking Trips
available online at www.northern.org and at
the Northern Center (address above).
Backpacking I (ages 12-13) June 26-30 $275
Two days at Creamer’s Field; Wed-Friday on the trail in Wickersham Dome Area of the White Mountains.
Backpacking II (ages 13-15) July 10-14 $300
One day at Creamer’s Field; leave that night and camp at Granite Tors Campground. Tuesday-Friday on
the Granite Tors Trail. Hike the entire trail this year!
Backpacking III (ages 15-17) July 24-29 $300
One day at Creamer’s Field; Tue.-Sat. on a new route in the Pinell Mountain area of the White Mountains.

Camp Habitat Wish List

Summer Camp Needs:
For the day camp overnight in the Chena River
Recreation Area:
• 4 four-person tents with good rain fly
• 4 good rain fly or tarps for older tents
• rope for tarps
For the backpacking trips in the White Mountains:
• 3 backpacking tents
• several small backpacks for youth in good condi-
tion (not day packs)
• nylon rope
We are also looking for someone with a 12 passenger
van willing to help with a couple of the backpacking
trips this summer!
To make a donation or for more information
contact Jenny Day or Laenne Thompson at
the Camp Habitat office, 452-5021.
Camp Habitat After School Needs:
Books
Keepers of Life, Keepers of Animals, Keepers
of Night, Keepers of the Earth
by Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto
Five copies of each of these field guides:
Field Guide to Mammals, Field Guide to Alas-
kan Birds, Field Guide to Plants, Field Guide
to Alaskan Wildflowers
Equipment
4 - 6" kitchen strainers (10 or more)
Aquarium nets (5 - 10)
Clear and colored 2-liter bottles (lots!)
White margarine tubs (20)
Eye droppers (12 or more)
Feathers (legally obtained)
Colored chalk
14-gallon RubberMaid tubs (5 - 7)
 8 The Redpoll
How to Keep Up With
Alaska Birding Reports
by Nancy DeWitt, Alaska Bird Observatory
W ant to stay up-to-date on interesting bird sightings
around Alaska? You have lots of options!
First, there are the traditional Rare Bird Alerts
(RBAs), which are telephone recordings that announce
recent sightings and allow birders to record their own
observations. Several of the RBAs also post their tran-
scripts on the Internet.
• Tanana Valley (Fairbanks): Arctic Audubon’s Birding
Hotline, 907-451-9213; www.arcticaudubon.org
• Upper Cook Inlet (Anchorage): 907-338-2473;
www.anchorageaudubon.org
• Seward: 907-224-2325
• Kachemak Bay (Homer): 907-235-7337;
www.birdinghomeralaska.org
Perhaps the best way to stay current on sightings is to
join an Internet “discussion group.” There are sev-
eral of these forums for Alaska:
• AK Birding is moderated out of Anchorage but is
statewide in scope,
• Eaglechat focuses on Juneau and southeast Alaska,
• BorealBirder covers interior Alaska,
• beringia_birders is for far west and northern Alaska.
These groups include recent observations, trip reports,
identification questions, and links to photos. To join, go
to Yahoo.com, click on “Groups” and type in the group
name. You’ll need to create a free Yahoo account for
yourself to post sightings and other communications.
The Alaska Rare Bird ListServe is an e-mail list
you can subscribe to receive or post quick communica-
tions on rare, casual, accidental and first state record
birds that have been observed in Alaska. Go to https://
lists.uaf.edu:8025/mailman/listinfo/alaskabirds-l
to subscribe.
Finally, the Alaska Bird Observatory posts notable
observations and spring arrivals for interior Alaska on
their sightings board in their lobby. These in turn are
posted to the ABO website several times a week.
Please call in your reports to Arctic
Audubon’s Birding Hotline,
451-9213, and to ABO, 451-7159,
so we can share your sightings with
other birders.
April 2006
Small Grants Awarded
by Gail Mayo, Arctic Audubon Board President
A t the March 20th meeting of Arctic Audubon’s Board
of Directors, six proposals were considered for the
2006 Small Grants Program. Each grant was evaluated
for how well it satisfied our mission and its potential scope
and impact for our members and our area.
Attention was also given to the part our money will
play in the overall grant, how well the grantee fulfilled the
requirements of the grant application, and how practical
the grant proposal was.
Grants were awarded to:
• Philip Martin for a local research project that will im-
prove our understanding of the basic breeding biol-
ogy of Solitary Sandpipers and involve local volun-
teers. Philip is a longtime Fairbanksan employed by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following his pas-
sion for shorebirds in his own backyard.
• Matthew Bowser for a subset project associated with
his M.S. thesis, which will describe the ecology and
distribution of two new species of arthropods.
Matthew is a founding director and webmaster of the
Alaska Entomological Society.
• Katie Villano for partial funding of a study to investi-
gate wildfire as a gateway for invasive plant coloniza-
tion and possible spread into wilderness areas. Katie is a
first year graduate student at the University of Alaska.
• Jill Erickson for partial funding of a larger project to
involve Fairbanks youth in sustainable agriculture. Jill
will graduate from the U of A with a B.A. in Ecologi-
cal Anthropology.
Funds for the 2006 Small Grant Program come from
fundraising efforts and a generous donation from Link
Olson. Thank you, Link!
Maine Audubon Camp
S cholarships are available for Audubon staff, interns
and chapter members to attend residential sessions
this summer at Hog Island Audubon Camp in Bremen,
Maine.Applications are available by e-mailing
camps@maineaudubon.org, calling (207) 781-2330,
ext. 215, or downloading from www.maineaudubon.org.
Operated since 1936 and accessible only by boat, Hog
Island Audubon Camp is located on a 330-acre coastal
wildlife sanctuary in midcoast Maine.
 April 2006
Bird Camps for Kids
by Tricia Blake, Alaska Bird Observatory
T he Alaska Bird Camps are unique science camps
filled with fun activities, walks, and games to teach
kids about Alaska’s birds and their habitats. Campers
work alongside scientists, artists, and wildlife rehabitators
and have the chance to design, conduct, and present a
research project of their own. The camps are based at
the Alaska Bird Observatory (ABO) Center for Educa-
tion & Research with trips to Creamer’s Field. Scholar-
ship assistance is available. The 2006 dates are June 5-
9 for 8-9 year olds and June 12-16 for 10-12 year olds.
New this year: The Songbird Research Team,
offered in cooperation with Camp Habitat June 26-30,
is an opportunity for older students (ages 12-15) to be
immersed in real field research. Participants will spend
five days at the site of ABO’s Arctic Warbler Project
along the Denali Highway, collecting data, meeting with
guest speakers, and exploring the tundra ecosystem. The
curriculum includes songbird ecology and identification,
research techniques, and the ecology and conservation
of the Tangle Lakes region.
Contact ABO at 451-7159 for more information, reg-
istration materials, and program fees for these camps.
Space is limited, so sign up early.
UA Museum of the
North Lectures
The Place Where You Go to Listen
Thursday, April 13, 7 :00 pm
Composer and author John Luther Adams and his col-
laborators from UAF’s Geophysical Institute discuss the
scientific data that animate The Place Where You Go to
Listen, the ever-changing sound and light environment in
the museum’s new wing.
Avian Influenza in Alaska
Thursday, April 20, 7 :00 pm
Millions of birds migrate to Alaska from six continents
to breed and raise their young. Curator of Birds Kevin
Winker talks about the museum’s research on these birds
and the role they may play in the spread of avian influenza.
Admission is free to these lectures. Call 474-7505
for more information.
The Redpoll 9
Summer Courses in
Denali National Park
T he Murie Science and Learning Center, in coopera-
tion with the National Park Service, announces its
summer courses exploring the vast ecosystems and
vibrant cultures of the far north. Classes are small, but
the classrooms are grand—the mountains, forests, and
tundra of Denali National Park and Preserve.
Most field seminars and teacher trainings are based
out of the Murie Science and Learning Center Field
Camp, located 34 miles inside the Park. University of
Alaska Anchorage (UAA) offers one professional de-
velopment credit for each course.
2006 Field Seminars:
• Denali Fault & Nenana Canyon: A Geology
Exploration;
• High Country Wildflowers;
• Ecology of Birds;
• The Science of Fly-Fishing;
• Denali’s Wildlife Research;
• Art Design in Denali;
• Searching for Denali’s Dinosaurs;
• Denali Field Journaling;
• Bears of Denali;
• Wilderness Writing;
• Geology of Denali;
• Wolves of Denali;
• Ecology of Denali’s Rivers and Streams;
2006 Teacher Trainings:
• Using I-Movie to Capture Interest in Science;
• Science Writing in the Heart of Denali;
• Denali Dinosaurs;
• Connecting Natural History and Test-Taking
For more information or to register: Please visit
www.murieslc.org or call toll free 1-888-688-1269.
Denali Park vista. Photo by Ken Whitten
 Arctic Audubon Society Nonprofit Org.
PO Box 82098 US Postage
Fairbanks, AK 99708 PAID
www.arcticaudubon.org Permit No. 181
Fairbanks AK

Upcoming Events--Mark Your Calendar Birding Hotline

(907) 451-9213
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area, Monday, April 10, Updated by Laurel Devaney & Ken Russell
7:00 pm, Noel Wien Library Auditorium
Report interesting bird sightings;
Presentation on plans to clean-up the South Cushman learn what others have spotted.
ponds, creating the Tanana Lakes Recreation Area. also at
Spring Migration Celebration, Saturday, April 29 www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/index.html
12-4:00 p.m. at Creamer’s Field and Alaska Bird
Observatory; details on page 3. National Audubon Society
Arctic Audubon Field Trips, Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. New Member Form
May 6: Waterfowl Indentification
May 13: Shorebird Identification
❒ Introductory rate, $20

May 20: Birding by Ear & Songbird Identification
Meet at Creamer’s Field Farmhouse; see page 3.
Farthest North Birdathon, May 13–June 11
Have fun raising money for bird education and
conservation projects; details on pages 5-6.
Arctic Audubon Board of Directors
email address: arcticaudubon@netscape.net
President: Gail Mayo (479-2954)
Vice President: Open
Secretary: Ann Wood (455-4625)
Treasurer: Gail Mayo (479-2954)
Education: Megan Phillips (456-1000)
Conservation: Kristi Bailey (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 Trips: Tom Green (452-6370)
Birdathon: Sherry Lewis (479-0848)
Web Site: Jim Logan
Alaska Audubon Board: Frank Keim (451-9308)
❒ Two Year membership, $30
❒ Student or Senior rate $15
Membership includes both National Audubon and the
local chapter, Arctic Audubon. You will receive National
Audubon’s magazine, Audubon, and Arctic Audubon’s
newsletter, The Redpoll.
Name: _______________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
____________________________________________
City State Zip
❒ I do not want the Audubon Society to share my name
with other organizations.
Amount enclosed: $______ (Make check payable to
National Audubon Society)
Send to: Arctic Audubon Society
PO Box 82098 A52
Fairbanks, AK 99708 7XCH
❒ Chapter Only Membership, $10
For membership in Arctic Audubon Society only, check
box and make check payable to Arctic Audubon.