The Redpoll

Newsletter of the Arctic Audubon Society, Fairbanks, Alaska

Vol. 32 Issue No. 5 www.arcticaudubon.org April 2010

Arctic Audubon Society’s April Presentations

Monday, April 12, 7:00 pm
Noel Wien Library Auditorium
Arctic-breeding Dunlin Chick Survival
Mission of Arctic Audubon:
Earth has unparalleled natural
diversity, productivity, and
G raduate student Brooke Hill will discuss her
master’s project which investigates the factors
that affect chick survival from initial and replacement
beauty, and provides for clutches of Arctic-breeding Dunlin (Calidris alpina
life. Recognizing the full arcticola). In this declining subspecies, little is known
value of nature, we work to about how chicks fare during the short breeding sea-
protect Alaskan ecosystems son and even less is known about the survival of chicks
by encouraging research, from known replacement nests. By working with River
education, and management Gates’ experimental clutch replacement study, Brooke
Brooke Hill holds a Dunlin chick.
that will contribute to was able to monitor chicks from replacement nests (as
appreciation and good well as un-manipulated nests) using small radio transmitters. She will discuss the study in
stewardship of this natural detail and provide preliminary results. Brooke’s research was supported in part by Arctic
heritage. We also strive to Audubon’s small grant program.
conduct our own lives in Brooke Hill is pursuing her master’s degree in the Department of Biology & Wildlife at the
harmony with nature. University of Alaska-Fairbanks
The Arctic Audubon Society
publishes The Redpoll for its
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area:
members monthly fall through The Slow Transformation of South Cushman

T
spring. National Audubon he Fairbanks North Star Borough, Department of Parks and Recreation, along with its
Society (NAS) dues are $35; numerous partners, is taking steps to reshape and rehabilitate a long-neglected portion
new members are $20. NAS of land south of the Tanana River Levee System, informally known as South Cushman. Plan-
membership includes local ning efforts have gained momentum since 2004 and site development began in the fall of
chapter dues. Chapter only 2008. The focus and challenge for Parks and Rec is to create an environment which promotes
membership is $10 and constructive and positive recreation opportunities within a tight budget and virtually no staff
includes the newsletter. presence in the area. Developing and nurturing partnerships are key aspects to achieving the
Inside… transformation. The Tanana Lakes Recreation Area, which already has a few trails and will
Audubon Field Trips . ......... 2 have more, was awarded a 2009 Achievement
Average Date of Arrival of Award by the National Association of Coun-
Migrant Birds .............. 7
ties. For more information, visit the website:
BIRDATHON ................. 2–6
http://tinyurl.com/ycgtdl9.
Birds of the Boreal Workshop 4
Steve Taylor is a Parks Project Coordinator
Crane Festival Speaker ...... 4
with the Fairbanks North Star Borough, De-
Delta River Draft EA........... 3
partment of Parks and Recreation. Prior to
Small Grant Awarded . ....... 4
working for the Borough, he spent two years
Thank You ........................ 4 with the State Department of Natural Re-
Volunteer with Audubon .... 3 sources working on land management issues.
A sunny August Day at Tanana Lakes Recreation Area
(John Haas, FNSB)
 Page  The Redpoll April 2010

Arctic Audubon Spring Field Trips

New Look for Farthest
North Birdathon! J oin us for a delightful nature walk during one of the many field
outings offered this spring by Arctic Audubon Society. Here’s what
we have scheduled on Saturdays during the next few months:
A rctic Audubon Society and Alaska
Bird Observatory are shaking things
up this year with a Farthest North Birda-
Saturday, April 17th­­ —Gail Mayo and Frank Keim will lead an all
day field trip to the Delta Junction area to look for first avian arrivals,
thon that combines new activities with especially waterfowl, hawks and mountain bluebirds. We will meet
traditional Birdathon features. at the Creamer’s Field barn parking lot at 9:00 am to car pool. It will
be an all day field trip, so come prepared for mud and wind and bring
New Dates: May 15th–23rd your binoculars and lunch.
This year, Birdathon is scheduled dur-
Saturday, May 1st­—Spring Migration Celebration at Creamer’s Field,
ing peak migration time, but will wrap up
Noon­–4:00 pm, features bird watching and bird related activities for
before we all get busy and distracted by
the whole family. This year’s theme is The Power of Partnerships in
summer activities.
Bird Conservation, highlighting how local species have been saved
New Activity: Big Sit May 23rd from the brink of extinction by the careful and diligent cooperation
Plan to try out our first guided Big Sit on of many different organizations.
Sunday, May 23rd, 7–11:30 am, at Wander Birding on Saturday Mornings: Local birding experts will lead a
Lake in the Wedgewood Resort Wildlife series of three Saturday morning birding field trips. All trips meet at
Sanctuary. Join us anytime Sunday morn- 8:00 am at the Creamer’s Field barn parking lot. Bring binoculars, a
ing and be sure to bring a chair! Biologists snack, and rubber boots if you have them.
from ABO and Arctic Audubon will be
available to help you learn what birds you Saturday, May 8th Waterfowl Identification with leader Dan
are seeing and hearing. Minimum donation: McGauhey
th
Saturday, May 15 Shorebird Identification with leader Philip
$25/adult, $5/under 16.
Martin
Traditional Activities th
Saturday, May 29 Birding by Ear and Songbird Identification
• Choose to do a traditional Birdathon in with leader Dave Shaw
which you gather pledges, select a 24- Contact number for all trips: Frank Keim, 451-9308.
hour period between May 15–23, and
start counting.
• Join one of the guided Birdathon walks Volunteer Opportunities
with experienced birders. See the sched- Road Clean-Up
ule of walks on page 3. Join Arctic Audubon on Friday, May 7th, 5:00 pm to clean up our
• All are welcome at the Tally Rally & adopted scenic mile of Ballaine Road. Families and friends are
BBQ to be held at ABO on Sunday, May welcome to join us anytime during the evening. Our adopted mile
23, Noon–2 pm following the Big Sit. extends south on Ballaine Road from the intersection with Gold-
• Participants are eligible to win a variety stream Road. Watch for the blue “Adopt a Highway” signs. We will
of prizes (see page 3 Birdathon ad). meet at the intersection of Trice and Ballaine Road and watch for
Detailed information and pledge packets birds as we pick up trash.
are available from Nicole at the Alaska Bird Spring Migration Celebration & Sandhill Crane Festival
Observatory, 451-7159, or on the website, Arctic Audubon will provide bird observation guides for Spring
www.alaskabird.org. A pledge sheet can be Migration Celebration (May 1st) and for the Sandhill Crane Festival
found on pages 5-6 of this newsletter. (August 20, 21 and 22). This is a fun way to spend some time watch-
Sponsored by Beaver Sports, the Farthest ing birds while helping visitors appreciate them. Friends of Creamer’s
North Birdathon raises money for bird Field has spotting scopes and binoculars for visitors to use so you have
research and education projects for Arctic plenty of props to help as you watch. All bird watching events are at
Audubon Society and the Alaska Bird Creamer’s Field. Please call or email Gail Mayo if you would like to
Observatory. help: [email protected] or 479-2954.
 April 2010 The Redpoll Page 

Delta Wild and Scenic River Birds of Denali Field Seminar

Draft Environmental Assessment June 4-6, $340
30 day public review and comment period
D enali comes alive in June with birds arriving from
all over the world to their summer home in the
T he Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Of-
fice invites you to review and comment on the Draft
Environmental Assessment (EA) that revises the Delta Wild
far north. These migrants join the hardy year round
residents to offer the Denali birder amazing opportuni-
ties to view and study a diverse avifauna in a spectacular
and Scenic River Management Plan. The 30 day public com-
landscape. With long time Denali resident and natural-
ment period for the Draft EA begins on Tuesday, March 23
ist Nan Eagleson, we’ll venture out into the tundra and
and ends on Thursday, April 22, 2010. Written comments
taiga to learn how to identify birds by sight and sound.
must be received or, if mailed, postmarked by the close of
We’ll also discuss avian behavior, habitat selection,
the review period. Although comments may be accepted at
food habits, and migration ecology. Nan Eagleson is
any time during the planning process, comments received
co-author of Birds of Denali.
during formal review periods will be utilized in preparing
Participants meet at the Murie Science and Learn-
final documents. All comments received during the review
ing Center, located at mile 1 of the Denali Park Road.
process may be published as part of the Final Environmental
Course begins at 1:00 pm on the first day and ends at
Assessment. If you wish to withhold your name or address
4:00 pm on the last day. This course is based out of
from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom
the MSLC Field Camp, located 29 miles inside the
of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the
park along the Teklanika River. From this spectacular
beginning of your comment.
location we’ll set out daily to explore Denali’s diverse
Comments can be sent to: BLM - Glennallen Field Of-
environments. The Field Camp includes rustic tent cab-
fice, Delta River Planning Process, P.O. Box 147, Glennallen,
ins and a common dining tent. Optional professional
AK 99588. Or they may be emailed to: AK_GFO_Gener-
development credit is available from the University of
[email protected]. For more information regarding this
Alaska Anchorage.
planning effort please contact the BLM Glennallen Field
Group size is limited to ten participants. More
Office at 907-822-3217 or visit our website at: www.blm.
information is available at www.murieslc.org or 1-888-
gov/ak/st/en/prog/nlcs/delta_nwsr/Delta_River_Planning.
688-1269.
html.

Sponsored by...

May 15 - May 23

What is a Birdathon? What if I don’t know a thing about

A Birdathon is like a Walkathon, where people collect pledges based on birds?
the number of species seen instead of miles walked. All you have to do is Join one of our guided walks led by biologists with the ABO and Arctic
choose a 24-hour period between 12:01 a.m. May 15th and 11:00 a.m. Audubon! Many dates are available:
May 23rd and start counting! You can count for 2 hours or 24 hours, or
any amount of time in between. You can do it alone, with a group, or May 18 - Creamer’s Field walk on the Refuge, led by Sherry Lewis.
join a guided walk or Big Sit. Meet at the Farmhouse at 7 pm. $10 fee.
May 20 - Gail Mayo will lead a walk around Smith Lake and the
What’s in it for me? University ski trails. Meet at the Ski Hut near the Geophysical Institute
First, you can know that you are helping raise money for the Alaska Bird on upper campus at 7 pm. $10 fee.
Observatory, Arctic Audubon, bird conservation and education. Second,
May 22 - Bird around Fairbanks with ABO biologist Sue Guers. Meet
you can WIN PRIZES! Each person who contributes or collects pledges
at the Farmhouse (will be carpooling) at 7 am. $60 fee.
of $50 or more will enter to win a pair of Nikon Monarch 10x56
binoculars from Beaver Sports! There are also prizes given out for most May 23 - “Big Sit” at Wander Lake at Wedgewood Resort. Meet at
species counted, top three pledge solicitors, and so many other categories. ABO, bring a chair, and be prepared to learn what birds you are seeing
In addition, each participant will get a coupon from Hot Licks and hearing. 7 am-11:30 am. $25 adult/$5 under 16. Afterwards join us
Homemade Ice Cream! for a BBQ starting at noon! Bring something to share.

For more information call 451-7159. Pledge sheets and directions are available at ABO and on our website beginning April 1st.
 Page  The Redpoll April 2010

All New!
Small Grants Awarded
Birds of The Boreal Workshops
O n March 22nd, the Arctic Audubon Board of
Directors met to consider eight grant proposals April 21st–May 26th
received for the 2010 small grant program. All the
proposals had merit so it was very hard to choose
which seemed to meet our criteria best.
T he Alaska Bird Observatory’s popular series of bird iden-
tification workshops will be a bit different in 2010. This
year’s focus will be visiting local habitats and the natural history
We settled on a limnology study for high school and identification of the birds you may encounter there. They
students. The grant request was for microscopes and are designed to complement the bird watching field trips of-
sampling equipment that will be used to assess the fered by the Arctic Audubon Society so you will have a chance
watershed that drains into Lake LiWa, and then the to practice your skills in the field. Cost is: $5/each or $25 for
Chena River, near 0.5 mile Chena Hot Springs Road. the series. The workshops are held on Wednesday evenings, 7
The information gathered will help guide habitat pm at the Alaska Bird Observatory Center for Education and
enhancement and is part of cooperation between Research.
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Camp LiWa, and
Educational Endeavors. Educational Endeavors is Paul Johnsgard to be Featured
the vision-child of Janine McCready, a North Pole
science teacher. She would be very happy to have Speaker at Crane Festival
volunteers help with this project starting in late April.
You may contact Janine McCready at 457-8586.
Arctic Audubon is eager to follow these investiga-
N oted ornithologist, author and artist Paul Johnsgard will
be the featured speaker at the Tanana Valley Crane Festival
August 20–22. Dr. Johnsgard is returning for his second trip to
tions and delighted to have an educational project our festival, having been our featured speaker in 2004.
to fund. Many thanks to those that have made dona- Dr. Johnsgard is a Foundation Professor Emeritus of Biologi-
tions to support the small grant program. cal Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln where he
taught for 40 years, from 1961 through 2001. He is a specialist
Thank You to 2009-10 in avian behavior and taxonomy and has written world mono-
Program Presenters graphs on waterfowl, cranes, grouse, partridges, pheasants,
trogons, bustards, pelicans, and cormorants. He has also written
A rctic Audubon appreciates all who have present-
ed programs for us this past year. Each program
has been excellent and inspiring. We thank Miki
widely on regional biology and natural history topics including
the history and ecology of the Platte River in Nebraska, the
Nebraska Sandhill cranes, and the biodiversity of Nebraska.
and Julie Collins, Ron Teel and Jim DeWitt, Philip His many books include Those of the Grey Wind: The Sandhill
Martin, River Gates, Derek Sikes, and photographers Cranes (Nebraska 1986), Crane Music: A Natural History of
Dave Shaw, Hugh Rose and Pat Endres. In advance, American Cranes (Nebraska 1991), and This Fragile Land: A
we thank the presenters for our April meeting, Steve Natural History of the Ne-
Taylor and Brooke Hill. braska Sandhills (Nebraska
Next fall we plan to have an evening of short takes 1995).
from various trips to the Arctic National Wildlife Besides writing, nearly
Refuge in celebration of its 50th anniversary. We hope all of Johnsgard books have
to hear from those of you who are lucky enough to been personally illustrated
visit the Refuge. by him using either line
We have also been lucky to have a variety of field drawings or photographs.
trips, and we thank all who organized and led these More than 1,500 draw-
trips: Frank Keim, Tom Green, Sherry Lewis, Gail ings and over 500 of his
Mayo, Mark Ross, Steve Springer, Jack Withrow, and color photographs have
Jim Zelenek. been published. Several of
Special thanks to Jim DeWitt for managing and his drawings and wooden
maintaining Arctic Audubon’s website for several bird sculptures are in private
years and for facilitating a seamless transition to our collections or museums.
new website manager, Tom Green.
 April 2010 The Redpoll Page 

Pledge Tracking Sheet

Farthest North Counter Name: ____________________________________
Birdathon Team Name: ______________________________________
Address: _________________________________________
2010 City:_____________ State:_____ Zip: __________________
Phone: ______________ Email: _______________________
All Proceeds Benefit:
Arctic Audubon Society and the
Page _____of_______
Alaska Bird Observatory

Sponsor Name Address (for tax receipts) Pledge Amount Due Date Paid

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BIRDATHON COUNTERS:

You may count for up to 24 hours between May 15th and May 23rd
Please make checks payable to ABO.
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. You are responsible for collecting all your pledges. We will not be
invoicing donors.
ABO is conducting a guided “Big Sit” this year at Wander Lake in Wedgewood Resort on May 23rd starting at
7:00 a.m. Meet at ABO and bring a chair! $25 adult/$5 under 16.
This form should be returned with payments to Alaska Bird Observatory, 418 Wedgewood Drive, Fairbanks, AK
99701. Please make a copy of it for your records (in the event that pledges do not come in)!
To be eligible for prizes you must return your Counter’s Report Form (available at ABO) and pledges by
Sunday, May 23rd before 11 AM! Potluck BBQ will be from noon to 2 PM on the 23rd.

Questions? Call (907) 451-7159.

 Page  The Redpoll April 2010

Sponsor Name Address (for tax receipts) Pledge Amount Due Date Paid

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount
Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount
Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Per species
$ Set amount

Page ______ of _______

 April 2010 The Redpoll Page 

Average Date of First Arrivals for Migrant Birds at

Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
March May (continued)
28 Snow Bunting 6 Savannah Sparrow
April 7 Ring-necked Duck
10 Canada Goose Lesser Scaup
17 Greater White-fronted Goose Horned Grebe
Trumpeter Swan 8 Brant
18 Mallard Barrow’s Goldeneye
Northern Pintail Solitary Sandpiper
19 Cackling Goose 9 Gadwall
21 Bald Eagle Hermit Thrush
22 Snow Goose 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk Killdeer
Herring Gull Orange-crowned Warbler
23 Peregrine Falcon 11 Eurasian Wigeon
Mew Gull Greater Yellowlegs
Glaucous-winged Gull Whimbrel
Glaucous Gull Horned Lark
24 American Wigeon 12 Lincoln’s Sparrow
Sandhill Crane 13 Red-necked Grebe
American Robin American Golden Plover
26 Northern Goshawk Semipalmated Plover
Rough-legged Hawk Semipalmated Sandpiper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Pectoral Sandpiper
Dark-eyed Junco Long-billed Dowitcher
Red-necked Phalarope

Updated March 2009; data from Alaska Bird Observatory (1999-2008).

27 Northern Harrier
American Tree Sparrow Northern Waterthrush
28 Northern Shoveler 14 Golden-crowned Sparrow
Green-winged Teal 15 American Kestrel
Redhead 16 Say’s Phoebe
Bufflehead Cilff Swallow
29 Canvasback Swainson’s Thrush
Gyrfalcon 17 Hudsonian Godwit
30 Tundra Swan Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-rumped Warbler Wilson’s Warbler
18 Surf Scoter
May
Bank Swallow
2 Common Goldeneye
20 Blue-winged Teal
Violet-green Swallow
Upland Sandpiper
3 Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Blackpoll Warbler
American Pipit
Red-winged Blackbird
Tree Swallow
22 Townsend’s Warbler
Rusty Blackbird
23 Wilson’s Phalarope
4 Wilson’s Snipe
Yellow Warbler
Varied Thrush
26 Gray-cheeked Thrush
White-crowned Sparrow
29 Pine Siskin
5 Bonaparte’s Gull
Fox Sparrow June
Lapland Longspur 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher
6 Merlin 4 Alder Flycatcher
Northern Flicker 5 Western Wood-pewee
 Arctic Audubon Society
Nonprofit Org.
PO Box 82098
US Postage
Fairbanks, AK 99708 PAID
Permit No. 181
Fairbanks AK

Upcoming Events­—Mark Your Calendar

Birding Hotline
Arctic Audubon’s Monthly Public Presentation,
April 12, 7 pm, Noel Wien Library Auditorium
(907) 451-9213
Learn about Dunlin Chicks & plans for the Updated by Laurel Devaney & Ken Russell
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area. Report interesting bird sightings;
Field Trip to Delta Junction, Saturday, April 17 learn what others have spotted.
Led by Gail Mayo and Frank Keim; meet at
Creamer’s Field by the barns at 9 am to carpool. National Audubon Society
Spring Migration Celebration, Saturday, May 1 New Member Form
Audubon Birding Field Trips, Saturdays 8 am Introductory rate $20
Meet at Creamer’s Field barn parking lot Membership includes both National Audubon and
May 8: Waterfowl Identification the local chapter, Arctic Audubon. You will receive
May 15: Shorebird Identification National Audubon’s magazine, Audubon, and Arctic
May 29: Birding by Ear Audubon’s newsletter, The Redpoll.
Farthest North Birdathon, May 15–23
Name: _ ________________________________
Arctic Audubon Board of Directors Address: ________________________________
email address: [email protected] _______________________________________
President: Gail Mayo (479-2954) City State Zip
Vice President: Open ❑ I would like to receive email announcements from
Secretary: Open Arctic Audubon Society. My email address is:
Treasurer: Janet Daley (457-1583) _ ________________________________
Education: Open
Conservation: River Gates (378-8775) Amount enclosed: $______ (make check payable to
Hospitality: Brook Gamble (456-3775) National Audubon Society)
Programs: Lauren Attanas (456-1108) Send to: Arctic Audubon Society
Newsletter: Mary Zalar (479-4547) PO Box 82098 C0ZA520Z
Membership: Mary Zalar (479-4547) Fairbanks, AK 99708
Field Trips: Frank Keim (451-9308)
q Chapter Only Membership, $10
Birdathon: Sherry Lewis (479-0848)
Web Site: Tom Green (452-6370) For membership in Arctic Audubon only, check the
Alaska Audubon Board: Dave Shaw (590-7023) box and make check payable to Arctic Audubon
Society.