Listen to University of Alaska Fairbanks Ornithology students share their fascinating research with the birding community. This month’s speakers will be Morgan Lynn Love, Sarah Le, and Min Jang! This program is free and open for all ages!
The Audubon Riedel Nature Reserve began 40 years ago due to Elonore Riedel’s desire to ensure that her 160-acre homesteaded would remain intact and undeveloped. In December 1984, Elonore and husband Charles deeded the 160-acre homestead to Arctic Audubon Society. Since then, the Reserve has expanded to 320 acres through a purchase of 40 acres by Arctic Audubon as well as gifts of 40 acres from the Mayo family and 80 acres from the Herning family. Join us for a virtual tour of this beautiful Reserve near 5-Mile Chena Hot Springs Road. Together we will explore the land, wildlife, trails, history, and future of the Audubon Riedel Nature Reserve. The Reserve has a rich history with many twists and turns along the way. We invite the community to enjoy this land and help us shape its future.
Our presenters are Gail Mayo, Darla Theisen, and Mary Zalar.
Eva Allaby, Wildlife Technician with Alaska Department of Fish and Game will discuss Bank Swallow ecology, where Bank Swallows can be spotted around Fairbanks, and how modern tracking technologies help scientists monitor small bird migration and movement. As North America continues to experience massive decline in breeding bird populations, this research represents initial steps towards informing conservation actions to reverse decline.
A Northern Hawk Owl pair became resident raptors in 2023 when they courted, nested and raised a family at Creamer’s Refuge. Friends of Creamers Field program director Melanie Graeff and lifelong photographer Bernard, Bud, Marschner will present a heartwarming chronology of these remarkable Hawk Owls and their activities with magnificent images and informative dialog. 7 pm at the Pioneer Room in the Carlson Center, Fairbanks.
Aaron Lang will share stories and stunning photography at the Kachemak Bay Birders monthly meeting about the unique wilderness birding experiences to be found in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. All are welcome to attend or zoom in. Aaron, widely considered one of Alaska’s top birding guides and a downright nice guy, will draw from his 21 years of exploring, birding and guiding in the Arctic Refuge. Aaron is the co-owner of Wilderness Birding Adventures based in Homer and was the guide for the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges’ trip to the Marsh Fork of the Canning River in the Arctic Refuge last summer. Visit Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges for more information and the zoom link.
Celebrate spring migration at Creamer’s Field! Arctic Audubon volunteers will be set up at bird viewing stations from 12-4 pm.
Greet some of the first spring migrants to return to the Tanana River Valley! This all-day trip is led by Arctic Audubon Board Member Ryan Marsh. Together you will explore the Delta Junction area for waterfowl, raptors, and other early migrants. Meet at the Creamer’s Field Farmhouse parking lot at 8 AM sharp. Dress for walking in snow (possibly mud) and bring lunch, snacks, and water. Please register in advance. Depending on spring break up conditions (if the waterways are too frozen or the weather is hazardous for driving), trip leaders will contact people who registered about rescheduling to April 23. Contact Ryan at (907) 452-5041 for more information.
The 19 million acre Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding region provide one of the most important breeding areas for birds in Alaska. An estimated 1,000,000+ ducks and shorebirds, 500,000 geese, 100,000 Swans, and 10,000’s of grebes, loons, and cranes call this region their home during the summer. These birds include most of the Alaska breeding population of Black Brant, Emperor Geese, the threatened Spectacled Eider, Cackling Geese, and Bar-tailed Godwits. Bar-tailed Godwits return to this region after wintering mostly in New Zealand and after completely one of the longest non-stop migrations in the world of some 7,500 miles in about 11 days. Dr. Mark Lindberg will discuss the birds of this region based on his 10 years of experience on the Delta dating back to 1990 and 4 years of photos he compiled between 2018-2022. He recently donated these photos to the US Fish and Wildlife Service public domain for education and conservation. He will emphasize bird ecology and conservation in his presentation with some ID tips as well.
Colombia is home to more bird species than any other country in the world, hosting almost 2,000 species (20% of the global total) in a land area 2/3 the size of Alaska. This diversity is related to Colombia’s position as a tropical crossroads linking the Americas, its rugged topography and huge elevation ranges, and intact lowland forests in the Amazon and Orinoco watersheds. Colombia’s geography and variety of habitats have led to a high degree of endemism, with many distinctive species tied to small geographic ranges within the country. We recently visited three very different ecological regions of Colombia—tropical forest and savanna in the far eastern lowlands, montane forests in the central Andes, and the “rooftop” of Colombia, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, one of the most renowned endemic bird areas in the world. In this talk we will transport you to Colombia’s vibrant landscapes, cultures, and bird life! We will highlight many of the birds, from the flamboyant, to the cryptic, to the downright zany, including encounters with one of the world’s rarest hummingbirds—the Blue-bearded Helmetcrest, a spectacular high-altitude species that was thought to be extinct until 2015.
The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a highly intelligent and social bird species, which emits numerous vocalizations Despite a considerable amount of research, we still don't fully understand what all of these calls mean. Join Doug Wacker, Associate Professor of Animal Behavior at the University of Washington Bothell, at 7 pm in the Pioneer Room in the Carlson Center, 2010 2nd Ave, Fairbanks. Listen to some interesting raven calls, learn about previous work on the topic, and find out about new research integrating field recording and machine learning approaches to better understand raven vocal communication. Doug started his research career as an undergraduate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and an intern at the Alaska Bird Observatory in the late 1990s. He is currently on sabbatical conducting work on raven communication in Fairbanks in collaboration with Dr. Falk Huettmann at UAF.
Please join us at 5:30 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (4448 Pike’s Landing Road) across from the Princess Hotel for the Christmas Bird Count Compilation Potluck! A main dish meat and beverages will be provided. Please bring a dish to share. We look forward to seeing you there to share stories and sightings of Interior birds!
Join Arctic Audubon at the Noel Wien Library Auditorium for info on winter birds with Melanie Graeff, John Wright, and others. Brush up on more than 30 species of birds that call Interior Alaska their year-round home and find out about the 62nd annual Fairbanks Christmas Bird Count and how to join!
Innovations in tracking technology and analytical methods have allowed biologists to observe the ecology of lynx remotely in near real time. Knut will highlight the research conducted by his graduate students pertaining to new insights in lynx activity patterns, long-range dispersal movements, and behavior associated with kit rearing and territoriality. Photo by Bernard Marschner, Lynx at Denali National Park and Preserve.
It’s time for Arctic Audubon members to gather in-person to socialize and conduct business including voting on the Bylaws! Please join us on Monday, September 12, 6:00 pm at the Tanana Lakes Recreation Area Pavilion. Arctic Audubon will provide desserts. We will be there at 5:00 pm if you want to bring your own dinner and enjoy the birds before the meeting.
We will look for migrating Northern Wheatears and other higher-elevation birds, and maybe some good blueberry patches. Meet at Creamer’s Field farmhouse. This trip will include moderate hiking with elevation gain, possibly 5-6 miles. Contact Jerry Lipka at 907-687-2173 if you plan to attend.
Meet at the Audubon Riedel Nature Reserve. Explore Riedel and learn about the songbirds and forest birds that call it home. Bring a lunch or snack, and some people may find walking sticks are helpful. (Parking is at the Fairbanks North Star Borough site accessed off Amanita Road, first left after Milky Way.) Please contact Darla Theisen at 907-687-1829 if you plan to a
Meet at Creamer’s Field farmhouse. We will explore high-elevation areas for specialists such as Surfbirds, plovers, Northern Wheatears, and more. This trip will include moderate hiking with elevation gain. Please dress for the weather at higher elevation and bring your lunch, snacks, and water. Contact Jerry Lipka at 907-687-2173 if you plan to attend as there will be a limited number of participants for this trip.
What do you hear? Returning songbirds stake out nesting territory by singing, and this is a hopping time of year! Learn more about identifying birds by sound. JJ Frost will lead the walk. Please contact Beth Grassi at 907-957-1050 if you plan to attend.
We will explore the ponds and ephemeral wetlands of Creamer’s Field for returning waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds, as well as check for lingering waterfowl in the front fields. Contact Jeff Walters at 907-978-8189 if you plan to attend.
Meet at the boat launch parking lot. This mixture of lakes and forest are enticing to waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, and early-season songbirds, which makes Tanana Lakes a great place for spring bird watching. Please contact Beth Grassi 907-957-1050 if you plan to attend.
Join Arctic Audubon Society, along with Friends of Creamer’s Field, Alaska Songbird Institute, Ducks Unlimited, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and others for an afternoon celebrating birds at Creamer’s Field. Guided walks, kids’ activities, birdwatching and more! Free!
Celebrate “Our Children’s Tomorrow” with a week of fun activities!
April 16 through April 24
Earth Day 2022 Poetry & Artwalk: Creamer's Field and along the downtown Chena River Walk
April 16 through April 23
Earth Day Kids Activities @ the Children's Museum: For more information, please see: https://www.fairbankschildrensmuseum.com/
April 21
Renewable Energy Info Session: 6 - 7 pm, Zoom OR In-person Location (TBD). Learn about community-led renewable energy efforts in Fairbanks and how you can support these efforts! RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScetEoXTKNp57BUd-_N8EWCuLjf0C-m1YSfM6-KF1EN93ftew/viewform
April 22
Howl at Noon! 12 PM. Get outside and howl, raise a RUCKUS in gratitude for the Earth and all her wild things!
Voices of our Youth: "Youth V Gov" Film Showing 7 pm, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks, 4448 Pikes Landing Rd. OR Zoom Showing of the film, "Youth V Gov," followed by speakers and discussion
April 23
Guided Birdwatching @Peat Ponds 9 am to 10:30 am, Peat Ponds. Guided birdwatching at Peat Ponds with Andrew Keller of the Interior Alaska Land Trust (IALT)
Earth Day Sidewalk Parade 11am to Noon, Pioneer Park. Come representing another species of this miraculous planet we call home with costumes, masks, floats made of wagons, garden carts, and wheel barrows! We will march around Pioneer Park and along Airport Frontage Road. We will be marching on the sidewalks for safety.
Earth Day Fair, Noon to 4 pm, Pioneer Park. Join us as we Celebrate Earth Day, “Our Children’s Tomorrow.” Activities for youth and children, information tables, live music, and food trucks. All activities outside.
Guided Birdwatching @Creamer's Field Noon to 4 pm, Creamer's Field. Guided birdwatching at Creamer's Field with Gail Mayo
It’s an amazing trick: woodpeckers tough it out in Fairbanks all year. Join Arctic Audubon Society for a guided walk at Creamer’s Field. It will be a treat if we can find several of the 4 species of woodpeckers that live there! Meet outside the Creamer’s Field Farmhouse at 10:00 AM. Beginners are welcome! Bring binoculars if you have them. All participants over age 2 will be required to wear COVID-19 safe face coverings, even those who are fully vaccinated. Be sure to dress for being outside for a couple hours. Leader: Bud Marschner. Please call 907-888-2121 to sign up for the walk.
We will look for migrating Northern Wheatears and other higher-elevation birds, and maybe some good blueberry patches. Meet at Creamer’s Field Farmhouse parking lot. This trip will include moderate hiking with elevation gain, possibly 5-6 miles. Please contact Jerry Lipka at 907-687-2173 if you plan to attend.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Pinnell Mountain National Recreation Trail. BLM’s Steese National Conservation Area is hosting a birthday celebration and volunteer work day at Eagle Summit (Steese Highway mile 107) to repair sections of the trail. Join them to celebrate a half century of great hiking – and many more years to come!
Work will include building boardwalk, raking out ruts, placing water bars, and improving drainage. The event will follow current policy and guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their favorite work gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and hand tools (metal rakes, shovels, and garden hoes), although these items will also be available at the event. Register early and get a free sack lunch, courtesy of the Interior Alaska Trails and Parks Foundation.
For more information please contact the BLM at 907-474-2200 or PinnellMountainTrail@blm.gov
BLM’s Steese National Conservation Area is hosting a National Trails Day volunteer work event at Eagle Summit (Steese Highway mile 107) to repair sections of the Pinnell Mountain National Recreation Trail. Join them either day or both! Work will include building boardwalk, raking out ruts, placing water bars, and improving drainage. The event will follow current policy and guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their favorite work gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and hand tools (metal rakes, shovels, and garden hoes), although these items will also be available at the event. Register early and get a free sack lunch, courtesy of the Interior Alaska Trails and Parks Foundation!
For more information please contact the BLM at 907-474-2200 or PinnellMountainTrail@blm.gov
We will explore high-elevation areas for specialists such as Surfbirds, plovers, Northern Wheatears, and more. Meet at Creamer’s Field Farmhouse parking lot. This trip will include moderate hiking with elevation gain. Dress for the weather at higher elevation and bring your lunch, snacks, and water. Please contact Jerry Lipka at 907-687-2173 if you plan to attend as there will be a limited number of participants for this trip.
Explore Audubon Riedel Nature Reserve and learn about the songbirds and forest birds that call it home. Meet at Riedel (Parking is at the Fairbanks North Star Borough site accessed off Amanita Road, first left after Milky Way. Bring a lunch or snack. Some people may find walking sticks are helpful. Please contact Darla Theisen at 907-687-1829 if you plan to attend.
What do you hear? Returning songbirds stake out nesting territory by singing, and this is a hopping time of year! Learn more about identifying birds by sound with J.J. Frost. Please contact Beth Grassi at 907-957-1050 if you plan to attend.
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area's mixture of lakes and forest are enticing to waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, and early-season songbirds, which makes this area a great place for spring bird watching. Meet at the boat launch parking lot. Please contact Beth Grassi at 907-957-1050 if you plan to attend.
