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In This Issue
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Your voice for the Roadless Rule in the Tongass
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Old-growth forest in the Tongass. Photo: John Schoen
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The State of Alaska and the Trump Administration are undertaking a process to modify the Roadless Rule for the Tongass National Forest. The Roadless Rule helps protect habitat important to many birds and other wildlife. This includes the Queen Charlotte Goshawk, a species that is only found in the Tongass. Comment now through October 15 to show you want to keep Roadless Rule protections for old-growth forests, wildlife habitat, and large unbroken landscapes in Southeast Alaska.
Audubon will deliver your comments to the U.S. Forest Service and they will become part of the public record. If you live in Alaska, your letter will also be sent directly to Governor Walker. Make your voice heard!
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Willow project raises red flags for birds and other wildlife
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| The proposed Willow development plan leaves a giant footprint (shown in yellow) in the NPR-A. |
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The wetlands around Teshekpuk Lake are home to a variety of Arctic birds and other wildlife. There are longstanding restrictions on oil development in this area as part of the balanced management plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). However, recent increases in oil estimates around Teshekpuk Lake have greatly boosted industry interest in this highly sensitive area. The initial plans for a new oil and gas development project called Willow would bring a massive amount of infrastructure to the doorstep of Teshekpuk Lake. According to the Willow Master Development Plan, the oil industry is proposing to construct roads, drillsites, and pipelines dangerously close to key wildlife areas, raising red flags for caribou, birds, and even whales.
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Photo: Mick Thompson
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This week, Audubon Alaska joined with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, Manomet, and bird lovers from across the country to celebrate the world's most remarkable athletes, navigators, and survivalists: the amazing migratory birds of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We hope you were able to join in the fun.
The Arctic Refuge Virtual Festival of Birds, #ArcticBirdFest, was held online all week from September 24-28. It took attendees to a place few ever visit in person: the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge. Through videos, photos, live events, games, contests, and other activities, people got an insider's look at the short but incredibly productive summer season of the Arctic Refuge.
Don't worry if you missed the event this year - activities are still posted on the Facebook event page for you to enjoy. We are also planning to hold an even larger event next fall so keep your eyes peeled for next year!
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Protect migrating birds from your reflective windows
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| Photo: Quinn Dembrowski / Flickr Creative Commons |
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Collect the full set of the Bird of the Year stickers today!
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We still have a few full sets left of the Bird of the Year stickers to any person who contributes $70 or more to Audubon Alaska. This gorgeous series includes
includes 2012's Spectacled Eider, 2013's Northern Goshawk, 2014's Bar-tailed Godwit, 2015's Snowy Owl, 2016's Boreal Chickadee, 2017's Horned Puffin, and 2018's Bird of the Year, the Pacific Golden-Plover.
Make sure to get yours today before they fly off the shelves!
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Link your Fred Meyer rewards account to Audubon Alaska
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Did you know that you can earn donations for your favorite bird-friendly nonprofit just by shopping with your Rewards Card at Fred Meyer? Fred Meyer has pledged to donate $2.6 million to nonprofits located in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington each year. At the end of each quarter, Fred Meyer donates $650,000 to participating nonprofits based on the accumulated spending of the customers linked to each nonprofit. By linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Audubon Alaska, every purchase you make on your Rewards Card results in a hassle-free donation dedicated to protecting birds, other wildlife, and their habitat.
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'Name that Bird' Photo Quiz
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| Photo: Darren Clark / Flickr |
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This Month's Quiz Bird
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Last month's quiz bird was a Merlin! The Merlin is a common backyard bird (and backyard bird eater) in Anchorage. Interestingly, the number of Merlins living in urban areas has substantially increased in the last 30 years, largely because urban areas afford safe nest sites and abundant songbird prey. Merlin pairs have been seen teaming up to hunt large flocks of waxwings, with one Merlin flushing the flock from below as the other swoops in to take advantage of the confusion. Talk about teamwork!
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This month's quiz bird is a beautiful songbird who takes much of its name from the coloring on its head and breast. Possibly because of its remote breeding sites on craggy mountains or remote islands like the Pribilofs in the Bering Sea, this bird is positively fearless. After migrating to the Intermountain West in the fall, these tiny socialites gather in flocks numbering in the thousands, spending the winter huddled together or foraging for seeds and sprouting plants at the edge of the snow.
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Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
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November 5-10, 2018
Haines
Come celebrate one of the largest gathering of Bald Eagles in the world! Daily busses and/or vans will carry you safely to the Alaska Bald Eagle Preserve to witness the annual "Gathering of the Eagles." At this time of year, over 3,000 eagles can be found in the Preserve feeding on a late run of salmon.
You can choose to attend photography workshops, wildlife presentations, tours, classes, and live raptor presentations. The Festival includes evening entertainment to round out your Festival experience. For more information, call (907) 766-3094 or visit the website.
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