Revised: Thursday November 06, 2008

Juneau Audubon Society  

 P.O. Box 21725   Juneau, AK 99802-1725  

                A chapter of the National Audubon Society.  

 

 

 Juneau Birding     The Raven          Become a Member  
 

 

 

The mission of Juneau Audubon Society is to conserve the natural ecosystems of Southeast Alaska, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations.

Juneau Birding and Saturday Wild Events

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Thanksgiving Day Bird Count 

November 27, 2008

The annual Thanksgiving Bird Count is rapidly approaching and will take place November 27th. Thanksgiving Bird Counts are to take place on Thanksgiving Day, and to last for only one hour!  The counter chooses the time that best fits his/her schedule. The count is to be made in a 15-foot diameter circle, the location of which also is determined by the participant.  Such count circles are usually located around whatever attracts birds….feeders, bird baths, cover, etc.  Most participants select a count area visible from a comfortable spot near a window.  This is one winter count that can be made in comfort regardless of the weather.  However, some counters do go outdoors and make their counts in favorite bird areas or on water areas.  The same count circles should be used each year.  The official data sheet is available on our web site click here or at http://www.utahbirds.org/cbc/ThanksgBCForm.htm

 

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Project FeederWatch  2008 - 09

Connection with nature promotes wellness.  The 2008-09 season of Project FeederWatch gets underway November 8 and runs through April 3.  Participants count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders each week and send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

 

Project FeederWatch welcomes participants of all ages and skill levels, from scout troops and retirees to classrooms and nature center visitors.

 

To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473.  In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds in their area, a calendar, complete instructions, and the FeederWatch annual report, Winter Bird Highlights.

 

Participants submitted more than 115,000 checklists during the 2007-08 FeederWatch season, documenting unusual bird sightings, winter movements, and shifting ranges-­a treasure-trove of information that scientists use to monitor the health of the birds and of the environment.

Note: Photos are available at www.feederwatch.org.  Visit the “Explore Data” section of the web site to find the top 25 birds reported in your region, rare bird sightings, and bird summaries by state or province.
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Local Bird Observations           

CHECK each issue of the RAVEN for the most recent bird observations for Juneau and Southeast Alaska. View issues of The Raven here.

Juneau Birding Information and Bird Observation Archives Click here for Juneau seasonal bird observations and historical results of Christmas Bird Counts and Great Backyard Bird Counts for prior years.

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2007 Juneau Bird Checklist  Click Here

2007 Skagway Bird Checklist   Click Here

   
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WEDNESDAY NOON BIRD WALKS

Discontinued until Spring, 2009.

Thanks to Beth Peluso for leading the Noon Bird Walks.

 

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The 2007 Juneau

Christmas Bird Count

December 15, 2007

The 2007 Juneau Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 15. 

View 2007 Juneau CBC Results Here

Juneau Christmas Bird Count Report by MARK SCHWAN: 

Thanks to everyone who participated.  On our count day, Saturday, December 15, we had about 40 volunteers working our count circle.  The weather turned out to be agreeable and the tides were in our favor.  There was a seemingly above average amount of waterfowl hunting activity on the wetlands, which likely negatively affected our count somewhat. 

 
We found 70 species of birds on count day, about average for over the last 20 years of counts.  We counted 10,875 birds, just a little above our average, with our two most abundant species being Mallard and Glaucous-winged Gull.  Although our Glaucous-winged Gull count was above average, we found the bulk of the birds outside of the airport and landfill areas (where we traditionally see many), which is likely due to the bird deterrent programs at the two sites, especially at the landfill.  We had an all-time low count for Northwestern Crow, only 189 birds, but we had a new high count for Common Raven, at 575 birds.  We were below average for Steller's Jay and Golden-crowned Kinglet.  Brown Creeper was only a count week bird.  Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers have been scarce this year after last winter.  We had a number of rare birds for this time of year and several casual species for Juneau; highlights included three Wood Ducks in the Mendenhall Valley, one White-throated Sparrow downtown, and one Harris' Sparrow near the airport.
 
In addition to birds seen on the count day, local birders found an additional 15 species during our count week.  This by far exceeded the number of additional count week species seen around any previous count day.  However, our total for the week, 85, is not a record, as back in 1987 and 1988, we had record counts on our count days, and with additional species during those count weeks, we had a total of 88 species for the week in both of those years. 
 
Again, thanks to all who helped, and thanks to Gus van Vliet for helping compile the numbers, and a special thanks to Gus, Paul Suchanek, and Patty Rose for locating so many count week birds : )  !!

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Join the Juneau Audubon Society.

Click here for a membership application form.

 		News and Events      

 

 

New Officers

Mark Schwan        president

       Jeff Sauer              vice-president

Brien Daugherty   treasurer

Patty Rose            secretary

Meetings

 

JUNEAU AUDUBON SOCIETY  NOVEMBER GENERAL MEETING

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13

7:00 PM, UAS Egan Room 221/222

 

ECUADOR, GALAPAGOS AND NATIONAL PARKS OF COSTA RICA

Join Linda Shaw for highlights from her tours of Latin American eco-tourism gems from the Amazon and cloud forests of Ecuador to the legendary Galapagos and the national parks of Costa Rica. Meet fascinating creatures like the only sea-swimming lizard in the world and a giant antpitta named Maria to inspire your next eco-tourism adventure!

 

AND

 

TEN MINUTE INTRODUCTION to eBIRD DATABASE

BY TALDI WALTER

Alaska eBird: Birding for Conservation – Audubon is drawing on citizen science to help document the importance of the Tongas for birds and their habitats. Taldi Walter, Audubon's Communications & Education Specialist, will provide an update on how to use Alaska eBird, an on-line database to maintain your bird observations and life list. Each observation submitted to Alaska eBird contributes to an international network, which is one of the largest and fastest growing biodiversity data resources in existence. Learning how to use eBird is a great way to contribute to conservation in Alaska.

JUNEAU AUDUBON SOCIETY  DECEMBER GENERAL MEETING

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11  Garrett Savory will speak on "Avian Influenza sampling in Greenland"  Garret works for USDA.

Events

Thanksgiving Day Bird Count - November 27th, 2008

The annual Thanksgiving Bird Count is rapidly approaching and will take place November 27th. Thanksgiving Bird Counts are to take place on Thanksgiving Day, and to last for only one hour!  The counter chooses the time that best fits his/her schedule. The count is to be made in a 15-foot diameter circle, the location of which also is determined by the participant.  Such count circles are usually located around whatever attracts birds….feeders, bird baths, cover, etc.  Most participants select a count area visible from a comfortable spot near a window.  This is one winter count that can be made in comfort regardless of the weather.  However, some counters do go outdoors and make their counts in favorite bird areas or on water areas.  The same count circles should be used each year.  The official data sheet is available on our web site click here or at http://www.utahbirds.org/cbc/ThanksgBCForm.htm

 

 

JUNEAU PUBLIC MARKET November 28 - 30, 2008.  Volunteers Needed

Juneau Audubon Society's annual fund raiser is our booth at the Juneau Public Market.  Our biggest seller every year is our wonderful jellies and jams, organized by Mary Lou King.  She not only picks many of the berries, but also with several volunteers, makes the jam!  Even if some of us had trouble finding berries this year, she has plenty of berries for jam!

We need volunteers for the booth.  We like to have two people for two hour shifts.  Since the booth is open 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday and 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, we need 24 volunteers to help us sell our wares during the weekend.  If you are available to help, please call Patty at 586-1334 or send a message to secretary@juneau-audubon-society.org.

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The Raven   The November, 2008 issue of The Raven is now available on-line.   Click here.   View back issues of The Raven here. 

 

 

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New Publications

 

Fairbanks Area Hiking & Birding Guide

Arctic Audubon Society
(Fairbanks, AK)

Produced by the Arctic Audubon Society, this is a 23” x 35” fold-out map showing the locations of 35 popular hiking and birding spots that are easily accessible on public lands. The map includes a guide to local bird species as well as detailed information on each trail.

This publication is available folded (6” x 9”) or unfolded (23” x 35”) and is sold for $13 by mail order (folded only; see contact info. below) or $12 at the following outlets: Alaska Bird Observatory Education Center, Friends of Creamer’s Field Farmhouse Visitor Center, Gulliver’s Books, Beaver Sports, and Geophysical Institute Map Office.

FOR MORE INFO:

Contact Frank Keim, (907) 451-9308 or Gail Mayo (907)479-2954, marcticaudubon@gmail.com;

Arctic Audubon Society, PO Box 82098, Fairbanks, Alaska  99708.

 

 

 

Birds of the Major Mainland Rivers of Southeast Alaska

James A. Johnson, Brad A. Andres, and John A. Bissonette

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station General Technical Report PNW-GTR-739 July 2008

 

Abstract -- This publication describes the bird communities of major mainland rivers of southeast Alaska and is based on a review of all known relevant studies as well as recent fieldwork.  Synthesizes information on the composition, structure, and habitat relationships of bird communities at 11 major mainland rivers.  Information on current management concerns and research needs are also included.

 

Click here to view document.

 

 

Juneau Wildlife Viewing Guide 

The Alaska Department of fish and Game has published a Wildlife Viewing Guide for Juneau.  The pamphlet describes 12 wildlife viewing sites in the Juneau area.  Wildlife viewing tips are included in the pamphlet.  The pamphlet is available from visitor information sites downtown, and at the airport and ferry terminal. 

 

For information about the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail and about wildlife viewing sites in other communities visit www.wildlifeviewing.alaska,gov.

 

 

New Brochures Available

National Audubon Society has produced  a series of brochures by Stephen W. Kress, Ph.D. "Attracting Hummingbirds and Orioles" has just been printed.  The other two brochures are "Bird Feeding Basics" and "Seed and Feed Selection Guide".  All three brochures are available at http://www.audubon.org/local/outreachHome.html.  

 

From this website you can view content, download the brochure, or place an order.

 

Juneau Wetlands/Juneau Airport Expansion

Second Juneau Channel Crossing.   For information on the Second Juneau Gastineau Channel Crossing project being developed by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Works click here and the City and Borough of Juneau click here.

Birds and Plane Safety at Juneau Airport Report This report prepared by Bob Armstrong and Richard Carstensen contains observations and recommendations that may be of use to managers, agencies, and the public, as the Juneau community collectively seeks to improve airport safety, and to maintain or enhance bird habitat on the surrounding wetlands.

Hotspots: Bird Survey of Mendenhall Wetlands - This report prepared by Bob Armstrong, Richard Carstensen, and Mary Willson describes the use of the Mendenhall Wetlands by birds.

For more information on issues affecting the Mendenhall Wetlands click here.

 

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Juneau Access Program.  For information on the Juneau (Road) Access project being developed by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Works click here.
 
 

                  

 

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Send your comments or suggestions to: webmaster@juneau-audubon-society.org

Copyright © 2008 Juneau Audubon Society, Inc.

Revised: November 06, 2008.