Conservation

The mission of the Anchorage Audubon Society includes promoting conservation of wildlife, and providing opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about wildlife.  We especially work to keep healthy populations of birds and other wildlife in Southcentral Alaska. Most of our efforts are directed toward conservation of habitats in southcentral Alaska. Birds and other wildlife need natural, undisturbed habitats in order to  feed, rest, raise their young, feel safe, and travel. While Anchorage is developing, we must preserve some natural habitats, or else wildlife will disappear from our area. People benefit from natural areas in many ways, from enjoying wildlife to reconnecting with nature.

Activities of the Anchorage Audubon Society’s Conservation Committee include:
• Reviewing development proposals and land-use plans
• Writing letters to public officials
• Testifying at public hearings
• Working with officials of the municipal, state, and federal governments to refine land-use plans
• Working with private developers who are interested in protecting wildlife habitats as well as  developing other lands.

We base our opinions on scientific data, collected and evaluated by our volunteer scientists as well as other researchers. We also tell the government about the opinions of our members and the public at large.

Recent environmental issues that we’ve worked on include habitat protection in Bicentennial Park, the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, at Connors Lake, at Business Park Wetlands in Midtown, and supporting continuing scientific research on our own endemic Hudsonian Godwit population in the Upper Cook Inlet.

Please contact us if you would like more information, to let us know about an issue that concerns you, or to get involved!

The Conservation Chair can be reached at conservation@anchorageaudubon.org.

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game – Help Protect Potter Marsh – Donations Needed

Posted on by February 7, 2018

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Help Protect Potter Marsh

Donations Needed

October 4, 2017 Update: With generous donations, The Conservation Fund is nearing its’ goal to protect Anchorage’s most beloved wildlife viewing area (150,000 visits a year!). We say “nearing”, because the goal hasn’t quite been reached yet. Read on and if you haven’t already generously donated, please consider doing so. If you have, then thank you on behalf of The Conservation Fund. Every little bit helps!

We received a message from the State of Alaska – Department of Fish & Game today concerning acquiring property adjacent to the Potter Marsh.  We thought you’d like to see it.

Donations can be accepted online at The Conservation Fund – Potter Marsh Page or checks may be mailed to: The Conservation Fund, Attn: Potter Marsh, 2727 Hiland Road, Eagle River, Alaska 99577.

… Read the rest

Conservation – Hudsonian Godwit

Posted on by September 18, 2017

Hudsonian Godwit

Upper Cook Inlet

Recently AAS has supported the efforts of scientists in the Anchorage and Upper Cook Inlet areas to further their research of the Hudsonian Godwit.

Never common, the Hudsonian Godwit was for many years hunted for food and became scarce. Now completely protected, it has increased in numbers considerably, although it is still considered a rarity.

Most Anchorage residents are probably not aware, but the Upper Cook Inlet region (including) Anchorage is one of only four (4) major breeding areas for this handsome and beautiful shorebird on the entire Earth!  Anchorage residents have the opportunity to see this beautiful shorebird daily between mid-May and mid-August!

That makes the combined mud of Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm around Anchorage some pretty choice mud!

The other three (3) major breeding areas are in Canada; one (1) at the mouth of the Mackenzie River in the northern Yukon Territories bordering the Arctic Ocean, one (1) on the south-western shores of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada, and one (1) on the southern shores of Hudson Bay in Ontario, Canada.

It’s sometimes said, that conservation begins in your own backyard.  What better way to assist with conservation than to take care of one our own “backyard” birds – the Hudsonian Godwit!

Thanks for all our AAS members for their support of this important effort!  If you’re are able, please consider continuing your support so we can continue assisting with the Hudsonian Godwit (and others) conservation effort!