
| Field Trips and Events Calendar |
|
|
|
|
Anchorage Audubon is very grateful to the wonderful field trip leaders who volunteer their time and share their extensive knowledge of birds and natural history. We could not offer these excellent field trips without you! Thank you to Chris Maack, Delesta Fox, John Wenger, Dianne Toebe, Mr. Whitekeys, Aaron Bowman, Sirena Brownlee, Kenna Sue Trickey, Bob Dittrick, Paul Fritz, and Joanna Hubbard. The calendar includes Audubon sponsored field trips, monthly membership meetings, and other events and trips that may be of interest to the members of the Chapter.
October 2011:
Fall Freeze-up Waterfowl Field Trip Post-trip Summary:
Today's Anchorage Audubon freeze-up field trip saw 12 participants,
Date and Time: Saturday, October 15th 10:00 am Location: Coffee Land Cafe Leader: Aaron Bowman Come search for the last of the seasons migrant waterfowl before freeze-up when it is too late. We will meet at Coffee Land Cafe near Spenard and Wisconsin and visit Lake Spenard/Hood, Eastchester and Westchester Lagoons and possibly other likely spots. Enjoy puzzling over both Scaup species and the Goldeneyes and try searching for the less usual Scotters, Long-tailed Ducks and others. Car pooling from the cafe will help decrease fuel usage and confusion and increase comradery. Please contact Aaron with questions This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 907-563-0151.
Monthly Meeting Potluck and Photo Party Date and Time: Thursday, October 20, 6:30 pm Location:BP Energy Center
Join us for Anchorage Audubon’s Annual End-Of-Summer Potluck Party and bring your favorite photos of your summer adventures. Get together with your birding pals and share photos, tasty treats, and tall tales. Bring a dish to share—Hot Or Cold but no plug-in heating devices are allowed in the room. Plates, utensils & beverages will be provided as well as napkins for any sloppy eaters who attend. November 2011:
Date and Time: Thursday, November 17, 7:00 pm Location:BP Energy Center
Next Thursday, November 17, Anchorage Audubon presents Aaron Bowman who describes himself as an "Opportunistic yet obsessive birder." Aaron regularly turns up unexpected birds in Anchorage, and he displayed the same zeal during his 13 years living in Northern Japan. Winter Wildlife Around Anchorage and Christmas Bird Count Preview
Date and Time: Thursday, December 8, 7:00 pm
Our December monthly meeting is also the final countdown to the 112th Audubon Society national Christmas Bird Count. The Christmas Bird Count is the largest single birding event anywhere, and Anchorage has one of the highest participations of any American city!
The 2011 Christmas Bird Count Date and Time: Saturday, December 17, Sunrise til Sunset Location: All Over Town
Description: We will scour the Anchorage area in search of every bird of every species. Teams will blanket the area in the name of science, and everyone is invited to the data-tabulating party to be held from 4:30—7:30 in the Kincaid Park Chalet. There will be chili, holiday cheer, and a rollicking good time. To volunteer as a Citizen Scientist for the Christmas Bird Count, watch this site for Contact information or cotnact Sirena Brownlee at 952-5461 January 2012: The Sound of Life
Wildlife of Prince William Sound featuring photography by Milo Burcham
Date and Time: Thursday, January 19, 7:00 pm
FEBRUARY 2012:
February Program to be Announced Soon
Date and Time: Thursday, February 16, 7:00 pm Annual Seward Birding Field Trip
Field Trip: Seward
Winter Birding Field Trip
Bring a lunch and lots
of layers. If you have walkie-talkies, they may be useful to
communicate between cars. Donations of sunflower bird seed are also
welcome to support a local bird feeder (one of our stops) who is
being hit hard by hungry flocks of Pine Grosbeaks this year! We will start the outing from in front of the Harbormaster’s restrooms in Seward at 10:00 a.m. Be prepared for strong winds. In case of stormy weather this trip may be rescheduled for February 25. If you have any questions, please call Aaron at 563-0151.
MARCH 2012: Evening Owl Talk And Walk Date and time: Friday, March 9, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Location: Eagle River Nature Center Ramon Wallace and Sirena Brownlee with the Anchorage Audubon Society will present and informative slide show about Alaskan owls, followed by a 2-3 mile walk. Dress for being outdoors (make sure your clothes are not "noisy") and bring flashlights. Not appropriate for children. Limited to the first 20 people (ages 16 and up) who register at 694-2108. There is a $5 parking fee for those who are not Eagle River Nature Center members.
"How To Be A Better Birder" Forum
Date and Time: Thursday, March 15, 7:00 pm
The Spring Birding Season is right around the corner, and the Anchorage Audubon Society's March program is an exceptional treat. We will gather a truly phenomenal panel for our Third annual forum on "How to Be a Better Birder."
APRIL 2012:
Gunsight Mountain Hawkwatch Weekend Date and Time: Saturday and Sunday, April 14 & 15 Location: Mile 118 on the Glenn Highway Celebrate the return of spring migrating raptors with this annual Anchorage Audubon first field trip of the spring. Migrating raptors that can be seen along the ridgeline near MP 119 include golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, northern goshawk, American kestrel, peregrine falcon and merlin. Swainson's hawk and osprey have also been seen migrating through this area. Bring warm clothing, binoculars, spotting scopes, lunch, snacks, and lawn chairs and sit back while you watch migrating raptors glide over the nearby ridge.Rooms are available at Sheep Mountain lodge, and a special Hawkwatchers' Dinner will take place Saturday night by reservation only. For Reservations, please call the lodge at (907) 745-5121. And once again, Anchorage Audubon and the Mat-Su Birders are honored to supply Port-A-Potties at the event for your Hawkwatching pleasure. Meet at 10:00 AM at the wayside at Milepost 119, Glenn Highway. A short raptor identification talk will take place at 10:30 AM. On Sunday, April 15, the Mat-Su Birders will host their annual Hawk Watch Potluck BBQ at the same location. For details on the Mat-Su Hawk Watch - www.matsubirders.org/html/calendar.html.
Palmer Hay Flat Walk Date and Time: Saturday, April 21, 9:00am Location: Palmer Hay Flats Delesta Fox will be leading the annual Audubon field trip on the Palmer Hay Flats on Saturday April 21, 2012. The walk will start promptly at 9 a.m. from the parking lot at the Hay Flats. Late comers will be able to catch up. Each year the depth of Cottonwood Creek varies, hip boots are suggested as the water could be a ‘tad’ higher than knee-boots. Children are welcomed, although they may need to be carried while crossing the creek. If you have, bring binocs, scope, bird book and a lunch. PLEASE NOTE IF THE WALK IS CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER..APRIL 28 IS THE BACK-UP DATE. Directions: Take the Parks Hwy. from the Glenn Hwy. Take the second exit to the right, which is the Fairview Loop/Hyder exit, turn left at the stop sign and continue under the Parks Hwy. At the ‘T’, turn right, about half way up the hill, watch for the Fairview Loop Rd. sign and turn left. Continue on the Loop Rd for approximately 9.6 miles, then watch for a paved road on the left called Hayfield Rd. Turn left onto Hayfield and travel about 1.2 miles, watch for a sign on the right called Lucy Lake Rd. Just past the L.L.Rd sign, on the LEFT, is a narrow dirt road, (there may be a sign referencing the Palmer Hay Flats) take this road as it winds down to the Hay Flats. Park on the Left. There are no bathroom facilities, although bushes are available near the parking area. Contact Delesta AFTER April 10th @258-6425 for questions. |



Anchorage Audubon field trips and events are open to the public unless stated otherwise in the field trip announcement! We welcome all ages and levels of birders and non-birders on our trips. Contact trip leader for more information about each field trip, or contact Field Trip Coordinator Aaron Bowman, 563-0151. We strongly encourage carpooling on all our field trips if possible.
Birds and Birding in Northern Japan
