February 2010 Redpoll Newsletter Arctic Audubon Society
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The RedpollNewsletter of the Arctic Audubon Society, Fairbanks, Alaska Vol. 32 Issue No. 4 www.arcticaudubon.orgFebruary 2010 Mission of Arctic Audubon:Earth has unparalleled naturaldiversity, productivity, andbeauty, and provides forlife. Recognizing the fullvalue of nature, we work toprotect Alaskan ecosystemsby encouraging research, education, and managementthat will contribute toappreciation and goodstewardship of this naturalheritage. We also strive toconduct our own lives inharmony with nature. The Arctic Audubon Societypublishes The Redpoll for itsmembers monthly fall throughspring. National AudubonSociety (NAS) dues are $35;new members are $20. NASmembership includes localchapter dues. Chapter onlymembership is $10 andincludes the newsletter. Inside… Arctic Audubon Offers Small Grants ...................... 2 Board News ................... 3 Calendar ........................ 4 Chris tmas Bird Cou nt ....... 3 Great Backyard Bird Count..2 Rusty Blackbird Project Needs Volunteers ................ 3 Upcoming Events Northern V oices program feature s F rank Keim speaking about Y upik Eskimo villag es Tursday , February 11, 7:00 pm, Noel Wien Library Auditori um Local writer, birder and activist Frank Keim and his wie Jennier spent rom 1978 to 2000 in the Lower Y ukon School District teaching in our Yupik Eskimo villages. While there, Frank chronicled his experience with the local people and their auna and ora with photos, stories and poetry. In this presentation Frank will show photos and read a ew othe many poems he wrote while in the Lower Yukon Delta. Many othe poems eature the birds he loved to watch. Arctic Audubon Field rip to UA Museum of the North Bird Collection Saturday, February 13, 1:00 pm, UA Museum of the North Join Arctic Audubon or a look at the UA Museum othe North bird collection. Jack Withrow, Curator oOrnithology, will be our guide. We will meet inside the museum at the main entrance. Kanuti Whimbrels: Unlockin g the mystery of their southward migration W ednesday , February 17, 7 pm, Alaska Bird Obser vatory, 418 Wedgewood Drive Biologist Chris Harwood will detail the southward migrations oWhimbrels breeding on Kanuti Nat ional Wildlie Reug e in north-central Alaska to their non-breeding grounds in Central and South A merica. For more inormation, call 451-7159. Arctic Audubon presents… Alaska’s Charismatic Microfauna: Our Mostly Six-Legged Neighbors presentation by Dr. Derek Sikes Monday, February 8 th , 7:00 pm Noel Wien Library Auditorium M ost Alaskan animals have more than our legs and are smaller than a quarter, but this “smaller majority” is generally over- looked, underappreciated, and oen disliked. Derek Sikes, proessor oentomology and curator oinsects at the University oAlaska Museum othe North will share highlights ohis work with these ascinating Alaskan animals. Illustrated with his beautiul photo- graphs, Dr. Sikes will explain the importance oinsects, spiders and their kin, and the excitement ostudying them in Alaska . Derek Sikes was hired as the curator oinsects at the University oAlaska Museum in July 2006. He is an advocate othe study and protection oarthropod, specifcally beetle, biodiversity. A wasp from the woodpile A tenebrionid beetle thathas been the subject ofthe physiology of insectoverwintering team. Photos by Derek Sikes Click beetle Hooper Bay women pickingrye grass Photo by Frank Keim
