The Redpoll: Farthest North Birdathon: May 12-June 10
The Redpoll: Farthest North Birdathon: May 12-June 10
The Redpoll: Farthest North Birdathon: May 12-June 10
Inside…
O n Monday, May 21 at 7 pm at the Noel Wien Library, there will be a program about
“What’s Happening at Creamer’s this Summer.” The program includes a short slide
show and information about Creamer’s Field and its history, events for the summer, and
AK Bird Conference ......... 2 volunteer opportunities. Mark your calendar for the following events:
Goose Arrival Dates ......... 3 • The 2nd Annual Design Alaska Wild Arts Walk, is Saturday, June 2, Noon–5 pm.
Kanuti Refuge Plan .......... 2 • Guided Nature Walks, held June 1–September 1, are scheduled at 10 am Monday
Guided Nature Walks ....... 2 through Friday and 7 pm on Wednesdays. Volunteers interested in leading these nature
Magpie Project ................ 3
walks should come to the May 21 meeting at the Library.
• Saturday Mornings With an Artist, 10 am–Noon, begin June 1.
Small Grants Awarded ..... 2
• A Summer Solstice Walk will be held Saturday, June 23 at 10 am.
Thank Yous .................... 2
• On June 21, Friends of Creamer’s Field will have a booth at the Midnight Sun Festival
in downtown Fairbanks.
Page The Redpoll May 2007
14 1979
16 1980 15
17 1981
22 1982
19 1983
16 1984
10
16 1985
17 1986
18 1987 5
14 1988 y = -0.3572x + 19.345
16 1989 2
R = 0.5054
9 1990
15 1991 0 1975.0 1985.0 1995.0 2005.0
15 1992 Data: ADF&G
14 1993
Year Analysis: LR MAYO
9 1994
13 1995
Have you seen any Black-billed Magpies?
9 1996
6
5
1997
1998
T he Alaska Bird Observatory (ABO) has initiated a citizen science project to gather informa-
tion on the impact of our changing climate on Black-billed Magpies—large, boldly patterned
songbirds that are members of the corvid family (ravens, jays, and crows). Nothing about magpies
12 1999
is subtle, which makes them an ideal species for a citizen-science effort.
10 2000
• They are a relatively large black and white bird with a long tail.
11 2001
• Magpies are loud, vocal, and social.
18 2002 • Their nests are large, domed stick structures, usually placed in sturdy
9 2003 shrubs or trees. Nests are sometimes re-used or new nests are built on
3 2004 top of old nests.
6 2005 • No other bird in Alaska looks like or builds a nest similar to Black-billed Magpies.
6 2006 Northern areas of the state that were previously inhospitable due to a short growing season
13 2007 and extreme low winter temperatures may now be within the Black-billed Magpie’s range due to
a moderating climate. In the past five years, the number of observations of Black-billed Magpies
in the Fairbanks area has increased dramatically. ABO would like to support this anecdotal
evidence with a more rigorous accounting of these observations.
Sightings in all seasons are important but we are especially interested in evidence of breed-
ing, such as young birds, adults carrying food in the spring and summer, and nests. To report a
sighting, make note of the number of birds, location, date, time of day, and a short description
of their behavior. Call in this information at 451-7159 or email it to [email protected]. You
can also report your sightings on our Black-billed Magpie Sighting Datasheet available on ABO’s
website at www.alaskabird.org.
Arctic Audubon Society
PO Box 82098 Nonprofit Org.
Fairbanks, AK 99708 US Postage
www.arcticaudubon.org PAID
Permit No. 181
Fairbanks AK