The mission of the Alaska Bird Observatory is to advance the appreciation, understanding, and conservation of birds and their habitats through research and education.

A Message from the Director

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In the latest issue of Alaska Magazine, the editorial and three stories in the "From Ketchikan to Barrow" column are about birds. Unfortunately, one of the stories concerns the slaughter of 40 Common Ravens in Fairbanks this past winter. The news caused outrage among our community, prompting groups that don’t always agree on resource issues (environmentalists and hunters) to come together by contributing to the reward offered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to catch the culprit.

The beauty, songs, and antics of birds are enjoyed by a wide spectrum of people, regardless of socioeconomic status, political beliefs, or recreational interests. Perhaps the greatest role that ABO can play in the bird conservation movement is to expand and nurture this human interest in birds--whether we do this by sharing our research with the public, leading bird walks, or conducting bird-feeding workshops.

I’m pleased to say that 1999 was a banner year for ABO’s educational efforts. Some highlights included 108 formal banding demonstrations at two migration stations, the second annual Alaska Bird Camp for youth, an advanced workshop for bird banders, our first International Migratory Bird Day celebration, and several new birding workshops. We refined our orientation and training program for volunteers, mentored two young scientists, and offered six internships in censusing, banding, and environmental education.

As you look through this annual report, I hope you’ll share the same sense of accomplishment we feel. We certainly couldn’t have achieved so much without the support of our members. By channeling your enthusiasm for birds into some first-rate research and education programs, you’re helping us teach people that birds serve a better purpose than target practice.

Nancy DeWitt
Executive Director

1999 Financial Review
(January 1 through December 31, 1999)

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Fiscal Year 1999 highlights:

• Revenues from memberships and contributions increased by 17% over 1998. Fees and donations for banding demonstrations, workshops, the Alaska Bird Camp, and training programs increased by 32%.
• The 1999 Birdathon, a joint fundraiser with Arctic Audubon Society, raised $13,720---$2,900 more than in 1998. The Birdathon, along with a new raffle, helped increase our overall fundraising revenues by 41% this year.
• Net income from merchandise sales increased by $5,143, thanks to the new Bird Songs of Alaska CD by Leonard Peyton.
• Overall income was approximately the same as in 1998. A drop in grant and contract income (due to completion of projects) was offset by increases among other revenue sources. Expenses were slightly lower than 1998.
• Excess revenue over expenses, $11,944, includes $5,325 received during late 1999 dedicated for 2000 programs, and $1,000 for a self-insurance fund. The remainder was added to ABO’s reserve fund.
• ABO received $44,671 of donated equipment, fundraising items, and in-kind contributions. Of special note was a $12,500 challenge cost-share grant received by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that helped fund our Education Coordinator for several months

In the beginning…

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Tom Pogson established ABO in 1992 with unprecedented drive, perseverance, and the ability to convince almost anyone that Alaska needed a bird observatory. Tom fueled the beginning years at ABO with some of his own personal savings and enough energy to be the Executive Director, Senior Biologist, Volunteer and Education Coordinator, Field Technician, and Office Manager. His accomplishments at ABO are too numerous to mention, but we want to dedicate this annual report to Tom for all that he sacrificed to create a great organization. We wish him the best with his new ventures in Homer, Alaska.

1999 Alaska Bird Observatory Research Program
by Anna-Marie Benson, Senior Biologist

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The conservation of bird populations is a primary concern of the Alaska Bird Observatory. Science-based bird conservation efforts involve studies of trends in abundance, distribution, survival, nest productivity, habitat preferences, and response to disturbance. It is beyond the capacity of a single organization to conduct research that adequately addresses all of these areas of study. ABO has focused our efforts on studies of populations, migration, and habitat use among birds in interior Alaska. As the research program at ABO continues to broaden its biological horizons, we are also committed to adequately funding long-term projects such as Creamer’s Field Migration Station. During 1999, we invested more staff time into the preparation of manuscripts rather than the development of new programs. The publication of these manuscripts will allow our research to be reviewed by scientists with expertise in migration studies and be read by ornithologists throughout North America. Our accomplishments during 1999 were numerous; some key highlights follow.

Creamer’s Field Migration Station

We now have eight years of data from our long-term monitoring program at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in Fairbanks. This year we:

• Banded 4,851 birds of 40 species and accumulated 19,233 net hours.
• Trained two interns in mist-netting and banding techniques.
• Benefited from the assistance of 90 community volunteers.
• Captured the first substantiated record of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in interior Alaska.
• Examined preliminary trends in population estimates among 18 species.
• Examined the frequency of occurrence of aging characteristics from a sample of known-aged birds at Creamer’s Field.
• Prepared two manuscripts for publication—one was accepted by the journal Western Birds, and the second manuscript was submitted to The Auk

Denali Institute Migration Station

• ABO continued our partnership with The Denali Institute to develop and maintain a long-term migration station in the Moose Creek Drainage in Denali National Park. During our second year, we:
• Banded 767 birds of 30 species during 2,361 net hours of operation.
• Provided training to two interns during a six-week period.
• Conducted banding demonstrations for approximately 215 people and slide presentations relating to avian ecology for 130 people.

Landbird Monitoring in Denali National Park

As part of Denali National Park’s Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Program, ABO censused landbirds in the park for the seventh consecutive breeding season. During 1999, we:

• Conducted nine off-road and two on-road point-count surveys.
• Trained one intern in bird-censusing techniques.
• Analyzed estimates of abundance based on studies by ABO and the National Park Service.
• Conducted a review of landbird-monitoring efforts in the park and provided recommendations for improvements.

Training Program

Each spring ABO offers training programs that teach people the skills necessary to band, age, sex, and identify passerines. During 1999 we:

• Trained five biologists during a two-week course and conducted on-site visits to trainee‘s banding sites in Galena and Denali National Park.
• Hosted a four-day workshop led by Peter Pyle on identification of molt limits. Twelve biologists from throughout Alaska attended.

Other Projects

• Anna-Marie Benson received certification from the North American Banding Council to conduct training in mist-netting and banding techniques.
• Conducted two Breeding Bird Surveys along the Denali Highway and one along Chena Hot Springs Road.
• Compiled Northern Hawk Owl sightings in the Fairbanks area.
• Summarized the 1999 data for Alaska landbird mist-netting programs.
• Contributed information on rare bird sightings and unusual bird concentrations in the Tanana Valley to the quarterly journal North American Birds.

Major funding provided by ABR, Inc. Environmental Research and Consulting; Alaska Department of Fish & Game; ARCO Alaska, Inc.; Arctic Audubon Society; Bureau of Land Management; The Denali Institute; Department of Defense; Exxon Company, USA; National Park Service; Skaggs Foundation; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

1999 Publications and Reports

• Benson, A.M. 1999. Creamer’s Field Migration Station: 1999 Spring Report. Submitted to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and the Bureau of Land Management.
• ________. 1999. Denali Institute Migration Station: 1999 Annual Report. Submitted to the Denali Institute.
• ________. 1999. Distribution of Landbirds among Habitats on the Tanana Flats and Yukon Maneuver Area, Fort Wainwright, Alaska 1998. Prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Seervice.
• ________. 1999. Landbird Monitoring in Denali National Park and Preserve: 1999 Annual Report. Submitted to the National Park Service.
• D.W. Shaw and A. M. Benson. 1999. Creamer’s Field Migration Station: 1999 Fall Report. Submitted to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and the Bureau of Land Management.

1999 Alaska Bird Observatory Education Program
by Andrea Swingley, Education Coordinator

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Although avian research was the initial focus when ABO was founded, public education quickly developed as an essential component of our work. Since its inception in 1992, the ABO education program has continued to evolve and flourish. ABO offers an array of educational programs on songbirds, songbird ecology, and conservation that attracted over 5,000 participants in 1999. This figure represents a 58% increase in program participation from 1998!

Some of our major accomplishments in 1999 included:

• Providing banding demonstrations that introduce the Alaska Bird Observatory, methods of songbird research, and conservation issues for 93 school, camp, adult, or youth groups (2,197 participants), and 723 independent visitors to the Creamer’s Field Migration Station. The independent visitors came from at least 39 states and 16 foreign countries.
• Conducting the second year of our five-day "Alaska Bird Camp" in cooperation with Camp Habitat for nine youth ages 9-11. Participants learned about bird identification and ecology, conducted research, explored careers in science, talked with resource professionals, and met other youth with similar interests. The camp was based at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in Fairbanks, and included field trips to a variety of habitats.
• Training an intern in environmental education methods during the 1999 field season. Holly Debenham conducted countless banding demonstrations, served as a counselor for the Alaska Bird Camp, assisted with the operation of the Creamer’s Field Migration Station, entered data, and helped design a new ABO display in the Creamer’s Refuge Visitor Center.
• ABO’s web site at http://www.alaskabird.org continued to grow in 1999. We averaged over 5,000 hits per month and had visitors from 47 different countries. The site contains information about ABO’s history, research, educational programs, job and internship opportunities, and merchandise. There is a quiz to test bird identification skills and a form to become an ABO member. ABO teaching materials are available at the site as well.
• Developing and conducting workshops on songbird ecology, bird watching, and bird feeding for youth and adult audiences. ABO offered 16 different programs to 542 participants throughout the year that covered topics ranging from Golden Eagle ecology to winter bird feeding and fall warbler identification. ABO was also invited to present 26 programs in conjunction with school, community, or tourism events. These programs attracted a total of 1,379 participants and often took place off Creamer’s Refuge.
• Distributing our popular Boreal Forest Songbirds of Alaska teaching unit to 64 educators, and copies of the Songbirds of Alaska activity book 1,341 to students and educators. The teaching materials are available to anyone interested through the ABO web site at http://www.alaskabird.org/bfsunit/index.html. Educators from throughout Alaska as well as places such as Arizona, Montana, Minnesota, California, Louisiana, Virginia, New Jersey, Chile, and Mexico have visited the web site to view the teaching materials. We also completed a revision of our interactive Songbirds of Alaska activity book, introducing two new activities geared for older elementary students.
• Hosting and coordinating a celebration on May 8 for International Migratory Bird Day '99 at Creamer’s Refuge. After a three-year hiatus, ABO reincarnated a single-day celebration filled with workshops and on-going activities for bird-lovers of all ages. The event attracted approximately 160 people to the refuge visitor center. ABO was also instrumental in planning the 2nd Annual Sandhill Crane Festival in August.
• Mentoring two, 13 year-old scientists for a study entitled "Nestling growth rates and nesting success of Tree Swallows at Creamer’s Field." Their results will be presented in a local science fair. Our youth mentoring program is an excellent example of the complementary nature of ABO’s research and education programs.

Major financial support for our education program was provided by: ABR, Inc. Environmental Research and Consulting; Alaska Conservation Foundation – Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust; Alaska Department of Fish & Game; Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.; ARCO Alaska, Inc.; Arctic Audubon Society; City of Fairbanks; Exxon Company, USA; Fairbanks Curling Lions Club; Friends of Creamer’s Field; Skaggs Foundation; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Williams Alaska Petroleum, Inc.

Adopt-a-Net Sponsors Gold ($1,000+) ABR, Inc. Environmental Research & Services Arctic Audubon Society Steve Neumuth Advertising Silver ($500 – 999) Alaska Railroad Corporation Holland America Line – Westours, Inc. Ronald & Mary Kay Teel Usibelli Foundation Wedgewood Resort Bronze ($250 – 499) Alaska Children’s Trust Design Alaska, Inc. Friends of Creamer’s Field Adrienna Holden Holm Town Nursery in Memory of John Holm Jon and Missy Lieberman Jim Logan & Sherry Lewis Mt. McKinley Bank National Bank of Alaska PDC, Inc. Consulting Engineers Steve, Elizabeth, Knight & Jonathan Porter Project on Leading Alaska Restructuring in Science Rotary Club of Fairbanks Doug Toelle & Kelly Wien-Toelle Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc.	Members Benefactors ($5,000+) ARCO Alaska, Inc. Exxon Company, USA Skaggs Foundation Patrons ($1,000 – 4,000) Alaska Airlines Alaska Conservation Foundation – Watchable Wildlife Trust Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. Denali National Park Wilderness Centers, Inc. Fairbanks Curling Lions Club Williams Alaska Petroleum, Inc. Stewards ($500 – 999) ABR, Inc. Environmental Research & Services Alaska Fund for the Future City of Fairbanks Lori Quakenbush True North Foundation Contributors ($250 – 499) Nancy & Jim DeWitt Ducks Unlimited, Fairbanks Chapter GCI Information Insights PTI Alaska David & Andy Sonneborn Dan & Ruth Thomson John Wright	Members, Cont'd Friends ($100 – 249) Michelle & Kadey Ambrose Mike & Jocelyn Barker Ruth & Carl Benson Anna-Marie & Carl Benson Charles & Charlotte Bird Maurine Canarsky Barbara Carlson Cathy Donaldson Horace Drury Steve Du Bois Dan Gibson & Jennifer Jolis Anne & Will Harrison Carla Helfferich & Peter McRoy Suzanne LaCroix & Kevin Murphy Eric Myers Lois & Marshall Lind Jim Loftus Larry & Gail Mayo Greg McClellan Carol McIntyre & Ray Hander Buzz Scher Kent Schwaegerle Mary Shields Robert Suydam Ted Swem Keith Sworts Kathy Taylor-Yokel & Dave Yokel Deborah Vernet Robert White Judy & Frank Williams
Members, Cont'd Supporters ($50 - 99) MacGill Adams Helen Adams & Family Alaska Feed Company Brad Andres & Dana Broden Uma Bhatt & David Newman James & Chris Blackburn Scott Bothwell Larry & Karla Bright Ellen Campbell Dominic Canale & Ruth Colianni Gina Carolan & Mike Vivion Nathan Chelgren Ed & Alene Christiansen Charles Collins Doug & Susie Crevensten April Crosby & Merritt Helfferich Carol Davis Fred Deines Carrie & Dave Dershin Pierre Deviche Bob Dittrick & Lisa Moorehead Robert & Elizabeth Elsner Jacobs & Johnson Family Kathy Frost & Lloyd Lowry Lee Ann Gardner & Richard Judd Mikel Haase Colleen Handel & Robert Gill Abby & Lorrie Hawkins Torie Heart Lawrence & Janet Johnson Warren Jones Sandra Jones Dan & Mary Kennedy Leslie Kerr Brina Kessel Janet Kidd & Jon Lindstrom James King Brian & Victoria Leffingwell Mary Liston Richard Macintosh Stephen Maclean Jill Marshall Philip Martin Brian & Christine McCaffery Tom McGrane Randy Meyers & Jim Dau Dave & Mary Nebert Miriam & Laurence Paquin Pat Pourchot C. J. & Carol Ralph Katharine Richardson William & Betsy Robertson Ken Russell & Laurel Devaney Don Schell Mark Schwan Hustace & Janice Scott Susan Sharbaugh Allen Smith Michael & Linda Smith Kristine Sowl Steve Springer & Cindy Fabbri Heinrich Springer Dianne Toebe David & Marcia Trudgen Glenn Watson Al & Florence Weber Weller Family Barry & Betsy Whitehill Ken Whitten Family Ann Wildman & Dave Mills Nancy Winford & Cyndie Beale Martha & Keith Woodworth	Members, Cont'd Individuals & Families Tim & Kris Adamczak Nathan Adams Amal Ajmi Jack & Jennifer Alban Betty Anderson Becky Applebee Jane & John Aspnes Paul Baicich Patrick Barnum Barbara Baugh Estol & Beth Belflower Deborah & John Bennett Peter Bente Elizabeth Berry Mark Bertram Mary Anne Bishop Jim & Sharon Blick Barbara & Peter Boyle Pam Brandy Marlene Braun Carol Brice Mike Brown Dierk & Mary Brown Peggy & John Bryant Libby Burgess Don & Carol Button Allard Calkins Mary Calmes & Tim Quintal Jenny Campbell Judy Carpenter Fran Chauvin L. John Cogdill Miki & Julie Collins Rita Colwell Pat Crisenbery Ann Cunningham Toni Dama Crabtree Margaret Dangel Maryann Danielson Deborah Dash Sandra Dauenhauer James Davis Randall Davis Fred & Sue Dean Judy Dearborn & Ed Clark Holly Debenham Jim & Barbara Desinger Pat Doak Terry Doyle Dave Drew Julia Duce Nan Eagleson & Bob Shelton Amy Eberhart Chris Eberly Wendy Ehnert Roberta Ennis David Erikson Charles Evans Bill, Dale & Will Fairbanks Robert Fashingbauer Leo & Veda Fay Kim & David Fluestch Thelma Forstein Cathy Franciol Ruth Games Richard Geiger Rebecca Gilbert Richard Gordon Susan Grace & Keith Pollock J. Gregg Jane Gregory Joanne Groves Linda Gustafson Kay Hackney & Luke DeCicco Ray Hadley Ray Hadley Joanne Haller Myrna Hammond Donna Hanley Judith Harrison Gloria Hartley Christopher Harwood Norma Haubenstock Kenneth & Joyce Haugan Steve Heinl James Helmericks Ted & Beth Heuer Keith Hobson Bob Hollister Randall Horner Bill & Shari Howard Carol Hoyt Liz Hutson Laurie Hynson & Family Janlee Irving & Family Janice Jablonski David James Family Frank Janca Bud & Heather Johnson Ann Johnson Brandy Johnson & Family Heather Johnson-Schultz Janet & Torre Jorgensen David & Sandy Junkin Kasza & Campbell Family John Kauffmann Richard Kedrowski Sarah & Cary Keller Knut Kielland Dave Klein Rich & Peg Kleinleder	Members, Cont'd Jim Klepek Bill & Martha Kopplin Richard & Naomi Kraiger Mary Kralovec Mary Lacatena Joyce Lanier Keith Larson Don Leistikow James Levison Ardathe Lindberg Shirley Liss Dan Logen Bonnie Long James Loughlin Paul Lovelace Ricardo Lusetti Christine Maack Deanna Mac Phail Carol & Ray Madaris Jeff Mason George Matz Angela Matz Sara & Terry McDaniel Laurel & Ed McLaughlin Mossy Mead Brad Meiklejohn Fran Mewaldt Carol Meyer Viki Meyer Randy Meyers & Jim Dau Lisa Moen Nancy Moore Heather Moore John Moran Steve & Judy Murphy Ed & Gretchen Murphy Murray Nash Kristine Nemeth Tim Obritschkewitsch Russell & Dr. Lee O’Hare Janis Ohmstede Blair and Kathleen Parker Jan Pessel Christine Petty Leonard Peyton June Pinnell-Stephens & Dennis Stephens Bruce Pitcher Catherine Pohl Jeanne Pontti David & Sondra Porter Bonita & Roger Post Joyce Potter Steve Reidsma Eric Rexstad Charles Richmond John Ricker Bill Rimer & Sue Hills Joan Robson Jean Romig Darren Rorabaugh & Family Mark Ross Kathy Ross Tama Rucker Deborah Rudis Anne Ruggles Marilyn Russell Lorraine Russell Jeff Sauer Susan Savage & Bob Blush Sharon Schulman Gary Schultz Alan Seegert Stan Senner Ted Seto Nigel & Jackie Shaw Taylor Shideler Brad Shultz & Janet Warburton Roselynn Ressa Smith Betsy & Pete Smith Hardy Smith Janine Spencer Timothy Spivey Althea St. Martin Lori Stepansky Thomas Stewart Alice Stickney Paul Suchanek Julie Svetlik Andrea & Chris Swingley Gina Tabachki Paddy Tatum Eric Taylor & Frances Mann Scott Thomas Lane & Dorothy Thompson Lee Tibbitts & David Ward Kenna Sue Trickey William Uhl Vielka Vega William Voss Doug & Kim Wacker Tim Walker Jeff Walters Dr. George West Grant Weyburne Amy Wilcoxon Paulette Wille Irene Williams Kay Wilson Peter Worthington Susan Zerwick & Daryl Scherkenbach Steve Zimmerman Plus a number of anonymous donors!

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Updated 01 Jan 03