Alaska Bird Observatory

1998 Alaska Bird Camp

This has been a big year for ABO's education program. First Sara McDaniel moved away and I moved in to take her place. We had over 3,000 visitors to the Alaska Bird Observatory in 1998, which was 400 more than in 1997. In fall alone, 1,069 people visited the banding station. We conducted nine special programs for 187 participants on topics such as beginning birding, identification of warblers in fall plumage, and winter birding and bird feeding. ABO received grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for two major projects. One grant allowed for the development of the Alaska Bird Camp as a means to promote bird conservation and environmental career development.

"I would recommend Bird Camp to my friends because it is a great chance to learn about birds and teaches you a lot."&endash; a bird camp participant

This was the pilot year for the Alaska Bird Camp. This camp provided a unique opportunity for eight students ages 10-12 to learn about resident and migrant birds in interior Alaska. Students 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. Program goals included:

"Every day there was someone new and that made it exciting."&endash; a bird camp parent about the guest speakers that visited Bird Camp.

Observing and studying birds in an enjoyable and intellectually challenging atmosphere. Gaining skills in basic bird identification. Learning about bird adaptations, habitats, and behaviors. Gaining an understanding of how to design and conduct a technical research project and how to present the results. Providing exposure to careers in environmental sciences.

The camp ran from 13&emdash;17 July 1998. The daily schedule included games and activities, guest speakers, and data collection or preparation. We had nine guest speakers visit and discuss topics such as waterfowl, raptors, Sandhill Cranes, environmental consulting and GIS technology, shorebirds, passerines, and wildlife refuges. The kids' camp experiences were enhanced by visits with Lori Quakenbush, University of Alaska Fairbanks; John Wright and Mark Ross, Alaska Department of Fish & Game; local falconers Randall Compton and Lee Merrick; Gail Mayo, Friends of Creamer's Field; Anna-Marie Benson, Alaska Bird Observatory; Philip Martin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Will Lentz, ABR, Inc. The final day of camp included a field trip to Wickersham Dome off the Elliot Highway. Participants were divided into three groups to conduct research projects. One group looked at the duration of visits to nests by Cliff Swallows. This group discovered that swallows spent more time in the nest than they predicted. Another group surveyed bird species presence in three different habitats on Creamer's Refuge. These budding ornithologists determined that more bird species were present near the seasonal pond than near an open field or on the boreal forest trail. The third group interviewed visitors to determine the importance of birds in their decision to visit Creamer's Refuge. These inquisitive campers found that most visitors they interviewed came to Creamer's to walk around and watch birds. The camp would not have been possible without support from ARCO Alaska Inc., Arctic Audubon Society, Camp Habitat, Ducks Unlimited, Environmental Protection Agency, GCI, Lawson-Valentine Foundation, Skaggs Foundation, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Alaska Tent & Tarp graciously donated the use of a portable building so the campers could be dry and comfortable. Friends of Creamer's Field provided binoculars and spotting scopes for better bird viewing. Watch the next newsletter and ABO's web site for details about next year's camp.