Alaska Bird ObservatoryAlaska Bird Observatory |
2003 Raptor Research Foundation Annual Meeting
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The Alaska Bird Observatory will host the Raptor Research Foundation Annual Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska from September 3-7, 2003. The 2003 Annual Meeting is sponsored by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-Alaska Region, Alaska Bird Observatory, USDA Forest Service Alaska Region, Chugach National Forest and Tongass National Forest, Gates of the Arctic National Preserve, Denali National Park, National Park Service, Alaska Support Office, USGS, Alaska Science Center, ABR, Inc Environmental Research & Services and Alaska Department of Fish & Game - Division of Wildlife Conservation.
Details will be posted on or linked to this web page as they develop.
ANCHORAGE AND SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA
The largest city in the largest state in the United States, Anchorage, Alaska (pop. 261,000), is situated on Cook Inlet at the foot of the magnificent Chugach Mountain Range. Downtown Anchorage offers big-city living with impressive views of volcanoes, Denali (Mt. McKinley) and the Cook Inlet. Anchorage is located in southcentral Alaska, 360 road miles south of Fairbanks. The road north from Anchorage leads to the beautiful Matanuska Valley, a major flyway for migrating raptors. Anchorage is on Alaska Standard Time (AST), one hour behind Pacific Standard Time, and four hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
Because of the Japanese currents from the Pacific Ocean, Anchorage has a temperate, maritime climate. September’s temperature averages 57 degrees F but can vary from the low 30's at night to the 70's during the day. Recognize that temperatures can be much cooler north of Anchorage (in case you are traveling to Denali or other destinations). Bring layers to dress in, including rain gear. Average September day-length in Anchorage is 14 hours and 25 minutes.
There are a number of activities based in or near Anchorage. Details are available here.
The conference venue is the Anchorage Hilton Hotel in downtown Anchorage, seven miles from the airport. Guest rooms include a coffee maker with complimentary coffee and tea, two dual-line telephones with voicemail and dataports, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, alarm clock radio, free HBO and pay-per-view movies. The Anchorage Hilton features a cafe, gourmet restaurant, bar, Kinko's business center and health club with a swimming pool, whirlpool, Nautilus machines, treadmills, Lifecycles, and separate saunas for men and women. Parking is available for all overnight guests at the Municipal Lot on 3rd and E Street (across from the Hilton). Passes may be obtained at the front desk at a cost of $6.00 per day. Attendees who are not a registered guest at the Hotel may purchase parking passes at the front desk.
A limited number of rooms will be held for conference attendees until August 29, 2003. The conference room rate is $161/night (single/double, plus 8% tax), which is in effect three days prior and three days after the official conference dates. Conference participants are responsible for making their own reservations by calling 1-800-245-2527 or going to www.anchorage.hilton.com. Please request the group rate for the Alaska Bird Observatory/Raptor Research Foundation (group code AKB). A first night's deposit is required and is refundable up to seven days in advance of the conference. Please be aware that the Hilton charges a $50 early departure fee should you check out prior to your reserved checkout date. You will have the opportunity to change your departure date at check-in without being charged the $50 fee.
A selection of hostels, campgrounds, bed & breakfasts and alternate hotels are also available, but we encourage folks to stay at the Hilton as our meeting room costs are based on reaching our hotel room commitment.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION & ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
An on-line registration form is available. You must have Adobe Acrobat Viewer installed to view and print the form. We have set the following registration fees:
| Postmarked On or Before |
June 1
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August 1
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After August 1
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|---|---|---|---|
| RRF Members |
$110
|
$125
|
$145
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| Non-RRF Members |
$120
|
$135
|
$155
|
| Full-time Students |
$60
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$75
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$95
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Registration includes admission to all scientific presentations and the symposium, the conference programs, two receptions and an evening barbecue. It does not include the awards banquet, which is an additional $40/person ($20 for students). Lifetime members and guests of conference registrants may attend the two receptions and barbecue for $25/person, and field trips and the banquet at the costs listed.
A one-day registration fee of $50 will be available. It includes a presentation schedule and admission to that day's talks. It does not include the abstract booklet, conference mug, receptions, barbecue, or admission to the poster session.
Note that the deadline for submitting abstracts is June 1, 2003. The Scientific Program Chair for the 2003 meeting is Angela Matz (Angela_Matz@fws.gov).
Current research and conservation issues are often debated at RRF meetings and resolutions are presented to the membership for endorsement. If you intend to present a resolution, submit a draft version to the Resolutions Committee Chair, Michael J. McGrady, Am Rosenhugel 59, A-3500 Krems, Austria, phone and fax: +43 (0) 2732 72028, e-mail: mikejmcgrady@aol.com before June 2, 2003.
Visit http://biology.boisestate.edu/raptor/rrfi.htm for application/nomination details and additional information.
Awards for recognition of significant contributions
The Tom Cade Award is a non-monetary award that recognizes an individual who has made significant advances in the area of captive propagation and reintroduction of raptors. Contact: Brian Walton, Predatory Bird Research Group, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA; phone: 408-459-2466; fax: 408-459-3115; e-mail: walton@cats.ucsc.edu
The Fran and Frederick Hamerstrom Award is a non-monetary award that recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the understanding of raptor ecology and natural history. Contact: Dr. Clint Boal, Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, BRD/USGS, Texas Tech University, 15th Street & Boston, Ag Science Bldg., Room 218, Lubbock TX 79409-2120; phone: 806-742-2851; e-mail: cboal@ttu.edu
Awards for student recognition and travel assistance
The James R. Koplin Travel Award is given to a student who is the senior author and presenter of a paper or poster to be presented at the RRF meeting for which travel funds are requested. Contact: Dr. Patricia A. Hall, 5937 E. Abbey Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86004; phone: 928-526-6222; e-mail: pat.hall@nau.edu. Application deadline: due date for meeting abstract.
The William C. Anderson Memorial Award is given to both the best student oral and poster presentation at the annual RRF meeting. The paper cannot be part of an organized symposium to be considered. Contact: Laurie Goodrich, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mtn Road, Kempton, PA 19529; phone: 610-756-6961; e-mail: goodrich@hawkmountain.org. Application deadline: due date for meeting abstract form, no special application is needed.
Grants and Application deadline for all grants is February 15, 2004
The Dean Amadon Grant for $200-400 is designed to assist persons working in the area of distribution and systematics (taxonomy) of raptors.
The Stephen R. Tully Memorial Grant for $500 is given to support research and conservation of raptors, especially to students and amateurs with limited access to alternative funding. Agency proposals are not accepted.
Contact for the Amadon and Tully grants: Dr. Carole Griffiths, 251 Martling Ave., Tarrytown, NY 10591; phone: 914-631-2911; e-mail: cgriff@liu.edu.
The Leslie Brown Memorial Grant for up to $1,000 is given to support research and/or the dissemination of information on raptors. Proposals concerning African raptors will receive highest priority. Contact: Dr. Jeffrey L. Lincer, 9251 Golondrina Dr., La Mesa, CA 91941; e-mail: jefflincer@tns.net.
Donations of items such as rare or unique raptor/bird books, art, and collectibles are needed for the Saturday evening banquet. Bring your items with you or mail them to Michael Goldstein, Chugach National Forest, 3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503. If you plan to bring an item with you, please e-mail Mike at mgoldstein@fs.fed.us of your plans so we may better coordinate the event.
The Hilton cannot accept large amounts of meeting or presentation materials any soooner than three days prior to the conference and will charge a minimum of $25/day for storage. If you need to distribute large quantities of printed materials, one option is to have them printed at the Kinko's business center located in the Hilton. For more information, call Kinko's at (907) 344-0046 or visit www.kinkos.com.
We have reserved space in the coffee break and poster session room for up to 15 exhibitors and vendors. Clothed and skirted tables may be reserved for $60 for nonprofit organizations and $85 for commercial/for-profit companies. Exhibits can be set up starting September 3 and must be removed by Saturday night. The exhibit room will be locked when not in use. If you would like to reserve exhibit space and obtain an exhibitor's contract, please contact Nancy DeWitt prior to July 30 at (907) 451-7159 or ndewitt@alaskabird.org. The Hilton cannot accept and store exhibits and materials prior to the conference. Please use the following dryage company (if exhibit storage is needed): Art Service North, 601 w. 41st Avenue, Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99503, phone: (907) 561-2115, fax: (907) 563-7428, email: artsvc@alaska.net.
Vendors and Exhibitors Registered:
Alaska Bird Observatory
An two-day symposium on the Ecology and Management of the Northern Goshawk will be held in conjunction with the conference. The goal of the symposium is to assemble researchers and managers from around the world for an exchange of information with which to assess the current state of knowledge on northern goshawks. Topics of special interest are 1) population ecology and demographics, 2) linkages between habitat and demographic performance, and 3) landscape level management, but submissions dealing with any aspect of northern goshawk ecology and management will be considered. For more information, contact symposium organizer Dr. Clint Boal, Texas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2120. Email clint.boal@ttu.edu
Airlines – Ted Stevens International Airport is conveniently located only a few miles from downtown Anchorage. Airlines serving Anchorage include Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, American, America West, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest, TWA, and United. Alaska Airlines is offering a special meeting fare for conference attendees flying from any city served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air. Call the Alaska Airlines Group Desk at 1-800-445-4435 and mention code CMR5970 (or you can make arrangements through your travel agent). Be sure to check the internet for other Alaska Airlines deals, as you may be able to find a better fare on the web.Taxi service is available from the airport. Car rentals are available, but you should reserve a vehicle in advance.
Alaska Marine Highway - If you have the time, the ferry that navigates the Inside Passage between Bellingham (WA), Prince Rupert (BC), and Alaska is a grand way to travel to or from the conference. However, you must make your reservations far in advance, especially if you are traveling with a vehicle or want a stateroom (although sleeping in the solarium is loads of fun!). Visit www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/guide.html or call 1-800-764-3779.
Independent travelers may want to use the services of ALASKA WELCOMES YOU!, INC. to arrange for activities such as fishing, flightseeing, wildlife viewing, glacier visits, and lodging outside of Anchorage. They'll provide you with a list of activities and adventures to choose from, propose an itinerary, and book all of the activities, lodging and transportation for you. More information is at www.accessiblealaska.com.
Anchorage Convention & Visitors' Bureau - www.anchorage.net Order your free Anchorage visitors guide from this site. Many links to lodging, dining, activities, hiking trails, golf, events calendar, etc.
Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association - AWRTA is the statewide ecotourism organization. Check out www.alaskaecotourism.org or www.awrta.org for their guide to activities, wildlife viewing, lodging, etc.
The Milepost (c) - www.themilepost.com The “legendary travel guide” to the highways, roads, ferries, lodgings, recreation, attractions and services along the Alaska Highway and within Alaska. Can be ordered from their web site ($29.95) or by calling 1-800-726-4707.
A Birder's Guide to Alaska - by George C. West ($28.95). Newly published. Available from the American Birding Association (www.americanbirding.org/abasales/) and the Alaska Bird Observatory.
Updated 20 August 03
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