Whalefest 2009: www.whalefestkodiak.com

Whale Fest Kodiak is a 10-day long celebration of the return of Eastern Pacific Gray Whales to Alaskan waters. Here on scenic Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska, we are privileged enough to have nearly all of this population pass by on their journey north- and many grays remain around until the time comes to go back down south.

Whale Fest Kodiak 2009 will mark the 13th year that the festival has been running. It is not only a hot attraction for locals, but many tourists also travel to Kodiak to take part in the diverse events offered. In the past, events have ranged from everything from scientific lectures to marine mammal-inspired music, from traditional Native Alaskan games to environmental forums.

April 1-30 Whale Fest Ar t Show at The Next Page. Please come view and purchase new ocean inspired creations in any medium by local artists. Contact: Jennifer Ott 486-6164. Location: The Next Page.

April 17 - 29 Childrens Whale Art Show Stop by to view the amazing whale art created by local students. Arranged by Cat DeVries. Location: The High School Foyer in the glass cases.

April 4-May 2 Spill: Alaskan Artists Remember The exhibit is sponsored by the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, and curated by Asia Freeman of Bunnell Street Arts Center, Homer. It features the original artwork of thirty Alaskan artists, including Kodiak artists Sven Haakanson, Alf Pryor and Antoinette Walker. The opening reception will be Saturday, April 4, from 5 to 7:30 pm. Visitors can enjoy an evening of art and remembrance with free admission, refreshments and the opportunity to meet the Kodiak artists represented in the show. Location: Baranov Museum.

April 23, 24, & 25 ComFish Alaska 2009 Celebrating 50 Years of Commercial Fishing and Processing. A special Maritime Museum photo display of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. WhaleFest Shirts Available at the Public Radio KMXT Booth. Contact: Deb King 486-5557 or Cheryl Nugent 539-2266. Location: New Downtown Convention Center.

Audubon Alaska eBrid Workshop: 20 April 2009

Audubon Alaska, with support from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, has worked hard to develop Alaska eBird, a growing online database that is revolutionizing the way the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. Now is your chance to learn how to submit your own observations and to view and explore this vast database of records on bird distributions and abundance. Join us April 20, 2009, for a one-day workshop and discover all Alaska eBird has to offer!

What: An interactive, hands-on eBird workshop with Brian Sullivan from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Sullivan has conducted fieldwork on birds throughout North America for the past 15 years. He is currently project leader for eBird and the Avian Knowledge Network, photographic editor of the Birds of North America Online at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, and photographic editor of the journal North American Birds.

The half-day seminar will include collecting data in the field (bring your binoculars), instruction on how to submit your observations, and exploration of the numerous eBird tools valuable to birders and researchers alike. The workshop is open to both new and veteran eBird users. Please feel free to bring all those questions you’ve been waiting to ask.

When: April 20, 2009 from 1:00-4:30pm. Where:Gordon W. Hartlieb Hall (GHH), Room 103. University of Alaska Anchorage Campus.

Cost: This free event is sponsored by Audubon Alaska, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and the University of Alaska Anchorage. For additional information and to register please contact Taldi Walter at(907) 276-7034 or twalter@audubon.org *Space is limited* Registration will be filled on a first come basis. Check out Alaska eBird www.ebird.org/ak

Networker:

The Spring 2009 issue of the Chapter Networker is now available for viewing in a Web and PDF version at http://www.audubon.org/local/cn/networker.html.

Articles and announcements include:

Think Big with a TogetherGreen Grant
Tools for Chapter
sA Message from John Flicker
"Greenomical" Practices at Chapter Services
Using Facebook as an Organizing Tool: Part II
Habitat for Herons
What are the Birds Telling us About Global Warming?
Chapter Leader Models Success for Audubon Adventures
Keep Track of the Birds in Your Yard All Year
Chapter Discount on Audubon Licenced Products
New Chapter Publication
Chapter Networker Information

Internship at NWR

Do you know a high school student (age 15-18) who has an interest in conservation and has a passion for sharing what they know with others? Kodiak Refuge is looking for high school students to join our summer Visitor Services team!

Kodiak Refuge is seeking to hire three (3) high school students (age 15-18) to join our Visitor Services team at the Kodiak Refuge Visitor Center. Applications are being accepted through the month of April at the Kodiak Refuge Visitor Center (last day for applications is April 30, 2009).

In addition to working at our Visitor Center through the summer months, interns will... Get trained in public outreach and education by staff from Kodiak Refuge, ADF&G Watchable Wildlife Program and Alaska Youth For Environmental Action (AYEA) Meet visitors from around the globe! Get their hands dirty with some biological field work and trails projects in Kodiak Refuge (three trips scheduled) Attend the AYEA state-wide leadership conference in the fall

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call or email.

Thanks!
Tina Shaw
Visitor Center Manager
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
direct phone- 907.487.0282

17th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

Welcome to the 17th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. Join us in celebrating spring and the more than 130 species of birds, including over 20 shorebirds, that migrate to Kachemak Bay. This year we also honor the 50th Anniversary of Alaska’s Statehood, as well as the Centennial Anniversary of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska. Enjoy presentations by our two Keynote speakers: Jack Dalton, aYup’ik Storyteller and artist, and Paul Baicich, chair of the Council on Environmental Education’s Bird Education Network.

This year’s theme is Birds in Culture: Our Brothes and Sisters Return. You’ll have numerous opportunities to enjoy food, music and presentations honoring a variety of cultures. Our expert speakers, naturalists and guides will share their extensive wealth of birding knowledge, as they lead you through the many field events, workshops, presentations and boat and kayak tours being offered. And spend your evenings enjoying our great lineup of entertainment for all ages.

Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced birder, or even the nonbirder in your group, you’ll enjoy this fun-for-the-entire-family weekend event. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this very special year!

Happy birding!


Christina M Whiting, Festival Coordinator
c/o the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Committee

State Park Survey

Forward to any Alaska State Park users you know who would be interested.I just took the survey and it only takes about 5 minutes. Best one like this I've seen over the years. Please take five minutes to fill out this survey from Alaska Parks and Recreation.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?s...Mkoon1jw_3d_3d

This statewide opinion survey will help the State of Alaska, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation better understand what Alaskans do for outdoor recreation and how we can meet future recreation demands. Results will become part of a statewide outdoor recreation plan that will guide policy and funding decisions. Please feel free to forward to others.

TogetherGreen Innovation Grants

Hi, everyone. As you know, the application process is open for Year 2 of the TogetherGreen Innovation Grants. If you are interested in applying for a grant, or if you are helping someone apply, please join us for a WebEx session to go over the program goals and answer questions about the online application process.

The session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 1pm EST.

To join the session, please email Flo Miller, Innovation Grants Manager, at fmiller@audubon.org. You will need to RSVP by this Friday, March 6, so that she can register you as a participant. She will then send you an invitation via WebEx with details on how to join the session. You'll need access to a computer with fairly fast Internet, and a phone to join via conference call.
Please contact Flo with any questions at fmiller@audubon.org or 802-505-0839. And if you cannot make this time and would like us to schedule another call the following week, please let us know what timing works best. We are happy to do an evening session if that would be helpful.

We're looking forward to getting some great applications.