Arctic Audubon Society

10/19/2026

Learn about Tessa Hulls’ journey and work in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge at an upcoming talk on October 20 at 5:00 pm! From that journey came "One River: Many Braids," a powerful, graphically illustrated 15-page “zine” exploring the complexity and connections of the Canning River. Presented by the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, the talk will be in-person in Fairbanks, with watch parties in Anchorage, at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and in Homer, plus on Zoom. The zine will be available for FREE at the events!

Learn more about the event and how to attend here: https://alaskarefugefriends.org/tessa-hulls/

10/15/2026

🚨 There was a European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) sighted in Fairbanks this week. While these birds are common in the Lower 48, they are non-native and invasive in Alaska. They are known to displace chickadees, tree swallows, and robins from nesting cavities; they are also known to destroy eggs, and take over territory.

Keep a close eye out for any unusual visitors to your home feeders! Starlings have glossy, dark plumage with speckles and sharp, yellow bills in the summer (dark bills in winter), and are known to travel in flocks. Don't confuse them with our local Bohemian Waxwings, which travel in similar winter flocks but have prominent crests and sleek, gray-brown feathers.

If you spot a starling, please try to safely get a clear photo or video because documenting their presence is critical for tracking them! Please submit any sightings, photos, and location details to the invasive species online reporter on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=invasivespeciesreporter.main

Photo by N. Lewis, NPS in 2022.

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

What an exciting sight of a Tennessee Warbler today by Michelle Sopoliga! One of the latest sightings in the area so far, this uncommon migrant is a rare visitor to Interior Alaska outside of its core eastern-to-central boreal breeding range.

Explore more about this bird in the Fairbanks area on eBird here: https://ebird.org/species/tenwar/US-AK-090

10/05/2026

Give a hoot for small game research? Send us a wing!

Grouse and Ptarmigan Hunters: research depends on your contribution. Please send samples from your harvested grouse and ptarmigan to ADF&G’s Wing Collection Program. These samples allow biologists to better understand s*x and age structure of the harvest, which is important for managing these valuable resources.

Postage paid wing and tail collection envelopes are available at local ADF&G offices. You can also record date and location of harvest, place the wing in an individual bag, and drop it off at your local ADF&G office or mail it to either Palmer or Fairbanks ADFG offices.

Mail to:
Attn: Cameron Carroll
1300 College Road
Fairbanks AK 99701

or

Attn: Tim Spivey
333 Raspberry Rd
Anchorage AK 99518

10/01/2026

Update on Expansion of the Audubon Riedel Nature Reserve!

At the July 23rd meeting, the FNSB Assembly passed an ordinance to allow Arctic Audubon to purchase 40 acres of Borough land to be added to the Nature Reserve. In August, an appraiser walked the property with Nature Reserve Co-Chair Darla Theisen. We eagerly await the appraisal report with a valuation of the land. After this is received, we can negotiate a purchase contract with the Borough.

Raising funds for the purchase price will then begin in earnest, although tax-deductible donations can be made to Arctic Audubon at any time. Please include a note that your donation is for the Nature Reserve. The 40-acre parcel has no road to it and includes steep terrain which makes it difficult to compare with other lots of known value.

https://www.arcticaudubon.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=6372e4443cbc95124ebcdb26

Photo by Darla Theisen.

09/24/2026

If you missed the Emperor Goose presentation by Wildlife Biologist Robyn Thomas last week, have no fear because the recording is here! Watch the full presentation using the link: https://alaskarefugefriends.org/category/events/meetings/

Photo by Lisa Hupp, USFWS.

09/16/2026

Very cool observation of a Common Chiffchaff up at the Toolik Field Station!