Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Eagle Chat, Alaska Birding > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Wednesday, February 8 at 08:29 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Ivory Gulls,©BirdQuest

08 Feb Juneau Audubon Society Presentation [Mark Schwan ] 5 Feb Dead eagle at Boy Scout beach [Julie Coghill ] 5 Feb Coyote at Salmon Creek [Cynthia Hansen ] 04 Feb Pygmy owl [Laurie Craig ] 04 Feb Red-throated Loon ["Matt Goff" ] 28 Jan Thank to e-bird users in Southeast [brad benter ] 24 Jan Redpolls [Julie Coghill ] 16 Jan Re: Trapped Pacific Loon and other observations [] 15 Jan Trapped Pacific Loon and other observations [Paul Suchanek ] 12 Jan Eagles as Fireside Lecture January 13 [Laurie Craig ] 12 Jan Murre mortality observations [] 10 Jan Juneau Audubon Presentation Thursday January 12 [Mark Schwan ] 9 Jan Re: Common Murre, Skagway ["Laurie L." ] 09 Jan Re: Common Murre, Skagway ["Matt Goff" ] 9 Jan common murre, skagway [Pat Bock ] 9 Jan Common Murre, Skagway [Pat Bock ] 26 Dec Christmas Coyote ["Larry" ] 25 Dec Hawk Owl ["triciaorush" ] 23 Dec Northern Pygmy Owl [Karla Hart ] 21 Dec Pine Grosbeaks and Shopping Sparrows [Linda Shaw ] 20 Dec Re: Re: Help!!! [Karla Hart ] 20 Dec Re: Re: Help!!! [Linda Shaw ] 20 Dec Re: Help!!! [] 16 Dec Juneau CBC; final update [Mark Schwan ] 14 Dec Juneau Christmas Bird Count [Mark Schwan ] 14 Dec Eagles and Glacier Hwy blasting [Julie Coghill ] 13 Dec Local bird conservation item [Gwen Baluss ] 07 Dec Juneau Audubon meeting and program tomorrow night [Mark Schwan ] 6 Dec redpolls ["Laurie L." ] 2 Dec Re: Dippers in Gold Creek [kevin maier ] 2 Dec Re: Dippers in Gold Creek [] 2 Dec Dippers in Gold Creek [Linda Shaw ] 1 Dec Pair of Western Grebes near Fish Creek delta [Paul Suchanek ] 26 Nov western screech owl ["bwright1208" ] 25 Nov Evening Grosbeak ["bwright1208" ] 23 Nov shrike [Andrew and Lauren Smoker ] 22 Nov Subject: "SeaBC" Sea Bird Count Event [Gwen Baluss ] 21 Nov Re: pine grosbeak [Karla Hart ] 22 Nov Thanksgiving Day Bird Count ["bwright1208" ] 22 Nov pine grosbeak ["bwright1208" ] 21 Nov Re: funny four letter codes [Gwen Baluss ] 21 Nov funny four letter codes ["Agler, Bev (DFG)" ] 19 Nov long-eared owl ["Agler, Bev (DFG)" ] 17 Nov lone varegated thrush on St Ann's Doug [Mary Ellen Frank ] 14 Nov palm warbler ["Agler, Bev (DFG)" ] 10 Nov Re: Western Grebe and Goshawk at Fish Creek, 11/10 [] 10 Nov Western Grebe and Goshawk at Fish Creek, 11/10 [Paul Suchanek ] 10 Nov Yellow Wagtail ["andersonmark142" ] 09 Nov Re: Juneau Audubon public meeting-7:00pm UAS Egan lecture hall Room 112 [Wright Brenda ] 09 Nov Townsend's Solitaire [Steve Zimmerman ] 08 Nov Juneau Audubon public meeting-7:00pm UAS Egan lecture hall Room 112 ["bwright1208" ] 08 Nov Auke Lake loon? [Laurie Craig ] 8 Nov Fw: goth hippie [] 4 Nov RE: Re: 2 Coyotes [Pat Bock ] 04 Nov RE: Re: 2 Coyotes [Andrew and Lauren Smoker ] 3 Nov Re: Re: 2 Coyotes [Scott R a y ] 3 Nov Re: 2 Coyotes [Cynthia Hansen ] 3 Nov Re: 2 Coyotes [Larry Edfelt ] 04 Nov Eagle lecture on Friday Nov 4 ["bwright1208" ] 03 Nov Re: 2 Coyotes [M & M ] 3 Nov pair of white swans and one cygnet [Pat Bock ] 3 Nov 2 Coyotes [Larry Edfelt ] 01 Nov Lecture at UAS Friday Nov. 4 at 11 by David Hancock ["bwright1208" ] 29 Oct three-toed woodpecker [Julie Coghill ] 29 Oct Re: Banded eagle [Pam Randles ] 28 Oct Pygmy-owl and Osprey out Glacier Highway [Paul Suchanek ] 28 Oct Banded eagle ["pamelathr" ] 26 Oct an otherwise frivolous aside. [armunro ] 25 Oct tundra swan ["Toi" ] 25 Oct tundra swan ["Toi" ] 24 Oct sharp-tailed sandpiper ["Agler, Bev (DFG)" ] 17 Oct Western Grebe off Outer Point - 10/17 [Paul Suchanek ] 15 Oct Northern Pygmy Owl & Long Tail in Haines [1 Attachment] [Marlena Mooring ] 11 Oct Re: exercise [M & M ] 11 Oct varied thrush plumage [Gwen Baluss ] 11 Oct exercise [armunro ] Subject: Juneau Audubon Society Presentation From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:19:26 -0900 Tomorrow evening, Thursday, February 9, at 7pm, at UAS in the Glacier View Room (221) Juneau Audubon Society will host a presentation by Richard Carstensen, one of Southeast Alaska's premier ecologists and natural historians. For our program, Richard will give his perspectives from three decades of research on Juneau's most important and controversial fish and wildlife habitat, the Mendenhall Wetlands. How can an understanding of succession and developmental changes contribute to better management decisions in the future? There is nobody better to make such a presentation, so plan on attending if you can. Please take note that we are in the Glacier View Room this month and not in the lecture hall. Thank you. Mark Schwan Juneau Audubon Subject: Dead eagle at Boy Scout beach From: Julie Coghill <photoalaska AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 12:34:02 -0900 This is from Heidi Olson, who had a problem posting to Eaglechat. > On Saturday, we went out and did our monthly beach survey for University of Washington COASST. We have been surveying Boy Scout Beach for about 3 years. We found a deceased adult BAEA. It was fully intact with head, beak, wings, and feet with a decimated body cavity. No signs of oil or entanglement. It found near the high tide water mark for the previous high tide (just a guess). The wing span was 60 cm, bill 65 mm and tarsus 110 mm. We tagged it with 2 orange plastic ties on its right foot which is our COAAST numbering code. No other tags were found. > > Heidi Olson ------------------------------------ Subject: Coyote at Salmon Creek From: Cynthia Hansen <captcynsmail AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 10:11:56 -0800 (PST) Good Sunday morning to all. I would like to report that I saw one of LarrytheFishGuys critters down my way this morning. I was walking my dog down at the south end of Greenwood Street and a good sized coyote was standing in the cul de sac. He didn't immediately run when he saw us, but then did take off up into the forest. In the warmer months of the year we do get a lot of bear and deer activity in this area as it is just above Salmon Creek and both use it to access the creek. Cynthia captcynsmail AT yahoo.com Subject: Pygmy owl From: Laurie Craig <lauriecraig AT gci.net> Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:24:08 -0900 This morning in a cottonwood top seen from visitor center. Laurie - sent from my iPod ------------------------------------ Subject: Red-throated Loon From: "Matt Goff" <goff AT nawwal.org> Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:04:05 -0900 A Red-throated Loon showed up in a small section of open water at the lower end of Swan Lake today. My guess is it landed there during the wind storm last night or earlier today and found itself without enough room to take off. It made for some easy viewing, however. I wrote up a more detailed account posted a couple of pictures of it here: http://www.sitkanature.org/wordpress/2012/02/03/red-throated-loon/ (Red-throated Loons are Rare along the road system in Sitka) Matt Goff Sitka ------------------------------------ Subject: Thank to e-bird users in Southeast From: brad benter <benterbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:57:02 -0800 (PST) I just returned from a trip to Ketchikan and Juneau.  Through a tip I got from Paul Suchanek I checked out e-bird for recent sightings of pygmy owl in the area.  Two days earlier Gus posted a bird from Auke Bay which I was able to (re) find sitting on top of a small spruce, just as posted!  Also thanks to Steve and Andy in Ketchikan for helping me photograph Brandt's cormorant and Anna's hummingbird!  Thanks to all! Now to find time to enter my birds. Brad Benter Subject: Redpolls From: Julie Coghill <photoalaska AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:44:22 -0900 This morning we have two common redpolls in with the pine siskins. Julie Coghill 3 mile N Douglas ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Trapped Pacific Loon and other observations From: juneauart AT aol.com Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:20:27 -0500 (EST) This is in reference to the trapped Pacific Loon. I am with the Juneau Raptor center. I will drive out and see if there is anything we can do for the bird tomorrow. If anyone sees birds like this in distress, please call our pager at 790-5424 asap. We got a call from the airport manager yesterday about a loon trapped in the float pound. Same situation. Loons need a lot of water to take off and these guys got iced into tiny pools. That loon was rescued and released into the river. I hope there is something we can do for this guy. Kathy Benner JRC Subject: Trapped Pacific Loon and other observations From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:54:23 -0900 There is a Pacific Loon trapped in a tiny bit of open water on Twin Lakes in the basin nearest downtown a ways out in front of the Dock extending out into Twin Lakes. This is a very odd location for a Pacific Loon. Not sure why it allowed itself to be trapped but it probably couldn't take off now even if healthy. There have been huge numbers of Pacific Loons in Gastineau Channel (at least 400) between the bridge and the rock dump area. Also there is a Rough-legged Hawk found a couple days ago by Mark Schwan that can be seen from the end of the Airport Dike Trail. It hangs out at the tops of some small spruce trees out near an island of large spruce (at least 1/3 mile toward downtown from the end of the dike trail). Also there are at least 3 hybrid ducks around: a Mallard X Northern Pintail was seen at both Eagle Beach and at Salmon Creek. Also a hybrid Common X Barrow's Goldeneye male continues to hang out along North Douglas highway past the boat launch. Subject: Eagles as Fireside Lecture January 13 From: Laurie Craig <lauriecraig AT gci.net> Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:12:11 -0900 Fellow birders: Please join us at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Friday night January 13 at 6:30pm and repeat at 8pm for the following free Fireside Lecture and multimedia presentation: "Bald Eagles: local residents to international travelers" US Fish and Wildlife Service researcher Stephen B. Lewis details his studies of bald eagles at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center’s Friday, January 13 Fireside Lecture. The first lecture begins at 6:30pm and the second lecture repeats at 8pm in the center auditorium. Lectures are free. Doors open at 6pm. Bald Eagles are known to range widely throughout the year. As part of two projects, Stephen has applied GPS transmitters to eagles in Icy Bay and near several airports (including Juneau) to understand their space use and to document their movements. Steve will discuss some of the interesting movements seen from these birds and try to relate them to food, seasonal timing, and potential human impacts. Subject: Murre mortality observations From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:50:55 -0900 Hello All, There is an on-going murre & now marbled murrelet mortality event in Skagway and some murre mortality has also been reported in Sitka. If anyone observes murres or other birds acting lethargic or finds carcasses, please call me (W)907-780-1183 or my cell 723-9981and we will try and collect birds and site/incident data. Eagles have been predating carcasses (in Skagway & Sitka) so if you find what appears to be predated murre remainsthat would also be of interest. This week murre carcasses from Sitka & Skagway have been sent to the National Wildlife Health Lab in Madison, WI, for necropsy to try and determine what is causing these mortalities. Thanks, -Deb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deborah D. Rudis Environmental Contaminants Biologist US Fish & Wildlife Service Ecological Services Field Office 3000 Vintage Blvd. #201 Juneau, Alaska 99801 907/780-1183 fax 907/586-7099 c 907/723-9981 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.' John Muir Subject: Juneau Audubon Presentation Thursday January 12 From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:22:11 -0900 Hello Juneau Eaglechatters: Juneau Audubon Society will host an evening lecture and slide show this Thursday, January 12, at UAS in the Egan Lecture Hall, Room 112, starting at 7pm. Doug Jones will be our speaker. We are calling Doug's program, A Naturalist's Summer on the Disney Wonder. Here is some background: During the summer of 2011 a group of ten Juneau naturalists and biologists were offered the opportunity to travel on the cruise ship Disney Wonder and give presentations on our home here in Southeast Alaska. The U.S. Forest Service agreed to supply a person for any weeks not committed by other local naturalists. Doug Jones was that person, and was onboard for seven weeks doing a variety of presentations. Doug, an accomplished nature photographer, will describe his experiences on the cruise ship last summer, including talking about the birds he saw, and observations on how the experience worked from his perspective. Doug has done a variety of presentations in recent years at different venues. He always does an exceptional job and his photographs are wonderful. I hope many of you can attend. Thanks. Mark Schwan Juneau Audubon Subject: Re: Common Murre, Skagway From: "Laurie L." <llammak AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 21:26:21 -0800 (PST) Does anyone in Skagway do COASST surveys (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team)? COASST volunteers regularly survey beaches for dead birds and record observations. Laurie Lamm Juneau ________________________________ From: Pat Bock To: Eagle Chat Sent: Monday, January 9, 2012 5:43 PM Subject: [Eaglechat] Common Murre, Skagway   I got a call today from Joanne Beierly, Skagway, 983-2431.  Over the past several days, they have had very stormy/windy weather.  They have had numerous dead common murres come onshore; they have also had some come ashore that were alive.   The dead ones don't appear to be skinny and have no obvious injuries.  She wondered if anyone in Juneau living near the water has had this happen or has anyone heard of this.   Joanne is not a member of Eagle Chat and doesn't check her email that often so I didn't get her email address; she gave me permission to list her name and phone number.  Feel free to contact her.   I am a Juneau Raptor Center member/volunteer and as far as I know we've not cared for or been called about such birds. Thanks.  pat bock, douglas, 364-3389 Subject: Re: Common Murre, Skagway From: "Matt Goff" <goff AT nawwal.org> Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:15:29 -0900 There's been some Common Murre mortality and unusual behavior lately in Sitka as well. I wrote a little bit about it at the end of a post (mostly about eagles eating murres) a couple days ago: http://www.sitkanature.org/wordpress/2012/01/06/eagles-and-murres/ Matt Goff Sitka On Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:43:28 -0900, Pat Bock wrote: > > I got a call today from Joanne Beierly, Skagway, 983-2431. Over the > past several days, they have had very stormy/windy weather. They have > had numerous dead common murres come onshore; they have also had some > come ashore that were alive. > The dead ones don't appear to be skinny and have no obvious injuries. > She wondered if anyone in Juneau living near the water has had this > happen or has anyone heard of this. > Joanne is not a member of Eagle Chat and doesn't check her email that > often so I didn't get her email address; she gave me permission to list > her name and phone number. Feel free to contact her. > I am a Juneau Raptor Center member/volunteer and as far as I know we've > not cared for or been called about such birds. > Thanks. pat bock, douglas, 364-3389 > > > ------------------------------------ Subject: common murre, skagway From: Pat Bock <pbkritters AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 17:51:38 -0900 Forgot to mention that Joanne said their mergansers and seagulls appear to be doing just fine. pat bock, douglas, 364-3389 Subject: Common Murre, Skagway From: Pat Bock <pbkritters AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 17:43:28 -0900 I got a call today from Joanne Beierly, Skagway, 983-2431. Over the past several days, they have had very stormy/windy weather. They have had numerous dead common murres come onshore; they have also had some come ashore that were alive. The dead ones don't appear to be skinny and have no obvious injuries. She wondered if anyone in Juneau living near the water has had this happen or has anyone heard of this. Joanne is not a member of Eagle Chat and doesn't check her email that often so I didn't get her email address; she gave me permission to list her name and phone number. Feel free to contact her. I am a Juneau Raptor Center member/volunteer and as far as I know we've not cared for or been called about such birds. Thanks. pat bock, douglas, 364-3389 Subject: Christmas Coyote From: "Larry" <larrythefishguy AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:46:59 -0000 A coyote wandered into the yard today and posed for us. Then he layed down, looking like a tame dog. We snapped about 500 photos and then he got up, stretched, and jumped around in a playful manner. Then he sat down and then layed back down again. He stayed in the yard for an hour and finally wandered off. All this time he was only 25 feet or so from the house. If I could remember how to post photos, I would. I got some dandy pics. My feeder was about 20 feet away and very active at the time with juncos, chickadees and jays who did not seem disturbed at all. The squirrel, however, was nowhere in sight. cheers, Larry ------------------------------------ Subject: Hawk Owl From: "triciaorush" <triciaorush AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:30:37 -0000 Got a great up close view of a hawk owl off the Black Bear Chair at Eaglecrest yesterday - about mid way up the chairlift. ------------------------------------ Subject: Northern Pygmy Owl From: Karla Hart <AlaskaBirder AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:43:40 -0900 I may have discovered why no chickadees at my house yesterday. Drew a blind just now and there was a Northern Pygmy Owl! If only it was last Saturday for CBC. Of course, then I wouldn't have gotten the chickadees and juncos. Karla ------------------------------------ Subject: Pine Grosbeaks and Shopping Sparrows From: Linda Shaw <lindarshaw AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:14:33 -0800 (PST)   Hi - I was jus treated to two female pine grosbeaks in my yard - both within 10 feet of me on the ground drinking water from a puddle.  Also, there was a song sparrow feeding from an opened bird seed bag in Fred Meyer last Sunday - right in the aisle.  I also saw an unidentified sparrow doing the same earlier this month in Wal-Mart! Subject: Re: Re: Help!!! From: Karla Hart <AlaskaBirder AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:33:41 -0900 My SPAM filter kept me from seeing this email. I have gone in and removed the message purportedly by Sally Urvina from Eaglechat and changed her postings to moderated. Sally, if you are out there and want to have unmoderated postings again please contact me. Karla On Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 11:14 AM, wrote: > ** > > > ** > This is a Scam.....don't send money!!!!! > > Subject: Re: Re: Help!!! From: Linda Shaw <lindarshaw AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:24:43 -0800 (PST) Really - its a scam?  I'm shocked!!! Actually I thought of replying and suggesting to them  that they send me their bank account info here so that I could just get the money to send them right from their bank account without them having to pay me back, but somehow I don't think I'd get a response...... ________________________________ From: "juneauart AT aol.com" To: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 11:14 AM Subject: [Eaglechat] Re: Help!!!   This is a Scam.....don't send money!!!!! Subject: Re: Help!!! From: juneauart AT aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:14:47 -0500 (EST) This is a Scam.....don't send money!!!!! Subject: Juneau CBC; final update From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:01:10 -0900 Sorry this is going to many people that won't be interested. However, given the previous posting I made, I just wanted to let the bird count people know that I'm good to go and the potluck will be at our place. Directions for those that might need it will be available at the staging areas tomorrow morning. We ended up with a solid back up, as Alan and Ann Doty, just a couple of houses away from ours, offered to host the potluck, which is very kind. We shouldn't need to take them up on it, but it is a nice backup to have, given we are close neighbors. So, 8am staging at A&P Foodland and valley McDonald's. See you tomorrow. Mark Schwan Subject: Juneau Christmas Bird Count From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:06:01 -0900 Juneau Birders; for those of you that don't know, our Christmas Bird Count is this Saturday, December 17th. Our two meeting places are the "valley" McDonalds and the A&P (Foodland) coffee/eating area at the front of the store. Volunteers should arrive at 8a.m. ready to go birding for the day. Most of our leaders are set. People wanting to work the downtown and Douglas Island areas should go to the town staging area. Others wanting to bird in the Switzer-Lemon Creek, wetlands, Valley, and Auke Bay areas should show up at the valley staging area. Debi and I plan to host the potluck after the count. I'm a little uncertain as to my status for Saturday but am hoping for the best. If this bug that's messing with me makes it such that I can't participate and/or we can't host the potluck, we will have instructions on how to proceed. The options if I can't participate are to find a last minute back up for the potluck and announce on the morning of the count, or not have a potluck and arrange to gather the data over the subsequent day or two. I sincerely hope that we don't have to do either. Recall that Audubon requires that any field participants 19 years of age or older contribute 5 dollars to help cover the costs of society's work on the CBC. Feeder watchers do not need to pay the fee. I encourage people to keep track of their feeder birds on the 17th and call in their results, or come to the potluck. Finally, although we will only count up individual birds on the 17th, recall we have a week-long period where we can record species seen in the count circle. The count week began today and will extend through next Tuesday. For example, if we see one or more pygmy-owls during the week, but see none on Saturday, we at least can put it down as a count week (cw) species. Back to the count circle, the main areas that are excluded locally are anywhere out the road past Point Louisa, and south on Thane Rd. past the treatment facility. Any questions, you can call me at 789-9841. You can also contact Gus van Vliet at 789-5624. Thanks. Mark Schwan Subject: Eagles and Glacier Hwy blasting From: Julie Coghill <photoalaska AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:20:18 -0900 Eaglechatters, If you are concerned about this, please read the following summation prepared by Tina Brown (tmbrown3 AT aol.com) of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. Gwen Baluss, the conservation chair of the Juneau Audubon Society, posted briefly here yesterday about this issue. Tina has additional information regarding upcoming dates. Thank you for your understanding about Gwen's and my post to Eaglechat about this. Let's keep other chat about it off this list, though, and keep this for bird postings, especially because we're now in count week. Julie Coghill President, Juneau Audubon Society 907.460.6147 > > Hello, everyone. > > Please read/review the link below to the 12/02/11, Juneau Empire article entitled "Eagles in blast zone of proposed Glacier Highway work." > > > http://juneauempire.com/local/2011-12-02/eagles-blast-zone-proposed-glacier-highway-work#.TugMUsdaJW8.email > > The Issue > > At 11:00 am on Monday, December 12th, Jos Bakker, Brenda Wright (Juneau Audubon Society), and I met with Rod Swope, the city manager, about this issue. (Rod canceled the earlier appointment I had with him because he was out sick all last week.) The city is definitely giving the Alaska DOT the go-ahead to work all summer on this project. Blasting will occur during eagle breeding season, and it will occur within 330' of active eagle nests. Both practices used to be illegal, but are now permitted by Fish & Wildlife because eagles are no longer on the endangered species list. Fish & Game has also given the okay to all of this. > > Because F&W used to prohibit blasting during eagle breeding season and blasting within 330' of active eagle nests, the City & Borough of Juneau had ordinances prohibiting these practices. CBJ is in the process of changing city ordinances to allow blasting within 330' of active eagle nests and blasting during breeding season. > > This action is in spite of CBJ staff recommendations 1 and 3: > > - Blasting shall be prohibited between March 1st and May 31st and > > - blasting shall be prohibited within 330' of an active nest between June 1st and August 31st. > > The Audubon Society, the Hancock Wildlife Foundation (www.hancockwildlife.org), and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance support the recommendations of CBJ staff - which are the bare minimum precautions, and oppose the actions being taken by CBJ. > > To Make Your Voice Heard: > > - Contact ALL Juneau Assembly members before or immediately after December 19th (the date that they will be introduced to the change in the city ordinances). > Remember that ALL of the Assembly members represent you; Juneauites vote for or against them ALL. > www.juneau.org/assembly/index.php > > - Attend the December 20th meeting of the Planning Commission at City Hall and comment. You can also send in your comments. > www.juneau.org/plancom/ > > - Attend the January 9th Assembly meeting and comment. You can also send in your comments. > > Some Points to Consider: > > --- Refer to the newspaper article for excellent points about potential harm to eagles. > > --- CBJ does not have to change its policy just because F&W did. > > --- Juneau has the opportunity to set an example by taking the high road. > > --- Allowing blasting during eagle breeding season and within 330' of active eagle nests sets a bad precedent statewide and nationwide. > > --- Juneau is a tourist town, and many of those tourists come to see eagles. > > --- Wildlife viewers and photographers, both local and otherwise, enjoy the eagles. > > --- Public perception: Does Juneau really want to be known as the town that blasts eagles at Eagle Beach? > > --- Is this really the way we want Juneau to treat our national symbol? > > --- Your personal experiences (and those of friends and relatives who have visited you) - viewing/photographing/writing about - simply enjoying - eagles > > --- Tourists' experiences with and reactions to eagles > > --- Potential for negative publicity if and when eagles/eggs/nests are damaged > > --- Since the blasting will be done during the summer, tourists might see it happen - not the image we want them to take home. > > > Please make your voice heard and pass this along to others who may be interested. > > > IF THE PUBLIC DOES NOT SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEN THE BLASTING WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED. > > > If you have questions, suggestions, or other thoughts, please contact me. Your help is most welcome. > > Best regards, > Tina > > Tina M. Brown > Alaska Wildlife Alliance > > 523-5402 (H) > 209-4219 (C) Subject: Local bird conservation item From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:49:48 -0800 (PST) Hello All, Bald Eagles have been taken off the endangered species list. This is good news that they are more abundant now, but it means that restrictions effecting their protections have been reduced by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Locally this means that the latest widening effort out-the-road could effect eagle nests, and the DOT and CBC are requesting  more lenient rules pertaining to blasting this summer. The Juneau Audubon Society and others are concerned about allowing disturbance to nesting eagles, regardless of their current legal status.   For more information see these links. Juneau Empire Article: http://juneauempire.com/local/2011-12-02/eagles-blast-zone-proposed-glacier-highway-work#.TudvmdXfVgEPermit information: http://www.juneau.org/plancom/pdfs/20111104084519.pdf If you would like to  comment,  public testimony will be accepted at the Jan. 9 Assembly meeting.  Subject: Juneau Audubon meeting and program tomorrow night From: Mark Schwan <aukebay AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:48:04 -0900 Hello Juneau. Tomorrow, Thursday December 8, Bob Armstrong is doing the evening program at the Juneau Audubon monthly meeting. This program is free and open to all. We start at 7pm, and are in the main lecture hall, room 112, in the Egan Bldg at the UAS campus. Bob is always so generous. When it became apparent the program we thought we had could not happen, Bob agreed to help us out at the last minute. How lucky for us. Bob will be talking and showing pictures with two purposes: one is to discuss through his photographs how to capture images of animals without disturbing them, or perhaps you might say, he will be going into the ethical ways to conduct wildlife photography. Second, through some of his image selection for the program, he will illustrate and discuss birds that we are most likely to see this time of year, and also what birds we should be looking for, even though they might not be common. This is obviously a very timely topic given the Christmas Bird Count is soon to take place. So, come and enjoy the images and expertise that Bob will share with us. Finally, given Bob has had little time to put this all together, and I haven't talked to him for a couple of days, it is possible that the program he ends up doing could diverge slightly from what I have described herein. If that is the case, it really doesn't matter as it will be fun and interesting regardless. See you there. Mark Schwan Juneau Audubon Subject: redpolls From: "Laurie L." <llammak AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 12:12:30 -0800 (PST) We just returned from a walk on the airport (wetlands) trail. There was a flock of about 30 redpolls and one very bright siskin along the dike. The other birds were the 'usual' - eagles, ravens, crows, mallards, buffleheads, Canada Geese, etc.   Laurie Lamm Juneau Subject: Re: Dippers in Gold Creek From: kevin maier <kevin.maier AT uas.alaska.edu> Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 09:50:46 -0900 My 4 year old and I check on these Gold Creek dippers near our house nearly every day. Thanks in part to seeing them there when he was 2 and in part from reading Mary Wilson's lovely children's book on a weekly basis, dippers are his favorite birds. He asked the same question as Linda a couple of days ago: what are they eating in there? I confessed I didn't know. I'd love to hear what eaglechatters think. As a lousy birder, I really appreciate learning what I should be looking for from this list. So thanks for the posts! Best, Kevin On Dec 2, 2011, at 6:23 AM, Linda Shaw wrote: > > . > The dippers have moved down Gold Creek to give us working stiffs > some easy birding as we head home from the Federal building. There > were two working the concrete torrent last night. I always wonder > if they are just finding opportunistic drift from more natural > channels upstream or if there are actually inverts that live on the > limited vegetation here and there growing on the sides of the > modified channel. > > > > Subject: Re: Dippers in Gold Creek From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 09:41:58 -0900 Dippers are also 'back' in creek next to our house on River Rd. I have never seen them in the summer so I wonder if they are moving into a flowing water area from frozen-over waters. -deb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Linda Shaw To Sent by: "Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com" Eaglechat AT yahoogr oups.com cc Subject 12/02/2011 06:32 [Eaglechat] Dippers in Gold Creek AM Please respond to Linda Shaw . The dippers have moved down Gold Creek to give us working stiffs some easy birding as we head home from the Federal building. There were two working the concrete torrent last night. I always wonder if they are just finding opportunistic drift from more natural channels upstream or if there are actually inverts that live on the limited vegetation here and there growing on the sides of the modified channel. Subject: Dippers in Gold Creek From: Linda Shaw <lindarshaw AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 07:23:54 -0800 (PST) ________________________________      . The dippers have moved down Gold Creek to give us working stiffs some easy birding as we head home from the Federal building.  There were two working the concrete torrent last night.  I always wonder if they are just finding opportunistic drift from more natural channels upstream or if there are actually inverts that live on the limited vegetation here and there growing on the sides of the modified channel.   Subject: Pair of Western Grebes near Fish Creek delta From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net> Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 13:02:25 -0900 This morning there were 2 Western Grebes hanging out together in front of the houses down toward the North Douglas boat launch from the mouth of Fish Creek. There was also a fairly late Bonaparte's Gull near the mouth of Fish Creek. Further out North Douglas highway (right near the boat launch), yesterday I also saw a hybrid Common X Barrow's Goldeneye male (same overwintering bird as past few years?). Yellow-billed Loons have also been occasional in Fritz Cove and a late staying Humpback Whale was also there this morning. Subject: western screech owl From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:34:58 -0000 More than a dozen jays mobbed a western screech owl on my back porch this morning. I got a picture of it sitting on the gutter. It moved around the house and stayed for about an hour. No sign of it since 11 am. Brenda 17430 Andreanoff (almost 18 mile) ------------------------------------ Subject: Evening Grosbeak From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:21:05 -0000 Marylou King got a really nice photo of an evening grosbeak in her yard today.=11-24-11  Brenda ------------------------------------ Subject: shrike From: Andrew and Lauren Smoker <smoker AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:52:04 -0900 N shrike yesterday AT the gazebo. I get to see about one each year and it doesn't seem officially fall until I do.yes technically its still fall. Other sightings of interest over the last few weeks. 3 brown creepers hanging out together on the rainforest trail near the beach (I've only seen solitary ones in the past) , Mark Jan & I did get to see the yellow wag tail as previously reported. I was primed for it by Mark Schwan's (I think) sighting of one on the dike trail a few seasons ago. The call and behavior aligned perfectly with Mark A's ipod recording and the guide books descriptions. Big wind storm the next day so maybe it lit out for better climes. Also was glad to see the previously id'd palm warbler a week 'er so ago at the fence by the gazebo. tough distinction from the orange crowned but behavior seemed to carry the day. Didn't see the longeared.bummer thought we were going to get a hat trick of rare bird sightings. With Eaglecrest opening.I'll keep my eyes out for the hawk owls that have been sighted near the top of Insane run on the Ptarmigan lift. Happy big bird day tomorrow Andy Subject: Subject: "SeaBC" Sea Bird Count Event From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:09:46 -0800 (PST) The following post has been approved by the moderator as a non-commercial announcement about an upcoming bird conservation event. Go SeaBC Birding with a Boater this December! Have a friend with a seaworthy sailboat, sportfish or trawler? Convince them to take you out for a sail or motor for the inaugural "SeaBC" Sea Bird Count! It’s like a Christmas Bird Count (CBC) or backyard bird count, but where you count birds at sea. Choose your weather day in December and count all the birds you see for a few hours or an entire day. The SeaBC was created to raise awareness among boaters from around the world to record their seabird observations. The organizers are a group of long-distance sailors from around the world who are also birders. Several of the cruising rallies (such as the ARC, Caribbean 1500 and Baja Ha-Ha) are encouraging participation by their fleet boats. The central clearinghouse for the data will be Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird website. For additional information and tally sheets, go to Facebook.com/Birding.Aboard and select "SeaBC/Resources", or email info birdingaboard.com. You may be a landlubber, but if you know birds, team up with a boating friend to add to the count! Or count from this winter's yacht charter or cruise! Diana Doyle St. Augustine, FL Subject: Re: pine grosbeak From: Karla Hart <AlaskaBirder AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:13:24 -0900 I heard/saw my first flock of pine grosbeak on Saturday as well. Mid-day off Wren Drive. Didn't count them, I was on my way out. Karla Hart Sent from my iPhone On Nov 21, 2011, at 4:21 PM, "bwright1208" wrote: > I received this notice today > I saw 8 pine grosbeak out at the glacier by the beaver pond on Saturday-Tracy > > I saw a different 7 at Eagle Beach state park, right near the office on Saturday. > Brenda > > Subject: Thanksgiving Day Bird Count From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:25:15 -0000 Hello, This year you can submit your Thanksgiving Day Bird counts on line! It is a simple 1 hour- 15 foot radius circle and the data sheet is available on the Juneau Audubon Society web page. Take the time to send in your info and have a great holiday with family and friends. web page www.juneau-audubon-society.org Enjoy, Brenda ------------------------------------ Subject: pine grosbeak From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:21:58 -0000 I received this notice today I saw 8 pine grosbeak out at the glacier by the beaver pond on Saturday-Tracy I saw a different 7 at Eagle Beach state park, right near the office on Saturday. Brenda ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: funny four letter codes From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:07:03 -0800 (PST) I never did hear how point counters in Calif. ended up coding Emu.       From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" >To: eaglechat eaglechat >Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 11:21 AM >Subject: [Eaglechat] funny four letter codes > > >  >This was from the American Field Ornithologist newsletter and using the four letter codes for birds, so a Long-eared Owl would be LEOW.  You have to think like that to get them… >  >Ornithologists Get Funny in Four Letters >In the last issue of AFO Afield, Liz Tymkiw took a break from her >graduate studies at the University of Delaware to introduce readers to >a new brand of ornithological humor. Her comedic specialty, honed >over a season of endless point counts, combines the wittiness of >puns with the field jargon of Bird Banding Lab alpha codes. Readers >were invited to submit their own bird riddles in this style. Here are >some of the best that Liz has received. Answers appear on the last >page. Read more at her blog, http://birdblgr.blogspot.com/. >A. What do you call a duck that works out at the gym? >B. What do you say to a merganser standing on your doormat? >C. How do shorebirds make important decisions? >D. What did the pacifist yellow warbler chant at the peace rally? >E. With whom did the turkey want to go to the dance? >F. What did the southern Red Knot say when asked if horseshoe >crab eggs are tasty? >G. Why did the cardinal hitchhike from Worcester to Boston? >H. Which bird likes these jokes the most? >  >Thanks to Mary Wright, Ken “Rookâ€� Duren, Missy Miller, Sadie >Ullman, and Liz Timkiw for sharing the laughter. >In the last issue of AFO Afield, Liz Tymkiw took a break from her >graduate studies at the University of Delaware to introduce readers to >a new brand of ornithological humor. Her comedic specialty, honed >over a season of endless point counts, combines the wittiness of >sharing the laughter >  >Answers are at the bottom.  Don’t look! >  >Bev Agler >Thermal Mark Lab Supervisor >Mark, Tag, and Age Lab >Alaska Department of Fish and Game >10107 Bentwood Place >Juneau, Alaska 99801 >(907) 465-3498 >(907) 465-2765 fax >bev.agler AT alaska.gov >  > ><((((º>`·..·`·..·`·...><((((º>...·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·` >>·..·`·...><((((º>·.. ><((((º> >>·`·..·`·...·..·`><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>..·`·..·`·.. >>.><((((º>·.. ·`·..·`·....·`·..·`·...><((((º> >A. BUFF >B. COME in. >C. On a WHIM >D. YWAR?! >E. WITU! >F. I REKN so! >G. NOCA >H. Harris’s Hawk (HAHA!) >  > > > Subject: funny four letter codes From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" <bev.agler AT alaska.gov> Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:21:14 -0900 This was from the American Field Ornithologist newsletter and using the four letter codes for birds, so a Long-eared Owl would be LEOW. You have to think like that to get them... Ornithologists Get Funny in Four Letters In the last issue of AFO Afield, Liz Tymkiw took a break from her graduate studies at the University of Delaware to introduce readers to a new brand of ornithological humor. Her comedic specialty, honed over a season of endless point counts, combines the wittiness of puns with the field jargon of Bird Banding Lab alpha codes. Readers were invited to submit their own bird riddles in this style. Here are some of the best that Liz has received. Answers appear on the last page. Read more at her blog, http://birdblgr.blogspot.com/. A. What do you call a duck that works out at the gym? B. What do you say to a merganser standing on your doormat? C. How do shorebirds make important decisions? D. What did the pacifist yellow warbler chant at the peace rally? E. With whom did the turkey want to go to the dance? F. What did the southern Red Knot say when asked if horseshoe crab eggs are tasty? G. Why did the cardinal hitchhike from Worcester to Boston? H. Which bird likes these jokes the most? Thanks to Mary Wright, Ken "Rook" Duren, Missy Miller, Sadie Ullman, and Liz Timkiw for sharing the laughter. In the last issue of AFO Afield, Liz Tymkiw took a break from her graduate studies at the University of Delaware to introduce readers to a new brand of ornithological humor. Her comedic specialty, honed over a season of endless point counts, combines the wittiness of sharing the laughter Answers are at the bottom. Don't look! Bev Agler Thermal Mark Lab Supervisor Mark, Tag, and Age Lab Alaska Department of Fish and Game 10107 Bentwood Place Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 465-3498 (907) 465-2765 fax bev.agler AT alaska.gov ><((((º>`·..·`·..·`·...><((((º>...·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·` >·..·`·...><((((º>·.. ><((((º> >·`·..·`·...·..·`><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>..·`·..·`·.. >.><((((º>·.. ·`·..·`·....·`·..·`·...><((((º> A. BUFF B. COME in. C. On a WHIM D. YWAR?! E. WITU! F. I REKN so! G. NOCA H. Harris's Hawk (HAHA!) Subject: long-eared owl From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" <bev.agler AT alaska.gov> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:21:37 -0900 Hi all, there is a long-eared owl at the Airport Dike Trail near the Gazebo. It was sitting on the ground at the end of the new fence near a very large tree. It has stayed in the same place for ~ 4 hours and even returned to that spot after being accidentally flushed. Also a rusty blackbird, killdeer, Merlin, rough-legged hawk, & sharp-shinned hawk were reported on the trail today. Bev. Bev Agler Thermal Mark Lab Supervisor Mark, Tag, and Age Lab Alaska Department of Fish and Game 10107 Bentwood Place Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 465-3498 (907) 465-2765 fax bev.agler AT alaska.gov ><((((º>`·..·`·..·`·...><((((º>...·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·` >·..·`·...><((((º>·.. ><((((º> >·`·..·`·...·..·`><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>..·`·..·`·.. >.><((((º>·.. ·`·..·`·....·`·..·`·...><((((º> Subject: lone varegated thrush on St Ann's Doug From: Mary Ellen Frank <mefrank AT gci.net> Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:42:25 -0900 lone variegated thrush on St Ann's Doug... up to 5th too Frank? Mary Ellen Frank, NIADA artist www.niada.org Curator, Aunt Claudia's Dolls, a Museum www.auntclaudiasdolls.com http://www.niada.org/arch_featuresSummer06.html www.juneauartists.com/MEF http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/110810/nei_732963995.shtml Please consider the environment before printing this email. Subject: palm warbler From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" <bev.agler AT alaska.gov> Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:34:42 -0900 Hi All, yesterday there was a palm warbler near the gazebo at the Airport Dike Trail. Patty Rose and I saw it. We also saw a Wilson's Warbler and a No. Pygmy owl, so a few things are still around. Friday, Paul, Patty and I went looking for the wagtail that had been reported at the Boy Scout camp, but we were unable to confirm the sighting. Bev. Bev Agler Thermal Mark Lab Supervisor Mark, Tag, and Age Lab Alaska Department of Fish and Game 10107 Bentwood Place Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 465-3498 (907) 465-2765 fax bev.agler AT alaska.gov ><((((º>`·..·`·..·`·...><((((º>...·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·` >·..·`·...><((((º>·.. ><((((º> >·`·..·`·...·..·`><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>..·`·..·`·.. >.><((((º>·.. ·`·..·`·....·`·..·`·...><((((º> Subject: Re: Western Grebe and Goshawk at Fish Creek, 11/10 From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:07:08 -0900 We watched a goshawk drown & pluck a female mallard at the creek edge next our house a number of years ago. The hawk held the mallard down with one foot and gripped the edge of the stream ice with the other. I had a whole set of photos - but the roll was lost during processing. It was incredible to watch! -deb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paul Suchanek Sent by: To Eaglechat AT yahoogr "Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com" oups.com cc 11/10/2011 03:46 Subject PM [Eaglechat] Western Grebe and Goshawk at Fish Creek, 11/10 This morning there was a Western Grebe near the mouth of Fish Creek (it was a ways out near the "first" channel marker marking the beginning of Gastineau Channel). There were also Horned and Red-necked Grebes in the area for comparison. Much more interesting was the Goshawk encounter. On the path out to the mouth of Fish Creek, where the trail goes through the hemlocks along the left side of the large pond which is heavily fished, there is a small pond on the left of the trail about 1/4 of the way down the length of the large pond. As I approached this small pond (which isn't more than 30 feet across), an immature Goshawk ran away from the small pond and took off over the large pond. As I took a few steps more, I looked over and noted 4 Mallards on the small pond which immediately flushed and scattered in all directions. The Goshawk had somehow cornered the Mallards on the small pond but apparently hadn't been able to catch one as they held tight. It would have been amazing to have watched the interactions prior to my arrival. Subject: Western Grebe and Goshawk at Fish Creek, 11/10 From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net> Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:46:06 -0900 This morning there was a Western Grebe near the mouth of Fish Creek (it was a ways out near the "first" channel marker marking the beginning of Gastineau Channel). There were also Horned and Red-necked Grebes in the area for comparison. Much more interesting was the Goshawk encounter. On the path out to the mouth of Fish Creek, where the trail goes through the hemlocks along the left side of the large pond which is heavily fished, there is a small pond on the left of the trail about 1/4 of the way down the length of the large pond. As I approached this small pond (which isn't more than 30 feet across), an immature Goshawk ran away from the small pond and took off over the large pond. As I took a few steps more, I looked over and noted 4 Mallards on the small pond which immediately flushed and scattered in all directions. The Goshawk had somehow cornered the Mallards on the small pond but apparently hadn't been able to catch one as they held tight. It would have been amazing to have watched the interactions prior to my arrival. Subject: Yellow Wagtail From: "andersonmark142" <andersonmark1 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:35:25 -0000 Andy, Jan and I got a good look at an Eastern Yellow Wagtail about 11am today out at Eagle River Beach on the Boy Scout Camp side of the river. It was just past where the paths split in the grassy estuary meadow. We all got the binocs on it on the ground and then it flew off towards the river and called. Beautiful yellow below with a grayish back and we even saw the white edges on the tail. ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Juneau Audubon public meeting-7:00pm UAS Egan lecture hall Room 112 From: Wright Brenda <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:17:26 -0900 Thursday November 10 7pm UAS ------------------------------------ Subject: Townsend's Solitaire From: Steve Zimmerman <stevezimmerman AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:41:56 -0900 On October 28th I saw a Townsend's Solitaire very conspicuously sitting on top of a light pole on a neighbor's boat on the corner of Starlite Court and Horizon Drive in Bayview Subdivision (North Douglas). A few minutes ago I again saw a Townsend's Solitaire as I was walking by the same yard. It flew off the ground and sat for a few seconds on the top of a small spruce tree before flying across the road to the top of another spruce tree on Starlite Court. Both times I went home to get a camera and both times I could not find the bird again when I came back with the camera. Yesterday (11/08) there were two American Coots on north Twin Lake as well as three Hooded Mergansers. There were eleven more Hooded Mergansers on South Twin Lake. ------------------------------------ Subject: Juneau Audubon public meeting-7:00pm UAS Egan lecture hall Room 112 From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:24:05 -0000 Mike Tobin presents: Slacker Cycling - -A Bicycle Trip Through Exotic Western North America, Hear the great stories from a summer-long 4400 mile bicycle trip through the deserts of the Great Basin and up the Rocky Mountains. Free and open to the public ------------------------------------ Subject: Auke Lake loon? From: Laurie Craig <lauriecraig AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:54:05 -0900 Boy, I was thinking that IDing a long necked dark headed light billed low slung waterbird would be easy as soon as I pulled out my Sibley's at home. No such luck. I checked out the loons, cormorants and grebes without any confidence about what I watched grab and swallow a six inch fish at about noon today. The bird nabbed the fish nearby as I stood on the floating bridge. No binoculars to help. If anyone has time to investigate I'd love to know what you find. I never saw the bird's back -- swam so low I thought of anhinga. Bill was pale almost yellow. Head and throat seemed to be dark brown. The bird surfaced with silvery fish crossways in its bill but switched the fish to a head first swallow position. It must take good muscles to make a big thing disappear like that. Bird held its head cocked upward for awhile as it swam toward UAS campus from my side of the lake. Any ideas? Laurie - sent from my iPod ------------------------------------ Subject: Fw: goth hippie From: deborah_rudis AT fws.gov Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 08:56:31 -0900 clever...... (See attached file: goth hippie.jpg) Subject: RE: Re: 2 Coyotes From: Pat Bock <pbkritters AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 09:40:00 -0800 Larry: possible to take photos to share??!! Thx. pat bock, douglas, 364-3389 To: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com From: larrythefishguy AT yahoo.com Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 21:51:03 -0700 Subject: [Eaglechat] Re: 2 Coyotes The same two coyotes are hanging around the building here at night too. They are just inside the treeline about 50 feet off the porch and howling. I've heard many coyotes howl at night in my day, but not in Southeast Alaska and not 50 feet away. I don't know what is attracting them. One of them was seen an hour ago right next to the porch just outside the door. It must be my animal magnetism. (heh). Subject: RE: Re: 2 Coyotes From: Andrew and Lauren Smoker <smoker AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:06:04 -0800 Out at the end of Thane Rd we had several hanging about last winter calling and getting the occasional Bambi. They've been seen around for several years. Haven't heard of Thane reports so far this fall maybe they've gone upscale and moved to Lemon Creek for this winter knowing the weather is better there & Larry will prove a friendlier reception. _____ From: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Cynthia Hansen Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 9:16 PM To: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [Eaglechat] Re: 2 Coyotes I got curious since I live in the Salmon Creek area above the Twin Lakes playground only about a mile from Larry...so I googled and found this article from the Empire almost two years ago... http://juneauempire.com/stories/010810/out_544300139.shtml Subject: Re: Re: 2 Coyotes From: Scott R a y <mryakima AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 22:32:29 -0700 Be careful. Here in central Washington, coyotes near dwellings eat house cats and kill small and medium sized dogs. Scott Ray Yakima, WA Sent from my phone On Nov 3, 2011 10:15 PM, "Cynthia Hansen" wrote: > ** > > > I got curious since I live in the Salmon Creek area above the Twin Lakes > playground only about a mile from Larry...so I googled and found this > article from the Empire almost two years ago... > > http://juneauempire.com/stories/010810/out_544300139.shtml > > Subject: Re: 2 Coyotes From: Cynthia Hansen <captcynsmail AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 22:15:48 -0700 (PDT) I got curious since I live in the Salmon Creek area above the Twin Lakes playground only about a mile from Larry...so I googled and found this article from the Empire almost two years ago... http://juneauempire.com/stories/010810/out_544300139.shtml Subject: Re: 2 Coyotes From: Larry Edfelt <larrythefishguy AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 21:51:03 -0700 (PDT) The same two coyotes are hanging around the building here at night too.  They are just inside the treeline about 50 feet off the porch and howling.  I've heard many coyotes howl at night in my day, but not in Southeast Alaska and not 50 feet away.  I don't know what is attracting them.  One of them was seen an hour ago right next to the porch just outside the door.  It must be my animal magnetism.  (heh). Subject: Eagle lecture on Friday Nov 4 From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:23:38 -0000 Hello, the correct time is 1145 UAS Egan lecture hall 112. Hope to see you there! ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: 2 Coyotes From: M & M <bigshaheen AT gci.net> Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:00:45 -0600 They certainly are getting closer to human habitations of late. I saw a pack of five on Mount Juneau around midsummer. They seemed to have no interest whatsoever in the goats. Michael Fleischhauer ----- Original Message ----- From: Larry Edfelt To: Eaglechat AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 11:28 AM Subject: [Eaglechat] 2 Coyotes I just had two coyotes at my bird feeder probably interested in the squirrel or the jays. They left empty handed. This is at least the third time they have been in the yard, but the first time I have seen them. Other family members have spotted one a couple times in the past few weeks. I live across the street from Pioneer Marsh. cheers, Larry Edfelt Subject: pair of white swans and one cygnet From: Pat Bock <pbkritters AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 11:23:37 -0800 11:20 am, approx 1200 block First Street, Douglas, pair of white swans and one large gray cygnet in Gastineau Channel. pat bock, douglas, 364-3389 Subject: 2 Coyotes From: Larry Edfelt <larrythefishguy AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 10:28:42 -0700 (PDT) I just had two coyotes at my bird feeder probably interested in the squirrel or the jays.  They left empty handed.  This is at least the third time they have been in the yard, but the first time I have seen them.  Other family members have spotted one a couple times in the past few weeks.  I live across the street from Pioneer Marsh.   cheers, Larry Edfelt Subject: Lecture at UAS Friday Nov. 4 at 11 by David Hancock From: "bwright1208" <bewright AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:11:36 -0000 David Hancock is an Ornithologist and book publisher. He started eagle observations in a float plane in the Vancouver Canada area as a teenager. He has an advanced degree with his thesis on Bald Eagles in that area, that he self published. This started him on a publishing career of books about raptors and natural history. He is a trustee of the Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines. He will be giving a public talk in the Lecture Hall at UAS on November 4 at 11:00 a.m. ------------------------------------ Subject: three-toed woodpecker From: Julie Coghill <photoalaska AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:58:28 -0800 Friday afternoon up in the high meadows along the side of Meek, off Fish Creek Road going up to Eaglecrest. Julie Coghill Douglas Island ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Banded eagle From: Pam Randles <pamrandles AT me.com> Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:08:48 -0800 The banded eagle is one of Steve Lewis' eagles. It was banded at the Juneau airport and is probably in Haines for the late salmon run. If anyone sees any banded eagles, please post here. Pam Randles 17 Moose Lane P.O. Box 1591 Haines, Alaska 99827 USA Mobile: (907) 982-1824 Landline:(907) 766-3664 pamrandles AT me.com Subject: Pygmy-owl and Osprey out Glacier Highway From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:19:11 -0800 This morning (Oct. 28) there was a Northern Pygmy-owl just past the bridge on Peterson Creek (about mile 25). Further out at Sunshine Cove (about mile 35), there was an Osprey. It is extremely late for an Osprey. Subject: Banded eagle From: "pamelathr" <pamrandles AT me.com> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:25:41 -0000 We have had a banded eagle hanging around the Chilkat Valley recently. It has a leg band and wing badges. The wing badges are green with white number 88. Does anyone know who is doing this banding? We would like to know where this eagle came from. ------------------------------------ Subject: an otherwise frivolous aside. From: armunro <armunro AT gci.net> Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:28:27 -0800 This is likely verboten under the eagle chat charter rules--if so, consider this a first and last time--I promise---but this is rather pleasant fare on a totally rainy and utterly dark, pre-Halloween day--plus the aerodynamics of Bubo are so very well defined! Cheers and a loud boo, too, to you all! Alan http://www.dogwork.com/owfo8/ Subject: tundra swan From: "Toi" <tazmans AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:36:41 -0000 tundra swan at amalga/ peterson salt chuck today https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150333115232245&set=o.231009050292403&type=1&theater ------------------------------------ Subject: tundra swan From: "Toi" <tazmans AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:32:54 -0000 Tundra swan out at Peterson creek salt chuck. https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150333115232245&set=o.231009050292403&type=1&theater ------------------------------------ Subject: sharp-tailed sandpiper From: "Agler, Bev (DFG)" <bev.agler AT alaska.gov> Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:08:08 -0800 Hi all, Paul Suchanek just report 2 sharp-tailed sandpipers and one pectoral at the end of the runway on the Dike Trail with a bunch of dowitchers. Bev. Bev Agler Thermal Mark Lab Supervisor Mark, Tag, and Age Lab Alaska Department of Fish and Game 10107 Bentwood Place Juneau, Alaska 99801 (907) 465-3498 (907) 465-2765 fax bev.agler AT alaska.gov ><((((º>`·..·`·..·`·...><((((º>...·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·` >·..·`·...><((((º>·.. ><((((º> >·`·..·`·...·..·`><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>..·`·..·`·.. >.><((((º>·.. ·`·..·`·....·`·..·`·...><((((º> Subject: Western Grebe off Outer Point - 10/17 From: Paul Suchanek <paulms AT gci.net> Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:53:46 -0800 This morning there was a Western Grebe off Outer Point. I was scanning with my spotting scope from the beach inside the bay near the Outer Point Loop Trail (you could also walk over toward the point along the beach from the Rainforest Trail) and the bird was not too far off the outside of Outer Point. There are also Red-necked and Horned Grebes around but the Western has a very long neck that is strikingly black and white. Might not hang around there but it might show up elsewhere. Subject: Northern Pygmy Owl & Long Tail in Haines [1 Attachment] From: Marlena Mooring <snowgirlmjm AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:04:26 -0700 (PDT) I heard and saw a Northern Pygmy Owl around dusk.  Didn't know what the sound was until Gary told me that it was an owl.  Scanned the tree tops with binocs and found him perched at the very top of a spruce tree.  First time for me hearing and seeing a pygmy owl.  Another first for me was a sighting of a female Long Tail out at Lutak yesterday.  She was with a small group of surf scoters and two white winged scoters. Subject: Re: exercise From: M & M <bigshaheen AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:14:14 -0700 Several weeks ago, I was scanning Mt. Juneau, looking at the goats. I spied a small group of five wolves... or so I thought. It wasn't easy to distinguish exactly what they were; perhaps coyotes? ----- Original Message ----- From: armunro To: Eagle Chat Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 1:30 PM Subject: [Eaglechat] exercise Of a general naturalist's interest: I regularly bike Basin Road early mornings and Monday, approx 6:15, a coyote some 50 yards in front of me, stopped to look for just an instant then scooted across the road and vanished in the wood. Such are creatures of the night and morning's early light. Subject: varied thrush plumage From: Gwen Baluss <gwenbaluss AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:46:55 -0700 (PDT) I remember that a couple people had noticed some white on outer tail feathers of VATH this fall. Some spots of white-ish or buffy are normal. They are probably more prominent late summer and fall for the simple reason that the edges get more worn down later. All the birds in my freezer have them, but there might be some variation by age and sex - not really explained in the references I have. If there was lots of white, maybe its a partial albino, but I think a hybrid with robin in unlikely. Subject: exercise From: armunro <armunro AT gci.net> Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:30:11 -0800 Of a general naturalist's interest: I regularly bike Basin Road early mornings and Monday, approx 6:15, a coyote some 50 yards in front of me, stopped to look for just an instant then scooted across the road and vanished in the wood. Such are creatures of the night and morning's early light.