Kenai Birding Celebration
May 2-4, 2008
at the Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center

A bird celebration and workshop designed for all levels.
Come and share your interest in the birds on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

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The central Kenai Peninsula area offers pristine beaches, beautiful state parks, a fantastic wildlife refuge and, best of all, thousands of birds. This three-day event is designed to showcase and celebrate our area birds. Suitable for the beginner as well as the advanced birder, the event includes a series of discussions and birding field expeditions.

During our discussions we will explore the wonders of birding in our own back yard, you'll get tips from several local photographers on how to best capture your subject; you'll learn the hot spots on the Kenai Peninsula to bird, and you'll hear the migration stories of warblers & waterfowl that pass through our area.

Our field excursions offer fantastic birding opportunities without going too far. We have a host of experts ready to help enhance your birding skills. This year we’ve included a children’s component to the program that is sure to excite interest.

Join us for a few days of Birding!

 

Schedule of Activities/Events

About the Programs

Introduction to Birding with Toby Burke
Let Toby Burke introduce you to the world of birding on the Kenai Peninsula. Toby Burke has been an active birder and wildlife technician for approximately twenty years, with ten years of birding experience in Alaska. He is looking forward to sharing his knowledge with you. This is a perfect workshop for the beginner birder or the more skilled. Everyone is sure to take away a few pointers.

Warblers & Waterfowl Migration and Climate Change with Todd Eskelin
Climate change has been discussed extensively over the past few years as we talk about potential impacts on Polar Bears and other large megafauna, but what about the birds. Todd Eskelin, from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, will discuss some of the potential effects a changing climate could have on our bird populations. He will get into the nuts and bolts of what it takes to migrate from Argentina to the Kenai Peninsula and how this may be impacted by our changing environment. This may change your perspective the next time an Olive-Sided Flycatcher sings from a treetop in your back yard.

Hot Spots on the Kenai Peninsula to Bird with Ken Tarbox
Ken and Connie Tarbox and avid birders who have lived on the Peninsula for 28 years. Both were major contributors to the development and publication of the Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Viewing Guide and will take you through and lead you to the Hot Spots on the Kenai Peninsula to bird.

Children's Program with Connie Tarbox and Dan Pascucci
New this year! We've added a program just for the kids. Connie Tarbox and Dan Pascucci have lots of great activities lined up, including puppet making and birding songs. This is going to be a fun and interactive workshop exposing children to the concepts of listening, observing behavior and noting the habitat of birds. This is open to children of all ages. Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by an adult. All children participating must be pre-registered. You may register by email to josselyn@kenaiwatershed.org.

Getting Around & Other Details

Kenai Visitor’s & Cultural Center
40610 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Kenai
All activities (except for the float trip) will be held at the Kenai Visitor’s & Cultural Center. In addition, all field trips will begin at the Center. See Field Trips for specific directions to the sites.

Registration
This is a FREE event open to all, but we are requesting that you RSVP by calling Josselyn at KWF at 907-260-5449 or email at josselyn@kenaiwatershed.org. Children participating in the Children's Workshop on Saturday morning must be pre-registered.

What to bring
Binoculars and/or scope, rain gear, a good pair of walking shoes/or boots if rainy, and your field guides.

Lunches
• Friday, May 2 - lunch and drinks will be provided.
• Saturday, May 3 - Birding Picnic - we will be enjoying a catered picnic lunch. Lunch is $5/per person. Only those that Pre-Register will be served.
• Sunday, May 4 - please bring a sack lunch, drinks will be provided.

About the Field Trips

Field trips depart from the Kenai Visitor’s & Cultural Center at the times listed. Please be on time as activities start promptly. Trip lengths given are approximate. We will be carpooling to the sites. You are welcome to travel in your own vehicle or hop in with friends. At the sites there will be various stations that you are welcome to work your way through. In addition, we will have special children’s stations for the little chicks who join us.

Field Trip Leaders
Todd Eskelin • Toby Burke • Ken Tarbox • Ken Marlow

Kenai Birding Flats and Cannery Road
We will have multiple stations set up in the Kenai area on Saturday and Sunday. There will be two at the Kenai City Dock turn-off of Bridge Access Road. The others will be at the end of Cannery Road. Birders are invited to work their way through the stations and experience much of what the Kenai area has to offer.

Gear
Be prepared for rain and chilly weather. Dress in layers. Bring binoculars, scopes, and other essentials.

Field Trip Etiquette
To make your excursion pleasant for all, please observe the following:
• Speak quietly and avoid loud noises.
• Avoid wearing nylon and other “rustling” fabrics.
• Once you have seen the bird, give those behind you a chance.
• Refrain from using scented lotions or perfumes.
• And please, no dogs.

 

Many Thanks...
We would specifically like to thank Todd Eskelin, Ken & Judy Marlow, Ken & Connie Tarbox, Linda Story, Toby Burke & Family, Natasha Ala, Dan Pascucci, Aaron Cooper, Ed O'Connor, Reuben Payne, and Evertt McCullough. Without the hard work and support from these folks, this event would not be possible.

A huge thanks to the Kenai River Professional Guide Association for providing boats for the float trip of the Kenai River. We certainly appreciate their support.