July 2001

Dedicated to the memory of Timothy J. Shantz

Dear Birding Friends,

It is with great sadness that I must report the death of Tim Shantz---birder and human being extraordinaire---on May 27, 2001. He had just completed co-leading our trip to the Pribilofs and was waiting at the Nome airport for a plane to Gambell where he was co-leading for Bob Dittrick. He suffered a massive heart attack. He was only 36 years old and the most energetic and enthusiastic birder I have ever known.

I was privileged to have known and worked with Tim. His loss will be deeply felt by all who have known him. Some of you were lucky enough to have met him in Alaska. Please consider contributing something to the Tim Schantz Memorial Scholarship Fund, Union State Bank 210 W. Court Winterset, Iowa. Proceeds will be used to fund a scholarship in Tim's name for a young birder.

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I promised to be more conscientious about the newsletter, so here we are. As many of you noticed, the new calendar was not included with the last newsletter as had been advertised. We goofed, I'm afraid. So, we'll try again this time. I had to make a couple of changes since then anyway.

ALASKA 2001

I've just returned from two months in Alaska this week As usual, it was a great trip(s)!

The Bering Sea and Arctic regions of Alaska had an unusually late Spring. As a result, the movements of birds were different than in the past. Breeding of many shorebirds appeared to be greatly reduced this year. Migration of some of the birds was much later, leaving a significantly shorter window for breeding.

In spite of the unusual weather, we were still able to see many new birds. On the Pribilofs, with the usual able assistance of the St. Paul tours group and Tim Shantz, we found Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, McKay's Bunting, Red-throated Pipit, Steller's Eider, Eurasian Widgeon and Long-toed Stint. We had our only looks at Bristle-thighed Curlew in Alaska this year—five breeding males moving through towards their nesting grounds in Western Alaska.

Gambell was very cold, but very productive as well. We had Yellow-billed and Arctic Loon, many Ivory Gulls, two Ross' Gulls, Emperor Geese, all of the Eiders, Dovekie, Wood

Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Red-necked Stint, Brambling, Terek Sandpiper, McKay's Bunting, Mongolian Plover and Common Ringed Plover. Best of all, we had a Eurasian Bullfinch. When we first arrived on May 25^th, we actually had three of them! Only one stayed for several days. It was very cooperative. Unfortunately, I could only get its rear-end for a good picture.

Although the ice pack had moved offshore, we still saw a bull Walrus very close as well as many Humpback Whales within fifty yards of the point.

Nome was snowed in all over the place. They had the heaviest snowfall in many years making Kougarok Road impassable until our second trip. Even then, we could not locate any Bristle-thighed Curlews. Fish & Game surveyors were unable to locate them as well, although we did hear that the bachelor curlews were up back in the tundra about seven miles—an near impossilbe hike through heavy grizzly country (I know, because I did it six years ago). We did get Arctic Warbler, Bluethroat, Aleutain Tern and all of the other usual species in Nome. Also, Emperor Geese, another Ross's, Ivory Gulls (both unusual in Nome at this time of year).

Barrow yielded all of the eiders on our second

trip as well as many breeding shorebirds. The best experience though was with our mother Polar Bear and cub with- in 100 yards. ! We watched them for about 30 minutes while they finished off a seal then cavorted above and under the ice. The sun was behind them, so it was difficult to get good pictures, but I did get this one. What a great experience for all!

Dutch Harbor was really special this year, and we think we've started a trend. John Lucking, our genial and very knowledgeable Captain, obliged us by taking us out farther into the Gulf than ever before. Besides the 2,000 or so Whiskered Auklets we saw, we had great looks at Laysan and Black-footed Alabatross on the water and very close to the boat. Cassin's Auklets and Ancient Murrelets were fairly easy to see as well. Mottled Petrel was spotted briefly, but did not afford good looks. Nevertheless, it confirmed my belief that there was a lot more happening farther off-shore. On shore, we had numerous land birds. We had a very nice male Tufted Duck in the lake at Unalaska.

John has just purchased a 43 foot Delta that will take a group of 16 birders very comfortably. The boat is certified to go anyhwere in the Gulf of Alaska or Bering Sea, and we are talking about going out as far as 80 miles next year to try for Short-tailed Albatross and other pelagic species. Hope some of you can join us next year for what looks to be an even better trip!

We had a very productive trip to Denali this year.. Outstanding looks at Gyrfalcon,

Northern Hawk-Owl and lots of Grizzly Bears! It was unusually wet, but it didn't dampen our spirits or affect the birding. We saw a beautiful male Smith's Longspur very close as well as a singing Arctic Warbler. Also, great looks at

Bohemian Waxwings, a bird that is not always easy to find in the summer.

Kenai was not quite as good as we had hoped because of poor weather. Nevertheless, we were able to see most of our target species. We could not find any White-winged Crossbills or, amazingly, any Alder Flycatchers! We did not hear a one. Coupled with the lack of other flycatchers and some of the usual passerines, it seems that Kenai underlined the difficulties the unusual weather patterns created for many species this year.

So, that's about it for Alaska. I've put together the schedule for next year. It should provide increased flexibility for those who only want to do portions of Alaska. We've got the timing down pretty well, and we're confident that next year will be even better then this year. Hope you can join us!

SONORA

Just a reminder about Sonora. I know I wrote last time about it, but I wanted to include the blurb again. This is a great destination, folks!!

Those of you who have been lucky enough to travel to Sonora with us know what a treasure it is. We will be offering several trips there again in 2002. We also have two more in September and October of this year.

We will be adding a special trip next year in January to Hacienda de los Santas--a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World--in Alamos. We will spend a week in Alamos at this elegant and charming example of old Mexico at its best. The superb restaurant, 200+ Tequilas in their bar, two swimming pools, spa, theater, and some of the finest suites you'll ever find combine to make the Hacienda a truly exquisite travel experience.

Of course, we will also be travelling about the area with our partners, David and Jennifer MacKay, of Alamos. We'll spend a day rafting the lovely Mayo River. We'll boat through a mangrove estuary along the Sea of Cortez. We'll dine at a ranch/hacienda in the countryside. And, we'll have a meal at a 500 year old, gourmet restaurant in the old silver mining town of Aduana.

So, this is another of those trips for you folks who like your comforts, food and drink as much (more, even!?!) as you like your birds.

COSTA RICA

We will be offering a two-week trip to Costa Rica in 2002 with Marcus England, of Ornithology Expeditions. Marcus will also be joining us on our Belize trips. We plan to offer more trips with Ornithology Expeditions. This group has a strong commitment to conservation and research, and we feel that their goals are very compatible with our own.

BIRDS OF ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

We have a couple of spaces for Ecuador in November. We could especially use a single female who doesn't mind rooming with another , very congenial, woman. Don't miss this trip of a lifetime to Ecuador and Galapagos for those of you who have not been! Paul Greenfield, co-author the two-volume, Birds of Ecuador , will be leading. He is one of world's leading experts on the birds of Ecuador. You can't do any better than that! I will be accompanying you as well as a fine Ecuadorian guide, Juan Carlos Calvachi.

By the way, Paul's and Robert Ridgely's Birds of Ecuador is know available at many stores. The Audubon Shoppe (888) 505-9056 in Madison, CT has them in stock at a discount price.

Other trips this year

We still have space on our 7-night hummingbird trip at the end of August. All of the Arizona specialties are still around at that time, and you should see as many as 15 species of hummingbirds (our best year) or 13 (or worst)

Of course, we are again offering our very popular, "New Year's at Ramsey Canyon Inn" December 28 to January 2, 2002. Make your reservations early! This one always fills up quickly.

Hope you all have a great summer!

Forrest Davis, President

Karen Michaud, Office Manager

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