Recent news and events at ABR.
ABR is seeking to fill 2 positions—a Proposal and Marketing Coordinator and a Data Manager.
As we approach another brilliant summer solstice in Alaska, we must pass through the 19th of June, which is of course the day 2 years ago when we lost our dear Erin Johnson. We miss her every day still and even more so at this time of year. We urge you all to hug your family members warmly and give thanks for the life we have. We should also take a moment to reflect on Erin’s passion for life, her athleticism, her enthusiasm to address all challenges tossed her way, scientific and otherwise, and her indomitable spirit. If you have a chance, consider a donation to the Erin K. Johnson Memorial Fund (https://www.erinkjohnson.com) now or in the future. We hope everyone can take a little time today for a moment of silence for Erin or maybe engage in some hooting and hollering to the high heavens, as is your want!
The 2019 Alaska Bird Conference was held in Fairbanks 4–8 March 2019, with sponsorship and participation from ABR. We were excited to attend sessions, present talks, and even help lead a workshop on using unmanned aerial systems (UAS, or drones) to study birds.
Disaster struck 30 years ago on 24 March 1989 when the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground on Bligh Reef, a charted rocky area outside the designated shipping lane at the mouth of Valdez Arm in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The Exxon Valdez spilled approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil from the Prudhoe Bay, which was scattered by wind and waves over some 1,300 miles of coastline. At the time, it was the worst maritime oil spill in U.S. waters, only surpassed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The impact was immediate and dramatic, with oil-drenched wildlife appearing on the front pages and nightly news of major and minor media outlets. The death toll for marine mammals, birds, fish, and other marine life will never be known with accuracy, but estimates were in the hundreds of thousands for birds and marine mammals alone. The impacts on commercial fishing and tourism were devastating.
ABR's field technician positions in Fairbanks have been filled. These candidates will support studies at project locations throughout Alaska. The ideal candidate will have extensive field experience with a preference for good identification skills for birds (waterfowl, shorebirds, passerines), mammals, fish, and Alaska flora. Resistance to motion sickness is required; experience with aerial surveys for birds and/or mammals is a plus. Must be in excellent physical condition and able to work 10-12-hr days, hiking in difficult conditions and carry 14 kg (30 lbs).