Calendar 

British Birdingwatching Fair,  Rutland, UK
August 2008

Chile Birding & Nature Network:  We'll be in Marquee 1, Stand 15.  Now, you'll have a chance to plan a trip throughout Chile with each section of this long country guided by resident specialists Barbara Knapton, Jorge Ruiz, Alejandro Simeone, and Ricardo Matus. Or focus in depth on one area: habitats, wildlife and culture.  Contact Barb to set up an appointment at the fair. 

November 2008:  FERAN, or Feria Andina will be held in Putre as usual.  This is the equivalent of a county fair, with exhibits of alpacas, llamas, artesanias, food, etc.  Usually the festival is fantastic, with Los Kjarkas or other Andean groups performing. Music ´til 3 am in the cool mountain air. 

Salva Natura Birdathon in El Salvador:  Check out their web site for marathon coordinator Oliver Komar's report for 2004, 2005, and 2006, and how you can participate in a 2 day birding marathon in 2007 and/or 2008 and beef up your life list while helping fund conservation programs. In October 2-3 2004, 7 teams identified 296 species during the marathon.  They also accept donations from non-participants, and in 2004 raised USD 6,000 to fund monitoring programs in El Salvador.  
Oliver's email: okomar@salvanatura.org

Early May 2008:  16th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. This is held in Homer, Alaska, and is the state's largest birding festival.  Many habitats nearby: the Homer Spit, lakes and bogs, Sitka Spruce forest, estuaries along Cook Inlet.  Boat trips for sea ducks, alcids, gulls, storm petrels, Aleutian Terns, etc.  Many activities for kids, for kayakers.  Lots of music, good food, and crafts shows.  In May of 2003 Alto Andino Nature Tours presented a slideshow over northern Chile's bird life, and in 2005 and 2007.

While you're in Alaska:  Visit Audie and Jenny in Paxson, owner operators of Denali Highway Cabins & Paxson Alpine Tours.  WWW.denalihwy.com  

On Homer Spit on 7 May 2005, this Least Sandpiper, part of a group of 6, flew in directly from the south, landed, and quickly went to sleep.  

Who knows if this was a bird who had migrated north from Arica?

Common but treasured sight in Homer's gardens and parks in May.  Sandhill Cranes nest in the area and Homerites are lucky to see them, if there are no neighborhood dogs.  Bald Eagles are a huge problem these days, dive bombing the adults.  

Too many people feed the eagles.