to download the full 2012 festival brochure

YakutatTernFestival

SecondAnnual

May 31st-June 3rd2012

“Celebrating Birds in Culture”

www.yakutatternfestival.org. Yakutat Tern Festival 1

The mission of the Yakutat Tern Festival is to highlight the extraordinary natural and cultural resources of Yakutat by hosting a festival celebrating Aleutian and Arctic Terns.

Every Alaska community has a claim to fame regarding its natural resources. Yakutat is no exception. One of the largest and southernmost known breeding colonies of Aleutian Terns exists here. The earliest record of breeding Aleutian Terns in Yakutat – on the Situk River Flats – is 1922; the colonies in the Yakutat area appear to be a stronghold for a suspected declining worldwide population. The Aleutian Tern has a limited range throughout Alaska and eastern Siberia and Russia, and very little is known about this species, including its migration patterns. The Yakutat area is currently at the forefront of Aleutian Tern research, including studies on population trends, nesting ecology, and migration patterns. Arctic tern, an aggressive, high-profile species in the world of birds, nest in the same areas as Aleutians and are easily seen in key birding locations around Yakutat. In addition to the tern breeding colonies, what distinguishes Yakutat as a world-class birding destination is its incredible habitat diversity which translates into opportunities for birders to view over 200 species of birds, including over 100 nesting varieties and many rarities. Spectacular mountain ranges and the Gulf of Alaska squeeze the Yakutat forelands into a narrow corridor for hundreds of thousands of resident and migratory birds. Early June is prime time to see terns up close and personal.

The 2nd Annual Yakutat Tern Festival is here! We are so excited to share with you our cultured event, opening our home to visitors and providing a wonderful family learning event for our community. This event is a great way to educate locals and visitors on one of the most amazing bird migrations in North America. The Tern Festival would not be possible without the generous support and dedication of our partners, sponsors and volunteers. Please enjoy our events and community with all of its natural beauty and resources, and explore beachcombing, hiking, surfing, camping, sight-seeing, and fishing! Welcome to Yakutat!

Melenda Lekanof-Baker President, Chamber of Commerce

GENERAL INFORMATIONRegistration

Registration is available online (www.yakutatternfestival.org) or during the festival at the festival headquarters (Yakutat High School). Registration is $50.00, or $40.00 before May 1st, and free to participants ages 18 and younger. Registration covers entrance to all events and field trip transportation with the exception of the 2 saltwater based field trips; registration does not cover (fundraiser) meals. We accept cash and checks payable to the Yakutat Chamber of Commerce, and credit card.

Festival venues

The headquarters for the festival is the Yakutat High School. Registration, all day-time events, and Thursday evening events will occur at or be based out of the headquarters. Field trips will depart from and return to the school parking area. Friday and Saturday evening events will occur at the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) hall. Please refer to the map on page 21 for venue locations and sites of interest.

Contact information Prior to the festival and up through June 3rd, please call the U.S. Forest Service at (907) 784-3359. During the festival, please direct all questions to the registration area at festival headquarters or call (907) 784-3479.

2 Yakutat Tern Festival www.yakutatternfestival.org.

ArtFriday 12PM-4PM, Saturday 11AM-4PM, Sunday 11AM - 1PM: Art Show, High School GymnasiumLocal and visiting artists will be displaying, selling, and demonstrating their arts and crafts. Additional attractions will include Alaska Raptor Center birds and their handlers, photo contest display, and informative booths. ART SHOW IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

A sampling of Yakutat area artist biographies:Lilly Johnson: Lilly Johnson is an artist of Aleut/Tlingit descent who was born and raised in Alaska. She grew up in Yakutat and has lived there most of her life. She enjoys painting scenery, wildlife, and Northwestern Native art on just about any surface. Lilly is mostly known for her artwork on conks, dried tree mushrooms, and her fabric paintings on jackets, hooded sweatshirts, and t-shirts. She is happy to do custom orders for these items. Bert Adams, Sr. : Bert Adams Sr. was born in Sitka, and moved to Yakutat at the age of 3 with his mother, where he has lived ever since. Bert Sr. is a published author and has written books of fiction (This Is Yakutat and When Raven Cries) and numerous articles for magazines and newspapers. Bert’s interest in art began in early childhood; “when I was nine years old I had a burning desire to express my appreciation of nature through splashing color on canvas,” states Bert. With the support of parents, teachers, and friends, Bert continued to develop his skills. Today he focuses his talents on oil and water-color paintings and is taking an interest in acrylics reflecting the natural beauty as well as current and historical life in Yakutat. His portfolio is available at www.kadashan.com.

Hummingbird Beads & Gifts is the creation of sisters Evelyn Dierick and Caroline Donahue. Offering a variety of crafts, earrings, beaded coasters, and Native Alaskan beadwork, they also take consignment projects. Hummingbird stocks beads, threads, felts, and needles for sale as well as a limited number of skins. Contact Hummingbird Beads & Gifts at 907-784-3416 or P.O. Box 341, Yakutat, Alaska 99689.

Rhonda Coston: Rhonda Coston is a local Yakutat artist whose brilliantly colored jewelry brightens the faces of many locals and visitors alike. She specializes in necklaces, bracelets, and earrings of fresh water pearls, semi-precious stones, Thai, and sterling silver. She is known throughout southeast Alaska. Rhonda particularly enjoys the natural colors of the ocean, forests and mountains and she tries to incorporate those in her design. She has lived here for 16 years and can’t imagine a more inspiring place to live.

Oil Painting with Paul: The eye will delight in the freelance artistry of Paul Trollan. An Alaskan since 1966, Paul specializes in portraits, landscape, and wildlife paintings. He is willing to take on your commission, making celebrities of our neighbors, friends, and family. Contact Paul at 907-784-3049, or P.O. Box 37, Yakutat, Alaska 99689.

Eli Hanlon III: A Tlingit coppersmith and knife works artist, Eli Hanlon creates daggers, spears, carving tools, and traditional weaponry. A lifelong Yakutat resident, Eli is Teikweidi Brown Bear Clan. With ten years of experience, Eli’s hand fashions an intriguing mix of invention and production. Contact Eli at 907-784-3493, or P.O. Box 183, Yakutat, Alaska 99689.

Photo by Lilly Johnson

EvENTS AND SEMINARS

Photo by Rhonda Coston

Photo by Rhonda Coston

Photo by Lilly Johnson


Jeremiah James: Kahaach is of the Galwaxkwaan clan, grandson of Lorraine and Sheldon James, son of Penney and Daryl James. He is a traditional native artist of Yakutat who has drawn a number of designs for local organizations and businesses including the logo for the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe Lingit Language Program. Primarily, he works with otter and seal pelts sewing, but in his spare time he likes carving. Jeremiah has carved various items that are commonplace in Tlingit culture such as halibut hooks, miniature canoes, and masks. Most of all, he enjoys sharing his knowledge as well as learning from others.

Visiting Artists Nathalie Parenteau: Nathalie Parenteau’s painting subjects seem to have the eerie property of having their own will, she admits to spend-ing significant amounts of time with each painting to reach a subtle balance in both composition and tones. Her keen sense for melodra-ma has found the perfect outlet in this work. After viewing a painting, people often remark to feeling destabilized, of being pulled out of the known world and being put face to face with a new reality. Her work reaches both genders at a deep and unconscious level and can be best described as universal in its appeal. Nathalie’s style is easily recognizable and is collected by people from all over the world. She works both in acrylics and oils and is known for her sensitive representation of the subject in its environment. Her work is sold extensively across Canada and the United States.

Peter von Gaza: Peter von Gaza specializes in black and white photography. His primary motivation is in visiting remote and desolate landscapes and trying to capture a sense of the immense nature of the planet. His work and travel has given him the opportunity to photograph many distant lands; some of his favorites include: The Karakorum Himalaya in Pakistan, the deserts of the Middle East, the European Alps, Yosemite valley in California, Baja California in Mexico, St. Elias Mountains in the Yukon and Denali National Park in Alaska. He and painter Nathalie Parenteau own and run Shadow Lynx Artworks (http://www.pixelmapper.com/) in Whitehorse, Yukon.

On-going (Thursday-Sunday), Yakutat High School

Yakutat Tern Festival Photo Contest entries will be on display. This contest is for original photos from the Yakutat area accepted through May 30th. Festival participants are encouraged to view the photos and vote for their favorite photo (votes will be accepted through 4PM Saturday June 2nd). Prizes will be awarded Saturday evening at the ANB hall.

photo: USFS

photo: USFS


Featured Artist: Bob Berry

Bob Berry of El Cajon, CA is a master taxidermist, accomplished bronze sculptor, cham-pion decoy and bird carver, 4-Time World Champion fish carver and best-selling author who works during fly fishing season carving replicas of catch-and-release trophy fish. His clients include former President George H.W. Bush, HRH Prince of Wales, and Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, among others.

A self-taught artist with no formal training, Bob chose his career path at the early age of 12 when he spent $10 on a mail-order taxidermy course, turning his hobby into a career after he graduated high school in 1964. He apprenticed at Lyons & O’Haver Taxidermy under masters Hughie Lyons and Mike O’Haver until he was called to serve a 2-year term in The Army that included a year in vietnam during the height of the war in 1969. He received two bronze stars.

In 1973, he opened his commercial taxidermy studio, Animal Arts, in Ocean Beach where a customer encouraged him to make a woodcarving of a duck decoy. He won first place with his piece, and it changed the course of his career. He traded his taxidermy knives for carving knives and began a successful career in wildlife art and woodcarving.

Bob joined the Pacific Southwest Wildlife Artists, a non-profit organization founded to support and promote wildlife art and decoy carving in 1974. Now in its 39th year, Bob contin-ues to hold an active seat on PSWA’s Board of Directors and is Chairman of their Annual California Open where the best

decoy carvers in the country compete for top honors.

In the early 1980’s, Bob transitioned to carving fish and pioneered the genre. Through his efforts, fish carving has grown from a side division at taxidermy shows to having its own World Fish Carving Championships that, in 2011, attracted carvers from 36 countries on five continents.

The 1990’s saw him shift to creating big bronze sculptures for zoos, animal parks, and corporate America, leaving him little time for carving. His bronze wildlife installations can be seen at The San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Busch Gardens, viejas Outlet Shopping Mall, Cypress Gardens, The Dallas Zoo, Mission Trails Regional Park, Living Desert Zoo, and Palm Desert Zoo. His most gratifying sculp-ture, a Golden eagle taking flight from her nest, is placed on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Medical Center

where it serves as a living tribute to the fallen soldiers from San Diego. Currently, he is working with Cal State Fullerton on a life-size bronze elephant, the college’s mascot.

At 66, Bob enjoys life at home with wife, Kimberly, where his passion for wildlife and nature keeps him busy making commissioned carvings, teaching, publishing instruc-tional manuals, and enjoying his new baby grandson, B. Robert Berry. Bob’s portfolio can be seen by visiting www.bobberryfishcarvings.com

Bob will be displaying a variety of carvings for sale and conducting a youth workshop. He’ll also talk with people about his work and answer questions about the hobby/art of wood carving.


Thursday 6PM: Opening ReceptionJoin festival committee members and presenters for some short opening remarks to kick off the festival. Festival organizers will be on hand to answer questions about the festival and early registration will be available. Light fare (catered by Fat Grandma’s) will be provided. THIS EvENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Thursday 7:30PM: The Glacier’s Eternal Gift: Traditional Ice Floe Sealing at Yakutat BayIn conjunction with the opening reception, join Dr. Aron Crowell and Elaine Abraham to learn more about the historical use of seals in the Yakutat area. For over 900 years, Tlingit, Eyak, Ahtna, and Sugpiaq hunters have harvested harbor seals on ice floes near the retreating and advancing edge of Hubbard Glacier. New research into the fascinating history of people and seals in Yakutat Bay is documenting indigenous knowledge, language, place names, and oral tradition, joined with the evidence of archaeology and environmental science. THIS EvENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Note: Children are welcome on all field trips if accompanied by a responsible adult. Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Thursday 11AM: Birding 101Join wildlife biologist Susan Oehlers to learn about the basics of bird identification, highlighting examples of common birds around Yakutat, including their songs and calls. Weather dependent, we will use our new birding skills on a short walk around the school grounds. Thursday 12:30 PM: Bob BerryEach child will be given a wooden cutout and get hands-on experience painting along with Bob as he shows them the steps. Kids can keep their terns to take home, after decorating the stage for the play! Thursday 2PM: Storytelling with local authors and/or local eldersLocal young adults, from the Yakutat Tlingit language program, will present traditional stories of the Yakutat Tlingit culture.

Thursday 3PM: Play Performance Auditions and PlanningCasting and practicing of an original/adapted play for Sunday’s performance. Children will sign up for a part and begin work on a costume.

Thursday 4PM: Calcium Science Project Calcium provides structure within life; it is found in bones, teeth, eggshells, and exoskeletons (protecting a crab). In this experiment, we will place different bird parts and things that birds eat into chemicals such as vinegar and coke and we will discover what happens to these objects over time.

SPECIAL EvENTS AND SEMINARSThursday, May 31

For the Kids! (Open to all ages!)


Friday 12PM-1PM: Fundraiser lunch with proceeds benefitting the Mt. St. Elias Dancers.

Friday 1PM: Birding BasicsLearn about the basics of bird-watching with Forest Service biologist Melissa Cady.

Friday 2PM: The Birds of YakutatJoin Forest Service wildlife technician and avid birder Gwen Baluss to learn about the birds of Yakutat. Gwen will focus on the species most likely to be present on the festival field trips. Friday 6PM: Opening ceremony and Fundraiser Dinner with Silent Auction, Raffle and Door PrizesOpening remarks and a fundraiser dinner with proceeds going to the Mt. St. Elias Dancers.

Friday 7PM: Mt. St. Elias Dance PerformanceImmediately following the dinner, don’t miss a glimpse into Yakutat’s strong cultural heritage with the Mt. St. Elias Dancers performance.


Friday 8AM-11AM: Bird BandingBiologist Gwen Baluss will demonstrate the use of mist nets to capture and band songbirds. Friday 10AM: Cedar Bark Baskets (Ages 12-18)Pam Hayes will teach youth to make small cedar bark baskets that they may take home with them. Limited to 15 participants.

Friday 11AM: Play Preparation Developing costumes, props, and beginning practice for the play.

Friday 1PM: Bird House BuildingChildren will assemble and decorate pre-fabricated bird houses. Friday 2PM: Face PaintingThe Yakutat Healthy Community Coalition and Youth Council will be assisting with face painting for all ages. Kids will have a variety of designs painted on their faces. Friday 3PM: Photography Workshop (ages 12-18)Bob Johnson will demonstrate the skills and equipment for taking great outdoor and wildlife photos. His work-shop will be hands on photography inside and out. We will take a short walk and photograph birds in their natural environment.

Friday, June 1


photo: USFS

photo: Mike Denega


Saturday 12PM-1PM: Fundraiser lunch with proceeds benefitting Yakutat High School Boys Basketball Team

Saturday 1PM: Warbler IdentificationJoin Forest Service biologists Gwen Baluss and Melissa Cady to learn about identifying Yakutat area warblers.

Saturday 2PM: Bird Photography WorkshopBob Armstrong will discuss the best cameras, lenses and techniques for getting good photos. He will also cover “the good, the bad, and the ugly”, or how to photograph birds without disturbing them.

Saturday 3PM: History of Yakutat Bert Adams Sr. will present the geology and cultural development of the Yakutat area, from over 1,000 years ago when glaciers covered much of the Yakutat forelands, to early settlement and up through modern day Yakutat.

Saturday 4PM: Genetic History of Tlingit and Haida Communities of Southeast AlaskaDr. Schurr will discuss the results of the DNA study of Tlingit and Haida communities in Southeast Alaska conducted as part of the Genographic Project.

Saturday 6PM: Fundraiser dinner benefitting the Yakutat area Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood organizations.

Saturday 7PM: Birds in Local CultureJoin Bert Adams Sr. as he shares the Gunaaxoo (Dry Bay area) story of how Raven created the Yakutat and Dry Bay area to prepare for the migration of people into this area.

Saturday 7:30PM: Key-note speaker Bob ArmstrongJoin Bob Armstrong as he shares his photos of Arctic Terns and Black Oystercatchers and discusses the dif-ferences in their migration patterns. Both are very interesting birds and fun to watch, and Bob has many photos to share.


Saturday 10AM: Cedar Bark Baskets (Ages 12-18)Pam Hayes will teach youth to make small cedar bark baskets that they may take home with them.

Saturday 11AM: Tlingit LanguageChildren will be introduced to the Tlingit language, including Tlingit words for many common birds of Yaku-tat, and Tlingit Dancing.

Saturday 1PM: Bird CallingJim Capra, from the National Park Service, will teach children how to call birds using a birdcall. Saturday 2PM: Play rehearsalThis will be a hands on dress rehearsal for Sunday’s performance.

Saturday, June 2



Saturday 3PM: Raptor Center presentationvolunteer bird handlers from the Alaska Raptor Center will present a live bird program on raptors. Children will learn more about these species’ ecology, conservation issues, and the role of the Alaska Raptor Center.

Sunday 7-9AM: Bird banding demonstration (all ages)Gwen Baluss will demonstrate the use of mist nets to capture and band songbirds. Feel free to stop in any time between 7 and 9AM.

Sunday 8:30AM - 10AM: Fundraiser Breakfast with proceeds benefitting the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe Language Program

Sunday 9AM: Youth Play Performance (All ages!)Enjoy an original play performed by youth festival participants. The kids have been preparing for and practicing this play throughout the festival; please show your support!

Sunday 2PM: Raptor Center Live Bird PresentationHandlers from the Sitka-based Alaska Raptor Center present a live bird program, tentatively featuring a Harlan’s red-tailed hawk and a barred owl. Learn more about these species’ ecology, conservation issues, and the role of the Alaska Raptor Center.

Sunday 3PM: Closing Ceremony/RemarksImmediately following the Alaska Raptor Center Presentation, a few closing remarks will mark the culmination of the festival.

Sunday 9AM: Play performanceChildren will perform their play to an audience of festival participants.

Sunday 10AM: Nathalie ParenteauArtists Nathalie Parenteau and Peter von Gaza will conduct a 2-hour art workshop for youth up to 18 years of age.

Sunday, June 3


photo: USFS

photo: USFS


FIELD TRIP DESCRIPTIONS Field trips will be led by knowledgeable birders and other local area experts and/or naturalists when pos-sible. Transportation will include passenger vans, short hikes, kayaks, and motorized watercraft. Most trips are adaptable to meet any physical limitations of participants; please contact us early if you have any special needs, questions, or concerns. A limited number of field guides will be available for use; however, partici-pants are encouraged to bring their own bird books, camera, and binoculars. The schedule may vary due to weather, but most trips will be conducted rain or shine. Temperatures in June generally range in the 50s and 60s (°F), and rain is common. Participants should be prepared for inclement weather; warm clothing, rain gear, and sturdy boots are highly recommended, but don’t forget the sun-screen and sun-glasses! For lon-ger trips, also bring water and snacks or lunch as needed. Unless otherwise specified, all trips will be depart-ing from the parking lot at the festival headquarters at the Yakutat High School. Please be at the departure location at least 15 minutes prior to the departure time. Times given are approximate. Please see the festival schedule for trip dates and departure times.

To maximize the enjoyment and safety of all participants, please observe the following guidelines:

Be courteous to other group members: Stay with the group and pay attention to the trip leader(s).

Move slowly, avoiding making any sudden movements, and keep any noise to a minimum.

Do not disturb birds or other wildlife. Use binoculars and/or spotting scopes to observe birds and other wildlife from a distance.

Practice Leave No Trace: Pack out any trash and do not disturb the natural habitat.

Yakutat is Bear Country: Keep an eye out for bears and bear signs, and follow bear safety recommendations from your trip leader. Do not wander off alone!

photo: Mike Denega

photo: Richards - USFS

photo: Richards - USFS photo: Richards - USFS

photo: Mike Denega

photo: Mike Denega


Town/Monti Bay Time: 2-3 hoursDifficulty Level: EasyTransportation: Foot and/or passenger vehicleDescription: This trip will encompass good bird viewing sites in town such as Sandy Beach, Yakutat Harbor, the Lagoon trail, and the lower road system adjacent to Monti Bay. Sandy beach offers (you guessed it!) san-dy beach habitat near the cannery which attracts large numbers of feeding seabirds, primarily gulls. Monti Bay is a great place to view seabirds, such as a variety of gulls, scoters, and cormorants. Common loons are abundant year round, and Pacific loons are common migrants. The Totem Park/Lagoon trail weaves through conifer forest where one may encounter thrushes, kinglets, and even brown creepers. Waterfowl and shore-birds are common in the lagoon and along the shoreline in spring and fall. A stop at the harbor may yield murrelets, sea ducks, cormorants, gulls, and eagles.

Ankau River and Ocean CapeTime: 3 hoursDifficulty Level: Easy to ModerateTransportation: Passenger vehicle and foot.Description: This trip will start at the Ankau River, including a hike along the river up to the open waters of Monti Bay. For those not wishing to walk far, a short walk to the beach from the parking area will yield spec-tacular views and bird viewing opportunities in Monti Bay. A variety of waterfowl species are viewable in the Ankau River, with Arctic terns nesting and foraging nearby. Monti bay is a great place for viewing seabirds, such as a variety of gulls, scoters, and cormorants. Common loons are abundant year round, and Pacific loons are common migrants. Watch for rarities such as Kittlitz’s murrelet and Yellow-billed loon. Keep an eye out for the famous Yakutat surfers here, as well as marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, harbor porpoises, and sea otters. On a clear day, the scenery alone makes this trip worthwhile, offering a spectacular view of Monti Bay and the Mt. St. Elias Range.

Harlequin LakeTime: 4 hours Difficulty Level: Easy to ModerateTransportation: van, footDescription: This trip will travel out Forest Highway 10 to the Dangerous River Bridge and Harlequin Lake Trail. A short (3/4 mile) hike from here ends at the southern shore of Harlequin Lake. The scenery alone makes this trip a must-see! Harlequin Lake is the headwaters of the Dangerous River. Massive icebergs, calved from Yakutat Glacier, can be seen floating from shore. Yakutat Glacier is visible across the lake. Mew Gulls sometimes make their nests on the ice. Possible bird observations include Cliff Swallows nesting under the bridge, Arctic Terns diving for fish, molting Canada Geese, and Red–necked Phalaropes. Extensive willow thickets along the lake shore in this relatively inland area are good places to look for interior-dwelling spe-cies like Gray-cheeked Thrush. Gulls may be observed near the shore as well passerine species like varied Thrush and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Those not wishing to hike have the option to stop at the Dangerous River Bridge, which also offers views of the outlet of the lake and icebergs (occasionally floating down the river!). The temperature tends to be a bit colder here, with the cold air coming off of the glacier; please bring extra layers! Time permitting, this field trip will also stop at various habitats along the way back to town.


Strawberry PointTime: 3 hoursDifficulty Level: Easy to ModerateTransportation: Passenger vehicle and foot.Description: Participants will walk a relatively short distance along the sandy shores of Strawberry Point. Those not wishing to walk far may view birds from the parking/drop-off point. Strawberry Point is where the Situk River enters the Situk-Ahrnklin estuary. The area is a magnet for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. Watch for Yellowlegs, Semi-palmated Plovers, and Whimbrels. Black Sand Spit, site of an Arctic and Aleutian Tern nesting colony, is viewable from this vantage point, and Aleutian and Arctic Terns can be observed for-aging in the estuary. Late migrating shorebirds such as Dunlin and Western Sandpiper may be viewed along the tidal flats.

Tern ViewingTime: 3-4 hoursDifficulty Level: Easy to ModerateTransportation: Passenger vehicle and foot, possibly watercraft Description: This trip will encompass one or more sites offering views of Arctic and Aleutian Terns. The largest accessible breeding colony is generally at Black Sand Spit, but other areas such as the mouth of the Lost River and meadows along the Lower Landing Road and Forest Highway 10 offer viewing opportunities as well. Actual sites visited will depend on weather, nesting phenology, current occupancy status of sites, ac-cess considerations, and interest level.

Morning Songbird Walk Time: 2 hoursDifficulty Level: Easy to ModerateTransportation: Passenger vehicle and foot (short walks roads and/or trails)Description: These early morning birding trips will include short walks on roads and/or trails to focus on songbirds by sight and sound. Birding areas will be close to town, and may vary throughout the festival to allow for a variety of birding opportunities. Common song-birds include Ruby-crowned Kinglet, varied and Hermit Thrushes, Wilson’s and Orange-crowned Warbler, and Fox and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

Russell FiordTime: 4 hours Difficulty Level: ModerateTransportation: van, footDescription: This trip will travel out Forest Highway 10 to the East Gate Road and Russell Fiord Trailhead. The Russell Fiord Trail is a ¾ mile trail ending at the southern end of Russell Fiord. The trail is classified as moderate difficulty, with several short moderately steep rises, sections of very uneven surface, and can be wet and muddy, especially after recent rainfall. In a short distance, this forested trail leads hikers to the open waters of Russell Fiord. Birds observed from the shore may include murrelets, loons, White-winged Scoters, Pigeon Guillemots, Aleutian and Arctic terns, gulls, phalaropes, and jaegers. Black Oystercatchers nest in small numbers on the beaches throughout the fiord and are sometimes observed along the shore. Effects on the near-shore habitat from the 2002 Hubbard Glacier damming event are still noticeable. Marine mam-mals such as seals and harbor porpoises are also occasionally observed here.


Kayak based Ankau and Monti Bay:Time: 4 hours Difficulty Level: ModerateTransportation: van, kayakDescription: This trip will depart via kayaks from Sandy Beach or other local launch site, and explore the inshore waters of Monti Bay and the mouth of the Ankau River. Weather permitting, participants may ex-plore the shoreline and bays of Khantaak Island. This a great place for seabirds, such as a variety of gulls, scoters, and cormorants. Common Loons are abundant year round, and Pacific Loons are common migrants. A variety of waterfowl species are viewable in the Ankau River, with Arctic Terns nesting and foraging near-by. Keep an eye out for the famous Yakutat surfers, and marine mammals. A new field trip this year, space is limited due to limited availability of kayaks: advance registration recommended (please see registration form). This trip is contingent on interest and advance registration, and is also weather dependent. This trip is recommended for participants with basic kayaking skills/experience. ADDITIONAL FEE OF $50.00 APPLIES

Charter boat based Monti and Yakutat Bays:Time: 4 hours Difficulty Level: ModerateTransportation: Saltwater Charter BoatDescription: This trip will depart via a Yakutat based Charter Boat from the Yakutat Boat Harbor, and explore the inshore waters of Monti Bay and Yakutat Bay. Species will be similar to those listed under the Kayak based Ankau and Monti Bay trip. Each charter boat will accommodate 5 passengers plus captain and trip leader/guide. A new field trip this year, advance registration and down payment is required (please see registration form). This trip is contingent on interest and advance registration, and is also weather dependent. ADDITIONAL FEE OF $150.00 APPLIES

TERN FESTIvAL SPEAKERS & GUESTS

Our Presenters, Children’s Activities, and Field Trip Leaders

Bob Armstrong (Keynote Speaker) Bob Armstrong has written about and photographed nature in Alaska since 1960. He has authored and coauthored 17 books and numerous scientific and popular articles on fish, birds, mammals, plants, and insects in Alaska. His books include Guide to the Birds of Alaska; Alaska’s Birds; and Alaska’s Fish. In addition he has coauthored The Nature of Southeast Alaska; Alaska’s Natural Wonders; South-east Alaska’s Natural World; Whistlers on the Mountains; Along the Mt. Roberts Trail in Juneau, Alaska; Dragonflies of Alaska; and Dragons in the Ponds and Life around Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. He has also authored and coauthored numerous scientific and popular articles on fish, birds, mammals, plants, and insects in Alaska. He has worked as a fishery biologist and research supervisor for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and as an Associate Professor for the University of Alaska where he taught courses in fisheries and ornithology. Bob Armstrong currently lives in Juneau where he continues to photograph and write about the Natural History of Alaska. Check out http://www.naturebob.com/ for more information.


Melissa Cady

Melissa Cady grew up in rural northern Arkansas, in the Ozark Mountains. She has worked all across the west as a wildlife technician for a variety of consulting firms, state, and federal agencies. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and a Master of Science in Wildlife Bi-ology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. A lifetime outdoor enthusiast, Melissa began birding in 1995 and has been actively learning about the birds of Southeast Alaska for over 10 years. She has been the Bird Conservation Region 5 coordinator for 5 years and just completed serving 2 years as the Boreal Partners in Flight Co-Chair. She currently resides in Craig, Alaska, where she works as a Wildlife Biologist for the Prince of Wales Zone of the Tongass National Forest.

Bill Lucey

Bill Lucey holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of vermont. He began his career work-ing as a natural resource instructor for the vermont Fish & Wildlife Department in 1987 and went on to work in salmon research and habitat restoration. He also worked as a fisheries extensionist with the Peace Corps in Guatemala. Bill moved to Yakutat in 1995, working for the U.S. Forest Service as a fish and wildlife biolo-gist; banding birds, tagging salmon, collaring moose, and surveying everything from mountain goats to sea lions. He is now a biologist for the City and Borough of Yakutat, working with the local community on a wide variety of sustainable resource issues from commercial fishing to cleaning up marine debris.

Mike Denega

Mike Denega began his teaching career at Humboldt State University teaching Biological Statistics, Human Anatomy and Martial Arts. Since 1973, he has served the science departments at Folsom Lake College (for-mally American River College) and El Dorado High School in El Dorado County, California. Mike has designed and implemented an impressive variety of classes which offer travel opportunities for students seeking special outdoor experiences such as bird watching, sea kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking, especially associated with marine environments and wetlands. International tours, under the auspices of Mike, have taken students to Australia, Baja Mexico, and Central and South Americas. Recently, Mike has spent 12 years as a researcher and wildlife photographer in Alaska. His work with the Migratory Bird Program and ecotourism projects in Alaska began in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, then spread throughout the state. He has spent time in Yakutat during the past 5 summers, volunteering with the Aleutian tern research project and working to promote ecotourism opportunities in the Yakutat area.

Gwen Baluss

Based in Juneau, Gwen Baluss has been bird-watching for work and fun in Southeast Alaska since 1998. Before that she worked throughout the Western United states and Hawaii focusing on bird work ranging from forest habitat studies, to wildlife rehabilitation and endangered species recovery. She is most interested in songbirds, especially those that migrate south, and likes to travel where when she can observe them on their winter range. She is a certified bird bander and enjoys recruiting new birders by showing the public birds up close.


Nate Catterson

Originally from the East Coast, Nate was lured to Alaska by the prospect of seasonal fisheries work and fly-fish guiding -- basically by wild salmon and trout. Ten years later, he’s still there working full time as a biologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Yakutat and supplementing his fishing with kayaking, birding and surfing. Nate has been instrumental in the Aleutian Tern research being conducted in the Yakutat area.

Jared Funderburk

Jared Funderburk is in his third year as a park ranger with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. A passionate outdoorsman, Jared spends his summers in Alaska connecting visitors to national parks, and his winters exploring the world’s most exciting natural places, such as his trip last spring to Patagonia. He holds a master’s degree from the Richard W. Riley College of Education at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Teresa Hunt

Teresa Hunt has lived in Alaska most of her life, but grad school and a fisheries biology career drew her away for the past 7 years where she studied fish in the Grand Canyon. While her earliest jobs were associated with the commercial salmon industry, most of her work experience has been studying fish in Wyoming, Arizona, and Alaska. Teresa’s outdoor experiences growing up in Alaska have shaped her recreational and biological points of views. She has worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a Fisheries Technician on the Chugach National Forest, and currently she works for the Tongass National Forest as a Resource Assistant on the Yakutat Ranger District. Teresa is busily expanding her skills and interests to include birding!

Susan Oehlers

Susan Oehlers grew up in Minnesota, and has a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Minne-sota and a Master’s Degree in wildlife biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Susan has worked with a wide variety of animals and birds, including wolves, moose, brown bears, small mammals, spotted owls, songbirds, Canada geese, and terns. Susan is currently the wildlife biologist for the Yakutat Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest, and is involved in the Yakutat-based Aleutian tern research. Susan enjoys learn-ing more about birds and sharing her knowledge with local students.

Brian Logan

Brian grew up in a birdwatching household. His childhood was spent traveling the east coast watching birds in such places as Cape May Pt, New Jersey, and Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania. His passion for birds led him to pursue university studies in wildlife biology earning a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from the Uni-versity of Arizona and a MS from the University of Montana. Brian’s professional interest in birds has taken many forms – from working at Ramsey Canyon Nature Preserve in SE AZ, to leading birdwatching tours in Arizona, Southern California, Sonora, and the Northern Rockies Mountains, and also conducting field studies in Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, and Alberta. For the past ten years Brian has worked for the Forest Service as a wildlife biologist which has given him the opportunity to study birds throughout the western US and Alaska where he now serves as the Wildlife Program Lead for the Tongass National Forest.


Aron Crowell

Dr. Aron L. Crowell is an Arctic anthropologist and Alaska Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Arctic Studies Center. His research and many publications in cultural anthropology, archaeology, and oral history reflect collaborations with indigenous communities of the north and with major museums and research institutions. Crowell has led or contributed to exhibitions including Crossroads of Continents: Cultures of Si-beria and Alaska; Looking Both Ways: Heritage and Identity of the Alutiiq People; and Gifts of the Ancestors: Ancient Ivories of Bering Strait. He is the curator and project director of the acclaimed Smithsonian exhibi-tion Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska at the Anchorage Museum and directs a wide range of current programs in Alaska Native heritage, languages, and arts. Crowell has carried out archaeological research around the Gulf of Alaska from the Katmai coast to Glacier Bay, and currently leads National Science Foundation-funded research on the human and environmental history of Yakutat Bay, with a focus on traditional sealing. Crowell’s Doctorate in anthropology is from the University of California, Berkeley, and he is an affiliate faculty member of the University of Alaska.

Bert Adams Sr.

Bert Adams Sr. was born in Sitka, and moved to Yakutat at the age of 3 with his mother, where he has lived ever since. Bert Sr. is a published author and has written books of fiction (This Is Yakutat and When Raven Cries) and numerous articles for magazines and newspapers. Bert spent most of his early years growing up in the Dry Bay region---mostly on the Akwe River where he spent a lot of time searching for the village of Guseix. After leaving Yakutat empty handed to pursue an education and work, he returned to Yakutat in 1981. He was elected President of the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe in 1993 and served for 12 years. It was during this time that he began working with the National Park Service and the Forest Service archaeologists locating historical sites on the Akwe River. Learn more about Bert at www.kadashan.com.

Wendy Zirngibl

Wendy Zirngibl is public affairs specialist for the Tongass National Forest. She cut her birding teeth in rela-tively arid Montana and Wyoming, so her goal in Southeast Alaska is to learn to discern among the myriad seabirds, from gulls to our beautiful terns. Wendy’s doctoral research in Greater Yellowstone focused on the shared environmental history of wolves, elk, and humans in that region; she has published essays and given presentations on wolves, eagles, elk, recreational hunting, and Yellowstone National Park. She lives in Juneau with her spouse and two wonderful young children.

Jennifer Cedarleaf

Jennifer Cedarleaf is the Avian Rehabilitation Coordinator for the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska. Jen is typically referred to as our “rehabber,” since her primary duty is to take care of the injured and sick birds admitted to our clinic. Jen works part time for the Center, adjusting her schedule to match our patient load. The rest of the time she is a research assistant for a humpback whale biologist.

Zach MacDonald

Zach is a bird handler/trainer for the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska. Zach came to the Alaska Raptor Center as a summer wildlife interpreter in 2009. He returned in the summer of 2010 for the same job. He also worked in the husbandry department cleaning and preparing diets. Zach is working towards a degree in biology. While attending school in Idaho, he spent winters volunteering at other rehab facilities. When a permanent position opened up at the Alaska Raptor Center in January of 2011, he returned to take on a


position as a bird handler. Zach has been a great addition to the team, working with all of the education birds and helping out wherever he is needed.

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson “ran away” to Alaska as a teenager many years ago. During those years, Robert has photo-graphed, climbed, hiked, explored, kayaked, fished commercially, and spent most of his life in the South-eastern Alaskan wilderness. An avid birder, Robert has formal training as a photographer and biologist and has conducted fishery research projects throughout the Alaska Panhandle and Gulf Coast and is now retired as the Area Management Biologist for the Yakutat area. Mr. Johnson’s award winning photographic work is widely known for documenting the beauty and mystery of the wild Alaskan landscape. Images by “R E John-son” are published worldwide in publications and exhibitions, including inclusion in a Smithsonian Institute exhibit documenting the significance of the Tongass National Forest which was viewed by over 5 million people. Robert now shares his photographic vision through workshops and presentations across the United States and Europe.

Nicole Miller

Nicole is a resident of Yakutat and recently graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Classics. Her love for birding began about ten years ago while working the Situk River fish weir, where she began identifying birds by their song. Nicole also works for the Yakutat School and enjoys sharing her passion for birds with students. One of her memorable birding experiences was watching Stephanie Latzel’s kindergarten class creep slowly toward a lone songbird– “Look!” exclaimed one student, “it’s a golden-crowned sparrow!”

Brian Marston

Brian has worked as a biologist in Alaska since 1994 with birds, mammals, and fish. Brian began work for ADF&G in 1999, and most recently has been the Yakutat area sport fish biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for 4 years. Brian received a degree in wildlife and fisheries management from Humboldt State University in 1993. Brian enjoys spending time outside, including fishing, birding, hunting, sailing, and walking his dog on the beach.

Jim Capra

Jim Capra is the Dry Bay Ranger for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Jim began work in Yakutat in April of 1995, and began his career with the Park Service as a seasonal law enforcement Park Ranger in 1987 in Colorado at Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP. Jim is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys running, hiking, skiing, fishing, snowshoeing, hunting, trapping, and birding, and is also a small plane pilot. Jim’s expert duck calling instruction and contest during the 2011 festival was a big hit with young festival participants.

Matt Catterson

Matt Catterson first arrived in Yakutat in 2003, and has continued working seasonally as a fisheries and wildlife technician for both the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Forest Service, including working with Aleutian terns. Recently, Matt has returned to school at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau to pursue his M.S. in fisheries. Matt enjoys all things outdoors, including fishing, surfing, running, and is getting to know the area birds. Matt has helped out with birding field trips with local youth and during the 2011 tern festival.


Kris Widdows

Kris Widdows has lived in Yakutat for 40 years, and has worked in various capacities for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Forest Service over the years, while also running a charter boat company with her husband Geoff. Kris is still learning her birds, and is anxious to share her extensive knowledge of the area with festival participants.

Theodore Schurr

Theodore Schurr is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Michael Thompson

Michael J Thompson was recently promoted to the position of Yakutat District Ranger at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Ranger Thompson’s career in law enforcement spans more than 20 years and four state and federal agencies that includes the State of Alaska Fish & Wildlife Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service working in both the Tongass and the Chugach National Forests; Misty Fjords National Monu-ment; Kenai Fjords National Park; Alaska State Parks; A Federal Air Marshall with the Seattle Field Office; Nome District Ranger for the Western Arctic National Parklands and his most recent position as the Nabesna District Ranger at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Ranger Thompson is no stranger to Yaku-tat having served there as a seasonal backcountry protection ranger from 1997 to 1999. “I am truly excited about returning to Yakutat where it all began for me at Wrangell St. Elias. It is a beautiful place and I look forward to re-connecting with the community.”

Pam Hayes

Pam Hayes of Juneau, Alaska has been a cedar and spruce root weaver since 1995. She harvests her own bark and roots, including assembling kits for youth and adult basket making workshops. She has been teaching since 2000.

photo: USFS photo: USFS

photo: Amy Gulickphoto: Mike Denega

photo: Amy Gulick


Tern Natural HistoryTerns are small seabirds related to gulls. In contrast to the languid gull, terns contend for the title of most superb aerialists in the avian realm. Terns are capable of hovering in the air like a hummingbird, flipping over backwards, and then slicing down into the water like a pelican. Although they may scavenge occasionally, terns prefer to hunt small fish which they spot from the air and plunge into the water to catch.While their acrobatics are impressive, it is their endurance that is truly staggering. The Arctic Tern has been documented migrating up to 50,000 miles annually. In fact, the Arctic Tern’s annual migration from boreal and high Arctic breeding grounds to the Southern Ocean may be the longest seasonal movement of any animal. The migration patterns of the Aleutian Tern remain largely unknown, but they are suspected to be long-distance travelers as well. Alaska is just one stop on the long journey for terns, but it is an important one. Terns come to Alaska to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. They nest on the ground on beaches, gravel bars, and lake shores, laying their eggs in shallow depressions called scrapes. The eggs are camouflaged to look like little rocks and are hard to see.Terns are fun birds to observe, but they are sensitive to human disturbance so it is best to keep your distance. If you find yourself on a beach or a long gravely river bar with terns hovering nearby, you might be near a nest or chick. When they are disturbed, terns may abandon their nest or chicks, or chicks may become lost and separated from their parents and die. Aleutian Terns have been known to abandon their colonies when disturbed by people. To reduce risk to the breeding colony, keep back a reasonable distance to take pictures or observe, and keep your dog(s) leashed. WATCH YOUR STEP; be careful not to step on a nest full of eggs! ATvs can also disturb individuals and crush nests or chicks, and are not advisable in or near tern breeding areas during the breeding season, approximately mid-May through mid-August.

Terns breed in several areas around Yakutat, primarily in mixed Arctic and Aleutian Tern colonies, including the largest known colonies on Black Sand Spit and near the Italio river. The Aleutian tern colony on Black Sand Spit on the Yakutat Forelands is one of the largest in the world, historically supporting up to 3,000 Aleutian Terns; current population estimates are less than 1,000, but continue to represent a significant portion of the global population. Aleutian terns were documented on the Spit as far back as 1923, and the colony appears to be stable despite apparent declining populations elsewhere within Alaska. In part because of the large population of Aleutian Terns found there, Black Sand Spit was recently named as an Audubon Important Bird Area.

Three types of Terns are known to breed in Alaska, and these three species can intermingle in flocks or around breeding colonies.

Arctic TernThe Arctic Tern is Alaska’s most common tern. Their breeding range is circumpolar, and the worldwide breeding population is thought to number over a million birds. Arctic Terns can be found nesting in single pairs or in large colonies, in both fresh and salt water. They are wide-spread across the landscape and can be found around both fresh and salt water.Adult Arctic Terns have a smooth black head without a white patch or crest. Their bill is bright red. Arctic Terns have a distinctive pierc-ing “rhaaa” or “craaaw” call which they make constantly. They are the smallest of the Alaska terns but size is often difficult to judge in flying birds, especially over water.

photo: Nate Catterson/USFS


Arctic Terns are known for their tenacious defense of their nests and chicks. If you find yourself on a beach or gravel bar being enthusiastically dive bombed by a bird that matches this description, chances are it’s an Arctic Tern. It is best to leave the area while being careful to watch the ground for nests.

Aleutian TernAleutian Terns are of special interest because we know very little about them and their breeding range is limited to Alaska and Eastern Siberia. They nest on the outer coast of Alaska from Glacier Bay to Barrow. They are by all accounts a rare bird, with a global population estimated at less than 20,000 individuals. The breeding population estimate for Alaska is 9,500 birds. Aleutian terns have a distinct white triangular patch on their forehead just above the bill. They also have black feet, legs, and bill. Aleutian Terns are similar in size to Arctic Terns, but stouter with a more deeply forked tail. Perhaps the biggest contrast between Aleutian and other tern species is in their call. Instead of a harsh cry, Aleutian Terns emit a musical whistling sound similar to a shore bird. Aleutian Terns are also much less aggressive in defending their nest-ing colonies; instead of dive bombing, they will generally hover high over the colony when disturbed by humans.Besides limited colony counts, very little is known about the breeding ecology of this species, and essentially nothing is known about their winter distribution. This species is designated as a species of concern by several agencies and conservation organizations, as well as a Forest Service Sensitive Species, primarily due to suspected population declines throughout their range.

Caspian TernCaspian Terns are the largest terns in the world and the least common tern species found in Alaska. While rare in Alaska, colonies of Caspian Terns are found throughout the world on every continent except South America and Antarctica. The North American (excluding Alaska) breeding population is the largest of the continental populations, estimated at about 34,000 pairs. There are currently no known breeding areas in the Yakutat area, but there are small colonies to the North in Icy Bay and the Copper River Delta, and they are occasionally seen migrating through the Yakutat area. Some biologists believe that the Alaska population is a recent development and that these birds may be colonizing new habitat in Alaska.Caspian terns are noticeably larger than both Arctic and Aleutian terns. More likely to be confused with a gull, they have an all black head and large orange bill. The feathers along the back of the head protrude out and form a bit of a crest at the back of the head. They have a deep call that sounds more like a croak. Like the Arctic Tern, they are aggressive defenders of their nesting colonies.

photo: Nate Catterson/USFS

photo: Nick Hatch/USFWS


Current ResearchThe U.S. Forest Service is collaborating with other partners (University of Alaska Southeast, University of Hawaii, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game), to gain a better understanding of Aleutian Terns. In 2008 and 2009, researchers applied several population estimating methods for Aleutian Tern colonies in the Yakutat area. Biologists are currently analyzing these data to determine the best method. This method can then be used for conducting censuses throughout the state and allow better population trend monitoring.

Because the Aleutian tern’s wintering range is unknown, a high priority is to identify migration patterns, which may hold clues to the reasons for the species’ suspected population decline. In 2010, researchers deployed tracking devices called “geolocators” on 113 Aleutian terns distributed throughout the Black Sand Spit and Italio River colonies. Weighing as little as 1 gram, geolocators work by archiving data about day length that can be used to interpolate a physical location (latitude and longitude) on the earth’s surface, thus documenting the tagged birds’ migration route. Although geolocators have been used on other tern species, this was the first deployment of geolocators on Aleutian Terns. There are many challenges associated with geolocators; primarily that the individual bird has to be re-captured to obtain the data. Researchers captured over 200 terns at several sites around Yakutat in 2011, and only 1 was a recapture from 2010. Preliminary data from this one bird indicates wintering habitat in Southern Sumatra. Re-captures and data recovery are again scheduled for the 2012 season.

photo: Dave Duffy

photo: Oehlers -USFS

photo: Oehlers -USFS photo: Oehlers -USFS

photo: Oehlers -USFS


Yakutat Town Map

16

2 34

5

6

7

8

9

1110

1213

Gla

cier

Bea

r Res

taur

ant &

Bar

Cann

on B

each

Roa

dSi

tuk

Rive

r Roa

dA

irpo

rtYa

kuta

t Lod

ge R

esta

uran

t & B

arSi

tuk

Rive

r Fly

Sho

p

500

ft

15

Tras

h D

ump

Russ

ell F

jord

9 M

ile B

ridg

eH

arle

quin

Lak

e

14

1

© G

oogl

e M

aps

2009

17

1.

Yaku

tat

Dis

tric

t S

cho

ols

2

. U

.S.

Po

st O

ffic

e3

. Fa

t G

ran

dm

a’s

Gif

ts &

Bis

tro

4.

Gla

ss D

oo

r B

ar

& L

iqu

or

Sto

re5

. Y

aku

tat

Petr

ol

6.

Mall

ott

s G

en

era

l S

tore

7.

Ace

Hard

ware

Sto

re8

. P

oli

ce S

tati

on

9.

Icy

Wave

s S

urf

Sh

op

10

. S

t. E

lias

Gas

& A

uto

Cen

ter

11

. Y

aku

tat

Healt

h C

en

ter

12

. U

.S.

Fore

st S

erv

ice

13

. A

C G

en

era

l S

tore

& D

eli

1

4.

AN

B H

all

1

5.

Ferr

y Term

inal

16

. N

ati

on

al

Park

Serv

ice

17

. C

om

mu

nit

y C

en

ter


Pat and Melenda BakerOphir Creek Cabins

Economy Leasing

Yakutat OutfittersToni and Byron Mallott

David S. Tappen

SERVING ALASKA

Monti Bay Lodgewww.montibaylodge.com

Bronze (up to $499)

Silver ($500 - $999)

Gold ($1,000 and up)

Yakutat Hardware

Leo’s vehicles

Yakutat Tern Festival Sponsors

Claudia Conner


Yakutat Tern Festival Partners:Yakutat Healthy Community CoalitionAlaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 13- Yakutat AlaskaMary Ann PorterScott ChadwickAngel BlazinaPenney JamesMike Denega

Yakutat Chamber of Commerce www.yakutatalaska.com

Yakutat Tlingit Tribe

photo: Mike Denega


The Yakutat Tern Festival committee extends our appreciation to the numerous volunteers who helped to make this festival a success. volunteers include Carol Pate, Angel Blazina,

Rose Mary Ryman, Eric Marsh, Leo Tejeda, Richard Pelkey, Gloria Benson, Elyse Bowler, Marc Lapeyri, Cherie Larsen, Stephanie Latzel, Penney James, Mike Denega, Mary Ann Porter, Skip Johnson, Lorena Williams, Laura Dissen, Walter Porter, Melenda Baker, Susan Bowman, Amanda Porter, Gloria Wolfe, Andy Larsen, Scott Chadwick and many others. Maka Monture provided the original design for the festival logo, with additional adjustments and graphic

design provided by Sam Kabo Ashwell. Sarah Spencer was the graphic designer for this festival brochure.

Acknowledgements

A special thank you to Shane Brown for our cover artwork. He would like to dedicate his artwork in memory of

Sally Edwards.



Welcome to Yakutat!

These services of Leonard’s Landing Lodge are available to everyone living in or visiting Yakutat! Call 784-3245 or just drop by—turn right just before the city boat harbor. Annette Harter-Manager

Boat Rentals- Lund 16’ skiffs for salt water

Drift boats for the Situk

Sea kayaks by hour or by day

Gift & Tackle Shop—

Drop by to see our Yakutat & Alaskan gifts, books, tackle,

fishing licenses, & herring!

*Transient boat moorage available.

Waterfront cabins & lodge rooms for small groups…all guests have a full kitchen. Drop by anytime to see what Leonard’s Landing Lodge has to offer-do a tour!

We will process your catch! —Quality processing!

—$1.65 per pound finished wt. —Boxed & ready to go!

Documents

to download the full 2012 festival brochure