Dear Bird Lovers and Activists,

DID YOU KNOW... Of the 151 species of birds that occur regularly on
the Alaska Arctic Wildlife Refuge, all but 21 also occur regularly in
Washington? Below is the "Ask Dennis Paulson" column from the July/August
Earthcare Northwest (Seattle Audubon's newsletter), which talks more about
the connections between our local birds and and the importance of protecting
the Arctic Refuge. Thanks, Dennis!

Tomorrow, the US House of Representatives will begin the process of
voting whether or not to open the Arctic up for oil drilling. Please see
the action alert after Dennis's column, asking you to contact your US
Representatives and urge him or her to vote NO on oil drilling in the Arctic
Refuge. Many of us live in legislative districts with Representatives that
are pro-drilling or undecided, so it is VERY important that you speak up on
behalf of birds. Perhaps you might also forward this to friends and birder
acquaintances across the United States, who may not have contacted their
legislators yet. They can very quickly get their representatives phone
number by going to http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/addressform.asp
<http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/addressform.asp> .

THANK YOU!!! -Lauren Braden, Seattle Audubon Society
******************************************************************

ASK DENNIS (from July / August Earthcare Northwest, the Seattle Audubon
newsletter)

What birds that we see in Washington might also visit or breed in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge?

The answer is clear: a whole lot. Of the 151 species of birds that occur
regularly on the refuge, all but 21 also occur regularly in Washington. The
exceptions include birds such as Blackpoll Warbler and White-rumped
Sandpiper that migrate to the east of Washington and winter in South
America, Yellow Wagtail that winters in Asia, Spectacled Eider that winters
in the Bering Sea, and Siberian Tit and Willow Ptarmigan that are resident
at higher latitudes.

But the greater group comprises the birds shared between Washington and
ANWR. It includes birds that are common in the North and visit us at the
periphery of their winter range, for example Common Redpoll and Gyrfalcon,
as well as birds that are common in Washington and barely reach the south
slopes of the refuge as breeders, for example American Kestrel and
Townsend's Solitaire. But the group also includes many of our most common
birds, for example, the widely distributed American Robin, Horned Grebe,
Cliff Swallow, and Bonaparte's Gull.

It's of great importance to understand how these two regions complement one
another. Hordes of migrating sparrows move through the Northwest each
spring, heading for the meadows and shrublands of Alaska to produce their
young in the short Arctic summer, and then back to the warmer climes of
Washington and points south for the winter. But why go north at all? It is
because the vast uninhabited spaces of Alaska provide abundant insect food
for the thousands of sparrow families that can be raised there. By breeding
at tree line and wintering in the California chaparral, a White-crowned
Sparrow can get the best of both worlds. But it still needs Washington as a
refueling stop for its journeys north and south.

The connection is especially strong in shorebirds. The majority of those
that breed on the Arctic Coastal Plain migrate along the coast of
Washington, so an individual bird one might see on its breeding territory in
Alaska might be in Grays Harbor, in fall migration, a month later. Both the
amphipods of Bowerman Basin and the crane flies of the Arctic Coastal Plain
are essential for the life of a Dunlin. But to depict the course of
shorebird migration, you might have to connect even more dots--perhaps in
California, Panama, and Peru. Each of these places would be of vital
importance to the far-traveling birds that stopped there for a few days or a
few months.

The migratory birds of ANWR are among the best examples of the principle
that in nature, everything is connected. Thus we must preserve the whole,
its parts, and the connections among them.

Dr. Dennis Paulson, Director of the Slater Museum of Natural History at the
University of Puget Sound, is author of many publications on birding,
including his latest, Alaska: An Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide. He teaches
for Seattle Audubon Society's Master Birder Program.

_______________________

SPECIAL ALERT!
US HOUSE TO VOTE ON ARCTIC DRILLING THIS WEEK!

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on whether to open the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling! The vote is likely
to happen the week of July 30th - possibly on Wednesday, August 1st, or
Thursday, August 2nd!

Last week, the House Resources Committee passed the Energy Security Act,
which includes a provision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to
oil and gas drilling! Drilling opponents tried to remove the provision from
the Act, but failed by a vote of 19-30.

Pro-drilling supporters in the House call drilling in the Arctic an
"energy-savings measure" - BUT DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! Drilling in the
Arctic Refuge will not lower gas prices or respond to the electricity
problems in California. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge will not bring us
closer to energy independence. Drilling will not serve as a long-term
solution for our supposed energy crisis. Ruining the wilderness character of
the Arctic Refuge forever would equate to less than a 180-day supply of oil,
and it would take a full 10 years before any oil began to flow.

As you know, the Arctic Refuge is America's last truly pristine wilderness,
a natural treasure that we must protect in order to preserve our nation's
wildlife heritage, as well as the people, birds and wildlife that call the
Arctic home. Help us protect it!

Please call your U.S. Representative today and urge that lawmaker to REMOVE
THE ARCTIC DRILLING PROVISION FROM THE ENERGY SECURITY ACT! Even if you have
called already, please keep doing so! Your 10-second phone call will make a
difference! And please encourage your family and friends to call as well!
The more calls your lawmaker receives, the better chance there is your
lawmaker will vote to protect the Arctic!

DO NOT DELAY - CALL TODAY: For the name and direct dial phone number of your
lawmaker, please click on this link:
http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/addressform.asp
<http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/addressform.asp>

DO NOT DELAY - CALL OR FAX TODAY: There is simply no time left for your
letters or e-mails (lawmakers aren't checking them during these busy
times) - that's why your calls and faxes are the most effective means of
making your voice heard! Send a free fax to your lawmaker by clicking on
this link: http://www.protectthearctic.com/take_action.asp
<http://www.protectthearctic.com/take_action.asp>

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at
audubonaction at audubon.org. Thank you for your support!
_______________________
Lauren Braden
Advocate for Wildlife Habitat
Seattle Audubon Society
8050 35th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206-523-8243 x14
laurenb at seattleaudubon.org