Where can you find the highest number of bird species in Southeast Alaska? Where does the habitat of brown and black bears overlap? Audubon Alaska’s newest publication, the “Ecological Atlas of Southeast Alaska,” answers these questions and more. An event exploring the atlas and what stories it tells will be held at the Baranof Island Brewery in Sitka on Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. and at the Oct. 13 Juneau Audubon talk at 7 p.m.
Audubon Alaska researched data and compiled information from researchers and agencies to create 56 new maps that visualize the landscape of Southeast, from human uses such as airports and ferry routes to wildlife uses such as bird and salmon habitat.
For many years, Audubon Alaska has studied Southeast, applying science and spatial analysis to understand regional patterns and to identify key areas for conservation. The atlas continues Audobon’s past work contributing to a scientific understanding of the Tongass.
In the Ecological Atlas, Audobon built upon the information in those previous works. They improved datasets such as forest vegetation, anadromous fish distribution, salt marsh estuaries, and Important Bird Areas. Audobon has included new information, such as projected climate change, mammal and bird viewing hotspots, metals mining, and infrastructure. The publication includes photos and charts that accompany the maps and writing, and ends with a conservation summary and set of management recommendations based on the information included.
You can view a digital version of the atlas and download digital files on our website. Print copies will be available for viewing at the Juneau and Sitka events, or you can contact Heidi DeCoeur at (907)276-7034 or hdecoeur@audubon.org at the Audubon Alaska office about ordering a copy.
Audubon Alaska hopes this publication will serve as a guide to the physical, ecological, and human use patterns of the region and foster long-term sustainable management for Southeast Alaska.
