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The Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar features the winning art and literature submitted to an annual contest, which focuses on teaching rural Alaskans about the migratory birds that are a part of traditional lives, diets, and cultures. Children of western Alaska are the primary participants in this contest, although the adults of their families and communities often learn from the program too.

History
The first Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar (originally called the Goose Calendar) was produced in 1985 as part of a larger conservation, education and management effort aimed at reversing declines in four species of geese nesting in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta: Emperor Goose, Brant, White-fronted Goose and Cackling Canada Goose. The calendar has proven an effective outreach tool to educate both young and old about birds that need special attention due to declining populations. In recent years, the focus of the calendar was broadened to include first all waterfowl, and then all migratory birds. The area of concern has also been expanded beyond western Alaska.

Participants
The Alaska Waterfowl Calendar enjoys ever increasing participation from K-12 students living in or near the following national wildlife refuges (villages or towns are indicated in parentheses): Arctic (Kaktovik), Yukon Delta (Bethel), Togiak (Dillingham), Izembek (Cold Bay), Alaska Peninsula/Becharof (King Salmon), Alaska Maritime (Adak), Selawik (Kotzebue), and Koyukuk, Nowitna, and Inoko (Galena). Over the last twenty years, more than 20,000 children have participated in the contest.

Local contests are held at each national wildlife refuge office in late February. Local judges select winners in each of four categories (grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) and ribbons are awarded to each local winner. Every student that enters receives a Certificate of Appreciation. All winning entries at the local level are then sent to Anchorage to compete in the statewide contest. Winners of the state competition are then featured in each year's calendar. Each statewide winner receives a prize, such as a backpack, book or bicycle.

Partners
The Alaska Waterfowl Calendar is made possible through the cooperation of many sponsors, including the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative, Association of Village Council Presidents, Audubon Alaska, Ducks Unlimited, Lower Kuskokwim School District, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Some partners contribute money, others contribute time and ideas, and all help with the distribution of prizes.

Audubon's Role
For the last several years Audubon Alaska has coordinated the judging of the entries, and purchased the prizes. Audubon Alaska's participation in the calendar project is underwritten by the L.J. and Mary C. Skaggs Foundation. We also receive assistance for this and other education programs from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Sponsors Needed
The Alaska Waterfowl Calendar needs more partners and sponsors to ensure that the calendar is produced and widely distributed each year. If you are interested in helping to underwrite the calendar, please contact Audubon Alaska.