on local history by local historian David Reamer. Have a question about Anchorage history or an idea for a future article? Go to the form at the bottom of this story. ’Operation Reindeer gets underway as motor carrier executives and animal experts set plans. Edwin L. Isenberger (left), Operations Engineer for Consolidated Freightways Inc., discusses novel move with Smithsonian National Zoological Park s Senior Keeper Charles Thomas and Assocaite Director J. Lear Grimmer. This image was taken at the Seattle Zoo where the handlers stopped to visit with ’Pepper Pot ’ at the reindeer exhibition to set plans for the trip. Operation Reindeer was the name for the transfer of 14 reindeer and 1 caribou to the National Zoological Park from Alaska in 1958. (Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 365, Box 15, Folder: 11)
This December marks the 60th year of the Arctic Audubon Societyâs Fairbanks Christmas Bird Count. Like many traditions, organizers have made adjustments to the event this year to account for pandemic safety.
The Christmas Bird Count is an annual tradition for thousands of volunteers working with local Audubon societies all over the Northern-hemisphere. On count day, field observers cover an assigned area to record bird species, numbers and observation efforts, while feeder watchers count the largest number of each species of birds observed at any one time on count day.Â
The Fairbanks count will take place Dec. 19. Count week, where additional species sightings in the count area can be recorded and added to the list of species observed, runs from Dec. 16-22. In a change for this year, count compilation will take place in a Zoom meeting on Dec. 20.