Bering Sea Saga – a tale of two birders

Jonah Benningfield and Mark Rauzon both did seabird field work in Alaska’s Bering Sea. Jonah was situated on the famed Pribilof Islands, especially St. George and Mark cruised by there in the fog, surveying at sea from Victoria BC to Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow. 

On-island and at-sea perspectives will show how changes in the Bering Sea affect its birds, from St. George’s 1,000 foot tall cliffs where 75% of the world’s Red-legged Kittiwakes nest, to the new range extension 500 miles north of the previous one, an indication of how animals are moving north into the Chukchi Sea. While Jonah tantalizes with an envious experience of rare Asian migrants like Long-toed Stints he studied daily behavior of Least Auklets. Mark provides a 50 year reflection from when he was there in 1976.  Join us for in person for what will be a unique evening of Alaska birding at its best.

About Our Speakers

Mark James Rauzon is a tenured geography professor at Laney College, Oakland. He is also a seabird biologist, specializing in the effects and eradication of invasive animals and plants on islands.  He is a research associate with the Point Blue Conservation Science and has received the Special Achievement Award from the Pacific Seabird Group in 2006 and was their Vice Chair for Conservation in 2018-20. In 2022, he received the Paul Covel Education Award from Golden Gate Bird Alliance. He is currently working on a book about the Bering Sea.

Jonah Benningfield was born and raised in San Francisco, and currently goes to community college in the city. When not in school he works as a field tech in remote places, especially throughout Alaska and on islands. 

Date Thursday, May 23 @ 7pm

Location: Tamalpais Room at The David Brower Center (2150 Allston Way, Berkeley CA) and online via Zoom

Zoom Recording: