Dear Birding Friends,

Those of you who know me, know that I (and previously, Barb and I) travel to Adak, Alaska for two weeks every spring and fall. Many of you follow my adventures on my blog (franklinhaas.com).

The most productive birding place on Adak is Clam Lagoon and its many nearby locations.

During the 20+ years that I have been going to Adak, occasionally a winter storm washes over the Breaches (that's why they are called the Breaches...), and covers the Clam Lagoon road with debris.

This is usually not a big problem, as the rocks and other debris have been rather small over the years and I have been able to personally clear the stuff from the road, making it passable again.

However, this past winter, a huge storm hit and covered the road with large rocks and debris – way to large to move by hand. The road is completely blocked for vehicles.

This section of the road grants access to the Breaches, the Seawall, Goose Rocks, Lake Shirley, east side of Clam Lagoon, Lake Ronnie, Zeto Point, and the north side of Candlestick Bridge – a 3+ mile stretch of road that is indispensable to birding on Adak.

One of the key strategies for birding on Adak is to access as many locations as possible each day, as birds are constantly coming and going. Having this stretch of road only available by foot means not being able to cover it in a timely manner and not being able to respond to other locations on the island quickly if a report of a rarity comes through.

In my opinion, not having drivable access to the Seawall, etc. means not bothering to come at all.

So it was critical that the road get cleared in time for this May's usual onslaught of birders.

After getting no response from the city council, I contacted some friends on Adak and they found a resident who has a skid loader and is willing to clear the road (for a fee). He estimated it would take $5000 worth of equipment, fuel, and labor to do the task.

NOTE: The island of Adak has only a hundred or so residents, so they do not have the greatest resources for maintenance of roads, etc., especially a road that residents rarely drive on.

I have agreed to pay for this project, but it would be nice if other Adak birders (past, present, and future) would help out in defraying the costs.

I have therefore set up this GoFundMe account to gather donations to help pay to get the road cleared.

I expect the road to be cleared by the end of April, in time for the usual influx of spring birders.

Please share this appeal with other birders who might have an interest in birding Adak and would like to contribute to the birding experience out there.

Thank you,

Frank Haas

franklinhaas.com