May 8, 2015 | Birds, Shorebirds
This is a rare bird for Southeast Alaska and Uncommon to Rare in other regions of the State. Nils Warnock, the Executive Director for Audubon Alaska, wrote in my Birds of Alaska book the following: “There are 53 shorebird species and subspecies that regularly...
May 1, 2015 | Birds, Herring
The value of Pacific Herring as a food for other creatures is high. This video is mean’t as an introduction about the value of Pacific Herring for other creatures in Alaska. For 25 years, methodical research by scientists has investigated the effects of the...
Apr 26, 2015 | Birds, Hummingbirds
The Rufous Hummingbird is very territorial and aggressive. Aggression is almost always associated with tail-flaring as seen here. Individuals will often defend an entire flower patch such as a field of fireweed. For more information about these birds look at To Mexico...
Apr 21, 2015 | Birds, Songbirds
The male Pacific Wren usually builds more than one nest and the female chooses which one she wants. Only the female incubates the eggs. The female generally feeds nestlings more than male does, although the male’s contribution increases with older nestlings. For good...
Apr 19, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
In winter these geese feed on the sprouts of Lyngby’s Sedge (Carex lyngbyei) Protein and nitrogen requirements of Canada Geese are highest in late winter and spring. Why are the sedge sprouts more nutritious at this time? As the greenery fades in the fall, a...
Apr 11, 2015 | Birds, Hummingbirds
The female Rufous Hummingbirds usually arrive in Alaska shortly after the males. This year (2015) they were reported in Juneau by April 5. To learn more about hummingbirds in Alaska look at To Mexico and Back Again (Rufous Hummingbirds) by Bob Armstrong and Marge...