Apr 10, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
This video shows some of the behavior of Bufflehead ducks during courtship and protection of its mate The following is from Gauthier, Gilles. 2014. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology;...
Apr 7, 2015 | Birds, Hummingbirds
The male Rufous Hummingbirds are often the first to arrive in Alaska. This year (2015) they were reported in Juneau by April 1. To learn more about hummingbirds in Alaska look at To Mexico and Back Again (Rufous Hummingbirds) by Bob Armstrong and Marge...
Mar 31, 2015 | Birds, Songbirds
This video shows the Oregon Subspecies of the Dark-eyed Junco This is the subspecies that breeds and winters in Southeast Alaska It is one of our most frequently seen birds all year Only the female builds the nest (in 3-7 days) and incubates the eggs She is the only...
Mar 24, 2015 | Birds, Hummingbirds
The first part of this video shows a male Anna’s Hummingbird at my feeder in Juneau on March 24, 2015 — I suspect it spent the winter here. My goal is to add a clip showing a Anna’s Hummingbird during each month of the winter. Recently Anna’s...
Mar 6, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
This is probably the most important plant in Alaska’s marine wetlands. The plants scientific name is Carex lyngbyei How do you tell a sedge from a grass? Canada Geese and many waterfowl eat its seeds, graze the green stems and roots. In spring they like to nip...
Mar 3, 2015 | Dipper, Dolly Varden
When salmon spawn they displace huge numbers of aquatic insects. These insects drift and swim downstream and often settle in pools containing woody debris. These are areas where salmon do not spawn so the insects are not disturbed by their spawning activities....