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A bear cub perches high in a cottonwood tree.(Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Seeing bears and woodpeckers in the trees

Furry bears, hairy woodpeckers.

A bear cub perches high in a cottonwood tree.(Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
The showy white bracts of dwarf dogwood surround a cluster of flowers that are just starting to open. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Taking in flower colors

Just before the summer solstice, a little group of friends walked out onto Cowee Meadow.

  • Jun 22, 2021
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
The showy white bracts of dwarf dogwood surround a cluster of flowers that are just starting to open. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)

Forecast calls for ‘Another Rainy Day’

Singer-songwriter Erin Heist records 1st EP, releases single.

Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
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Planet Alaska: Spruce tip bathing

The perfect spruce tip is tightly bound needles without the brown papery casing.

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A male western tanager’s red color comes by a different pathway than the yellow, although both are carotenoid pigments. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: On tanagers and silverweed

We live near the northern limit of the western tanager range.

A male western tanager’s red color comes by a different pathway than the yellow, although both are carotenoid pigments. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
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Slack Tide: I’m so tired

Dealing with summertime exhaustion.

  • Jun 12, 2021
  • By Geoff Kirsch
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This snarl is evidence of an unlikely series of events and a messy fight. (Courtesy Photo / Steven Dahl)

Writers’ Weir: Three leader king

An essay by Steven Dahl.

  • Jun 10, 2021
  • Story and Photo by Steven Dahl
This snarl is evidence of an unlikely series of events and a messy fight. (Courtesy Photo / Steven Dahl)
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On the Trails: Diving into seaside flowers

There is an unsung gallery of flowers on beaches and intertidal meadows.

  • Jun 8, 2021
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
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The author cooks steak over a beach fire over the Memorial Day weekend. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Finding success on its terms

Any weekend adventure typically has a few objectives with varying levels of enthusiasm.

The author cooks steak over a beach fire over the Memorial Day weekend. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Alaskan Brewing Company recently won an award for the art on their newly-released Citrus Wheat ale. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Alaskan Brewing Company recently won an award for the art on their newly-released Citrus Wheat ale. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
An adult male American redstart is brightly attired with contrasting black and orange (Courtesy Photo /Mark Schwann)

On the Trails: Hither and yon in late May

Daily walks seldom lead to disappointment.

An adult male American redstart is brightly attired with contrasting black and orange (Courtesy Photo /Mark Schwann)
A northern waterthrush sings. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Larcenous lichens and some short stories

That’s not moss…

A northern waterthrush sings. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Anthony Christianson, Hydaburg mayor and leader of the Hydaburg Cooperative Association’s Natural Resource department, harvests cedar bark during a demonstration with the United States Forest Service, artists, Sealaska, and more.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)

Resilient Peoples & Place: ‘Monument Trees’ and cedar stewardship on the Tongass National Forest

“Cedar is the warp in the basket of who we are as a people.”

  • May 26, 2021
  • By Katie Riley, Sitka Conservation Society with Marina Anderson, Organized Village of Kasaan.
  • Capital City Weekly
Anthony Christianson, Hydaburg mayor and leader of the Hydaburg Cooperative Association’s Natural Resource department, harvests cedar bark during a demonstration with the United States Forest Service, artists, Sealaska, and more.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)
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Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

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Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
George Bennett Sr., seen in this July 2020 photo, served in Army’s 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
George Bennett Sr., seen in this July 2020 photo, served in Army’s 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
This photo shows smoked hooligan outdoors in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)

Planet Alaska: Sharing hooligan and memories

Hooligan are connected to why Raven opened the box of daylight after he stole it.

This photo shows smoked hooligan outdoors in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)
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On the Trails: Seeing sea stars makes for intertidal fun

Intertidal fun

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Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)
Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)
Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant  during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant  during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The vivid colors of male bluebirds result from structural features in the feather barbs, and males with more vivid colors father more chicks, with their own mates or with other females. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Tree sparrows and bluebirds

By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire In the early part of April, there were sometimes two dozen mallards on my mostly icy home… Continue reading

The vivid colors of male bluebirds result from structural features in the feather barbs, and males with more vivid colors father more chicks, with their own mates or with other females. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)