Nature

A flying squirrel launches a glide, with patagium spread wide. (Photo by Richard A. Wood)

On the Trails: Gliding in air

An eagle soars overhead, wings spread, making only minute steering adjustments of wing and tail feathers. It’s gliding on air currents and may travel considerable… Continue reading

A flying squirrel launches a glide, with patagium spread wide. (Photo by Richard A. Wood)
Tree reflections and icy patterns on an East Glacier Trail pond Nov. 29. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Tree reflections and icy patterns on an East Glacier Trail pond Nov. 29. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
A large foamy heart in a Juneau creek formed by decaying organic matter (dead leaves and twigs) at the Twin Lakes area Nov. 27. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Art in Unusual Places

The Juneau Empire welcomes reader-submitted photos of art in unusual or unexpected places. To submit email your photos and captions to editor@juneauempire.com.… Continue reading

A large foamy heart in a Juneau creek formed by decaying organic matter (dead leaves and twigs) at the Twin Lakes area Nov. 27. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
View from the West Ridge at Eaglecrest on Nov. 13. (Photo by Deborah Rudis)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

View from the West Ridge at Eaglecrest on Nov. 13. (Photo by Deborah Rudis)
A female robin carries a wad of earthworms to her chicks. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: November gloom and cheers

I like to live where there are seasonal changes in weather and natural history activity, but sometimes those changes, including the most recent conditions, just… Continue reading

A female robin carries a wad of earthworms to her chicks. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Sunrise at Auke Rec on Nov. 12. (Photo by Joe Orsi)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Sunrise at Auke Rec on Nov. 12. (Photo by Joe Orsi)
Kristen Rozell skate skis in Valdez in January 2023. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Surfing in winter on cross-country skis

With mild temperatures and ample snow, much of Alaska is now primed for cross-country skiing. It’s a sport for all ages, made possible by friction.… Continue reading

Kristen Rozell skate skis in Valdez in January 2023. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
A female bear with her cubs: bears have direct-development life cycles, looking like bears from the time they are born. (Photo by Jos Bakker)

On the Trails: Animal life cycles

There are two basic life-cycle patterns among animals. Many animals have complex life cycles with two or more very distinct stages; metamorphosis is the usual… Continue reading

A female bear with her cubs: bears have direct-development life cycles, looking like bears from the time they are born. (Photo by Jos Bakker)
(Juneau Empire File)

Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 20

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data, at www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast. The listings below will… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
A springtail perches on a wood railing, perhaps to eat microalgae. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Early November sightings

An early November stroll on the dike trail was uneventful until I met some Real Birders, who were there in search of some unusual sightings.… Continue reading

A springtail perches on a wood railing, perhaps to eat microalgae. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
A red fox carries a muskrat to a birthing den in Interior Alaska. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Secret lives playing out all around us

While we were sleeping, they were out there. Two red foxes, a male and female, pawing into spring snow on a hillside. The foxes had… Continue reading

A red fox carries a muskrat to a birthing den in Interior Alaska. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
The Orion Nebula as seen from Auke Bay on Oct. 26. Taken with a DSLR camera and a 300mm telephoto lens on a tracking device for timed exposures. Multiple 25-second exposures were taken and then stacked to gain more detail. (Photo by Mark Schwan)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

The Orion Nebula as seen from Auke Bay on Oct. 26. Taken with a DSLR camera and a 300mm telephoto lens on a tracking device for timed exposures. Multiple 25-second exposures were taken and then stacked to gain more detail. (Photo by Mark Schwan)
The flowers of enchanter’s nightshade are tiny and often self-pollinating. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Enchanter’s nightshade

Enchanter’s nightshade is a tiny perennial plant we commonly see (and walk right past) alongside many of our trails. Although it is said to grow… Continue reading

The flowers of enchanter’s nightshade are tiny and often self-pollinating. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
An American goshawk female in brown “juvenile” plumage guards her nest. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Hawks of the forest

We have two species of forest hawks: the American goshawk and the much smaller sharp-shinned hawk. Both have short, broad, powerful wings and long tails,… Continue reading

An American goshawk female in brown “juvenile” plumage guards her nest. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Northern lights seen from flight arriving in Juneau on Oct. 26. (Photo by Jack Beedle)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Northern lights seen from flight arriving in Juneau on Oct. 26. (Photo by Jack Beedle)
University of Alaska Southeast graduate student Muriel Walatka gathers samples of beach sand to examine for microplastics at Auke Recreation Area in August 2019. (Photo courtesy Sonia Nagorski)

Alaska Science Forum: Plastic in the rain of Southeast Alaska

“We found microplastics in every single rain sample (gathered in Juneau),” Sonia Nagorski told a group of people listening to her talk at the American… Continue reading

University of Alaska Southeast graduate student Muriel Walatka gathers samples of beach sand to examine for microplastics at Auke Recreation Area in August 2019. (Photo courtesy Sonia Nagorski)
American avocet on the wetlands in September. (Photo by Kelly Kirkpatrick)

On the Trails: September walks

With a piece of good luck, despite the forecast of yet more rain, blue skies appeared one morning in mid-September. That called for a walk… Continue reading

American avocet on the wetlands in September. (Photo by Kelly Kirkpatrick)
Three-point buck eating greens near tank farm south of downtown Juneau on Oct. 7. (Photo by Steve Hamilton)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Three-point buck eating greens near tank farm south of downtown Juneau on Oct. 7. (Photo by Steve Hamilton)
Aerial view of a glacier and the surrounding mountains near Antler Lake north of Juneau on Sept. 26. (Photo by Connor M. Johnson)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Aerial view of a glacier and the surrounding mountains near Antler Lake north of Juneau on Sept. 26. (Photo by Connor M. Johnson)
Eyebright has a long flowering season, continuing even into October. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: What do you see?

When you take a walk, what do you see? I mean really SEE. Sometimes I don’t really see (to notice) anything — I am talking… Continue reading

Eyebright has a long flowering season, continuing even into October. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)