Science

A hawk owl surveys the ground around its perch; note the white patches on the side of the head and the facial disc. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Eagle-eyed birders spot a hawk owl

Owl’s well on the trails.

A hawk owl surveys the ground around its perch; note the white patches on the side of the head and the facial disc. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
A dead whale previously seen and necropsied on a small island near Angoon was spotted afloat on March 3. The cuts visible come from the necropsy effort, said a NOAA official. (Larry Talley / Courtesy photo)

Whale’s body spotted near Tenakee Inlet

The animal with a long history in the area has been necropsied.

A dead whale previously seen and necropsied on a small island near Angoon was spotted afloat on March 3. The cuts visible come from the necropsy effort, said a NOAA official. (Larry Talley / Courtesy photo)
This photo shows a least and crested auklet on Kasatochi Volcano in 2012 (Gary S Drew / United States Geological Survey)

On the Trails: Birds’ sense of smell

Old myth doesn’t pass the sniff test.

This photo shows a least and crested auklet on Kasatochi Volcano in 2012 (Gary S Drew / United States Geological Survey)
teaser

Alaska Science Forum: Dave Covey made the world a calmer place

He left us last week — a quiet exit that was totally Dave.

teaser
Lora Vess is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Department Chair of Social Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Recent events serve as reminders of nuclear energy risks

Nuclear power is not the panacea for climate change.

Lora Vess is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Department Chair of Social Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Courtesy Photo)
Pine siskins are feisty little birds, frequently aggressive against other birds and each other.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: February foragers were out and active

It’s a ‘seedy’ world.

Pine siskins are feisty little birds, frequently aggressive against other birds and each other.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
An olive-sided flycatcher perches atop a tree in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Sara Germain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Alaska Science Forum: Bird havens on a trans-continental journey

Right about now, songbirds in Brazil are shifting on their perches…

An olive-sided flycatcher perches atop a tree in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Sara Germain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
This photo shows a cross-section of a tree trunk, showing the asymmetrical growth induced when the tree leaned. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)

On the Trails: Wringing information out of wood

Wood as a biological entity, not as a commodity to be sold or a nuisance to be removed.

This photo shows a cross-section of a tree trunk, showing the asymmetrical growth induced when the tree leaned. (Mary F. Willson / For the Juneau Empire)
Todd Sformo looks for overwintering insects in the forest near Chena Hot Springs. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Hardy gnats survive winter half frozen

As sometimes happens in science, a chance decision led to a discovery.

Todd Sformo looks for overwintering insects in the forest near Chena Hot Springs. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Glacial retreat will create thousands of miles of new salmon habitat by 2100 — which means, scientists say, that managers need to be thinking proactively about how to manage that land. Pictured is a king salmon on a Southeast Alaska shore. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)

The Salmon State: Glacier retreat means new habitat — and challenges — for wild salmon

Alaska is about to get thousands of miles of new salmon habitat….

Glacial retreat will create thousands of miles of new salmon habitat by 2100 — which means, scientists say, that managers need to be thinking proactively about how to manage that land. Pictured is a king salmon on a Southeast Alaska shore. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)
John Gaedeke’s lodge overlooks Iniakuk Lake in the Brooks Range, where his permafrost-stabilized beers and sodas do not freeze. (Courtesy Photo / John Gaedeke)

Alaska Science Forum: Ninety below zero and the unfrozen beer

“How the heck is that possible?”

John Gaedeke’s lodge overlooks Iniakuk Lake in the Brooks Range, where his permafrost-stabilized beers and sodas do not freeze. (Courtesy Photo / John Gaedeke)
Charmaine Robinson is an assistant professor of science at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Ketchikan. (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Cultivating a sustainable mind

We need to cultivate a sense of calm by reducing stress and fear in our lives.

Charmaine Robinson is an assistant professor of science at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Ketchikan. (Courtesy Photo)
An American coot spent time in Auke Bay this winter, farther north than usual. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Three winter surprises

Regular bird-watchers spotted an unusual bird in Auke Bay this winter…

An American coot spent time in Auke Bay this winter, farther north than usual. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
A bull caribou from the Fortymile herd as seen from a camera around the neck of a female caribou. Still image from a nine-second video the collar captured during a study of the herd using cameras that dropped to the ground in autumn. I(Courtesy Image /Libby Ehlers)
Video

Alaska Science Forum: Secret lives of caribou caught on camera

Cams gave biologists who teamed up from several agencies a new look at the Fortymile herd.

A bull caribou from the Fortymile herd as seen from a camera around the neck of a female caribou. Still image from a nine-second video the collar captured during a study of the herd using cameras that dropped to the ground in autumn. I(Courtesy Image /Libby Ehlers)
Video
This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) YUS Conservation area on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)

On the Trails: Toxic birds and bugs

These chemical compounds are often derived from plants

This photo available under a Creative Commons license shows a hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) YUS Conservation area on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)
Vladimir Alexeev in Norway while teaching summer school in 2017. Alexeev is a climate scientist who recently worked with local composer Michael Bucy to create a song about climate change. (Courtesy photo/Vishnu Nandan)
Video

Sounding a warning

Local composer writes song about climate change

Vladimir Alexeev in Norway while teaching summer school in 2017. Alexeev is a climate scientist who recently worked with local composer Michael Bucy to create a song about climate change. (Courtesy photo/Vishnu Nandan)
Video
Killdeer chicks have just one black breast band at first, but soon get the characteristic two bands.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Video

On the Tails: Shorebirds in winter

Sightings are no “shore” thing.

Killdeer chicks have just one black breast band at first, but soon get the characteristic two bands.(Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Video
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Alaska Science Forum: Fun with ice physics in the cryosphere

Here’s why some found recent winter weather fascinating.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
A gull looks for dislodged food in the surf. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Surf, bird food and paralytic shellfish poisoning

Surf’s up!

A gull looks for dislodged food in the surf. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)

Recessive genes and receding glaciers: Lecture focuses on Southeast’s blue bears

Biologist shares insights about glacier bears.

This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)