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Tag Archives: wildlife
Seasonal Transition
It’s that time of year again, when winter begins to fade as temperatures gradually rise above the freezing point. One of the first spots in Anchorage where the change is most notable is a shallow manmade lagoon along Chester Creek. … Continue reading
Winter Browse
Winter came late this year in Anchorage, and it wasn’t until December that we had significant snowfall. Now we’re making up for it. Temperatures have been very mild as well and wildlife doesn’t seem to be having any trouble getting … Continue reading
Harvest Time
Small creatures are working hard this time of year to gather enough material to get them through the winter that’s right around the corner. Days are rapidly getting shorter and pikas and Arctic ground squirrels aren’t wasting any time collecting … Continue reading
Avian Winter Residents
Not all birds migrate. Among the winter residents in Southcentral Alaska are black-capped chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches seen visiting a peanut butter feeder above. Boreal chickadees, and both hairy and downy woodpeckers also stop by regularly.
Harvest Time
Summers are short and autumn comes early in Alaska. Fall colors are already evident in many areas, and small creatures—like the Collared Pika below—are working diligently to lay up stores for the winter. It’s a busy time between now and … Continue reading
Owlet
The big eyes of a young Great-horned Owl track movement from its perch on a limb well above its nest in a tall cottonwood tree. Not yet quite able to fly, it is exploring as much territory as possible.
Late Winter Visitor
It’s early March already, but Bohemian Waxwings are still roving in flocks around Southcentral Alaska looking for remaining fruit, especially mountain ash berries. After a flock has gorged on berries, you’ll often see them fly down to the ground and … Continue reading
Lookout on Duty
If you visit rockslides in alpine country in Alaska you’re likely to see (or hear) Hoary Marmots. These large rodents favor the same kind of habitat as pikas—jumbled sections of granite boulders and scree that provide natural hiding places as … Continue reading
Conscientious Moose
While one should avoid ascribing human motivations and actions to animals, this young bull moose certainly looks to be checking for traffic before crossing the busy road around Lake Hood in Anchorage near the gravel runway on an early morning … Continue reading
Food Gathering
Summer’s a busy time for collared pikas in Alaska as they gather a variety of vegetation and let it dry in the sun in protected piles and then put it away for a supply of food during the winter. Their … Continue reading