Alaska Bird Observatory

Look closely, I promise they are in there:

I had the opportunity to visit the community of Kaktovik on Alaska’s north slope during the first week of September. We were graced with good weather and the dramatic Brooks Range, 40 miles to the south, was dramatic every day of the trip. I was surprised by the number of birds still present on the tundra, four species of loons, four shorebirds, Snowy and Short-eared Owls, Snow Buntings, Long-tailed Ducks, Pintails, and Lapland Longspurs among others. But most abundant of all were the Greater White-fronted Geese. There were hundreds on Barter Island, where Kaktovik is located. Though I captured a few close-ups, I think the image above says more about the location and the birds themselves. Incidentally, everything in this photograph except for the immediate foreground is the famous (infamous?) coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

-David Shaw-ABO Research Biologist

Bird of the Day, 25 August: Sandhill Crane

This image seemed like a good choice for today since the Sandhills are now here in force. Each year during spring, and particularly fall, Sandhills congregate by the thousands at Creamer’s Field. There, they are visible, abundant, and above all, photogenic. I made the image above last year during the autumn migration, early in the morning. Technically this was not difficult image. I exposed the camera for the sky which created the silhouettes of the cranes. Getting the birds sharp in the low morning light was the tricky part.  I’ll be out shooting over the next couple of mornings so with any luck I’ll have another image to share later in the week.

-Dave Shaw/ABO Research Biologist

Hammond’s Flycatchers seem to be all over Fairbanks recently. Juveniles from this year’s nesting season are conspicuous as they forage through the forest in mixed flocks. Last evening I had no less than five in my yard as they moved around with a group of Boreal and Black-capped Chickadees. They are preparing for migration, stuffing full of insects before they begin the long journey south to Mexico and Central America.

I was fortunate to have my camera nearby when the flock moved by the window. I grabbed my 500mm and scurried out the door in time to make a few dozen images of the several Hammond’s Flycatchers as they hawked insects from the birches around my cabin. This was a case where I was forced to handhold the big lens because I didn’t have time to pull out a tripod. As a result, I ended up with a lot of unsharp images, but a I did manage a few good ones.  A hint: When hand-holding a telephoto, shoot your images in bursts to increase your odds of getting a sharp one.

Have questions about bird photography or birds in general? Enter them in the comments box at the bottom of this page.

-David Shaw/ABO Research Biologist

I’ve wanted for some years to get decent photos of Alder Flycatchers. They are only in Alaska for a limited time each year. In fact, they arrive late (usually not until the first week of June) and depart early (by mid-July) for the fastest breeding season of any interior Alaska songbird. Essentially they get in, breed, and get out. This short time in AK is preceded and followed by long migrations to and from southern South America.

I made this image near the top of Murphy Dome, a mountain northwest of Fairbanks. I’d been in the area a few days before conducting a breeding bird survey so I knew they were around. It took me a while to find a cooperative bird, but once I did, I was able to get several decent images including the one above.  I used a tripod mounted digital SLR and a 500mm f4 lens.

-David Shaw/ABO Research Biologist

Smith’s Longspur (c)Ron Teel

This image was just sent to ABO from two of our very active members, Ron and Mary Teel. While birding along the Denali Highway they encontered this lovely, male, Smith’s Longspur. This species is a target for many birders visiting Alaska. Though common in parts of the Brooks Range they are rare in the interior. A small population used to be consistently found along the eastern end of the Denali Highway, where this bird was photographed, but for years sightings have been scarce. Hopefully this bird is a sign that Smith’s Longpsurs are returning to the Denali Highway. If you go to look for this species on the Denali Highway, please don’t disturb them!