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