Yesterday the snow melted big time. King Salmon Creek had water on top of the ice. I am looking forward to the creeks ice breaking as I hear it is noisy and spectacular to watch. I talked with a native towns person yesterday and they had been snowmachining at Brooks Camp and said the valley road had deep, deep, layers of snow. It may be a while before we see the grass around here. Today's forecast calls for rain and snow.
Right now it is hunting season on wolves and they are taking a beating as bag limits are high and the weather conditions do not favor the wolf. I was hoping we would get to collar some of them in the park to see what our populations look like but the number of hoops you have to jump through to place collars on wolves in a wilderness area is high and I didn't get through them. Not for lack of trying though. Next year we will be all set. Right now the field work is limited to owl surveys and I don't do another one of them till next week. March needs to go away!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
What Is So Great About March?
It is really sad. My boss said that March was the greatest month. Well after living through most of it I would have to say I disagree. No adventures were had. The last owl survey we heard nothing. No owls, no coyotes, no nothing. I went to Naknek last Saturday and I can say that the ice on Bristol Bay is breaking up but nothing more. I have hiked in the woods and though it is pretty with all our snow nothing exciting happened. My work at the office is depressing as all I am doing is online trainings and finalizing reports. How I wish I were in the fields.
The coastal biologist has been on a near shore survey of the Katmai coast. She got back yesterday. I am so jealous. She has a sunburned face and great stories to tell. She saw all kinds of seabirds, and waterfowl. She said there were tons of sea otters with their newborn babies. They saw a whale. They saw sea lions and shorebirds. The saw a short ear owl in a nest. They saw a coyote and a moose. They saw a dead sea lion with wolf tracks all around it. And best of all they saw fresh bear tracks. Now being stuck in the office is really killing me. I want my season to start. I am tied of stall air and computer lighting. I want to see all my favorite bears. Where are you 284 when I need you!
The coastal biologist has been on a near shore survey of the Katmai coast. She got back yesterday. I am so jealous. She has a sunburned face and great stories to tell. She saw all kinds of seabirds, and waterfowl. She said there were tons of sea otters with their newborn babies. They saw a whale. They saw sea lions and shorebirds. The saw a short ear owl in a nest. They saw a coyote and a moose. They saw a dead sea lion with wolf tracks all around it. And best of all they saw fresh bear tracks. Now being stuck in the office is really killing me. I want my season to start. I am tied of stall air and computer lighting. I want to see all my favorite bears. Where are you 284 when I need you!
Friday, March 9, 2012
A Night of Wonders
Last night was round two of the owl surveys. On our way to Lake Camp guess what we saw? I will give you a clue. It was tall and lanky and big. You guessed it! It was a moose. It was just running down the road. A very large moose. It ran down the road then cut off into the tundra. It was amazing!!!!! It was so much fun to see. I wish the owl survey would have been as much fun.
We did hear an owl at Lake Camp this time. Which is good. We also heard a lot of noise in the open water of the river. My guess it was river otters that have been spotted there many times. But we could not see them. And yes that part of the river remains open. The next two stops were quiet. No owls.
On stop four the moon rose and it was a beautiful full moon. It came over the horizon large and orange colored. It looked so large that you could almost reach out and touch it. And though watching this gorgeous moon rise was awesome, we did not hear any owls.
The next stop had one owl. Then the fog lowered. The moon disappeared and all was quiet. It was the same for the next stop and the next. At the second to the last stop the fog rose leaving in its wake a changed world. Everything was froze by the fog. It was frosty and gleaming in the lights of my headlamp. It was as if Jack Frost had swooped down and covered everything in diamonds. It was wonderful. The last stop we heard dogs barking but no owl. Though the number of owls was few the night still showed us some of the wonders of winter. We will have to see what happens in two weeks when we do round three.
We did hear an owl at Lake Camp this time. Which is good. We also heard a lot of noise in the open water of the river. My guess it was river otters that have been spotted there many times. But we could not see them. And yes that part of the river remains open. The next two stops were quiet. No owls.
On stop four the moon rose and it was a beautiful full moon. It came over the horizon large and orange colored. It looked so large that you could almost reach out and touch it. And though watching this gorgeous moon rise was awesome, we did not hear any owls.
The next stop had one owl. Then the fog lowered. The moon disappeared and all was quiet. It was the same for the next stop and the next. At the second to the last stop the fog rose leaving in its wake a changed world. Everything was froze by the fog. It was frosty and gleaming in the lights of my headlamp. It was as if Jack Frost had swooped down and covered everything in diamonds. It was wonderful. The last stop we heard dogs barking but no owl. Though the number of owls was few the night still showed us some of the wonders of winter. We will have to see what happens in two weeks when we do round three.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Trampsing Through the Snow
Yesterday I went for a walk down by King Salmon Creek. It was a just another walk. I took my dog with me and off we went. I did not think the snow was so deep so I did not take my snowshoes. Big mistake but at least my legs got a work out yesterday. We walked to the first stop over looking the river and looked for moose. Some of the cross country skiers were talking about how wonderful the skiing was and how they were seeing so many moose tracks. Nothing at the first lookout.
We trudged to the second overlook and still we did not see a thing. But I was disappointed as it was just good to get out and walk. We were on our way to the third overlook when my dog refused to go any farther and tried to get me to go the other way. I thought she was probably getting tired as she is a small dog with short legs and the snow was deep for her to walk through. So I followed her out of the woods and on to the road.
No sooner had we exited the woods when we heard a growl. A kind of deep, I am going to rip you to shreds kind of growl. We stopped and stared into the woods. I watched to see if anything would run out but I saw nothing. My dog stood stock still and watched. Then we heard it again. This time it seemed closer and I thought it might be best to move on.
A few minutes later we had a snowshoe hare run out in front of us. It is the first one I have seen in the winter coloration. It was pretty cool. Then when we were close to home I heard a high pitch call. My first thought was that it sounded like an elk. But no elk live on the tundra. We climbed to the top of hill and I searched. I heard the call a few times but I could not see anything. I don't think it was a moose as their call is usually deeper but maybe it was a caribou. Who knows. I did not see anything so I will never know. Maybe the animals are as bored as I am and we were all out walking yesterday.
We trudged to the second overlook and still we did not see a thing. But I was disappointed as it was just good to get out and walk. We were on our way to the third overlook when my dog refused to go any farther and tried to get me to go the other way. I thought she was probably getting tired as she is a small dog with short legs and the snow was deep for her to walk through. So I followed her out of the woods and on to the road.
No sooner had we exited the woods when we heard a growl. A kind of deep, I am going to rip you to shreds kind of growl. We stopped and stared into the woods. I watched to see if anything would run out but I saw nothing. My dog stood stock still and watched. Then we heard it again. This time it seemed closer and I thought it might be best to move on.
A few minutes later we had a snowshoe hare run out in front of us. It is the first one I have seen in the winter coloration. It was pretty cool. Then when we were close to home I heard a high pitch call. My first thought was that it sounded like an elk. But no elk live on the tundra. We climbed to the top of hill and I searched. I heard the call a few times but I could not see anything. I don't think it was a moose as their call is usually deeper but maybe it was a caribou. Who knows. I did not see anything so I will never know. Maybe the animals are as bored as I am and we were all out walking yesterday.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Having a Boring Time
Yes, it is sad. I live in Alaska and I am actually bored. I live in the land of the last frontier. The last true wilderness of the United States but I am bored. The highlight of the last week happened yesterday when the Post Office told me that I had lived in Alaska long enough to qualify for a free post office box. And the sad thing was is that I got excited. Luckily another owl survey is on the horizon if the weather holds.
I was acting chief last week, and I worked a lot of hours trapped to my computer so I am trying to get off early to find myself an adventure but it did not work out too well yesterday. Instead of leaving early I actually worked over the normal eight. I am going to try again today. I want and I need a long hike. Life in the office is killing me.
I was acting chief last week, and I worked a lot of hours trapped to my computer so I am trying to get off early to find myself an adventure but it did not work out too well yesterday. Instead of leaving early I actually worked over the normal eight. I am going to try again today. I want and I need a long hike. Life in the office is killing me.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Adventures Can Be Found in the Dark
I finally had an adventure all it took was to go looking for love. Yes, it is the time of year where all Great Horned Owls are looking for love. It is mating season for these beautiful birds. It also time for bored biologist that have been stuck in their office glued to their computer to go out and count the love sick owls. Owls call more during mating season so it is a great time to listen for them. Conditions have to be right though, winds below 12 mph and no precipitation. Those kind of days that are rare in King Salmon. Last night was perfect weather for an owl survey and we took advantage of it.
The survey began 30 minutes after sunset. Still twilight but good. Our first stop was Lake Camp. The last survey was performed in 2001 and out of the 12 sites visited only two owls were counted. We were hoping for three. Not high goals but that was it. At each stop you listen for 10 minutes hoping to hear the owls call. There we stood in the growing darkness with just my flashlight and my partner was wearing a headlamp. Ten minutes later no owls.
Stop 2 was a mile away. Now it was really dark. The wind was slight and cloud cover was 100%. Then we heard it. One gray horned owl calling. Not once but three times.
Stop 3. We heard one owl, then a second answered. The two of them calling back and forth. And then a coyote called. He sang his song not far from us. We listened to all of them call into the night. After our ten minutes my partner said she thought the coyote was going to eat us it was so close.
Stop 4. It was really dark now. We heard an owl off in the distance. Then quiet after about five minutes of darkness a strange noise occured not to far from where we were standing. Not knowing what it was we ran back towards the doors of the truck. I raised my flashlight but we saw nothing. After our time was over we tried to guess what it was that we heard. My partner was sure it was a moose. I thought it sound like a scared ptarmagin taking flight. Then again something would have startled it to make it flush.
Stop 5. More owls calling.
Stop 6. We heard what sounded like a duck. During the ten minutes we try not to talk so that we can hear the owls. So niether of us said anything as the duck like noises continued. We were not near waterfowl habitat all our stops are in boreal habitat. So the chance of it being a duck were very slim. Yet duck like noises do not make people jumpy. We decided that it must have been a porcupine as they are known to make unusual sounds.
Stop 6. More owls.
Stop 7. More owls.
Stop 8. More owls.
Stop 9. We were a few feet from an intersection of two dirt roads. We heard kids out into the woods off my side of the truck. We heard an owl. Then we heard the snap of a branch. I asked my partner if she heard it. She said yes and that it was coming towards us. It is on your side of the road she said. I raised my flashlight watching. We could hear it coming towards us. I watched the woods. Then I heard a growling sound. I focused my flashlight on the area the sound came from and there in the night shone two green eyes looking at me. Then another growling sound. I told my partner to get into the truck. We dimmed the lights hoping it would come out but we didn't see anything. My partner said it must be a wolf but I have been close to a lot of wolves and have never been growled at. I think it might have been a wild dog. But who knows all the mysteries of the night are still that mysteries.
Stop 10. More owls.
Stop 11. More owls.
Stop 12. This stop was three blocks from my house and I told my partner if we hear growling I am going to be a little nervous walking to work for awhile. No growling but three more owls.
Both of us decided that 1. You don't do this survey alone. 2. We heard over 20 owls, we will tally it this morning. and 3. It was a blast to do. We are planning on performing the survey every two weeks through April as mating season for different species of owls start at different times. It was about time to have fun!!!!!!!
The survey began 30 minutes after sunset. Still twilight but good. Our first stop was Lake Camp. The last survey was performed in 2001 and out of the 12 sites visited only two owls were counted. We were hoping for three. Not high goals but that was it. At each stop you listen for 10 minutes hoping to hear the owls call. There we stood in the growing darkness with just my flashlight and my partner was wearing a headlamp. Ten minutes later no owls.
Stop 2 was a mile away. Now it was really dark. The wind was slight and cloud cover was 100%. Then we heard it. One gray horned owl calling. Not once but three times.
Stop 3. We heard one owl, then a second answered. The two of them calling back and forth. And then a coyote called. He sang his song not far from us. We listened to all of them call into the night. After our ten minutes my partner said she thought the coyote was going to eat us it was so close.
Stop 4. It was really dark now. We heard an owl off in the distance. Then quiet after about five minutes of darkness a strange noise occured not to far from where we were standing. Not knowing what it was we ran back towards the doors of the truck. I raised my flashlight but we saw nothing. After our time was over we tried to guess what it was that we heard. My partner was sure it was a moose. I thought it sound like a scared ptarmagin taking flight. Then again something would have startled it to make it flush.
Stop 5. More owls calling.
Stop 6. We heard what sounded like a duck. During the ten minutes we try not to talk so that we can hear the owls. So niether of us said anything as the duck like noises continued. We were not near waterfowl habitat all our stops are in boreal habitat. So the chance of it being a duck were very slim. Yet duck like noises do not make people jumpy. We decided that it must have been a porcupine as they are known to make unusual sounds.
Stop 6. More owls.
Stop 7. More owls.
Stop 8. More owls.
Stop 9. We were a few feet from an intersection of two dirt roads. We heard kids out into the woods off my side of the truck. We heard an owl. Then we heard the snap of a branch. I asked my partner if she heard it. She said yes and that it was coming towards us. It is on your side of the road she said. I raised my flashlight watching. We could hear it coming towards us. I watched the woods. Then I heard a growling sound. I focused my flashlight on the area the sound came from and there in the night shone two green eyes looking at me. Then another growling sound. I told my partner to get into the truck. We dimmed the lights hoping it would come out but we didn't see anything. My partner said it must be a wolf but I have been close to a lot of wolves and have never been growled at. I think it might have been a wild dog. But who knows all the mysteries of the night are still that mysteries.
Stop 10. More owls.
Stop 11. More owls.
Stop 12. This stop was three blocks from my house and I told my partner if we hear growling I am going to be a little nervous walking to work for awhile. No growling but three more owls.
Both of us decided that 1. You don't do this survey alone. 2. We heard over 20 owls, we will tally it this morning. and 3. It was a blast to do. We are planning on performing the survey every two weeks through April as mating season for different species of owls start at different times. It was about time to have fun!!!!!!!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
I Want March
I have been complaining that there are no adventures in Alaska right now. But yesterday talking to my boss I was told that March is the best time of the year. The days are longer, the weather isn't as cold. All of the water is frozen so that you can go anywhere. Anywhere that is if you have a plane. Then he offered to take me where ever I would like to go as he has a plane and loves to fly. The catch? He is taking the whole month of March off this year so I will have to wait until next March. But maybe March will be good to those of us that have no plane also.
Maybe I should dream of April. In April I am spending four days in Anchorage to attend the state Wildlife Society Meeting. Then at the end of the month I head to the Grand Canyon for two weeks of training. Then it is off to MN for a week with the family before coming up here for the beginning of the summer fun. I will get back just as the bears are coming out of their dens. I just have to get through February.
Maybe I should dream of April. In April I am spending four days in Anchorage to attend the state Wildlife Society Meeting. Then at the end of the month I head to the Grand Canyon for two weeks of training. Then it is off to MN for a week with the family before coming up here for the beginning of the summer fun. I will get back just as the bears are coming out of their dens. I just have to get through February.
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