We put our raft in on the Upper Marsh Fork River under cloudy skies cloaking the 9,000-foot limestone peaks of the 700-mile-long Brooks Range in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in northern Alaska. The bush plane that dropped us off with 400 pounds of gear left us on a field of dewy tundra for a […]
Arctic Plunder: Birding the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Read More »
While overlooking the mudflats of Alaska’s Copper River Delta, I was reduced to being a slack-jawed gaper. It was May 4, high tide, and thousands upon thousands of shorebirds clustered just feet away. I should have been able to make a guess about how many there were, but I couldn’t. My skills as a field
Too Many to Count: Shorebird Migration at the Copper River Delta, Alaska Read More »
Lounging on the lanai my first morning on Kauai, I notice a bright flash of color below our rented condo. Putting binoculars to eyes, I bring the bird into focus. It’s a beauty, with gray back and wings, white belly and neck collar, and scarlet crested head. “Helene!” I shout to my sweetheart. “Quick, come
Birding on Kauai, an Island Paradise Losing Its Native Beauties Read More »
Birding Hawaii Hawaii—with its paradise-like climate, beaches, and palm trees—encompasses eight main islands (only seven of which are permanently inhabited) as well as many smaller islands. The archipelago was formed by underwater volcanic activity, and the islands remain volcanically active. The islands offer diverse habitats, including high altitudes (the peak of Mauna Kea receives snow
Hawaii Bird Watching Read More »
