Highlights of Recent Photo Uploads
Photojournal
Recent Updates
Fall Walks and a Drive
Morning and Afternoon Light
Port Krestof and Escape Cape Bog
Bird Watching on a Sunny February Sunday
Neighborhood Walk
WhaleFest Cruise
Radio Show/Podcast
Sitka Nature Show #334 – Mary Goddard
Sitka Nature Show #333 – Connor Goff
Sitka Nature Show #332 – Kitty LaBounty
Sitka Nature Show #331 – Brooke Schafer and Paul Norwood
Explore the Archive
Today in Sitka Nature History:
Mountain Bike Trails Revisited
February 19, 2024
Overcast with a small break in the clouds late this afternoon. Temperatures in the 40s. Occasional drizzle. I spent the morning on a call and then doing inventory of the … Read more
Afternoon Birding, Evening Tidepooling
February 19, 2023
Overcast with occasional rain. Temperatures in the upper 30s and light winds. I went for a drive to check out birds for a bit this afternoon. It is Great Backyard … Read more
GBBC Birding
February 19, 2022
Yesterday’s rain transitions to more convective showers today. Temperatures fell and the snow level dropped accordingly to 1000 feet or less. Between showers I had a couple of good looks … Read more
Late Winter Gray
February 19, 2021
When I woke this morning, it sounded windier than yesterday. As it turned out, I think that was largely due to a shift in direction. Winds were trending more towards … Read more
Ring-necked Ducks at Swan Lake
February 19, 2020
I stepped outside this morning to a thin layer of slush on the ground. After yesterday’s spring-like warmth, cooler temperatures had prevailed overnight. After class I went by Swan Lake … Read more
Sitka Nature Show #125 – Nick Pyenson
February 19, 2017
Download Radio Show The 19 February show featured a conversation with Nick Pyenson, curator fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian. We talked about his work with whales, both ancient and … Read more
Sunny Break
February 19, 2016
It seemed like no sooner had I posted about hoping against sunny weather, I woke up the following day to see a forecast with clearing skies. Originally it was just … Read more
Landslide Talk
February 19, 2015
Soil and ash exposed and subsequently eroded at the Starrigavan landslide. Notice the part with more coarse rock that has some roots coming out in the center of the photo. … Read more
Gallery: 20100219 – Sunset at Whale Park
February 19, 2010
Mystery Gull Season
February 19, 2008
Mid-February seems to bring the arrival of mystery gull season. I’m not sure if it’s just an impression, or actually true in practice, but it seems like around this time … Read more
19 February Photos: Raven and Gulls
February 19, 2008
Great Backyard Bird Count
February 19, 2008
Cackling Goose at Swan Lake Last Friday through Monday was the Great Backyard Bird Count. I tried to get out at least a little bit each day to see what … Read more
19 February Photos: Birds and Mountains
February 19, 2007
Pictures taken several different places around town while doing bird counts for the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Weather Observations
February 19, 2003
This morning it looked like the snow level was about the same as yesterday (below 2000 feet). By noon the snow level had dropped and it was snowing in town. … Read more
Winter Wren
February 19, 2003
I have seen winter wrens flitting about in the brush all winter. I have also frequently heard them making a short chirping call. This morning, for the first time this … Read more
Selection of random posts from the past 25+ years.
- SitkaBirds email List (subscribe here)
- SitkaBirds List is an e-mail list for birding around Sitka. It serves as to share photos and ask questions about birds or birding in Sitka. Also to notify others of sightings that may be unusual or of interest. If you are interested, please subscribe here. There is also a Sitka Birds Facebook Group (while both are active, the Facebook group has more active participants).
- Sitka Natural History Seminar Series
- To be notified of upcoming talks in the series, you can (subscribe here) to receive the announcements
- The Birds of Sitka, Alaska by J. Dan Webster.
- A comprehensive summary of published historical records (including looks at museum specimens) for the Sitka area.
- Species Checklists for Southeast Alaska (links below are currently only intermittently active, I have some work to do on that site)
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- Birds
- Mammals
- Vascular Plants
- Bryophytes
- Lichens (incomplete)
- Pre-2007 Photojournal
- Photos and journal entries from 1998-2006 (on a different site – I eventually intend to migrate entries to this one)
- Sitka Trails (on another site)
- A trail guide I am working on for trails on the Sitka Road system. It was on (or just off of) many of these trails where I took many of the photos seen here. I started redoing it in early 2024, but haven’t completed the remodel.
THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION TO COME HOME SOON! CLASS OF ’94 KARI NILES (BLANKENSHIP)
This is an amazing effort, already well underway! As a botanist/naturalist, I naturally went straight to the plant page. Two hemlocks! You are so lucky. Thanks for the great photos and site!
Thanks for the great site. Was referred to by Marge Ward and Marlys Tedin (my aunt). I’m a displaced native (not a blood native, just born there) Now living in Chicago. Your site really tugs my strings to get back there for an extended period of time. Keep it up. Your photography is really coming along! Hard to take a bad shot around that area, if you are “in it” as much as you are. Keep hiking and sending pics. I’ll be there soon!
I had a friend send me some of the sound clips you have made. Wonderful! Do you have a mailing list in which you send out info from time to time? if so, please put me on it! great work! pat
An eastern kingbird: St. Lazaria Island, 2 July 2010…. made forays from its foraging perch in a lone mature Sitka spruce on a slope otherwise dominated by rye grass and salmonberry.
Thank you for posting all this photos, and keeping updated your quest of knowledge and beauty. I feel like walking with you on this wild path, day by day, you who wander, in this distant country. Magic of internet.
Up In Pelican…Have had a Short-eared Owl around, and a small flock of
Lapland Longspurs. Don’t see them often !
Thanks for the report from Pelican – nice to hear what’s going on in some of the less populated areas of the region!
Dear Naturalist,
Do yoy know of a database containing observations of all kinds of species (but certainly mammals and birds are of utmost interest) in the Sitka area? (or perhaps all of southeast Alaska).
I’m writing from Denmark. I once visited Sitka, it was a brief stay, but I hope to return next spring.
Best regards Mads Kusk
Mads – check out Southeast Alaska Natural History Wiki – there are other sources that have a bit more depth for some things, but that’s probably the best single source for what you’re looking for.
Thanks for all your hard work on this site. I have you in my RSS feed and read every post!
Thanks Rab – I appreciate your interest and encouragement!
Thank you for identifying my many plants on iNaturalist. I had no service for 10 days so just took pictures to upload later. The plant life in Yakutat is quite different from the plant life is south Texas. I was however pleasantly surprised to find a number or plants that were native to both.