Tributaries
Tidbits from the Headwaters
Kenny Lake Christmas Bird Count December 17th
The Wrangell Institute for Science and the Environment (WISE) would like to invite you to participate in the 123rd annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count on December 17. This event is a part of a collective bird census that is conducted each year by Audubon. Audubon has conducted this annual bird census since 1901! That is a lot of valuable information about our birds and their movements.
Bear Medicine
A little bear wandered around Chistochina for several days last month. He was malnourished and alone. A neighbor guessed that he was a runt, already small, and couldn’t keep up with Mama when she crossed Sinona Creek, which ran high this year. The bear was the talk of the town as he let himself into people’s houses, peeked through windows, and went from place to place looking for food and family.
Inviting Birds Home
Birds are already starting courtship and territorial displays on Prince William Sound, and migratory species are steadily arriving. Some are still on their way. This is a good time to think about getting some nest boxes together.
It’s All Downhill From Here: Bluebell Gene Dispersal in a Changing Climate
Bluebells are ubiquitous in the Copper Valley, occupying varied habitats and microclimates. They are among the first splashes of color in the brown spring world, and continue to bloom well into summer. This common little flower is being studied by Ellen Waddle to answer some big questions about climate change. Waddle is a Ph.D. student working with Kennicott resident Dr. Dan Doak.