I. Like. Birds.

I like Big Birds. Little Bitty Birds.

I like a big beak….I don’t discriminate.

If you’re a Lizzo fan, you’re already singing along. If not, listen to the chorus below then revisit the title, but with the beat.

Are you interested in birds?

If you’re over the age of 40, you likely answered with an enthusiastic “Yes!”

Under 40? The correct answer is “Not Yet”.

But don’t worry, your time will come.

I’m 41 (and a half) and I’ve become a bird fanatic. Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time outside, marveling at how many different types of bird calls I can hear at any given moment.

The migratory birds are back for summer. Their early morning energy is refreshing, with the exception of the little woodpecker who thinks the bedroom side of our house is a good place to start his morning mayhem. I love a daybreak chorus of birdsong, but I do not enjoy being awoken at 5am to the banging of beak on wood.

@official_azzThis is what them birds really be like….. #react #dayinthelife #relationshipgoals #comedy

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

With all the bird action, this feels like a good week to discuss our feathered friends. There are a multitude of birds that call Alaska home for, at least, part of the year. While we can’t get to all of them, there are a few worth taking a closer look at. We’ll start with Sandhill Cranes.

Sandhill Cranes

Like many Alaskans, I’m exceptionally taken with sandhill cranes. Their first cooing, spring calls are the definitive sign that winter is really and truly over.

I live on marshland (a nice name for swamp) and a pair of sandhill cranes come back every year to nest nearby. I hear them flying over my house multiple times a day.

They also like to lazily walk down the dirt road leading to my driveway. They fly away from oncoming traffic but rarely budge for a walker. I’ve had power walks turn into Sunday strolls due to cranes that simply would not skiddadle. No matter how many times I loudly whispered “Shoo!” or how much I quickened my pace.

I could probably scare them away if I tried hard enough, but they’re big birds. Something in me doesn’t want to get too close. It feels like a “F&%k around and find out” kind of situation.

I recently discovered that sandhill cranes are carnivorous. I don’t know why but this disturbs me greatly. They’re just so delicate and graceful. I don’t like to think of them murdering rodents.

I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t get too big for my britches in any of those dirt road standoffs. No one would believe me if I lost an eyeball to a sandhill crane.

This guy was hanging out in my backyard Friday morning. If that's not an eyeball pecking beak, I don't know what is.

Territorial Terns

I can sit by a lake and watch water fowl for hours. They fascinate me. Just yesterday, I watched a tern harass a sandpiper for a solid half an hour.

Terns are assholes. I was rooting for the sandpiper.

Don’t get me wrong. Terns are fully within their rights to defend their territory, and they do. With a vengeance. Whoa to the unsuspecting boater that ventures too close to a tern’s nest. They team up to dive bomb predators and you can’t run, or paddle, fast enough to get away.

How close is too close? Well, that depends on the day and the tern you’re dealing with. I’ve had them leave me alone when I kayaked out into the middle of the lake and they’ve gotten feisty when I had the audacity to approach the lake.

You just never know. Terns like to keep you guessing.

I much prefer Loons.

Loon Lakes

If you read the article I shared in Thursday Bouquet #8 , you know I’m of Indigenous Alaskan Descent. If you haven’t read the article, and would like to, you can read it here: Salmon Harvesting with My Son....

I’m a shareholder of a small, local Native corporation and therefore have access to a private portion of a little piece of paradise : Spirit Lake.

To get to there, you have to travel down a long and dusty, conservatively maintained, dirt road. You also have to get through two locked gates. Access to the shareholder area of Spirit Lake is generally respected as a privilege and remains a peaceful and well preserved place to swim, fish, and enjoy lake life.

I go there for all of the above, but mainly for the Loons.

Because the shareholder park is so gently used, the Loons float placidly on the water, unbothered by the occasional kayaker, or splashing child. They swim surprising close and seem to understand no harm will come to them from the canoes gliding towards the fishing holes.

I love watching the loons float around and dive underwater. You never know where they’ll pop back up. They stay under for a long time and travel surprising distances. It’s always fun to guess where they’ll reappear.

If you stick around long enough, well into the evening, you’ll be treated to their hauntingly beautiful call. Anyone who has ever heard it knows the magic and the mystery of that unique wail.

Tough Old Birds

Though the charm of migratory birds is undeniable, the few birds that stick around in the winter deserve their due.

There’s a reason we call the people who live here only in the summer — opting to spend their winters in warmer locals — “Snowbirds”. Like their delicate namesakes, they simply cannot hack it. Alaskan winters are not for the weak.

Year round Alaskans are tough. The birds who winter with us are no different.

The hardy birds that thrive through the long, dark winters are an integral part of the fabric of northern life. Their presence and unique voices as familiar as an old friend.

Eagles

Eagles, so majestic and revered, are capable of causing a fair amount of chaos when they want to.

I live near two of the local eagle’s favorite hangouts: the Tsalteshi trail system and the dump. They can be found perched in trees around both locations, their quiet presence a little ominous at times.

I use the trail system for biking in the summer and cross country skiing in the winter. I always get a little nervous when I reach the section of trail (aptly) named “Eagle’s Perch”. The stillness of the woods feels eerie when you look up and you see dozens of eagles sitting silently in the trees. Watching you.

I stole this picture from my mom’s facebook page. She’s a much better photographer than me. She snapped this shot last week in Anchor Point.

One look at their sharp talons and imposing size is enough to inspire caution in any onlooker.

The good people of Dutch Harbor, Alaska would agree. They’ve become a real problem there, where they’ve been known to swoop down and “attack” people. They’re really trying to steal whatever their victims are carrying and have made off with everything from cell phones to mail and a box full of items for a community poker game.

Here’s a colorful article about the community of Dutch Harbor/Unalaska and how they feel about the Eagles : Dirty Birds

The title of the article “Dirty Birds” and the nickname “Dutch Harbor Pigeons” feels appropriate. I often think of Eagles as trash birds. I feel a little guilty about it, I mean they’re the emblem of our nation. But, at the end of the day, they hang out at the dump.

Tricksters

Ravens, known as “The Trickster” in Alaskan Native culture, have big personalities and high intelligence. They can often be seen engaged in games of chase with other birds. In the winter they antagonizing the Eagles constantly. In the summer, they hang out with the seagulls by River. I watched a Raven chase a seagull in playful swoops from bank to bank just the other day.

Though they aren’t threatening like the sharp beaked eagles, Ravens get into their fair share of mischief.

If Eagles are apex predators willing to capitalize on any opportunity for food —snatching little dogs from front yards, stealing fish from boat decks and dumpster diving — then Ravens are opportunists. Pure and simple.

Anyone who’s ever left their groceries in the back of a truck around here, even for a quick stop at the post office, will attest to this. The Ravens know what a grocery bag looks like and they want what’s inside.

I’ve come out of a “quick stop” more than once to find my groceries ravaged and my truck covered in bird poop.

Stupid Chickens

I spent a lot of time hunting for Spruce Grouse with my dad when I was young. I was always willing to go because hunting for “Stupid Chickens” was never more strenuous than an aimless stroll through the woods around our house.

As their nickname suggests, they’re easy prey. They have camoflouged feathers so they don’t flush. They simply sit tight and hope for the best. It doesn't usually work out in their favor.

I accidentally killed one on my way home from the school bus stop as a kid. I halfheartedly threw a rock at a low brach, hitting the grouse that was sitting on it. It fell out of the tree, I ran home crying and my dad walked me back to find it.

It wasn’t there.

My dad told me I “must’ve stunned it”. That may have been the case. If so, that lucky grouse was saved from being dinner. Equally likely? It did end up dinner. Just for some other opportunistic predator that got there before we did.

Birds of a Feather

I could go on and on….and on. But I won’t. I want to hear about the birds in your area! Or any local birds I may have missed that you are especially fond of.

Do you have a favorite bird or birds? Tell me about them in the comments.

Now for What’s Good….

At The Market

Market Season kicked off with a bang this week! My family and I attended no less than five local festivities. Including…

• The Wednesday Market - A summertime favorite. Every Wednesday, in the park by the river, vendors set up and sell their wares. The market grows every year and features everything you can imagine. Lot’s of Alaskan made goods and lots of food. There’s also a concert series in the evenings where market goers can enjoy live music for free from 6pm - 9pm.

  

  A new food truck selling warm donuts, dripping with gooey glaze was our favorite find. My niece sampled the cinnamon sugar version. And of course, can't leave without the fresh squeezed lemonades.

• The Saturday Farmers Market - another summer staple, the Saturday market is the place to find Rhubarb butter, homemade hot sauce, fresh veggies, eggs and baked goods

• The Kenai River Festival - A celebration of the river that runs through our community and our lives. Always a fun one. Lots of activities for kids and educational opportunities. Live music, vendors and, of course, all the food.

  

  Reindeer Ear with homemade haskap berry sauce and sweet cream, from The Reindeer Hut. A Popular Local Food Truck known for their reindeer meat gyros served on fresh frybread. Cucumber-Lemon-Mint-Water, a refreshment I wait all year for.

• The Train Stop Market - A bougie, boutique style market on Whistle Hill. An area well known for the train cars turned restaurants where we usually go to get excellent coffee, designer waffles and the occasional fancy dinner.

  

• The Kenai Air Fair - The runway at our local airport became a showcase for small planes on Saturday. Guests were invited to walk among the many models on display and most were open to climb into and explore. My favorite was the LifeMed rescue helicopter. I was amazed at how small it is! Especially because our friend is a LifeMed nurse and he is easily 6’4”. They explained that the Alaskan helicopters are smaller because they do a lot of wilderness rescue and need to get into tight spaces.

  

  

Markets, Festivals and Fairs are what make summer fun!! We got rained on multiple times but we didn’t care. We had good food, good music and good company. Everyone comes out for the markets. It’s not uncommon to run into everyone from your old kindergarten teacher, to your aunt and a plethora of acquaintances from around town. We’ve waited all winter for this and no one is letting a little liquid sunshine keep them away.

Alaskan Memes

I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite Alaskan memes and pics from the week. Some are a little colorful and I apologize in advance, but they made me laugh so I’m sharing them

The mosquitoes are out in full force. We like to joke that they are our state bird. Don’t leave home without your bug dope.

I had to share these sweet little ones and their June snowmen. Kids are the best at turning those lemons into lemonade.

Again… Sorry for the spicy language. But this one is too appropriate not to share. Everyone I have encountered for the past couple of weeks has been grumbling about our un-summer. It’s still cold here and we’re not happy about it.

And finally, if you grew up in Alaska, you know. Generations of Alaskan children ran around singing “Pussy Cow Pussy Cow Pussy Cow” and no one corrected us. I think I was in my twenties before I knew the truth. Watch the video below if you have no idea what I’m talking about, or just want a little shot of nostalgia.

“Give a new car to you wife, she will love you all your life…Pussy Cow Pussy Cow Pussy Cow!!”

Haha! That will never stop being hilarious to me.

Okay, that’s all for now. See you next Sunday!