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An Arctic tern carries a capelin, perhaps to a waiting female near a nest site. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Courtship and mating gifts

Animal courtship often involves more than fancy displays, songs and even gifts.

  • Oct 12, 2021
  • By Mary F. Willson
An Arctic tern carries a capelin, perhaps to a waiting female near a nest site. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
A screenshot of a website created for the American Meteor Society showing reports from Alaska residents about a fireball that exploded above Alaska on Sept. 30, 2021.  The blue arrow is the estimated direction of the fireball. (Screenshot)

Alaska Science Forum: Space rocks streak through the Alaska sky

By Ned Rozell About once every other week for as long as you have been alive, zooming space rocks have penetrated the shell of gases… Continue reading

  • Oct 8, 2021
  • By Ned Rozell
A screenshot of a website created for the American Meteor Society showing reports from Alaska residents about a fireball that exploded above Alaska on Sept. 30, 2021.  The blue arrow is the estimated direction of the fireball. (Screenshot)
Salmonberry leaves of unusual color on one cane; nearby canes bore green leaves.(Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: Fall colors in our rainforest

Here are a few examples of enjoyable displays of fall colors…

Salmonberry leaves of unusual color on one cane; nearby canes bore green leaves.(Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)
Judy Carmichael, of the Judy Carmichael Trio, greeted well-wishers and autographed merchandise at the Heritage Coffee shop’s downtown location on Oct. 1. She visited Juneau to perform as part of the Juneau Jazz & Classics Fall Festival. (Instagram)
Judy Carmichael, of the Judy Carmichael Trio, greeted well-wishers and autographed merchandise at the Heritage Coffee shop’s downtown location on Oct. 1. She visited Juneau to perform as part of the Juneau Jazz & Classics Fall Festival. (Instagram)
A male sockeye salmon spawns in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Jonny Armstrong)

Pride of Bristol Bay: Life of a sockeye

It only took one sockeye to remind of how lucky I am to live in a world with wild salmon

A male sockeye salmon spawns in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Jonny Armstrong)
Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire 
The author glasses harsh terrain on a beautiful October day on an unsuccessful hunt in 2015.

I Went to the Woods: The danger of overexposure

Outdoors content isn’t a monolith.

Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire 
The author glasses harsh terrain on a beautiful October day on an unsuccessful hunt in 2015.
Veterans march in Hoonah for the raising of a totem pole honoring Southeast Akaska's Indigenous veterans. The region, and Hoonah in particular, have a high number of veterans per capita. (Courtesy Photo / Elle Weberling)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Healing in Hoonah by honoring Southeast’s Indigenous veterans

A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Louise Kane as Stanley “Steamie” Thompson’s mother. Kane was Thompson’s grandmother. The article has been updated to… Continue reading

Veterans march in Hoonah for the raising of a totem pole honoring Southeast Akaska's Indigenous veterans. The region, and Hoonah in particular, have a high number of veterans per capita. (Courtesy Photo / Elle Weberling)
This photo shows a common loon carved by artist Matt Robus for the exhibit “Birds of Wood." It opens Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center for First Friday. (Courtesy Photo)
This photo shows a common loon carved by artist Matt Robus for the exhibit “Birds of Wood." It opens Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center for First Friday. (Courtesy Photo)
This photo shows the colors of deciduous trees and bushes on the upper Delta River in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The season of senescence is upon us

Trees and other plants are simply shedding what no longer suits them.

This photo shows the colors of deciduous trees and bushes on the upper Delta River in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
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The Salmon State: An early fall trip to Hasselborg Lake

We were already happier, ready to skip our phones across the water like stones.

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James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)
James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Lucas White (21) and two other Huskies take down a player from Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos said solid tackling by White and others played a major role in the Huskie's 27-14 win against Bartlett High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Lucas White (21) and two other Huskies take down a player from Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos said solid tackling by White and others played a major role in the Huskie's 27-14 win against Bartlett High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
The author managed to take a grouse despite being deep in thought for a good half hour of his deer hunt. He made jalapeno poppers that night.
Internal dialogue of a hunter (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: The internal dialogue of a hunter

There is always something that comes to mind when I am outside.

The author managed to take a grouse despite being deep in thought for a good half hour of his deer hunt. He made jalapeno poppers that night.
Internal dialogue of a hunter (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This porcupine stubbornly refused to abandon its leafy lunch entirely, and went right back to it when we passed by. (Courtesy Photo / David Bergeson)

On the Trails: Here and there in August

These observations ’mite’ interest you.

  • Sep 14, 2021
  • By Mary F. Willson
This porcupine stubbornly refused to abandon its leafy lunch entirely, and went right back to it when we passed by. (Courtesy Photo / David Bergeson)
A yellow slime mold is an aggregation of separate cells that came together to reproduce; this one engulfs several plant stems. (Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: A good morning in the meadows

Yellow sun and slime mold.

A yellow slime mold is an aggregation of separate cells that came together to reproduce; this one engulfs several plant stems. (Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)
True gratitude is being able to look at a fishless afternoon and be content. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Feeling gratitude, even for wet socks

Maybe it’s my duty as a human to enjoy doing simple things that many take for granted.

True gratitude is being able to look at a fishless afternoon and be content. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a handful of thimbleberries. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: The way to the thimbleberry patch

These tart and sweet berries resemble a small red thimble.

This photo shows a handful of thimbleberries. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
A starry flounder in the intertidal zone shows its distinctive black bars on dorsal and anal fins. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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On the Trails: Learning more about starry flounder

Rounding out knowledge of a flat fish.

  • Aug 10, 2021
  • By Mary F. Willson
A starry flounder in the intertidal zone shows its distinctive black bars on dorsal and anal fins. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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The author expresses a look of...something on a perfect early morning of deer season. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: When the bucks win

Not basketball.

The author expresses a look of...something on a perfect early morning of deer season. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Fireweed flowers have narrow, dark pink sepals between the wide, paler-pink petals, possibly making an added attraction. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: The making of a flower

Pistils at dawn.

Fireweed flowers have narrow, dark pink sepals between the wide, paler-pink petals, possibly making an added attraction. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)