Says It All, Really

Says It All, Really

Getting Down to Business, Part I

WC had a chance to do some birding along the east end of the Denali Highway this past weekend. And got photos of two of his favorite birds.

Arctic Warblers, really and truly, migrate to Alaska from southeast Asia. They are an Old Word warbler, one of the few that breed in the Western Hemisphere. Despite the length of the migration flight, the moment they arrive they begin singing.

Arctic Warbler

WC shouldn’t complain about long tedious jet travel; these little birds travel further under their own power, and only then get down to the serious business of courtship and reproduction.

Another WC favorite is the Horned Lark. This species manages the competition problem by nesting and breeding above the vegetation line, up where all that is left is lichens and a few patches of alpine tundra.

Horned Lark

This species winters in the southwest, and migrates to, among other regions, Alaska, where it breeds in the harsh, high alpine terrain. The markings on this species are especially nice, and the song is lovely.

WC will have more photos from the trip later in the week.