Birds about town

I like to think of our local birds as opportunists. The birds in these photos were perusing town today, taking advantage of untended dumpsters and dead cats while the bipeds were hold up inside watching the super bowl. Ravens (about 4 times larger than a crow, and curved beak) are pretty interesting critters. They have a keen sense for garbage, and the spare time to spread it all over town if it's not edible. They really like open bedded pickups, and street lights. I spent a summer working on the north slope of Alaska for BP and while I was up there I met a woman working on her PHD. She was studying the Ravens that apparently followed the oil industry up to the north coast of Alaska. Ravens are non native to the slope and UAF is funding research on them and how they have adapted to their new environment. We had a nesting family at the facility i worked at and trust me, you didn't want to get too close or you might lose a limb. You can learn more about the north slope raven project HERE.

The eagles were right in the middle of town which is not abnormal, but i usually don't see them there so i took a few photos. Clear and cold today, everyone is waiting on Redoubt.

cheers,

josh