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Young female spruce cones grow upright and bend down to open when the seeds are ripe and ready to disperse. (Photo by Mary Willson/courtesy)

Sports

On the Trails: Fledgling birds and spruce tips

The stroll was peaceful and the birds were singing.

Male wood ducks have colorful plumage and do not share parental duties. (Photo courtesy of Kerry Howard)

Sports

On the Trails: Wood ducks

Wood ducks nest seasonally in forested areas across North America from coast to coast in southern Canada and…

An Arctic tern sits at its nesting site at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Gwen Baluss)

News

Arctic terns return to their protected nests in Juneau

The birds began their journey to Alaska in March to find safe haven at the Mendenhall Glacier.

An American bald eagle perched in a tree on Buttons Creek, which is part of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, June 14, 2022. The bald eagle became the national bird of the United States on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Once an endangered species in the U.S., the bald eagle represents “independence, strength, and freedom,” according to the bipartisan bill signed by President Biden. (Tony Cenicola/The New York Times)

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The bald eagle is (finally) the national bird of the United States

The bald eagle received a title this week that many may have assumed it already had: the national…

Common murres are clustered together on a cliff ledge in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on July 30, 2019. Annual monitoring of key nesting sites has found that the common murre population has yet to recover from the massive die-off caused by the marine heatwave known as the “Blob.” It was the biggest wildlife die-off in modern times, a new study says. (Photo by Brie Drummond/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

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Alaska birds suffered biggest die-off in recorded history in ‘Blob’ heat wave, new study says

4 million deaths of common murres during the intense North Pacific marine heatwave.

At least one female wood duck has invented a novel feeding technique. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

Sports

On the Trails: Wood ducks, redstarts, yellowlegs and flowers

Mid-June, and a few days ago we saw a wood duck with two tiny chicks on Moose Lake.…

A Rufous hummingbird hovers near a glass hummingbird feeder filled with homemade liquid food. Keeping the feeder clean is important to prevent mold, bacteria and disease. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

Sports

Hummingbirds buzz back to Juneau

How to care for backyard feeders.

Bar-tailed godwits stand on the beach at Marion Bay in Australia's Tasmania state on Feb. 17, 2018. A young bar-tailed godwit appears to have set a non-stop distance record for migratory birds by flying at least 13,560 kilometers (8,435 miles) from Alaska to the Australian state of Tasmania, a bird expert said Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Eric Woehler)

News

Alaska-Australia flight could place bird in record books

A young bar-tailed godwit appears to have set a non-stop distance record for migratory birds.

Anne Bonino-Britsch, a volunteer, feeds chickens at the Zach Gordon Youth Center. The first case of bird flu tied to a recent outbreak that's killed millions of turkeys and chickens was confirmed in Alaska last week, but local poultry owners said while they're being cautious, they aren't overly concerned. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Bird flu ruffles feathers: No panic among local poultry owners, but they’re taking precautions

No cases in Juneau so far.

Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center This golden eagle was rescued by the Juneau Raptor Center over the summer after being found weak and thin.

News

All the birds I’ve known: Rescue center, birdwatchers look back on 2021

The Christmas bird count was way down this year.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Tim Benner assists the Juneau Raptor Center as volunteers attempted to capture a trumpeter swan with an injured wing at Auke Lake on Thursday.

News

‘Good morning, a swan’s escaped’: On scene with the Juneau Raptor Center

A dramatic afternoon, attempting to apprehend an elusive avian.

Starlings, like the one shown in this photo, are among the birds known to mimic the songs of other species. (Pixabay)

News

Birds may prefer novel songs, sing for fun and other birdsong facts

They’re no longer singing in the rain.

‘Stitch,’ a juvenile bald eagle, was rescued by Juneau Raptor Center with a chest wound on Aug. 13 and transferred to the Alaska Raptor Center. He’s currently recovering from surgery, and the ARC specialists are optimistic, said JRC general manager Kathy Benner. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center)

News

Juneau Raptor Center dealing with rain of injured eagles

Eight raptor casualties in a matter of weeks is a worrisome spike.

A red-breasted sapsucker braces its strong central tail feathers against the tree trunk. Mary F. Willson notes the bird is not excavating. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

News

How tails help birds get ahead

Focusing on particular uses of tails that have special functions.

A pair of bald eagles lay on the beach near Auke Bay after locking talons and falling from the sky on June 9, 2020, a somewhat common behavior. The Juneau Raptor Center has had an active spring, handling half a dozen calls about bald eagles in the last week and rescuing other birds as well. (Courtesy photo | Kevin Henderson)

News

It was a busy week for Juneau Raptor Center

Half a dozen bald eagles and other birds have needed help.

The Juneau Raptor Center received an injured adult male bald eagle rescued from Skagway on March 31, 2020. (Courtesy art | Juneau Raptor Center)

News

Raptor Center still in business with new distancing rules

Please do not pick up the injured wildlife.

A pair of bald eagles was rescued Monday by the Juneau Raptor Center after sustaining unknown injuries near Lemon Creek, March 2, 2020. The eagles will be cared for in Juneau for now but could eventually be sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Raptor Center)

News

Raptor center rescues 2 injured bald eagles near Lemon Creek

The cause of their injuries is unknown.

Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire Stephen Lewis, a researcher with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, gives a presentation on golden eagles in Alaska at University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday.

News

Scientists seek to learn more about Alaska’s golden eagles

Golden eagles are the most widespread eagle on Earth.

Members of the Juneau Audubon Society pose for a picture with members of the Idea Homeschool Program team at the FIRST Lego League competition to commend their novel approach to reducing bird strikes. The competition was at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (Alexia Kiefer | Courtesy Photo)

News

Students recognized for idea to stop birds from flying into windows

Bird strikes claim more than 1 billion birds a year.

A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive and sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka after being struck by a car Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Police Department)

News

Immature eagle injured on Egan improving incrementally

Underweight eagle is on a high-protein diet.