Bird Watching Cruise

I had a wonderful opportunity to go on a bird watching cruise. Saint Lazaria Wilderness is a nesting bird colony located twenty miles west of Sitka, Alaska and is a part of the Gulf of Alaska unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. More than 500,000 seabirds nest on this 65-acre island, one of the most productive seabird colonies in the state. Albatrosses and shearwaters that nest in the western Pacific also feed in nutrient-rich waters off St. Lazaria. Local charter boats and tours bring visitors to view the amazing sea bird colonies and wildlife. My favorite bird I go to see a tufted puffin.

 The boat

Bird watching

More pictures to come of the birds with my BIG camera!

Mode of transportation

The way I get around town... to work, grocery store, sightseeing and other things is by BIKE. I love it. Somedays its raining and somedays its sunny. I basically never leave my house without a RAIN COAT. Balancing groceries on a bike can be interesting.

Sunny day in Sitka

Carrying groceries on the back to the house on the bike.

Raining on the way to work... but still smiling.

What do I do on a typical day?

This is the Old School National Park office building. This actually used to be a library downstairs and a 3rd and 4th grade classroom upstairs. I work upstairs which I think is so funny, since I teach 3rd grade. Its a beautiful office that over looks the harbor and is surrounded by mountains. When I'm working on my project, I work in here. I also get to go to the visitors center to work and time to explore the trails.

This is an illustration that was drawn on the white board in the visitor center. Look at the bottom... Its Ranger Miss Barnhardt or Ranger LB! 

Exploring the trails of Sitka National Historical Park. This is a picture on the rocky beach. 

The best part of my job is getting to "rove" the trails. I get to walk around and talk to guests. I can answer questions. My favorite reaction and looks is when I say "How are y'all doing?" 

Black out shades are the bomb.com

So when I found out I was going to Alaska... my first thoughts were its summer, so it will be LIGHT all the time. Awesome. Well when I try to go to sleep and its bright, not exactly knowing how hard it would to be able to sleep. The sun goes down around 10:50 pm and it looks like dusk til about 12:30 am. From 12:30 am to about 3:30 its DARK. At 3:30 am, the sun rises. I am very thankful that the National Park housing has black out shades in each bedroom. They are awesome and I don't have any issue falling asleep when it is light outside!

 It is broad daylight outside. Best curtains ever. 

Alaska Raptor Center

Part of my training is learning about the birds around Sitka. I got to experience visiting the Alaska Raptor center which is full of owls and bald eagles. These are all rescues that have suffered a gun shot wound, hit by car, or just found injured.

Volta and his trainer Robert

Volta was found injured on the ground after flying into a power line on the Sitka waterfront in 1992. He was brought to the Alaska Raptor Center suffering from concussion, electrocution, and several bone fracture injuries. Most of Volta's head injuries healed perfectly, but the coracoid on his right side was partially destroyed in the collision. The coracoid is a small bone in a bird's shoulder that is critical for gaining lift in flight, and without it Volta cannon take flight from the ground or a perch, making him non-releasable. Volta is about 28 years old and loves life at the Alaska Raptor Center.

Volta and I

Some interesting facts about bald eagles:

• There are about 100,000 bald eagles in the United States: 50,000 of them live in Alaksa and about 33,000 live in Southeast Alaska. 
• When born they are called eaglets and are brown. When they are four to five years old, they develop their normal white heads and tales.
• Bald eagles have been the national symbol since 1782.
• Female bald eagles are bigger than males.
• In the wild, bald eagles can live up to 35 years. In captivity, bald eagles can live up to 50 years.
• In the wild, a male weighs about 7-12 pounds and a female weighs about 10-15 pounds. 
• Bald eagles can soar up to 10,000 feet high.
• There great eyesight can see fish up to a mile away.
• There bodies can be three feet long and their wingspan can be up to 8 feet wide.

How big is my wing span?

• Bald eagles feast on fish, ducks, snakes, and turtles. They will also eat rabbits, muskrats, and dead animals.

Bears.

There are lots of bears here in Sitka, Alaska. I haven't seen any however there is one per square mile. The bears will start moving down off the mountains soon, to the rivers and sound because the salmon start moving upstream to lay their eggs. Bears love to eat salmon.

I have been bear spray trained. I had to watch a 10 minute video and spray the test one. I carry my bear spray everywhere. It is like pepper spray, but in a big can.

Where I am working... Sitka National Historical Park

I absolutely loved Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington last summer through my experiences, the people, the workplace, and the scenery, I wanted a different experience in a National Park. As for myself and being a teacher, I'm a lifelong learner. This summer, I wanted to have new experience, travel to a new place, and learn more about the National Parks to share with my students.

Why Sitka National Historical Park?
I explored many opportunities throughout the entire country... AND Sitka National Historical Park wanted me to help volunteer this summer. I am living on Barnoaf Island in Sitka, ALASKA! We call y'all the "lower 48"... What an experience and a world of change!

Park Entrance Sign

What will I be accomplishing here while working at Sitka National Historical Park?
I am creating 12 story hour programs for preschool age children with a theme, a story, activity/game/song, snack, craft, and a take home activity. I will also be volunteering at the Visitors Center and Russian Bishops house by helping guests. I will get to "Rove" which means to hike the trails to assist any guests. At the end of my volunteer time, I will write a blog about my experience to be posted on the Sitka's National Historical Park website.

Totem Pole at the park

Sitka, Alaska

Crescent Harbor

Population ~ 9,000 people (4th largest city in Alaska)

#16 Fishing port in the United States

Sitka National Historical Park

Flying into Sitka...

Many of you know, I love to travel... but I don't love to fly. I was excited to be back in Seattle especially since it was the first time flying in and seeing Mt. Rainier! I was a little nervous, but I talked to some people in the airport saying it wasn't bad flying into Sitka (they said its better than Juneau)--- just google Sitka Airport... Very smooth, two hour flight to Sitka until the landing. The pilot came on saying we will be on the ground in five minutes. I'm thinking... "I have made it!" Little did I know I saw water, and the guy across the aisle said "we should have taken a left a the light back there" as we could see the runway on the left and were speeding back up in the air. I was a little anxious at this point, but all the funny guys who were going on a fishing trip were keeping me entertained. About fifteen minutes later, the pilot came back on saying, "well as you know we didn't hit the landing strip and are going to try again". It was 600 foot floor which means the clouds were very low. We circled the airport and were waiting to see if the Alaskan Air could land. I was flying Delta who just started flying here in June. As we approached the attempt, we were told if we don't land we will go to Ketchikan which is about an hour flight to refuel and try later. The flight attendants then said keep you fingers crossed.... NOT something I wanted to hear. HAHA. We landed and the breaks went screeching! We got to the end of the runway and there was about 20 more yards left (as they just ended the runway not long ago I was told). I was on the ground and in ALASKA! Most beautiful airport, even in the rain! I met my supervisor Ryan. He gave me a short tour of Sitka, took me to the grocery store (the most scenic I've ever been too), and then to housing. I was tired after my 13 hour travel day.

View from the plane flying over Southeast Alaska

Flying into Sitka, Alaska

Ranger LB or Miss Barnhardt here again... 

I loved working last summer for the National Park Service, so here I am again. The picture below is me leaving from the Charlotte airport with one large suitcase and a heavy backpack!

Hello from ALASKA! I'm living in Sitka, Alaska for 5 weeks working at Sitka National Historical Park. Sitka is located in Southeast Alaska, the first and oldest (10,000 years) city in Alaska! Sitka is located on Baranof Island which is the 10th largest island in the United States and is only accessible by boat or plane. It is four hours time difference from back home in North Carolina. I'm living in the Tongass Rainforest surrounded by enormous mountains and the Sitka Sound. The beautiful landscape is full of Bald Eagles, Ravens, banana slugs, salmon, bears (1 per square mile), and noisy squirrels. Stay tuned to learn more about my experience!