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Types of Seabirds that Call Homer Home

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Over ninety per cent of seabirds living in the United States breed along the Alaskan coast.
Summer tour boats and water taxis serve Kachemak Bay all day. The sea is calmest in the morning hours. Gull Island has constant bird activity and sounds from nine nesting species, Red-faced Cormorant, Tufted and Horned Puffin, Common Murre, and Pigeon Guillemot. The approximate seabird population is fifteen thousand.
Seabirds, including Kittlitz’s Murrelet are numerous in the lagoon and waters around Grewingk Creek. Look for Spruce Grouse and Goshawks in the woods.

Kachemak Bay State Park – has many trails on the south side of Kachemak Bay good for observing a variety of land birds as well as some nesting seabirds.

Seabird activity is good on the way to Seldovia. Several species of auklets and tubenoses are common. Walk the old harbor area of Seldovia to see Great-blue Heron, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and both crossbills.

The State Ferry Tustemena can be a birding adventure, cruising to Seldovia, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor and other small towns of the Alaska Peninsula. A naturalist from the Alaska National Maritime Wildlife Refuge is on duty for the round trip Dutch Harbor ride and the Sunday and Monday trips to Seldovia.

Early Alaskan Fur Farmers

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Prior to Alaska being annexed, the Russians were among the first to take an interest in the Alaskan fur trading. Russians began trading with the locals for sea otters pelts to supply furs to the Chinese markets. Seal furs also popular and they were the first to be bred for the fur collection. As the animal population declined so did the interest of fur trading.

During the 1800′s Russians relocated the silver and blue foxes to the Aleutian Islands and Americans followed with fox farming near Kodak. In 1920s fur farming become popular and during World War I fur prices increased until the depression in 1930s. The price of furs dropped forcing many of the fur farming operations to close. After World War II the few remaining fur farms continued to thrive with new farms starting up to include mink, beaver and muskrat furs.

Today fur farming continues to endure allowing nature to take its course with reproductive cycles. Foxes are breed during the early part of the year and give birth in the second quarter. Farmers are required to vaccinate and maintained acceptable habitats. As the coats develop and mature later in the year, farmers are harvesting the pelts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: A Major Role in Homer’s Habitat

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Homer Alaska is surrounded by glacier mountains. I enjoy camping with my family, especially my extended family. It gives me a chance to spend time with my mom and dad. It also gives my parents a chance to spend time with the grand kids. A perfect family get away would be to rent a cabin in Homer Alaska. I enjoy wildlife and my family loves fishing. A cozy cabin at the base of a mountain is a wonderful retreat from the day to day hustle and bustle of every day life. Homer Alaska offers year round recreation. Homer Alaska also offers lake side cabins, which offer beautiful views. Another neat adventure in Homer Alaska is taking a air plane ride over the mountains and view the wild life from the air. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plays a major role in preserving endangered animals and fish. This will allow my children and their children to enjoy the natural beauty of Homer Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also offers educational services to teach visitors about Fish and Wildlife. If we have time I would enjoy viewing a sled dog adventure. This is just one of the outdoor adventures specific to Alaska.

Staying Safe in Homer

admin — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Staying safe in Homer is a bit different than in other parts of the world. Alaska isn’t exactly known for violent or property crimes and most people around here don’t even lock their doors at night! Aside from the traditional burglars, here are a few ways to keep yourself and your fellow Homer residents safe…
Animals – In Homer, home security doesn’t just mean security systems – it means keeping the animals out! Bears, deer and even moose have been known to attack unsuspecting residents so make sure your yard and doors are fortified against wildlife. Electric fences and animal deterrents are great at keeping critters away as well.
Weather – A huge component of staying safe in Homer is keeping out of the weather, known to be treacherous at times. If your house is in an avalanche zone, invest in a beacon locator and if you’re prone to wildfires, be sure you’ve got fire insurance. Good gutters and a yard that drains are crucial to avoid flooding.
People – Like anywhere else, Homer does have occasional crime so use your best judgment to decide how safe you need to make your home. Sturdy locks and alarm systems are never a bad idea and it’s important to have neighbors who help keep an eye on your home.

The Blue Whale

admin — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Homer, Alaska is a small, remote area often called the end of the road. Located on the Kachemak Bay, even though Homer was split into two sections as a result of the earthquake of 1964, there are things to do and see guaranteed to delight visitors of all ages.

A bush plane trip to Katmai gives visitors fantastic opportunities to see grizzly bears in a special sanctuary set aside for their protection Bears of all sizes and ages can be seen playing, fishing and mingling with their mothers and other cubs.

At Pratt Museum, there is a special exhibit of pictures taken during the Exon-Valdez oil spill. Other exhibits afford visitors the opportunity to learn what life was like for early Alaskans. Among the exhibits are skeletons of a Bering Sea Whale, a sea lion and other large creatures native to Alaska. One section is devoted to the art of quilting with 2 quilts being made each year, one to be kept for viewing and the other to be sold at auction.

Another interesting place to visit is Kachemak State Park where visitors are treated to sightings of bears, puffins, seals, eagles, whales and porpoises along its 10 mile shoreline.

Getting to Know the Walrus

admin — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Walrus is a circumpolar creature who makes him home in the Arctic Ocean and the sub-arctic seas in the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living member of the Odobenidae family, as well as the only living member of the genus Odobenus. There are three varieties of walrus, the O. rosmarus laptevi from the Laptev, the Pacific walrus from the Pacific Ocean, and the and the Atlantic walrus from the Atlantic Ocean.

It is the Pacific walrus that is native to Alaska and holds a high position in native cultures. The walrus is crucial to not only the native diet, the walrus by-products are also crucial to authentic native handcrafted items. The walrus is protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Commercial hunting of this mammal is banned, but private hunting is not.

The walrus is a pinniped, meaning it is a wing, or fin-footed carnivore, who feeds predominantly on clams, mussels. The Pacific Walrus is the largest of the walrus family and both the male and female are equipped with tusks that can measure from two and a half to three feet in length. The Pacific walrus main habitats are along the continental shelf waters of the Chukchi and Bering Seas.

Fun Facts About the Sea Otter

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Sea otters are members of the weasel family. Most people think of weasels as a nuisance, but when thinking of sea otters the opposite is true. How could these cute creatures be a nuisance. There are many interesting and fun facts about the sea otter.

- The sea otter has the densest fur of any animal on earth — over 600,000 hairs in a square inch. They do not use blubber to stay warm like other mammals do, but rather rely on their fur. Their fur also contains oil that makes them somewhat waterproof, and it traps air bubbles between their skin and the fur, which helps them stay warm.

- There are two distinct groups of sea otters in North America; there are the California sea otters and the Alaska sea otters.

- Sea Otters spend half of the hours during the day grooming themselves. They use their claws to comb through their fur. afterward they smooth their fur by rolling in the water.

- Sea otters do almost everything on their backs, from sleeping and swimming to resting. This is one of the major differences between California and Alaska sea otters: California otters stay in the water almost all the time, while Alaskan ones groom and sleep on land.

- Sea otters are one of the animals most vulnerable when there is an oil spill. If an otter swims through oil, their fur becomes no longer insulated. Eventually this allows water to penetrate their fur, causing them to freeze and die.

Sea otters are one of the cutest, sweetest, and most entertaining sea animals. Hopefully they will be around for a long time for everyone to enjoy.

Mt. Redoubt Volcano

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Do you love adventure and the accompanying adrenaline rush? Is standing one step away from imminent danger your idea of fun? Then we have a place for you. How about visiting an active volcano that has erupted five times during the 20th century?

Homer, http://www.homeralaska.org/visitHomer/index.htm, Alaska, has many fun and exciting activities to offer. Hikers love to roam the wild country side, whereas photographers love taking as many pictures as possible of all of the extravagant wildlife. There are countless outdoor activities to do in Homer, Alaska, but there is also plenty of shopping, fine dining, and hotels available to city folk who just want to get away – but not too far away.

Yes, Homer, Alaska, is home to some of the most amazing tourist attractions in the United States. Yet, all of those attractions pale in comparison to Homer’s main draw, Mt. Redoubt Volcano.

Mt. Redoubt Volcano recently started having small, erratic eruptions in 2009. Ash clouds streamed from the volcano over 60,000 feet upwards, causing air traffic to cease operations. Mt. Redoubt Volcano has not recently had a full eruption though, making Homer, Alaska, an exotic destination for tourists, young and old.

Come visit Mt. Redoubt Volcano and bring a camera!

Surfing in Homer?

mgeedey — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

We’ve written in the past that Homer is affectionately known as the “end of the road” because of its perfect combination of glaciers, sparkling water, wildlife abundance and amenities; but would the typical reader of a site about a great Alaskan city ever imagine there to be surfing involved?No, we’re not talking about channel surfing or internet surfing, we’re talking about Beach Boy Bona Fide surface water surfing like they do in California, Hawaii, and Australia where it’s a whole lot warmer.In an article written by Maddie Fuller of the Homer Tribune it was reported that even though it’s not uncommon to see board lovers enjoying Homer’s surf in the summer time, they were “still at it” in January.Local surfers Mike McCune, Don “Iceman” McNamara, Scott and Stephanie Dickerson and the group’s chef Donna Rae Faulkner are apparently in the midst of filming a documentary titled Alaska Sessions that will include some of the group’s surf sessions along with the larger story behind the many adventures getting to Homer to enjoy some ice water surfing.And in case you speculate that the surfing might be a ploy for press, these die hards committed themselves to a surf session on December 21, 2010 that included seven hours in the water. That’s serious, wouldn’t you agree?Dickerson comments that “where a lot of surf films are just focused on the surfing, ours is focused on the people too. We want to really show Alaskans engaging with their environment and the unique characters that make up the people here.”The documentary is set to air next year, but we wanted to warn you in the meantime should you be headed to Homer this winter — you just may encounter a surfer or two! Who would have ever thought?

Halibut is King in Homer

www.doingbusinessinhomer.com — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

When a lot of people think of Alaska they immediately think of King Salmon. But guess what? Homer is home to halibut and they’re pretty proud of it. And while salmon recipes abound, halibut recipes come in a little fewer and farther between. So, in the spirit of Homer’s claim to fame we include one of our favorite halibut recipes for you to enjoy Halibut with Perfect Peach Salsa. By marinating the fish in citrus juice it takes on a flavor that makes it five-star restaurant quality. Enjoy!Ingredients 1/3 cup orange or tangerine juice2 tablespoons canola oil2 tablespoons fresh lime juice1.5 tablespoons brown sugar2 teaspoons lime zest1 minced garlic clove teaspoon sea salt4 halibut steaks (approximately 6 ounces each)Directions

In a bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; mix well.
Remove 1/4 cup for basting; cover and refrigerate.
Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add the halibut.
Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours.
If grilling the fish, coat grill racks with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill.
Drain and discard marinade from fish.
Grill, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork, basting occasionally with reserved marinade.
Serve with peach salsa (recipe follows).

Peach Salsa 2 cups fresh or frozen peaches chopped cup chopped sweet red pepper cup chopped red onion cup chopped jalapeno pepper