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Observations

An Egret on the Alaska Peninsula
An unusual visitor showed up in King Cove in late November. Shankell Mack was able to get a picture. The great egret is rare sighting anywhere in Alaska.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States

Code red issued, alert warning raised due to latest Shishaldin Volcano eruption
An explosive eruption Friday at Shishaldin Volcano on the Aleutian Chain raised renewed unrest, resulting in a higher level of warning status by the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
False Pass, Alaska, United States

Cold Bay still on bottled drinking water, 10 months after the wells tested high for 'forever chemicals'
About a year ago, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation tested Cold Bay’s water wells for PFAS, and the results came back well above the levels recommended for human consumption. Cold Bay closed the wells for drinking when the test results came back, and the Eastern Aleutian community has relied on state-provided bottled water ever since.
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Dead whale by King Cove
There was a dead whale out in the bay by King Cove. Then couple locals pulled the whale into town.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Possible Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Sighting
This bird is a juvenile Great Blue Heron. It is rare sighting of heron outside of its normal range which extends into Southeast but not Southwest Alaska.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Floating by Moller Point
Between 2015 and 2020, two Unusual Mortality Events have been declared for wales along the western coast of British Colombia and the United States, indicating the possibility of a disturbance to the marine ecosystem.
King Cove Alaska

7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes King Cove
"I got under my kitchen table and it was very violent and loud and lasted quite a while. The tsunami sirens started right after it stopped."
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Dead Seal On The Beach
King Cove Alaska

Shishaldin Volcano eruption raises alert level to red
Shishaldin Volcano is spewing ash up to 27,000 feet in sky, leading to flight cancelations.
Shishaldin Volcano
KTUU

Aleutian island volcano again sends ash cloud nearly 5 miles high
Shishaldin Volcano also erupted last month, sending ash over the Bering Sea.
Mount Shishaldin, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Lake Change in Sanak
Most of the dry lakes and streams were on the south side of the island. I am thinking this is one of many lakes that cattle use for drinking.
Sanak Island

Flooding from Heavy Rain
Strong southerly winds brought moisture from the central Pacific in to the King Cove area. The FAA weather station at the King Cove airport recorded 4.93" of rain from the early morning of June 25 through the early morning of June 28, and half of that total (2.49") fell in 12 hours from late evening on the 26th to late morning on the 27th, and resulted in flooding.

Sea Star Wasting Disease
Sea star wasting disease (SSWD) observed near King Cove
Melissa Good, Ginger Bear, Amy Holman, Bruce Wright, Melissa Miner, Karen Pletnikoff

Booming Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Population
"It’s a bit because people are feeding them, and they’re getting into the dumpster now too. But I’ve never seen them like this before."

Second Day of Spring
Weather is relatively consistent around this time of year, but this season, storms have come in quickly.

Shrimp Found While Collecting Badarkies
I have never found live shrimp before in King Cove while subsisting for Chiton's not sure if it is unusual or significant.

King Cove closer to goal of 100 percent renewable energy
A small eastern Aleutian community is now getting nearly all of its energy from renewable sources. With a second hydro facility that began producing power late this spring, the city of King Cove has dramatically reduced its dependence on diesel.
Alaska Public Media
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Abundant Year for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)!
The creeks were so full - I bet the oxygen levels weren't so good for them though.

Weather is Confused!
It's still snowing in early May.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States

Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with Sores/Deformities?
Several bald eagles were observed with sores around their eyes and bills.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States

Abundance of "Oyster Pickers" Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani)
"I learned from a community member that they haven't seen these type of birds here within town, they usually see them on the islands that surround our cove. With the warming temps. people have noticed more and more different types of birds showing up in our community."

Dead Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella)
Dead Crested auklet observed near the southwest end of the Alaska Peninsula.
Kathy Kuletz, Dorothea Berntsen, Julia Parrish

Early Growth Of Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis - Highbush)
Early Growth of Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis - Highbush)

Volcano Spewing Ash and Lava
Pavlov Volcano provides spring show and showers
Mount Pavolf, Alaska, United States

Dandelions (Taraxacum) in Bloom
First dandelions of spring

Thunder & Lightning
Unusual weather event; thunderstorm and fluctuating temperatures

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
A dead juvenile female humpback whale near Dolgoi Island

Dead Birds - Seagulls, Puffins, Murres
Dead seagulls, puffins, murres

Dead Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
Dead gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) reported off the Alaska Peninsula
Kate Wynne, Lauren Divine, Cosette Nielsen

Urban Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)
5/2/15 Urban Canada goose - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

Late Snow
4/20.15 Late snow - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Lightning and thunder
4/20/14 Thunder and lightening - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

February Bees
We have bees in February
Arlene Gunderson, Amy Mack, Ian Williams

Abundant Mossberries (Empetrum nigrum)
A great year for harvesting mossberries.
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States

Abundant Bees and Berries
7-14-14 Abundant bees & berries - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Pavlof Volcano Eruption
6-2-14 Mt Pavlov volcano eruption - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Unusually Cold and Snow
5-30-14 Unusually cold and snow - King Cove, Alaska, USA

High PSP Levels in Clams
4-30-14 High PSP levels in clams - King Cove, Alaska, USA

High PSP Levels in Clams
High PSP levels in clams near the end of the Aleutian Peninsula, Alaska.

High PSP levels in clams
11-7-13 High PSP levels in clams - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, Unites States

Pacific sleeper shark
6-20-12 Pacific sleeper shark - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

Wolves and Bear around the Dump
Wolves and bears rummaging around the dump.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Brown marmorated stink bug
Corlene Rose, Honey Lou Wilson, Mike Rasy

Earthquake swarm signals unrest at volcano in Alaska’s western Aleutian Islands
It’s not clear whether the unrest will lead to an eruption at Tanaga Volcano, which is located on an uninhabited island about 65 miles from Adak.
Anchorage Daily News

Shishaldin Volcano spews new ash cloud, prompting aviation warnings
“Significant ash emissions” were possible for several hours following the unrest on Shishaldin Volcano in the Aleutians, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Mt. Shishaldin
Anchorage Daily News

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