Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Ikatan Village: 1917- early 1960's
Prior to the 19th century Ikatan Peninsula was still an island. At low tide people could walk from the there to Unimak. "The neck or strait was estimated to be no more than 1400 feet wide. In the 18th century, walrus hauled out there and puffins were abundant."
About a month ago Bob and I anchored the skiff on the shore of Ikatan Peninsula to explore the village. To get a better idea of where we were, look back to "The First Few Days..." post and find the map. You will see abandoned cannery written near the shoreline of the southern peninsula. This is the village of Ikatan. We toured around the structures in various stages of collapse. Later we read more about the village's history.
We did not find any writings about Ikatan prior to the establishment of it's canneries in 1917. So whether people were living there before the cannery, we do not know. The canneries where relatively large-scale. "One cannery occupied 160 acres near the flats linking the Ikatan Peninsula to Unimak Island. It processed cod as well as salmon and included a by-products plant manufacturing fish oil and meal." For reasons, we have not yet found, the Ikatan canneries closed down between 1931-1935. When the canneries shut their doors some people relocated to False Pass, where another cannery was still in operation. Many residents of Ikatan village stayed on the peninsula. From 1949 until 1956 a Territorial school was open, but by the early 1960's the community had dissolved. People had relocated to neighboring villages in search of economic opportunity.
A section of the canneries
Friday, November 9, 2007
El Zorro
Vulpes vulpes
The red fox is native to a few islands within the Aleutians, mainly in the eastern part. In 1759, Russians found them on Unmak Island (not Unimak) and began introducing them to other islands, keeping red, silver, and cross phases seperate. The Russians enjoyed a successful fox fur trapping industry, to go along with their otter fur harvests. After the Americans took control of Alaska in 1867, the farming and trapping of fox declined, due mainly to a lack of interest, that is until they decimated the sea otter populations (1880's) and otters became practically impossible to find. So what to do? Start hunting fox again (and add fox farming). For several reasons, the hunting, trapping and farming of fox died out in the 1930's. Then came the interruption of WWII, the Japanese invasion, and the forced evacuation then re-settlement of the Aleut people. The industry did not pick up. Many of the relocated fox died leaving some islands naturally devoid of them. Others hung by on eating ground mammals and birds. Several bird species have subsequently gained protected status and USFWS has taken lethal steps to protect these birds from the fox. Comments anyone? The fox population on Unimak Island, across from us, was hit hard in 1992 after a rabies epidemic contracted initially by land (river) otters. We aren't sure if foxes on this side of the pass were affected, but since land otter's carried the virus, and they like to swim, it seems likely.
"The red fox has several natural enemies: man (principally as trappers), wolves, coyotes, lynx, wolverines, and perhaps bears. Eagles are the major predators of young foxes in some areas. Sometimes foxes dig their own dens. More often, though, they appropriate and enlarge the homesites of small burrowing animals, such as marmots. They also will use abandoned wolf dens. Conversely, wolves may enlarge and use a fox's den.Foxes cache excess food when the hunting is good. They return to these storage sites and have been observed digging up a cache, inspecting it, and reburying it in the same spot. Apparently, they want to be sure that their food is still there." - AK Department of Fish and Game
This fox, and we've only seen one, lives somewhere nearby. We've seen him (a dog) or her (a vixen) a few times, up in the tundra, down on the beach, streaking past the windows at dusk. This feller could have rabies. It usually caries itself with its jaw dropped at a 90 degree angle, very strange looking. It could be a sign of heavy panting.
The red fox is native to a few islands within the Aleutians, mainly in the eastern part. In 1759, Russians found them on Unmak Island (not Unimak) and began introducing them to other islands, keeping red, silver, and cross phases seperate. The Russians enjoyed a successful fox fur trapping industry, to go along with their otter fur harvests. After the Americans took control of Alaska in 1867, the farming and trapping of fox declined, due mainly to a lack of interest, that is until they decimated the sea otter populations (1880's) and otters became practically impossible to find. So what to do? Start hunting fox again (and add fox farming). For several reasons, the hunting, trapping and farming of fox died out in the 1930's. Then came the interruption of WWII, the Japanese invasion, and the forced evacuation then re-settlement of the Aleut people. The industry did not pick up. Many of the relocated fox died leaving some islands naturally devoid of them. Others hung by on eating ground mammals and birds. Several bird species have subsequently gained protected status and USFWS has taken lethal steps to protect these birds from the fox. Comments anyone? The fox population on Unimak Island, across from us, was hit hard in 1992 after a rabies epidemic contracted initially by land (river) otters. We aren't sure if foxes on this side of the pass were affected, but since land otter's carried the virus, and they like to swim, it seems likely.
"The red fox has several natural enemies: man (principally as trappers), wolves, coyotes, lynx, wolverines, and perhaps bears. Eagles are the major predators of young foxes in some areas. Sometimes foxes dig their own dens. More often, though, they appropriate and enlarge the homesites of small burrowing animals, such as marmots. They also will use abandoned wolf dens. Conversely, wolves may enlarge and use a fox's den.Foxes cache excess food when the hunting is good. They return to these storage sites and have been observed digging up a cache, inspecting it, and reburying it in the same spot. Apparently, they want to be sure that their food is still there." - AK Department of Fish and Game
This fox, and we've only seen one, lives somewhere nearby. We've seen him (a dog) or her (a vixen) a few times, up in the tundra, down on the beach, streaking past the windows at dusk. This feller could have rabies. It usually caries itself with its jaw dropped at a 90 degree angle, very strange looking. It could be a sign of heavy panting.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Birds pt 2
Rock sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis). The northernmost of sandpipers.
Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus).
Harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). These birds are in front of the homestead every day and can spend the whole year in the Aleutians. They feed mainly on crustaceans and shellfish.
Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus).
Harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). These birds are in front of the homestead every day and can spend the whole year in the Aleutians. They feed mainly on crustaceans and shellfish.
Birds pt 1
Horned puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) flying over the pass in late September.
A common murre (Uria aalge) in Ikatan Bay. The murre and many other alcids lives here year-round.
Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) are also a year round residents. They are usually alone and spend their time on the beach near rocks and along the tundra in thickets. Those born in the Aleutians are 25% larger than their brethren.
Like other alcids, the horned puffin uses it's wings to swim underwater. These guys chase down or intercept fish for the majority of their caloric intake. We last saw them 3-4 weeks ago. They head offshore for the winter.
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I like the description we read of their wings: "plank-like." These are 'immature' birds, atleast they don't yet have the dark body and white head feathers of 'adults.' Because these have yellow beaks, we know they're at least two-year olds. During their forth year molting occurs. Their mottled-look, white and brown feathers growing amongst each other, is replaced by the more familiar two-toned look.
There are more bald eagles in Alaska than in the rest of the U.S. The diet of those in the Aleutians consists predominantly of seabird, unlike in other locations, where fish make up the dominant chow.
A common murre (Uria aalge) in Ikatan Bay. The murre and many other alcids lives here year-round.
Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) are also a year round residents. They are usually alone and spend their time on the beach near rocks and along the tundra in thickets. Those born in the Aleutians are 25% larger than their brethren.
Like other alcids, the horned puffin uses it's wings to swim underwater. These guys chase down or intercept fish for the majority of their caloric intake. We last saw them 3-4 weeks ago. They head offshore for the winter.
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I like the description we read of their wings: "plank-like." These are 'immature' birds, atleast they don't yet have the dark body and white head feathers of 'adults.' Because these have yellow beaks, we know they're at least two-year olds. During their forth year molting occurs. Their mottled-look, white and brown feathers growing amongst each other, is replaced by the more familiar two-toned look.
There are more bald eagles in Alaska than in the rest of the U.S. The diet of those in the Aleutians consists predominantly of seabird, unlike in other locations, where fish make up the dominant chow.
Friday, November 2, 2007
A day in the life of Inde...
Inde is our constant companion. She believes, I see it in her eyes, that she is one of us.
The greenhouse makes her slightly uncomfortable. She will only enter briefly to check in on us and inspect our progress. She has a soft heart, perhaps the killing of slugs is too much for her.
Typical. Inde has no mind for small tasks. She does however, love the feel of the tundra beneath her.
That is one blissful dog.
This is the spot where Inde spies her "tag you're it" friend the fox. I think she is on the lookout. He hasn't come around much since he made the mistake of visiting during Inde's meal time. She has no patience for that and told him so.
Those of you who know Inde, know this pose only too well. It usually follows any slight touch.
The kitchen is her boundary in the house. She has tried to push this but we remain firm even when she gives us those eyes.
Inde is having a blast here in Alaska. Besides encountering the fox, she has met all kinds of new animals. Last week a caribou, from a distance. Yesterday on a walk she was heading out in the water to chase birds, and a seal popped half way out of the water a few feet from her. The seal was looking for some play perhaps but Inde was too focused on those harlequin ducks to pay the seal any mind. This interest in birds is newly found. Previously, Inde would only concern herself with squirrels, rabbits and the like. About a week ago she "discovered" the birds and now she has a new obsession.
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