Male Purple FinchOn this day of drizzle, birds outside the window are wet, as you can see on this male and especially the female purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus). Actually male purple finches look pink or red to me. Some names are like that, but people learn the names, and others know which bird they mean, so it all works out.
We have the video now for Judy Thon’s and Sharon Herrell’s podcast this past Thursday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwtq5aGUmkU.
Female Purple FinchIn Alaska, many people didn’t want the mother and yearlings euthanized. The governor agreed. He instructed that they be moved to another area. That’s better than the alternative, but here in Eagles Nest Community where bears have been fed for 50 years it is seldom necessary to move bears away. The only one we know of since we’ve been here is Solo and her cubs that the DNR put into captivity on January 14, 2007, and we vehemently disagree that it was necessary. It generally works out better to learn to live with the bear you have. Moving it or killing just makes room for another bear to move in and take advantage of the same garbage or bird feeders that brought the first one. In Eagles Nest Community, residents chose to live with the bears they have. They set up feeding stations where the bears are welcome. The bears go there rather than going house to house. The bears get used to people and aren’t defensive toward them. The people enjoy seeing the bears.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.