Kachemak Currents

Puffins

Puffins belong to the Alcid family, and there are two species of puffins in Kachemak Bay, Horned and Tufted

Steller's Six

Georg Steller was the first to publish descriptions of at least six species found in Alaska, including the extinct Steller's Sea Cow

Hoarfrost

Hoarfrost is frozen water vapor, forming on cold, calm nights, changing from a gas to solid ice, skipping the aqueous state entirely

Rock Sandpipers

Rock Sandpipers are a small bird that have adapted to withstand Homer Alaska's challenging winter

Grouse

The grouse is in the same bird family as the turkey

Lynx and Snowshoe Hares

Winter Weather So Far

Cloud-cover, snowfall, elevation, and Kachemak Bay

Ptarmigan

The Kenai Mountains host all three Ptarmigan species year-round

Lichens

Lichens can be found in almost every biome on the planet, including some of the most extreme

Insects in Winter

Shelter and rest allow insects to survive until Spring

Pacific Sleeper Sharks

The Pacific Sleeper Shark is one of the largest predators in the ocean, and may grow up to 25 feet long

Sea Star Wasting Syndrome

The Sunflower Sea Star has seen a 90% decline in its range since the mid 2010s

Chickadees in Alaska

There are four species of chickadee in Alaska

Fungi

The largest organism in Alaska is probably a fungus

The Aurora Borealis

Also known as the 'northern lights,' the aurora can appear as curtain-, arc-, or wave-like formations

Clouds

The nature and formation of clouds depends on wind, temperature, and moisture

Leaf Litter

The layer of fallen leaves, called the litter horizon by scientists, is a dynamic environment

Moose Mating Season

The Common Murre

The Common Murre is a common seabird in Alaska, but the population has fallen

European Green Crabs

The European Green Crab is a growing threat to local crab stocks