*Like a heatwave (heatwave) Burning in my heart (heatwave) Can't keep from cryin' (heatwave) It's tearing me apart
Ooooooooooooooooo aaaaaaah heatwave….
Sometimes I stare in space Tears all over my face I can't explain it, don't understand it I ain't never felt like this before Thanks Shonen Knife*
Yesterday was another beautiful day in Alaska. I mean absolutely a gorgeous day to be alive, to be in the tundra and to search for birds.
We had to number and pack the temperature sensors in viles. We then placed them in Gill Shields.
We went to the site and at each one of our plots we placed the temperature sensors.
Temperature Sensors are actually tiny things a little bigger and thicker than a dime, like a battery that some cameras use. They are set to record the temperature every 20 minutes for 62 days. Technology is amazing. We put them in a film vile and then put them in a contraption called a gill shield. I think it got its name because it looks like gills! They are placed in this contraption so that they will not get direct sunlight.
Paulo is planting temperature sensors on the site very near the plot.
As we put them into the water near the plots we also set the OTC’s, open top chambers in place. They will warm the area. We could already feel the warmth after a short while. These will allow us to see how the plants would be if the earth was about 5 F warmer.
I tried riding the bike today at the site and it was a little challenging. I am not sure if I will be riding much yet or not. TBA!
My bike riding skills were slightly challenged on the path. It's a little nerve altering!
Arctic Mirages
We noticed these at the site today too and see them a lot on these clear pretty days. It looks like there is dancing ice in the distance. Crazy but nothing is really there.
This phenomenon occurs when light goes through air at different temperatures, it bends or refracts. The ground temp and air temp have to be different for this to happen. We always have some sort of changes in temperature, but to see a mirage the changes have to be steep.
Can you see the mirages? They look like large dancing, ice creatures. Due to difference in temperature between air and ground.
For the bird of the day – tough pick. I saw so many birds today, my head is spinning. We went on a mad hunt for this misplaced, misguided Ruff. We found him and he will come later. We saw Pintail ducks, White Necked geese, Tundra Swans, Common and King Eiders and Northern Shovelers and more. But the one who holds the place today is….
Bird of the Day
in flight - part 2
Just gorgeous. Breathe taking. See photo gallery for more!
Today, was awesome and somewhat taxing. We started working tody. It was good and I will write about it on Saturday - after my long sleep!
Have a birdy day from the Top of the World.