They say the weather in Unalaska is harsh.
They say we live in the "cradle of the storms." That we may not live at the very end of the world, but you can see it from here.
We have appropriated a lot of pithy sayings and cliches to describe the ever-changing wild weather and we toss them around to our friends and family down south and to the island's newcomers whenever we can:
"If you don't like the weather now, wait a few minutes and see what happens."
"It was raining (or snowing) sideways."
"In any other part of the country, the storms we have would be given names (as in hurricanes)."
We say such things as grumbling complaints, but they barely conceal a blustery pride that says "That's right. It ain't easy, but I'm tough and I can take it. What kind of wimpy, everyday existence have you got going?"
It's all true, of course, and I would be the last to deny any of it.
But don't tell that to the ducks. They don't believe it for a minute.
Starting in October, they begin to arrive in the Aleutians and Unalaska, coming from faraway places like Point Barrow, Alaska, unmapped Siberian marshes, North Slope bird towns, and nameless ice floes in the Arctic Sea. They include harlequins, cormorants, emperor geese, thick-billed murres, goldeneye ducks, common eiders and black oystercatchers, among others.
When Makenzie Bay freezes over, and the Yukon is getting seriously cold, it's time to fly away and find a more friendly place. Like Dutch Harbor.
Our ice-free, fish-laden, deep-water bays are just the ticket for the ducks and migrating birds from way up north who think we live in a paradise on earth. They have never found any reason to search any further for a pleasant place to winter.
So the next time you're about to speak about the hellish weather, think about the ducks.
They're in heaven.
Rich
8 comments:
GREAT bird photos! I've tried a dozen times to get a decent photo of the shy Harlequin ducks but I think they have a highly developed sense of survival and quickly move away.
Would it be okay if I linked to your blog in my Aleutian Island Blog section? Great work - Steve
Funny thing, but I was reading that and thinking "wow, this sounds like Rich." :) You have such a way with words, Rich, and the photos are indeed beautiful as always. It actually makes me miss St.Paul, where it DID rain sideways--well, at least the wind blew it sideways. LOL If my class to Unalaska does not make for the summer, Rando and I are going for the cruise!
Thanks, Steve. Most of the photos throughout the blog are Rich's and he will write a post of his own once in awhile. Feel free to link the blog if you think your readers will enjoy it. If you go back very far, the politics are probably a little contrary to the folks I've noticed on yours. :) So it's up to you if you want to open that can of worms. LOL
Susan, I say Unalaska AND a cruise! Hope the class will make and maybe you and Rando can get out on the ocean as well. Yeah, Rich should do his own blog, huh? I can't convince him, though.
I try to make everyone welcome, regardless of politics - heck, I don't agree completely with several of them myself! I just like that we have a little blogging family out here; I love it here and always enjoy reading thoughts from others that do as well, and I enjoy seeing everyone's pictures of the island. Tell our husband he has a great eye - cheers, steve
Love the pictures. You sure have some great shots! You should submit them to the Audubon Society. And, you can keep that colder weather....... .
P.S. I didn't know all of that about ducks!
Love it! The pictures are amazing!
The pictures are amazing! You certainly got some good shots.
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