Predators and Prey — Adam Eichenwald

Pretend for a moment that you’re a seal. You’re swimming along, minding your own business, when you hear a killer whale vocalizing nearby. Killer whales eat seals like you! So what do you do? You swim away as fast as you can, right? You’d be right, normally. But there’s something more: killer whales don’t always Read more about Predators and Prey — Adam Eichenwald[…]

Finding Errors in Data — Adam Eichenwald

The coolest part of science is when we make mistakes. Seems counterintuitive, right? Why would a mistake be the cool part of science? The thing is, science is designed to catch mistakes. First, “cool” data is automatically suspect. We go over it a million times before ever attempting to publish it, ironing out everything and Read more about Finding Errors in Data — Adam Eichenwald[…]

Wind and the Landscape of Fear — Adam Eichenwald

So I ran into a problem. If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I’m looking into gyrfalcon predation of ptarmigan in Alaska. So far, my data successfully shows that ptarmigan are avoiding locations where gyrfalcons are densely packed – which makes sense; you wouldn’t beeline to set up camp in a lion’s den. Read more about Wind and the Landscape of Fear — Adam Eichenwald[…]

Return to Civilization – Adam Eichenwald

So I’m finally back from Alaska. It’s great to be back home, and I’m enjoying having the use of indoor plumbing. It’s very strange what you miss – I loathe doing dishes, but it’s nice to finally have running water available for cleaning plates. I’m pretty pleased with the way my summer research turned out. Read more about Return to Civilization – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Nome FM – Adam Eichenwald

Nome’s only radio station has ruined other variety stations for me. I mean, in the span of 15 minutes this one small station pumps out a current pop hit, follows up with some Rolling Stones, moves to the top 5 songs from 1957, and finishes up the time slot with an elderly man telling an Read more about Nome FM – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Alaska is Big….Really Big – Adam Eichenwald

Alaska is big. Very big. You won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the pharmacist, but that’s just peanuts to Alaska. (Man, the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy really hits it on the nose when it comes to attempts to Read more about Alaska is Big….Really Big – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Gyrfalcon Attacks Helicopter! – Adam Eichenwald

Remember how I said a few posts ago that you don’t want to mess with a female gyrfalcon? Yeah, well one of the female falcons here is absolutely psychotic. When the Peregrine Fund field technicians were doing an aerial survey, she actually flew out and dive-bombed the helicopter. They had to do some quick aerial Read more about Gyrfalcon Attacks Helicopter! – Adam Eichenwald[…]

The Batman Effect – Adam Eichenwald

Fun fact: a gyrfalcon flying at 200 mph hits HARD. Plus, it likes to pluck the feathers from birds it kills. So in the spots where a gyrfalcon has attacked, it looks like a bird exploded. Exhibit A: this picture of me taking a GPS point at what I will now refer to as a Read more about The Batman Effect – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Fox Time – Adam Eichenwald

I interrupt my own blog posts to bring you this special news bulletin: yesterday I made a fox poop itself in fear. I was collecting data near a dirt road and watched, bemused, as a red fox came jogging up the path toward me. I had my camera and started snapping pictures. “Wow, it’s so Read more about Fox Time – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Midnight Musings in the Land of the Midnight Sun – Adam Eichenwald

So I’ve been trying to think of a way to start these posts off, like a signature of some kind. Considered doing a different variation of “hello from the edge!” every time, but that would probably get old quickly. Guess I’ll just have to come up with a new gimmick. Maybe next time I’ll just Read more about Midnight Musings in the Land of the Midnight Sun – Adam Eichenwald[…]

The edge of the world – Adam Eichenwald

Hello from the edge! After a wonderful marathon of sleep, I am finally set up at base camp in Alaska and working out the kinks in my research. I’m incredibly far up north, to the point where the sun doesn’t set until after 11pm and gets up around 6am – and this is months before Read more about The edge of the world – Adam Eichenwald[…]

Alaska Bound – Adam Eichenwald

I’m sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for my next flight, which is in 6 hours. It’s late, I’m sleep deprived, and frankly a little bored. So I figured I’d start working on my small section of the Internet to scribble the vague thoughts that pop into my head, discuss what it’s like to perform Read more about Alaska Bound – Adam Eichenwald[…]