Barrow, Alaska--From Nome we traveled back to Anchorage before heading to the most northern part of North America, Barrow.  Barrow is an isolated Inupiat village that can only be reached by plane,over an ice highway in winter.  Many there live on subsistence hunting.  They pride themselves in their ability to hunt bow head whales, which they do every year.  I must say I admire them because they truly risk their lives the this pursuit.  Their whaling boats are made of skins and they are manned by a five man crew.

To be selected to serve as a crew member is a high honor within the community.  When they are successful in their hunt, most of the villagers turn out to help with the large task of cutting up and transporting the catch across the massive ice pack to the shore.  Later the village will be invited to a pot latch celebration and dinner.  

The village is a very poor one as can be evidenced by the poor housing in which they live. Only in recent times have they had the luxury of natural gas to heat their homes.  There are several wells in the area which provide this much need resource.  Since there are no trees of any kind, the highest living plant is grass that may reach to be a foot tall, you can understand their need for a source of heat. While we were there on June 10 it was in the mid thirties and it snowed as we were leaving.  I take no photos of the homes or living conditions as they do not was that done by outsiders.  But as you drive through the neighborhood's you are struck by the abandoned vehicles, trash and other items laying about.  

For birders this far north community offers the opportunity to enjoy some very colorful species, specifically king, spectacle and Steller's eiders.  Fortunately on this trip we got them all.  Here are some pictures.

Top: King Eider, Middle, Spectacle Eider, Bottom. Steller's Eider

In addition to these beauties, we are also able to get very close views of red phalarope, enjoy the display of both pectoral sandpiper and dunlin which are very interesting to watch.  The sandpiper puffs out his chest feathers and using a rapid flutter of his wing as he sails just above the ground to attract his mate.  Not to be out done, the dunlin flies high up in the air and then begins a rapid fluttering decent.  I always enjoy these displays.  In this community there are only twelve miles of road which be driven by traditional vehicles.  To go off into the tundra you will need a special permit and a four wheeler, something I have yet to experience.  

There is also a possibility of a polar bear which in winter are known to wander into town.  In hopes of keeping them out of their community the locals place the whale and other hunting remains out side of town on the ice pack, thus encouraging them not to invade their space.

Let me conclude this with three other favorites the red-necked phalarope, long-tailed duck (which used to be called Oldsquaw before political correctness) and snowy owl which are specialties of the area.