Declan Troy
@troydeclan.bsky.social
Alaska based biologist and photographer.
Harbor seals looking down as we pass by. I imagine they grabbed those choice sleeping spots at high tide. Chiswell Islands, Alaska Maritime NWR #Alaska 🦑🦊
September 18, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Harbor seals looking down as we pass by. I imagine they grabbed those choice sleeping spots at high tide. Chiswell Islands, Alaska Maritime NWR #Alaska 🦑🦊
Reposted by Declan Troy
Scientists find nine new sponge species in glimpse of Alaska’s deep-sea diversity www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Scientists find nine new sponge species in glimpse of Alaska’s deep-sea diversity
But their habitat is threatened by bottom trawling in the region and Trump’s plan to expand seafloor mining
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Scientists find nine new sponge species in glimpse of Alaska’s deep-sea diversity www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Marbled Murrelets never seem to be in sync with their molt. During my recent visit to Kenai Fjords NP they were in all sorts of plumages. This one is ready for winter. #Alaska 🪶🦑
September 17, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Marbled Murrelets never seem to be in sync with their molt. During my recent visit to Kenai Fjords NP they were in all sorts of plumages. This one is ready for winter. #Alaska 🪶🦑
#BirdsWithBerries is today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme; any bird captured with berries
A Berry For Desert, and the main course for that matter. Bohemian Waxwings are frequently the most common winter bird in Anchorage #Alaska, at least until the mountain ash runs out. 🪶
A Berry For Desert, and the main course for that matter. Bohemian Waxwings are frequently the most common winter bird in Anchorage #Alaska, at least until the mountain ash runs out. 🪶
September 16, 2026 at 3:48 PM
#BirdsWithBerries is today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme; any bird captured with berries
A Berry For Desert, and the main course for that matter. Bohemian Waxwings are frequently the most common winter bird in Anchorage #Alaska, at least until the mountain ash runs out. 🪶
A Berry For Desert, and the main course for that matter. Bohemian Waxwings are frequently the most common winter bird in Anchorage #Alaska, at least until the mountain ash runs out. 🪶
For today's #BirdOfTheDay ALT theme of #Finches
A Pine Grosbeak confident that there is food buried under the snow. There are already some grosbeaks in the area so perhaps they will brighten up the landscape this winter. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
A Pine Grosbeak confident that there is food buried under the snow. There are already some grosbeaks in the area so perhaps they will brighten up the landscape this winter. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
September 15, 2026 at 3:19 PM
For today's #BirdOfTheDay ALT theme of #Finches
A Pine Grosbeak confident that there is food buried under the snow. There are already some grosbeaks in the area so perhaps they will brighten up the landscape this winter. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
A Pine Grosbeak confident that there is food buried under the snow. There are already some grosbeaks in the area so perhaps they will brighten up the landscape this winter. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
Reposted by Declan Troy
The armadillos are in Ohio. Traditionally found in warm climates, like the American Southwest, the creatures have been migrating farther and farther north, researchers say.
An Armadillo Arrives in … Ohio?
Traditionally found in warm climates, like the American Southwest, armadillos have been migrating farther and farther north, researchers say.
nyti.ms
September 14, 2026 at 7:40 PM
The armadillos are in Ohio. Traditionally found in warm climates, like the American Southwest, the creatures have been migrating farther and farther north, researchers say.
Reposted by Declan Troy
Godwits make the longest non-stop migration in the bird world. That might be the least of the shorebirds’ marvels. Can they survive a changing planet? www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The Incredible Journey of a Migratory Shorebird
Godwits make the longest non-stop migration in the bird world. That might be the least of the shorebirds’ marvels. Can they survive a changing planet?
www.newyorker.com
September 14, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Godwits make the longest non-stop migration in the bird world. That might be the least of the shorebirds’ marvels. Can they survive a changing planet? www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from Rob is #Mamas&Papas, male & female of the same species in the same photo.
A pair of Northern Shovelers out to diner in the meltwater on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge #Alaska 🪶
A pair of Northern Shovelers out to diner in the meltwater on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge #Alaska 🪶
September 14, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from Rob is #Mamas&Papas, male & female of the same species in the same photo.
A pair of Northern Shovelers out to diner in the meltwater on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge #Alaska 🪶
A pair of Northern Shovelers out to diner in the meltwater on the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge #Alaska 🪶
There are several striking looking gulls but don't rush to decide on your favorite if you haven't seen a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake. Quite a few of the 2026 edition exploring the seas along Kenai Fjord NP #Alaska #BirdsSeenIn2026 🪶🦑
September 13, 2026 at 3:08 PM
There are several striking looking gulls but don't rush to decide on your favorite if you haven't seen a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake. Quite a few of the 2026 edition exploring the seas along Kenai Fjord NP #Alaska #BirdsSeenIn2026 🪶🦑
Earlier this month I spent a few day puttering around Kenai Fjords NP #Alaska. Puffins everywhere, some finishing nesting duties, others just hanging out. These Horned Puffins were contemplating whey the people were on the water and they were on a cliff. 🪶🦑
September 12, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Earlier this month I spent a few day puttering around Kenai Fjords NP #Alaska. Puffins everywhere, some finishing nesting duties, others just hanging out. These Horned Puffins were contemplating whey the people were on the water and they were on a cliff. 🪶🦑
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is:
#Mouthful; any bird with anything in its beak
This White-winged Crossbill has a mouthful (and a footful) as it tackles a fallen spruce cone at Girdwood #Alaska 🪶
#Mouthful; any bird with anything in its beak
This White-winged Crossbill has a mouthful (and a footful) as it tackles a fallen spruce cone at Girdwood #Alaska 🪶
September 11, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is:
#Mouthful; any bird with anything in its beak
This White-winged Crossbill has a mouthful (and a footful) as it tackles a fallen spruce cone at Girdwood #Alaska 🪶
#Mouthful; any bird with anything in its beak
This White-winged Crossbill has a mouthful (and a footful) as it tackles a fallen spruce cone at Girdwood #Alaska 🪶
Time and tide wait for no shorebird. Two American Golden Plovers about to get wet feet as their little island goes underwater. Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge #Alaska #BirdsSeenIn2026 🪶🦑
September 10, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Time and tide wait for no shorebird. Two American Golden Plovers about to get wet feet as their little island goes underwater. Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge #Alaska #BirdsSeenIn2026 🪶🦑
Reposted by Declan Troy
Reposted by Declan Troy
Around 6 million years ago, the Pacific plate rotated about 10 degrees clockwise. That shift changed the pressure along the plate boundary, and according to a recent study, it helped pop up the Aleutian Islands.
A shift in the Pacific Plate lifted the Aleutians 7 million years ago, study finds
Many of the Aleutian Islands rose at the same time, 5 to 7 million years ago. It was part of a geological event that showed up across the Pacific Rim, according to a study published in June.
akpub.io
September 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Around 6 million years ago, the Pacific plate rotated about 10 degrees clockwise. That shift changed the pressure along the plate boundary, and according to a recent study, it helped pop up the Aleutian Islands.
I thought alder wasn't very palatable but no one told the moose around here that as I regularly see them chowing down on it. Time for the bulls to bulk up as they will be too busy during rut. Anchorage #Alaska 🦊
September 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
I thought alder wasn't very palatable but no one told the moose around here that as I regularly see them chowing down on it. Time for the bulls to bulk up as they will be too busy during rut. Anchorage #Alaska 🦊
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Herons&Egrets
Tricolored Heron chick. Looking good at Wakodahatchee Wetlands #Florida
Tricolored Heron chick. Looking good at Wakodahatchee Wetlands #Florida
September 7, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Herons&Egrets
Tricolored Heron chick. Looking good at Wakodahatchee Wetlands #Florida
Tricolored Heron chick. Looking good at Wakodahatchee Wetlands #Florida
Today's #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme is #SittingOnWater, any bird/duck/goose/swan sitting on water.
Not many pigeons up here so I'll go with the alternate theme. Black Scoter: Back in those frenetic days when ducks & biologists were out enjoying the endless hours of summer sun. Yukon Delta NWR #Alaska 🪶
Not many pigeons up here so I'll go with the alternate theme. Black Scoter: Back in those frenetic days when ducks & biologists were out enjoying the endless hours of summer sun. Yukon Delta NWR #Alaska 🪶
September 6, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Today's #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme is #SittingOnWater, any bird/duck/goose/swan sitting on water.
Not many pigeons up here so I'll go with the alternate theme. Black Scoter: Back in those frenetic days when ducks & biologists were out enjoying the endless hours of summer sun. Yukon Delta NWR #Alaska 🪶
Not many pigeons up here so I'll go with the alternate theme. Black Scoter: Back in those frenetic days when ducks & biologists were out enjoying the endless hours of summer sun. Yukon Delta NWR #Alaska 🪶
Reposted by Declan Troy
Denali National Park visitors will once again be able to travel the entire length of the park’s only road, five years after a landslide closed it near the halfway point.
Bridge set to restore full Denali Park Road access after landslide damage, years of work
Denali National Park officials said visitors will once again be able to travel the park’s 92-mile road after the opening of a 475-foot bridge over the Pretty Rocks landslide area.
www.adn.com
September 4, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Denali National Park visitors will once again be able to travel the entire length of the park’s only road, five years after a landslide closed it near the halfway point.
Reposted by Declan Troy
A most successful excursion down Turnagain Arm includes seeing white sheep, white swans and white belugas while the wind isn't blowing 30+mph. I was 2/3 on my viewing yesterday. The swans were posing wonderfully for their golden hour portrait session. 10/10
September 4, 2026 at 11:56 PM
A most successful excursion down Turnagain Arm includes seeing white sheep, white swans and white belugas while the wind isn't blowing 30+mph. I was 2/3 on my viewing yesterday. The swans were posing wonderfully for their golden hour portrait session. 10/10
Reposted by Declan Troy
Check out the preprint of our new ancient DNA paper on the evolutionary history of the large, extinct Spectacled Cormorant and whether it was part of the North Pacific kelp-associated fauna www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
September 5, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Check out the preprint of our new ancient DNA paper on the evolutionary history of the large, extinct Spectacled Cormorant and whether it was part of the North Pacific kelp-associated fauna www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #InFlight, any bird in flight.
Whiskered Auklet: Off Adak Island. #Alaska Maritime NWR. Most often seen in flight going the wrong way! 🪶🦑
Whiskered Auklet: Off Adak Island. #Alaska Maritime NWR. Most often seen in flight going the wrong way! 🪶🦑
September 6, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #InFlight, any bird in flight.
Whiskered Auklet: Off Adak Island. #Alaska Maritime NWR. Most often seen in flight going the wrong way! 🪶🦑
Whiskered Auklet: Off Adak Island. #Alaska Maritime NWR. Most often seen in flight going the wrong way! 🪶🦑
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #Contrast; light birds against dark backgrounds or vice versa
Living in a place with lots of snow finding light backgrounds is a piece of cake. Here's a Great Gray Owl on patrol during a winter past. Hope some show up this year. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
Living in a place with lots of snow finding light backgrounds is a piece of cake. Here's a Great Gray Owl on patrol during a winter past. Hope some show up this year. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
September 3, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #Contrast; light birds against dark backgrounds or vice versa
Living in a place with lots of snow finding light backgrounds is a piece of cake. Here's a Great Gray Owl on patrol during a winter past. Hope some show up this year. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
Living in a place with lots of snow finding light backgrounds is a piece of cake. Here's a Great Gray Owl on patrol during a winter past. Hope some show up this year. Anchorage #Alaska 🪶
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ItsAllWhite, birds main colour is White.
The whitest of the ptarmigan. even the tail is white on the White-tailed Ptarmigan. Chugach State Park #Alaska 🪶
The whitest of the ptarmigan. even the tail is white on the White-tailed Ptarmigan. Chugach State Park #Alaska 🪶
September 2, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ItsAllWhite, birds main colour is White.
The whitest of the ptarmigan. even the tail is white on the White-tailed Ptarmigan. Chugach State Park #Alaska 🪶
The whitest of the ptarmigan. even the tail is white on the White-tailed Ptarmigan. Chugach State Park #Alaska 🪶
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #FlowerPower, any bird capture with a flower in view.
Fork-tailed Woodnymph: This beautiful hummingbird is widespread in tropical South America. I never saw them go to feeders but they did visit gardens with these purple flowers. Madre de Dios. #Peru 🪶
Fork-tailed Woodnymph: This beautiful hummingbird is widespread in tropical South America. I never saw them go to feeders but they did visit gardens with these purple flowers. Madre de Dios. #Peru 🪶
September 1, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #FlowerPower, any bird capture with a flower in view.
Fork-tailed Woodnymph: This beautiful hummingbird is widespread in tropical South America. I never saw them go to feeders but they did visit gardens with these purple flowers. Madre de Dios. #Peru 🪶
Fork-tailed Woodnymph: This beautiful hummingbird is widespread in tropical South America. I never saw them go to feeders but they did visit gardens with these purple flowers. Madre de Dios. #Peru 🪶