It was forcast to be partly cloudy today. We were a bit surprised when we woke to wet weather. Today's plan was to bird on the University of Alaska Fairbanks trail system. So we headed out early hoping that the rain was only overnight. It wasn't. We started up the trail on our way to Smith Lake which was supposed to be a haven for waterfowl. As it got a bit wetter and the grass on the lightly used ski trails got deeper, the mozzies arrived. We beat a hasty retreat back to the road.
We made one more try to reach the lake by walking along the road, hoping for a path through to the water. We didn't find one but we did find a bird at the top of a tall spruce. Incredibly, it was a Lesser Yellowlegs. We have seen many yellowlegs, but never in a tree. It was sitting up there calling away and as we watched it flew down to the road just opposite us, then back up into the trees, squawking all the time. At that point it started to rain a bit harder and we left to go back to Speedy. As we walked back, we noticed that there had been a small pond behind us as we watched the bird. It was probably nesting on the pond and had flow up into the tree to distract us from the nest.
A bit further down the road and up a hill was the university's Large Animal Research Site, which keeps Muskox and Reindeer. Since don't plan on getting up to the top of Alaska (no roads there), this could be our chance to see Muskox. Off we went. Being only 8:30, we were much too early. We thought about just staying in the parking lot until they opened, but that was a couple of hours away. Time for coffee.
It was off to the College Coffeehouse where we knew they had good coffee and high-speed(ish) Internet access. We arrived in the now pouring rain and spent a copuple of hours posting to the Speedy Journal. and catching up on email...and having coffee.
We arrived back at the LARS about 11:30 and waited around in their shop for a noon time presentation. You can't just walk around the facility, but they have naturalist-led walks every couple of hours. There were about 10 visitors when we headed out in the rain and down to the paddocks where the muskoxen were. Some of them, including a female with calf came trotting over. They were kind of like big shaggy 500 pound dogs with big horns looking for treats. They evidently have a sweet tooth for fireweed and the walk leader had brought along a bucketful.
They may be the only arctic survivors of the ice age, but they aren't very bright. Their only form of self defense is to form a circle facing outwards so that predators have to face a wall of horns. This may have worked with wolves and bears, but not men with guns and were extirpated from Alaska by the early 20th century. They were reintroduced to Alaska on predator-free Nunivak Island in the 30's by the Fish and Wildlife Service. They have thrived and many were moved to the Alaskan mainland and the poulation has continued to grow.
The small herd kept by the university is for research into Qiviut production. Qiviut is athe wool from the animal's undercoat and produces a very soft fine and warm yarn. It is very expensive. They had skeins of it at the shop for $90 each. They are hoping that they can find way to produce it in quantity such that small herders can keep muskox profitably.
After our tour, we stopped at an overlook on the unversity grounds for lunch in Speedy. The rain had let up, so we had a fine view over Fairbanks while lunching. After lunch it was off to the local REI for netting repair tape and waterproofing. We have developed a couple of holes in our front window screens which are made from mosquito netting. We also made the mistake of wearing our supposedly waterproof Keen hiking shoes on this morning's walk only to find that they were no longer waterproof. After finding the requisite items, we were off to the nearby visitor and cultural center for an afternoon walk through more native Fairbanks history.
It was back to the campground and dinner. While the rain had stopped by then it was still too wet to eat outside tonight, but we had a fine dinner in Speedy....the the rain came back. The forecast is for it to be over before morning and, after another stop at Creamer's Fields, we will head out of town again. It is geting a bit to close and hectic in the inner city campground . We are going to try the Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area about 25 miles north of the city. We hope there's room. If not, the local Walmart will be brighter and quieter than here today.
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