First Bird Week 2026 - the graceful Trumpeter Swan (3 photos) /  by Dave Hileman

The Trumpeter Swan is the largest swan seen in North America and is more common most of the year in the far north and usually western US and Canada. However in recent years they have made a recovery in the eastern provinces of Canada. Once hunted nearly to extinction they are now a thriving species and can be seen in large numbers wintering along the Atlantic coast particularly in North Carolina. First photo was near Anchorage the next two in Wyoming.

Welcome to the First Bird Week of 2026 /  by Dave Hileman

Yes, Bird Week! I can hear the roar of crowds across the land, the applause of people in Paris, Rome, Rio, Prague, New Delhi, Anchorage, Haifa, Nairobi, Lima and so many more cities across the globe as the long wait is over. Yes, seven full days of Bird Week 2026 #1 as the celebrations continue.

We begin this week with the secretive Hermit Thrush. It prefers the understory of northern forests, this one was photographed in Alaska. The song is in a minor key and a bit mournful but beautiful and distinctive. It is a winter visitor to the southern US forests.

Thermals /  by Dave Hileman

The endlessly fascinating and diverse hot pools in Yellowstone National Park. If we could get the salmon from yesterday’s post here, they would leap fully cooked on to your plate.

Air Time /  by Dave Hileman

Jill and I went to Aspire, a large free and private park that includes four separate paved mountain bike tracks and watched this fellow on the 3rd level course work on his skills.

Breathtaking Bridge /  by Dave Hileman

This was once a railroad trestle but is now a highway bridge. The road to Wrangle-St. Elias National Park in Alaska, the McCarthy Road, is 59 miles of tough: gravel, ruts, holes, mud, and often very dusty. Part way to your goal, you come across the Kuskulana Bridge and find a short, smooth passage over a spectacular river valley. You cannot stop on the bridge but you can park on either end and walk across 240 feet over the gorge. Built for the Northwestern Railway, this track, now road, was once used to haul copper ore from the Kennecott Mines.

Fort Union Trading Post /  by Dave Hileman

While it has “fort” in the name and it is built for defense, it was not intended as a fort nor ever used as one. It was a trading post and one that the Indians used and trusted. In fact several tribes that were enemies to each other would camp out side the post and live peacefully while there. There was a window where you could bring your furs, for example, to trade and a store to buy goods. If you were a chief you were invited inside to a special room. The home in the middle of the post was very much like a home “back east” and well equipped. Rules here were strictly enforced. The post is so close to Montana that the parking lot is in that state but you walk all the way to North Dakota to see the trading post. Exhausting.!

Trading window

Ceremonial Trading Room

Prayers /  by Dave Hileman

The American Indians in the area of the Devil’s Tower have the month of June to worship here and honor their ancestors in traditional ways. One of those is the hanging of “prayer clothes” in the trees that surround the base of the tower.

And One More Nativity /  by Dave Hileman

This one is from Peru. It was purchased by Jill when she led the Cedar Springs choir on a South American trip. It has llamas instead of a donkey, which is in keeping with their culture. I think it is interesting and very appropriate how the nativities from around the world adapt Jesus to their understanding and situation but always keep him the center of it all.