The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

A Rare Passerine The hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a member of the finch family commonly found across Europe, Asia and occasionally the Western Aleutian Islands. But on March 2, 2017 a wayward hawfinch was sighted in Anchorage, a long way west from their usual winter grounds in Japan. The hawfinch, which in silhouette might be mistaken for its North America cousin the evening grosbeak, was photographed as it visited neighborhood bird feeders on the Anchorage Hillside. There have been no reports of a hawfinch in the region since, until last week, when another was sighted in Haines Junction. It was the first confirmed sighting ever of a hawfinch in Canada. With its powerful bill and distinctive orange-brown head, it definitely stands out as an exotic and unusual visitor. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	First record in Canada: Rare bird common in Japan seen in Yukon Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada CBC / January 7, 2021 A rare bird was spotted last week in Yukon. Birders flocked to Haines Junction last week to spot a hawfinch, which was thousands of kilometers out of its usual range. Read article on CBC
	Massive mountain rockslide near Juneau shakes the earth on Christmas Eve Juneau, Alaska, United States Matt Miller / Alaska Public Media / December 23, 2020 Around Christmas, there were reports of an earthquake and major mountain rockslide in the wilderness near Juneau. But what came first? The earthquake or the slide? Read article on Alaska Public Media
	Orca pod returns to the Broughton Archipelago after more than 20 years Fife Sound, Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada Zoe Ducklow, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Victoria News / January 8, 2021 The A5 pod has returned to the Broughton Archipelago, their traditional winter hunting ground, with a brand new baby in tow. Read article on Victoria News
	Western Arctic Caribou Population and Migration Patterns Continue to Change Kotzebue, Alaska, United States Catherine Rubano / KNOM Radio Mission / December 30, 2020 The number of animals in the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) is down by 20 percent. The calving parturition average was also significantly lower than recent years, with 2020 at 67%. Read article on KNOM Radio Mission
	Avalanche hits ski resort near Norilsk Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia Siberian Times / January 9, 2021 Father missing under snow; more than 200 people continue search and rescue at -23C, snowstorm and bleak light of polar night. Read article on Siberian Times

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published weekly by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer