Islands and Ocean Center, Homer AK

Most of the museums we visit have historical exhibits and information on the local area and native people.  This Visitor's Center is all about the animals, birds and sea life you will find in Alaska and how they are being studied in order to ensure they remain for generations to come.

From counting the sea lions to tagging and tracking killer and grey whales as well as the many varieties of birds, many hours are spent making sure the ocean is healthy, by looking at the animal numbers.  Fewer harbor seals might mean there is a problem that can be addressed.  

One of the big successes has been the Aleutian Canada Goose whose numbers were devastated by the introduction of foxes and rats.  In the 1700's, Russian fur trappers brought pairs of foxes, which in turn resulted in thousands of foxes for them to trap, making lots of money.  With so many birds and nests, the fox population exploded.  Pretty soon, there were no birds.  Eventually the fox were captured and released elsewhere, bringing the Canada Goose back from extinction.  This exhibit has the Russian trapper talking to you from the doorway of his cabin.  

More exhibits in the building explain the same conservation practices in affect for all the island animals and birds.

Behind the Center is a marsh/slough area where you can bird watch.  No clue what these are, but if you keep track of what you see, they write it down on a board in the museum so others know what to look for.  This is where we saw the moose cow the other day.

It's been raining quite a bit the last couple days, and everyone here has rubber boots.  Since Patty and I usually hit the surf for treasures, she came up with the great idea that WE needed boots.  In Hawaii, the water is warm enough for bare feet ... but here you risk freezing feet!!  The local True Value Hardware store had my pair, but no kids sizes for Patty.  A test drive to the end of Old Town Main Street confirmed it was a good idea!

On the way back home, we stopped at a local gift shop ... full of cheap tourist "stuff", but also some antique and native items, including a 1957 Corvette ... not for sale.  This old canvas dive suit caught my eye ... U.S. Navy made, it would be too cold and claustrophobic for me!!

The gear we dive with now is weighty and cumbersome ... I can't imagine wearing this!!

Apparently the tourists can't read ... this door said employees only.  I'm guessing that sign just wasn't big enough!!!

After an excellent dinner of Dan's stew (LOVE this stuff) I spent a couple of hours sewing on my quilt with my new (used) Janome Mini sewing machine.  It had been foggy all day until now ... 9:00 at night I snapped this photo of the fog on the far mountains.  Alaska is definitely a beautiful state!!