Alaska
‘The birds are a global citizen’: Indigenous groups in Australia and Alaska team up to track a feathered adventurer’s epic journey
Short-tailed shearwaters used to blacken the skies on the south-west coast of Australia, so abundant were they in their coastal homes each Djilba season – the time in the calendar of the Noongar peoples between August and September, when days shift from blustery cold and wet winds to warmer weather.
In Wudjari Noongar, the language of the traditional owners of this place they call Kepa Kurl, but which since colonisation has been called Esperance, the birds are called yowli. To other cultures they are muttonbirds.
At the other end of the year, on the other side of the globe, flocks of shearwaters would darken the skies in Alaska, ready to feast on the teeming fish and squid from melting ice and snow in the Arctic summer. Like the Wudjari, the Yup’ik would mark their arrival.
But First Nations peoples on both coasts have noticed that something is wrong. They began to see sick and dying shearwaters washing up on beaches: emaciated, their bellies filled with microplastics instead of food. Birds were turning up in places they hadn’t been seen before, veering far away from their fixed migration routes as they searched farther afield for food.
Jennell Reynolds, healthy country program coordinator and senior ranger with Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, grew up hearing stories of the yowli. More than 30 million return each year to breeding colonies off Australia’s southern coastline, mostly concentrating in the eastern states – but large numbers also return to burrows in the craggy archipelagos off Western Australia’s southern coast as well as the sand hills near Esperance, an area known for its pristine waters and white sandy beaches.
“It’s so graceful seeing them skip across the water when they’re feeding and diving,” Reynolds says. “They are such inquisitive birds when they come into the land.”
In April they return north to make the 15,000km journey back to Alaska, with newly fledged chicks in tow.
In an attempt to understand the birds’ perilous journey, Tjaltjraak rangers are working with Yup’ik and other Alaskan traditional owners. The global research project combinesecological, scientific and ancestral knowledge.
“It was one of those things where you know that you’ve got this connection through this one bird,” Reynolds tells Guardian Australia. “It’s a special moment because we are all on the same page in relation to taking care of country. We both have a kinship with the animals and wildlife and we’re making sure that we have that same responsibility for looking after them.”
The collaboration began by building on pre-existing relationships between the Tjaltjraak rangers and their Eyak, Iñupiaq, Yup’ik and Alutiiq community counterparts. Early conversations revealed shared concerns about declining numbers.
David Guilfoyle, a coordinator with the Tjaltjraak rangers, spent many years living and working in Alaska. He says those longstanding community ties helped fast‑track what is now a formal cross‑cultural partnership.
The project aims to form a clearer picture of how the birds live: their migration patterns; how deep they plunge the ocean in their quest for food; and ultimately the risks they are facing in a changing environment.
“It’s very holistic,” Guilfoyle says. “It’s not just looking at the species so much as looking at the whole ecosystem and what role these birds play, and what we can do to protect and manage them. But we can’t do that until we get a lot of data.”
The rangers knew the birds returned each year to colonies off Esperance; Alaskan communities knew when they arrived in their waters. But the exact route, the staging areas and what was happening in between remained largely invisible.
To answer those questions, Tjaltjaak rangers had to catch and tag the yowli. That meant working quietly and quickly in cold, dark and potentially snake-infested sand dunes on an island in the middle of the Southern Ocean, with only red torchlight to see by, says one ranger, Hayleigh Graham.
The team placed tiny, almost weightless sensors and tags on them – which required a little finessing to ensure the technology would adhere to delicate legs and tails.
“We had to sort of sand it back, so we made a bit of glue but the glue didn’t really work as well, so then we tried double-sided tape but, nope, that wasn’t so good,” Graham says.
“We ended up having to get some smaller zip ties to try and trim it off and make sure the ethics of the way we put it on wasn’t hurting or damaging the birds, and then as the sun started to go down, within a few minutes, we got our first yowli.”
By the end of the night, they had tagged 21 birds.
“It’s still really early days,” Guilfoyle says. “We’re really nervous. I can’t sleep since we’ve tagged these birds – every hour I’m checking the map about where they’re going. It’s like being an expectant parent.
“We watch them every day, so now it seems like they’re starting to slowly track towards Tassie, and then eventually they’ll just start missioning north to Alaska.”
Tjaltjraak rangers say the birds are not only culturally significant but vital to the area’s delicate ecosystem. The shearwater’s fixed habits make it a warning sign for the health of their breeding and feeding grounds.
“It’s like an alarm bell,” Guilfoyle says. “If we don’t see them as much now, what have we lost? At the very basic level, that observational data is a call to action: we need to make sure that we’re not just falling for the trap of shifting baselines.”
Climate threats
Estelle Thomson is a Yup’ik leader and president of the Native Village of Paimiut Traditional Council. She lives in Anchorage and works closely with Indigenous rangers and wildlife ecologists as a bird migration advocate and vice-chair for the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Commission, which represents 43 tribes from the Bering Sea to territories bordering Canada.
She says the shearwater were not originally one of the hundreds of birds that flew to the vast Yup’ik lands but were usually found on a cluster of islands in the Bering Sea. But they have been recorded as far south-west as the Kuskokwim River, far from their traditional migration path.
“They typically go to the Aleutian Islands … but because of climate change and because of a whole bunch of extenuating circumstances, they’ve actually been starting to come into my region,” Thomson says.
“We can tell when things are starting to go a little bit awry with the birds. We can tell when they’re not getting enough food, if they’re not coming in at the times that they normally do. We can tell when they’re late. We can tell if their food sources are having difficulty.”
The permafrost tundra is melting, leaving the region vulnerable to typhoons and other extreme weather events. The climate emergency is displacing Indigenous peoples from their lands. Once-abundant traditional food sources are becoming scarcer.
Many of those food sources are migratory birds – some 220 species of which spent part of the year in Alaska. Thomson has partnered with Indigenous peoples around the globe through a collective calledChildren of the Sky, which brings First Nations people together to gain a deeper shared understanding of migratory birds and their place in our ecosystem.
“Our peoples have specific, traditional ecological and Indigenous knowledge about our non-human relatives,” she says. “The people on the other side of flyway that we’re on also carry knowledge. So when we get together, we’re able to share what we know from each of our perspectives …
“The birds are a global citizen. This bird has no allegiance to any specific country. It doesn’t look at the boundaries of borders.”
Reynolds says she hopes the project will open the way to other cross-cultural endeavours.
First, though, rangers will have to catch the birds again next November to remove their tags.
“We’re all custodians now,” Reynolds says. “It’s not just us. It’s everyone’s responsibility to be able to care for country.”
Alaska
Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan’s primary challenger who has the same name is eligible for ballot, judge rules
A man with the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible to challenge the senator in the August primary, a judge ruled Friday.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews’ ruling overturns a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher to disqualify the challenger and keep him off the primary ballot. Matthews’ ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Attorneys for the state have said Tuesday is the deadline for a final ruling so that ballots for the Aug. 18 primary can be printed.
The judge ruled that the division’s decision to exclude Dan J. Sullivan because his candidacy was not “in good faith” was not based on the Constitution, Alaska law or the division’s own regulations. The retired teacher from the small fishing community of Petersburg filed to challenge the incumbent.
“Instead, the decision was based upon a new, previously unstated, ‘good faith’ criteria,” the judge wrote.
The division is appealing the decision, Sam Curtis, a spokesperson with the state Department of Law, said by email Saturday. Jeffrey Robinson, an attorney for Dan J. Sullivan, said in an email he expected the division to appeal and couldn’t comment until the Alaska Supreme Court rules on the case.
The controversy over the two Dan Sullivans has underscored the stakes involved in the incumbent’s reelection campaign. The Alaska race is one of about half a dozen U.S. Senate races expected to be highly competitive in the fall, and the seat is one Democrats are trying to flip in their efforts to try to regain the majority. But it’s expected to be an uphill battle in a state that President Trump won by 13 points in 2024.
The senator and allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have condemned the challenger’s efforts to join the race, arguing his presence could confuse voters. Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom earlier this month opened an investigation into the non-Senator Sullivan’s candidacy.
Under Alaska’s election system, the top four candidates from the primary, regardless of party, move on to the ranked-choice November general election.
The senator has accused the challenger Sullivan of working with Democrats and the campaign of Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola — who is considered the senator’s main opponent — to cause confusion and boost Peltola’s chances. The sitting senator brought the situation to reporters’ attention at the Capitol earlier this month, accusing Democrats of being “complicit in trying to trick Alaskans” to “rig an election in their favor.”
Peltola’s campaign and state Democrats have denied the allegation, as has the challenger.
Sen. Sullivan and Peltola are the highest-profile candidates in the crowded race and the only ones to report raising any money.
Beecher has said she determined the challenger Sullivan is not eligible to run because his candidacy was not filed in good faith and instead was done with an intent to confuse voters. She said he had registered to vote as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and, in conjunction with his candidacy, changed his party affiliation to Republican. She also cited similarities between his campaign website and the senator’s, and his work with a consultant whose clients have included some Democrats. She did not mention finding any evidence of alleged coordination.
In arguing to keep the challenger disqualified, attorneys for the state pushed back on suggestions the ballot could be designed in a way to reduce voter confusion over two candidates with the same name and party running for the same office.
“The Constitution does not require States to place a sham candidate on the ballot and then attempt to mitigate the damage through design choices,” attorney Rachel Witty, with the Alaska Department of Law, and outside attorneys Christopher Murray and Michael Francisco wrote in court filings.
Attorneys for the challenger Sullivan argued that the Constitution lays out three exclusive qualifications for the Senate, addressing only age, citizenship and residency. They said Beecher lacked the legal authority to boot their client off the ballot.
The challenger Sullivan has said that sharing a name and party affiliation with the incumbent gave him “an instant megaphone.” But the 69-year-old retired teacher and former U.S. Forest Service employee said he had considered a run for some time and had grown frustrated with the senator.
He initially was certified on the state’s candidate list as Dan J. Sullivan, with the senator listed as Dan S. Sullivan and identified as the incumbent.
America 250 Baked Alaska
Delmonico’s
In the conversation about the world’s greatest steakhouses, Delmonico’s is always among the shortlist of names.
The Lower Manhattan institution is a destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike, an attraction as much as a restaurant. First opened in 1837, it is widely recognized as America’s first fine-dining restaurant. It was here that dishes that have become cultural symbols of this country as much as they are cuisine were born: the Delmonico Steak, Lobster Newberg, Eggs Benedict, and perhaps most famously, Baked Alaska.
Now, as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Delmonico’s is giving one of its signature creations, a dessert that’s as much a cultural symbol as it is a sweet ending, a patriotic makeover.
On July 4, the restaurant will debut the America 250 Baked Alaska, a reinterpretation of the classic dessert that celebrates both the nation’s history and North America’s native ingredients. The striking red, white, and blue confection has already earned the nickname “America’s Birthday Cake.”
The dessert was created by acclaimed pastry chef Miro Uskokovic of Hani’s Bakery + Cafe in the East Village, who also serves as Delmonico’s consulting pastry chef. While his interpretation is rooted in the original version, he has reimagined it with a distinctly American theme.
Pawpaw, the largest fruit native to North America, becomes a rich ice cream. Wild blueberry lemonade sorbet adds a bright, tart layer, while pecan cake- made with the only major tree nut indigenous to North America- forms the base. Mixed berry jam, toasted meringue, and fresh seasonal berries complete the dessert.
The cone-shaped presentation also pays tribute to history.
The original Baked Alaska dates to 1867, when the legendary French chef Charles Ranhofer, who headed the kitchen at Delmonico’s in the late 19th century, created the dessert to commemorate the United States’ purchase of Alaska from Russia. Epicurean lore goes that Ranhofer originally called the dessert “Alaska, Florida,” highlighting the contrast between frozen ice cream and warm toasted meringue. He later featured elaborate mountain-shaped versions in his 1894 cookbook, “The Epicurean.”
Today, nearly 160 years later, Delmonico’s is revisiting that theatrical presentation while looking ahead to its next chapter.
“This dessert is a piece of American history,” says Dennis Turcinovic, owner and executive culinary partner of Delmonico’s Hospitality Group. “Delmonico’s has never just served food. For nearly 190 years, it has served hope, opportunity, and the American dream. Today, we’re celebrating that with our red, white, and blue Baked Alaska.”
For Uskokovic, it’s both a history lesson and a celebration.
“America’s 250th anniversary presents an opportunity to celebrate not only our nation’s history, but the evolution of American cuisine,” he said in a release announcing the dessert. “We wanted to revisit one of the most important desserts in Delmonico’s history while showcasing ingredients that are uniquely American.”
According to a release, the dessert will be available as a serving for two for $40, with production limited to just 10 each day because of its labor-intensive preparation. Larger versions serving 10 to 12 guests can also be ordered for private celebrations.
The best part? For non-New Yorkers clamoring for a chance to try the dessert, the America 250 Baked Alaska is here to stay as a permanent fixture on the menu. And when Delmonico’s Reserve, the brand’s upcoming Midtown Manhattan restaurant, opens next year, New Yorkers and visitors alike can order it there.
Alaska
Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska’s primary ballot, judge rules – WTOP News
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man with the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan…
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man with the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for the August primary and can appear on the ballot, a judge ruled Friday.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews’ ruling overturns a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher to disqualify the challenger and keep him off the primary ballot. Matthews’ ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Attorneys for the state have said Tuesday is the deadline for a final ruling so that ballots for the Aug. 18 primary can be printed.
The controversy over the two Dan Sullivans has underscored the stakes involved in the incumbent’s reelection campaign. The Alaska race is one of about a half dozen U.S. Senate races that are expected to be highly competitive in the fall, and the seat is one Democrats are trying to flip in their efforts to try to regain the majority.
The senator and allies including the National Republican Senatorial Committee have condemned the challenger’s efforts to join the race, arguing his presence could confuse voters. Under Alaska’s election system, the top four candidates from the primary, regardless of party, move on to the ranked choice November general election.
The senator has accused the challenger Sullivan of working with Democrats and the campaign of Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola — who is considered the senator’s main opponent — to cause confusion and boost Peltola’s chances. Peltola’s campaign and state Democrats have denied the allegation, as has the challenger.
Sen. Sullivan and Peltola are the highest-profile candidates in the crowded race and the only ones to report raising any money.
Beecher has said she determined the challenger Sullivan is not eligible to run because his candidacy was not filed in good faith and instead was done with an intent to confuse voters. She said he had registered to vote as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and in conjunction with his candidacy changed his party affiliation to Republican. She also cited similarities between his campaign website and the senator’s, and his work with a consultant whose clients have included some Democrats. She did not mention finding any evidence of alleged coordination.
In arguing to keep the challenger disqualified, attorneys for the state pushed back on suggestions the ballot could be designed in a way to reduce voter confusion over two candidates with the same name and party running for the same office.
“The Constitution does not require States to place a sham candidate on the ballot and then attempt to mitigate the damage through design choices,” attorney Rachel Witty, with the Alaska Department of Law, and outside attorneys Christopher Murray and Michael Francisco wrote in court filings.
Attorneys for the challenger Sullivan argued that the Constitution lays out three exclusive qualifications for the Senate, addressing only age, citizenship and residency. They said Beecher lacked the legal authority to boot their client off the ballot.
The challenger Sullivan has said that sharing a name and party affiliation with the incumbent gave him “an instant megaphone.” But the retired teacher and former U.S. Forest Service employee, who is 69, said he had considered a run for some time and had grown frustrated with the senator.
He initially was certified on the state’s candidate list as Dan J. Sullivan, with the senator listed as Dan S. Sullivan and identified as the incumbent.
Copyright
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