KFNP researchers share fieldwork through new blog
Kenai Fjords National Park
Scientists observe their sampling site amid the morning fog
Scientists observe their Kenai Fjords National Park
Researchers and resource managers at Kenai Fjords National Park have the privilege of conducting their work in areas of the park that are seldom seen by the average visitor. They are now sharing their field experiences in these remote places directly with the public through a new blog. “Kenai Fjords in the Field” provides online visitors with a glimpse into the day-to-day challenges, excitement, and discoveries that are a part of understanding and managing park resources. Blog topics reflect the diversity of projects taking place in the fjords this summer, and include subjects like surveying bald eagle nests from a helicopter, mapping the terminus of Exit Glacier, counting intertidal invertebrates, and documenting campsites along the park’s rocky beaches.
“The blog is a more immediate way to let the public know about our current activities,” says Sharon Kim, the Chief of Resource Management at the park. “Typically, we share our results in more traditional forms such as newsletters or resource briefs, but those take more time to create. We hope this blog is also a way to reach an audience that perhaps we weren’t reaching with more traditional media. I hope it connects with a younger generation that may be interested and inspired about what we are doing in resource management.”
The blog provides an opportunity for the public to get firsthand information from the people directly involved in the work. Most of the entries also include photos, allowing online visitors a glimpse into many lesser-visited parts of the park.
The blog is part of a continuing effort to make up-to-date research information accessible and can be viewed at www.nps.gov/kefj/blogs/Kenai-Fjords-in-the-Field.htm.