JPMyers 1979 Journal NARL, Barrow, Alaska 5 June Arrived Barrow 1630 via Wien Air after leaving San Francisco airport at 0730. Even with the change in time zones that is only 11 hours time, of which at least 3 were spent on the ground. Alan - what would HS Swarth have thought of the way we have reduced arctic trips to trivial one day jaunts? On the other hand, we obtain an unusual perspective because the contrast in area, weather, and in birds and people is so stark. A Berkeley yesterday hit 15°C at least. Today Barrow is hovering around 0°C with a 17mph wind from the cast. Walking home from the Life Science Bldg yesterday I had to walk around a family of juncos and dodge the brown bitches littering my path. Today I saw 2 birds between the airport and the lab. Admittedly there are more (many more) around - but the comparison is bleak. Snow melt is far along - locally approaching 80-90%, although in some areas it is still 90% cover. There is a large lead a km off shore. McCarthy says the main melt occurred 31 May and that even before them (26 May) there were stormbirds about. Display activity on the part of all species has been prominent since 31 May. Late dinner with McCarthy, Chris Swarth, and Steve Gelman (my assistants at Barrow this year) + renewed several acquaintances in the mess hall. Tiny & Bill Purley were still there occupying vast volumes of airspace with their enormous belkas - although they have lost weight this winter. Andy the foreman of the gas well is still around. But some things no change: 2 F & M boys worked in the working room. After dinner I 3-wheeled out to POW-MAIW. Not one Tundid! Not one funny cumbazine! No flashy unexpected showchirids! You dork! A white-rumped sandpiper won the only prize. Semicolum are well endearing in their territorial maneuvering, the braids are displaying + the pre-oral males are chasing each other. Heard no loot.