Liah McPherson

58°F and I’ve convinced myself it’s Hawaiʻi

We could just watch them all day… and we do! When we’re not in the field, our eyes are still glued to gray whales in drone video files as we process data from the season. Seeing the data come together is (almost) as awesome as seeing these beautiful animals in the wild. AWF operates under NMFS Permit 26663; all media and data are collected under this permit. AWF research initiatives are funded by National Geographic Society, the LEX-NG Fund, and a broad community of supporters. Thank you for your ongoing support, and to learn more about AWF visit the link in our bio. @natgeo @lindbladexp @insidenatgeo #awf #sitka #graywhale #alaska #natgeo

Love letter to Oʻahu 💌🏝️ (miss you)

Herring are spawning in Sitka Sound, and returning gray whales are among the many drawn to this seasonal work of art. For a few fleeting weeks, this resource pulse drives an entire ecosystem — and also totally makes our boat pop in the drone video 👀 AWF operates under NMFS Permit 26663; all media and data are collected under this permit. AWF research initiatives are funded by National Geographic Society, the LEX-NG Fund, and a broad community of supporters. Thank you for your on-going support, and to learn more about AWF visit the link in our bio. #awf #humpbackwhales #graywhales #sitka #alaska

We are up and running for our Spring fieldwork in Sitka Sound, Alaska. The weather has been all over the place — but so have the whales! So grateful to our team, supporters, and community partners and collaborators for making this work possible. It’s going to be a great season. AWF operates under NMFS Permit 26663; all media and data are collected under this permit. AWF research initiatives are funded by National Geographic Society, the LEX-NG Fund, and a broad community of supporters. Thank you for your on-going support, and to learn more about AWF visit the link in our bio. 🎥: @mcfearsome #awf #humpbackwhales #graywhales #sitka #alaska

Earlier this winter, the West Maui Mountains looked drier than usual, well into February. Now, just weeks later, Hawaiʻi has seen some of the heaviest rain and flooding in more than 20 years, approaching a 1,000-year storm in some areas. At the same time, a dip in the jet stream sweeping farther south than usual has helped drive a low-pressure system across the North Pacific, bringing cold air and heavy snow to Southeast Alaska. Heavy rains in Hawaiʻi and snow in Southeast Alaska aren’t random. They can be shaped by the same large-scale Pacific weather patterns, shifting moisture and energy across thousands of miles. Up here, the snow has been making fieldwork challenging, but it is nothing compared to the devastation unfolding back home. It feels strange to be so far away, watching this all happen through alerts and posts on my phone. I won’t pretend to know how to help Hawaiʻi better than the people on the ground, who are already showing up for each other in incredible ways. If you don’t live in Hawaiʻi and want to help, there are many resources available. I’ve shared a link in my bio that friends on Oʻahu are circulating to support verified families in need, many who have lost nearly everything in the floods.

Happy Birthday my love! 💜 No place I’d rather be than with you on a boat around some whales.

We don’t often see whales in shallow reef habitat — but when we do, everyone ends up huddled around the controller screen. It’s nice to enjoy the slow moments like this, especially when it seems that time is flying faster than the drone in sport mode. 👀 Somehow we’re already about a third of the way through our Maui field season! 🐋 As always, mahalo to our funders, collaborators and many helpers for your support of our research. All research conducted under NMFS permit no. 27548-01. 🎥: @mcfearsome #whales #maui #hawaii #humpbackwhale #marinebiology

Seems like it’s snowing everywhere on the mainland, but this backscatter is the closest we’ll get on Oʻahu! From a very wintery feeling morning trying to model for @alohikaijewelry … I applaud anyone who can keep lei poʻo on their head for more than a few seconds in rough water. 😂

Some unreal conditions in Maui last week 😍

I hear it’s 2016 again? The year when your famously tropical/ocean/dolphin loving gal spent a summer in land-locked Alaska romping around Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. I never would’ve guessed that ten years after interning with @steliasguides , I’d be working in Alaska again, but studying whales (not even dolphins!). Still kinda want to be a mountaineer when I grow up.

The first half of 2026 is going to be chaos, as the first halves of years tend to be for me. Fieldwork, travel, conferences, work, etc etc etc! Part of me is already looking forward to June, when @lewisevans191 and I (and @pockatiel , and our pufferfish (Chef), and my pet shrimp) get to be home in our cozy lil house again. But the rest of me is like, bring it on? For now, here’s more of the same from ‘25.