in the Parks

wakes, geese, and swans. Adak Island, located in the Aleutian Islands and part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, is also an excellent spot for birding, attracting rare bird species that aren’t viewable anywhere else in the United States due to its remote location in the Bering Sea.

Generally speaking, the best time to bird in Alaska is from late April until mid-September. These summer months are when many birds migrate through to the area or settle here for the season. In the fall, birds tend to leave, however, local birds become more active—which can be a nice surprise for birders who aren’t familiar with Alaska’s native bird species. For rare birds that migrate to western Alaska from Asia, June is ideal to visit. For seabird colonies in the northwest, July is best. Naturally, different species of birds have different seasonal patterns, so if there’s a particular bird you’re hoping to see, check beforehand to confirm when they’re due to be active in Alaska.

Birding is such a hot commodity in Alaska that the state actually hosts a number of birding festivals throughout the year. In early May, Cordova hosts the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival where the tidal flats of the Delta are bombarded with nearly 5 million shorebirds. The festival celebrates the significance of their migration with scavenger hunts, art exhibits, and group viewings.

Similarly, because of the need for shorebirds to make a pitstop along tidal areas and wetlands, the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival takes place in early May in Homer, Alaska. With at least 134 bird species spotted in 2022, this is Alaska’s largest wildlife viewing event.