Introducing the Anchorage Birding Trail

Audubon Alaska has spent the previous a number of years working with companions to create birding trails that make Alaska’s extraordinary birdlife extra accessible to everybody. These digital trails—curated guides to birding hotspots—exist already in Southeast Alaska and locally of Utqiaġvik. Now, that effort is coming to Southcentral Alaska with the launch of the Anchorage Birding Trail. This new useful resource is designed to have fun birds, habitats, hidden gems, and folks throughout the Anchorage Bowl.

The Anchorage Birding Path options 35 birding websites, stretching from Whittier to Westchester Lagoon and eastward into the Chugach Mountains. The digital path consists of clear data for every web site, together with Indigenous place names, imagery, parking particulars, restroom availability, entry notes, and any related charges. It can additionally supply ideas to assist guests plan secure, gratifying birding outings. Collectively, these options purpose to make birding extra welcoming to individuals of all expertise ranges, from longtime Anchorage residents to guests discovering Alaska birds for the primary time.

“Thomas R. Dunlap wrote ‘Birding is straightforward to start and unimaginable to grasp,’” says Mr. Whitekeys, president of the Anchorage Audubon Society—a companion within the creation of the path. “The Anchorage Birding Path received’t make you a grasp, however it’ll get you nearer than you’re at this time.”

An up to date Birds of Anchorage, Alaska species guidelines was additionally revealed in tandem with the path. Particular thanks go to the experience of Alaska birders Mr. Whitekeys, Andy Bankert, Pat Pourchot, and Thede Tobish.

“The brand new Anchorage Birding Path and up to date Anchorage chicken guidelines will function catalysts to elevated understanding of Anchorage chicken habitats for guests and residents alike,” says Tobish (one in every of “Alaska’s high birders,” in response to Alaska Public Media). “Birders will study extra about native chicken distribution throughout a wide selection of latest accessible websites. On the identical time, a broader appreciation of preserved lands and their significance to chicken use all through the municipality ought to come.”

The Anchorage Birding Path Takes Flight

Why the Anchorage Bowl for a chicken path? As of 2025, 285 chicken species have been recorded within the Anchorage space, with 160 species occurring yearly, together with 112 breeding species and 40 common migratory birds. This outstanding variety displays Anchorage’s geographic place on the crossroads of a number of migration routes, the place coastal, forest, freshwater, and alpine habitats intersect.

Simply as importantly, the Anchorage space provides birding alternatives year-round. Spring migration begins in late March or early April, peaking in mid-Might, with the return of raptors, gulls, and waterfowl. Songbirds comply with by in mid-April and proceed in early June, as do shorebirds. Fall is the longest birding season, starting as early as July for shorebirds and increasing into late fall for gulls and swans. Even winter has its rewards: Since 1961, 96 species have been recorded throughout Anchorage Christmas Chook Counts, underscoring town’s worth as a four-season birding vacation spot.

“The place to go birding in Anchorage and what birds might be anticipated to be seen in varied habitats are frequent questions requested by birders of various birding expertise and ability,” says Pourchot. “An Anchorage birding path supplies nice data for residents and guests alike.”

Three Habitats, 4 Seasons, Dozens of Methods to Chook

To assist customers navigate this variety, birding websites on the Anchorage Birding Path are organized into three broad habitat sorts: coastal, forest and freshwater, and alpine. Every habitat highlights totally different species and experiences, making it simpler for birders to plan journeys primarily based on curiosity (what birds do it’s worthwhile to add to your checklist?), season, or accessibility.

Coastal websites embody nearshore waters and the intertidal zones of Cook dinner Inlet, together with adjoining areas formed by marine influences. Areas like Decrease Ship Creek, Level Woronzof, and Carr-Gottstein Park supply alternatives to look at Arctic Tern, Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane, Purple-necked Grebe, Lesser Yellowlegs, and lots of extra species that rely upon their productive coastal programs. 

Alongside the japanese fringe of the area, alpine habitats rise into the Chugach Mountains. Path websites equivalent to Arctic Valley, Prospect Heights, and Glen Alps supply tundra, ridgelines, and mountain peaks that entice species like Willow Ptarmigan, Horned Lark, and Tough-legged Hawk. And bonus: These websites additionally supply breathtaking, traditional Alaskan surroundings and nice mountain climbing.

Between Cook dinner Inlet and the Chugach Mountains lie forest and freshwater habitats, residence to websites like Cheney Lake, Sand Lake, and Kincaid parks—all of that are a part of the Anchorage park and path system.

“Anchorage parks and greenbelts on our city path system supply accessible methods to attach with nature whereas offering necessary habitat for migrating and resident birds,” says Anchorage Park Foundation Deputy Director Michelle LeBeau. “The Anchorage Birding Path makes it simpler for individuals to find these locations and revel in a number of the greatest birding our metropolis has to supply.”

Conservation, Group, and Connection

The Anchorage Birding Path is a part of Audubon Alaska’s broader Alaska Birding Trails initiative, which is deliberately designed to create area for proactive, artistic serious about challenges dealing with each individuals and nature. Trails spotlight Audubon-designated Vital Chook Areas and birding hotspots—lots of which face strain from improvement or different tasks—serving to construct consciousness and assist for conservation throughout Alaska’s public landscapes.

Birding trails additionally play an necessary financial function. By fostering sustainable tourism constructed round Alaska’s bioregions, they assist develop native economies whereas reinforcing the worth of wholesome public lands and waters. Bird tourism in Alaska attracts a whole lot of 1000’s of tourists yearly and helps 1000’s of jobs, demonstrating how conservation and recreation can work collectively to learn communities and wildlife.

“Be it swans on Westchester Lagoon or eagles at Potter Marsh, birds are one of many distinctive options that make Anchorage a really particular place to reside and go to,” says David Krause, Vice President for Nationwide Audubon Society’s Alaska Program. “It’s our hope that the Anchorage Birding Path will foster a larger appreciation for the surprise of birds, whereas contributing to sustainable financial improvement throughout the municipality.”

Finally, the Anchorage Birding Path invitations individuals to expertise Anchorage—usually thought of extra of a city hub than a birding vacation spot—by a deeper connection to birds, habitats, and place. By bringing collectively accessible websites, ecological information, and neighborhood perception, the path not solely makes birding extra approachable but additionally highlights the worth of defending the Southcentral landscapes that maintain each wildlife and folks. 

As curiosity in birding continues to develop, this new useful resource will hopefully encourage stewardship, assist native economies, and make sure that Anchorage’s outstanding birdlife might be appreciated for generations to come back.

Audubon Alaska is celebrating the official launch of the Anchorage Birding Path with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Might 27, from 5 to six:30 p.m. at Westchester Lagoon, adopted by a guided chicken stroll led by Audubon Alaska workers. Further data and registration particulars might be discovered on the event registration page.