Birdwatching in Alaska

Birding contacts and birdwatching information



Local Birdingpal Contacts

Local Birdwatchers Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away. Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club. _____________________________________________________________ We want to hear about your experiences with Birdingpals. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions you have. CONTACT US _____________________________________________________________
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		D	VintonHurley	Anchorage, Kodiak Island Alaska	Anytime	English
		Birding in Kodiak is fantastic! We have so many unique opportunities to see very uncommon species, especially in the winter. One of my favorites is the Emperor Goose, which is found on our road system from September through end of April each year. We frequently observe Cackling Canadian Geese and Dusky Canadian Geese at the same time of year. The wintering sea ducks are also a joy to watch, my favorite is the Stellers Eider, and it frequents the water in front of my house throughout the winter. We have a small but dedicated group of birders that are constantly in touch. Our best sighting I think to date (and I have been here 30 years) is the White-tailed Eagle, that my friend spotted in January this year. I was fortunate to get a good look at it before it took off. At Feb/Mar, there are about 500 to 800 Bald Eagles living within the City limits of Kodiak. They gather here in the winter because we have a huge fishery that includes trawlers coming back to Port with nets loaded with fish. The eagles congregate in the cannery row area and it is a truly spectacular sight to watch all of them. Kodiak is known as the Emerald Isle and I think there are few places on earth that can match the beauty of our Island. I am an avid fisherman and I go fishing whenever I am able. We troll for Kings year round here and a winter king is a rare prize, and absolutely delicious! I am a cook and enter contests, with one good win so far. Most of my recipes are focused on fish (of course). You might want to Google Kodiak Island and look at some of the photos.		Area: Kodiak Island Alaska Kodiak is a wonderful place to see emperor geese. The entire Kodiak area road system state parks and recreational areas. Most inquiries I get are for the end of April through the end of September Area Birds:	Interests: Birdwatching fishing subsistence fishing hiking road trips history buff especially about Kodiak Island, cooking, photography bear watching
		C	Foerster	Anchorage	Anytime	English
		T	Doyle	Anchorage	Anytime	English
		Lived in Kotzebue for 3 years and Tok for 10. Recently moved back to Alaska. Looking forward to exploring new areas from Anchorage.
		J	Gumm	Ester	Anytime	English
		K	Dykema	Soldotna, Kenai Peninsula	Anytime	English<
		T	Cornwall	Ketchikan	Weekend	English
		Starting birding and I really like songbirds, as well as birds of prey.
		J	Staab	Seward	Weekend	English
		Have been birding Alaska since 1999 with a great deal of time on the Kenai Peninsula and Chiswell Island group.
Professional Guides If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.
		Name	Company	Area	Available	Language
		David Shaw		Fairbanks, AK	Anytime	English, Spanish
		Single and multi-day, private, Alaska birding tours! I lead single day trips based out of Fairbanks where we can see many boreal species. Each day-trip is catered to your interests, whether that's general birding, or targeting regional specialties. Private, multi-day itineraries can encompass the entire state. Want to see Arctic breeders like Yellow-billed Loon, Spectacled Eider, or Bluethroat? How about chasing the rare and elusive Gray-headed Chickadee? I can make it happen. Whether you want a relaxed morning wandering the boreal forest, a fast-paced epic chasing as many rarities as we can find, or to photograph Alaska's birds, the trip is up to you.		Boreal Forest, Tundra, Alaska Range, Brooks Range, Arctic Area Birds: Boreal and arctic specialties, Arctic Warbler, Northern Wheatear, Owls	Birdwatching website
		A	Courtney	Hoonah, Juneau, Alaska	anytime	English
		I am a young mother of two, but also a very dedicated birder, and before starting my tour business, I enjoyed serving as the Field Trips chairperson for the Juneau Audubon Society. All birds excite me, but I am especially passionate about the birds (and other flora and fauna) of my native area in remote Southeast Alaska! On my three-hour tours, I identify all of the birds we see and hear, as well as share some local Native history, and familiarize guests with the local plants and animals that make the Hoonah area unique. Living in the area with the densest population of brown bears in the world, we frequently see one on the tour. I have two high-quality spotting scopes for scanning the ocean and watching a Pigeon Guillemot nesting colony, and also provide binoculars and rain jackets if needed. The tour includes about 30 miles of driving (round trip), and a couple stops including a short 1/4-mile hike. The hike is mostly flat gravel trail, but includes one moderately steep section. Experience the beauty and birds of Southeast Alaska's temperate rainforest with a knowledgeable local guide!		Area: Tongass National Forest, Chichagof Island, Icy Strait, Port Frederick Area Birds: Bald Eagle, Pigeon Guillemot, Varied Thrush, Red-breasted Sapsucker	Interests:
Local Information
		Name			Description
		Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia			Alaska
		Local weather			Yahoo
		Audubon, Alaska			Club
		Anchorage Audubon Society			Club
		Arctic Audubon Society			Club
		Juneau Audubon Society			Club
		Kodiak Audubon Society			Club
		Prince William Sound Audubon Society			Club
		Denali National Park			Trip Report
		AlaskaBirds-L			RBA
		Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival			Festival
		Birding Hotspots around the world			Sites