If you have even been birding while on vacation or at home as a hobby, then you know what this activity is all about. However, the rest of us may need a bit of an explanation before learning about some of the great birding opportunities in Anchorage, Alaska. Simply put, birding is the activity of watching or visually studying birds, usually in their natural habitats. You can go birding with a pair of binoculars or trust your own two eyes to do the work.
Birding is a great way to appreciate the wildlife of the air in and around the Anchorage, Alaska area. In fact, according the the Anchorage Audobon Society, Anchorage has more than 229 species that have been recorded in that area alone, with about 150 of those species migrating or living in Alaska annually. So if you want to do a little birding on your next Alaska vacation, then keep reading!
In this post, we will describe some of the great birding attractions in the Anchorage area, beginning with the Eagle River Nature Center. The nature center and nature trail system at this location are set up for visitors to view a variety of northern species. Here you may catch a glimpse of fluffy downy woodpeckers, Wilson’s warbler, or even boreal owls. Be sure to also stay on the lookout for the northern dipper and northern waterthrush.
Not far from Eagle River Nature Center is Goose Lake, located in central Anchorage. Note that all locations we mention in this post are within easy driving distance from each other in your car or Alaska RV rental. After you arrive at Goose Lake on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage, you may be able to see Pacific loons. Many of these creatures nest at Goose Lake right in the middle of the city. Prime vacation season (mid-May through mid-September) is a great time to see the loons on the lake.
John’s Park and Coastal Bluggs is another birding location in the Anchorage area. This southern Anchorage attractions features the three-toed woodpecker, boreal chickadee, white-winged crossbill, and more. You may even be able to spot a bald eagle’s nest, commonly built in the bluff areas and often visible from the marsh. You can stay in the marsh area or even take a hike to the bluffs to go birding for geese, cranes, and other birds that frequent the shore.
If you want to spend a few days birding in one location, you may want to get a motorhome rental in Alaska and set up camp at Chugach State Park just outside of Anchorage. Chugach State Park is a great place to check out one-of-a-kind alpine bird species at the Glen Alps trailhead. Other trails and trailheads within the park feature other alpine bird species, including the golden-crowned sparrow, willow ptarmigan, Townsend’s solitaire, and even the northern harrier. And even though your aim is birds, you may even catch a glimpse of a moose or other AK wildlife in the area!
With hundreds of bird species calling Anchorage, AK home or visiting just like you, Alaska is a great place to go birding. With all the migratory and resident species in one place, you are bound to find birding delight in and around the Anchorage region.
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