Alaska’s largest wildlife viewing festival honors the return of spring and the breathtaking migration of shorebirds through Kachemak Bay.

The Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge welcome local Alaskans, Visitors, and of course, shorebirds back to Kachemak Bay every year to mark this favorite spring-time celebration. Our Festival continued to be a homegrown success in its 29th year because of local involvement, protected lands, and passionate birders like you.

The annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, held on traditional Sugpiaq and Deni'ina lands in Homer, Alaska, happened in 2021 like never before.  This year the Festival was a hybrid festival, holding space for guided birding excursions, wildlife views and kayaking tours, offered for people of all ages and abilities. The locations of these events ranged from the head of Kachemak Bay to Lake Clark, and along the river and ridges of our community.

And of course, the birds arrived as did the people! At least 17 different species of birds were spotted, including the Ruddy Turnstone which was chosen as this year’s bird of the festival.  

We are all looking forward to 2022 where along with the 'feet on a trail, boat on the water explorations, and fun' of this year, we hope to add sitting together in a room, applauding our speakers, sharing that perfect frame in our binocs-- and our smiles -- while still livestreaming across the world. 

The Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges continues to be a great sponsor with continuous support of the Festival and the Coordinator role in this year of transitioning coordinators.  The AK Friends work well in partnership with US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.  We look forward to seeing you in 2022!

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Birds connect the world!