Visiting birder tips

In the Skagway area, low elevation areas near the coast always have the most abundant species and numbers.  But higher elevation hillsides and mountains give opportunities for other species.  For hot spots and bird lists, check out the eBird Skagway map and eBirdSkagway bird list, and the Audubon southeast AK birding trail.  And, of course, have a look at our SBC Skagway bird checklist.

We don't generally have a strong summer event calendar - our town's economy is almost completely dependent on the tourist season, which means people are trying to earn their yearly income in the months that the cruise ships are here.  Many people in our bird club are working, often two jobs, during that time. 

For general birding, you can do pretty good on your own.  Around the town proper, you can walk through the residential areas, looking in clumps of trees or shrubs, yards with feeders, and along creeks and the waterfront.  The mouth of the Skagway River and Pullen Pond & Creek are usually good birding spots, and very easily accessible.  The trail to Yakutania Point is short and has only a few rocky "steps" on the way.  The lower Dewey Lake trails are also good, but include some sections of relatively steep trail.  The Skagway Visitor Department puts out a good Trail map, Walking Tour map and Downtown map, look here: town and area maps  There is also a town shuttle service that can reduce the amount of walking.

The Dyea area is less developed than Skagway, but has a bigger river delta and tidal flats, and some historic woodlands that are part of Klondike Park.  It is about 3 miles away as the raven flies, about 8 miles by curvy road.  In between Skagway and Dyea is Nahku Bay, a smaller place but often good birding.  You could rent a car (or scooter or bike) and drive to Dyea, stopping along the way at the many turnouts provided for parking and viewing, and you can look at birds as well as the fantastic scenery, historic markers and perhaps wildlife sightings.  Shuttle services and commercial tours also operate between Skagway and Dyea - the best way to find out what will be available any summer, would be to check out the Skagway Visitor Department website the spring before.  

You could also take a commercial tour or rent a car to drive up and over the pass on Klondike Highway. If you are on your own, you can stop at any pullout for as long as you like.  The scenery is great, and you can do some birding with binoculars from the roadside pullouts or take small hikes according to your abilities.   Although you would see more kinds of birds down by the shore, higher elevation offers the chance to see some birds you are unlikely to see elsewhere.  There are almost always Ptarmigan near International Falls, but they can be hard to pick out in their summer camouflage. If you do this, you must have your passports for going through border stations.