Page 178 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

photos by
Milo Burcham & Chelsea Tracy

sandpipers. A lucky visitor might catch a gorge themselves in solidarity with the birds May. The arrival of the birds coincides with the
glimpse of a peregrine falcon in hot pursuit throughout the week—although it is not annual migration of fishermen and women
of its next (unlucky) meal. The festival is also recommended to double in weight as our returning to their boats from all corners of
Each May, photographers, families, nature from the southern tip of Chile to Alaska are Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve a mecca for wildlife photographers, who can sandpipers do. In addition to annaul festival the world. The locals are friendly and enjoy
lovers, and adventurers hailing from Alaska crucial for the birds’ survival as resting and Network. The Delta encompasses 700,000 easily observe large flocks and feeding birds. events like the Pioneer Pie Social, Cordova the visitors that appear during the spring and
and around the world gather to observe feeding grounds. Although some of these acres, making it the largest contiguous A family could be viewing shorebirds next to offers several delightful options for dining summer months. You’ll be hard-strapped to
one of the Earth’s most spectacular natural wetlands are protected, many are threatened wetland on the Pacific Coast of North a photographer for National Geographic, or out on your own after a long day of watching find a more welcoming community in Alaska.
phenomena. They assemble in Cordova to by development, pollution, and climate America. It contains expansive mudflats, sitting next to the author of a world-renowned the birds. World-renowned speakers are Although disconnected from the main
welcome and celebrate the brief visit of far change. Shorebird conservation relies on freshwater ponds, rivers, peatlands, and bird guide series at a community talk! also drawn to the festival, providing a great road system, visitors can travel to Cordova
more distant travelers: the shorebirds. The collaboration across country boundaries, dune-covered barrier islands. This landscape via Alaska Airlines or the Alaska Marine
Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival is between government agencies, local is what provides the migrating shorebirds a Highway system (from Whittier or Valdez).
something you do not want to miss in your organizations, and community members. It key stopover on their way north, and again on Getting to Cordova is part of the adventure
lifetime. is these partnerships that make a difference their return south at the end of summer. with breathtaking views from your plane or
Millions of shorebirds journey from the for conservation throughout the range. The birds congregate here to rest and gorge boat that show the vast expanse of this great
southern hemisphere (some from as far The Copper River Delta is one of the most themselves on tiny crustaceans and other land. Visitors will find a variety of hotels and
south as Chile) to their breeding grounds in important flyway stopovers, so much so that it invertebrates on the mudflats before pushing other accommodations to complement their
northern Alaska. Because of the migration, has been designated as a site of “Hemispheric onward to the final leg of their journey. Many Cordova experience. The Cordova Chamber
the wetlands that fall along the Pacific flyway importance”, the highest-ranking in the shorebirds can double their weight within the of Commerce has a current list available on
days of their well-deserved Delta rest. Then, their website (www.cordovachamber.com).
like schools of fish flashing through the air, The sweeping landscapes, the birds, and
they suddenly take off with stunning agility, as most certainly the people of Cordova will
if rejoicing in the gift of flight. The beauty of entice you to stay in this little town forever. Or
this “Avian Aurora”, as it has become known at least to come back next May, for the return
there, is something that can only be truly of the shorebirds…
experienced in person; coordinated bodies
swooping and gliding over the flats to the Cordova’s Copper River Delta Shorebird
song of hundreds of feathers plying the air. Festival is usually Thursday-Sunday around
Opportunities for excursions to view the the first week of May in order to take full
birds abound during Cordova’s Copper River advantage of the migration patterns of the
Delta Shorebird Festival. Locals and visitors shorebirds, which typically peak around May
alike travel to Hartney Bay, only 5 miles from 8th. For more info, visit www.coppershorebird.
downtown Cordova, to observe the migration. The festival includes a variety of activities opportunity to learn more about shorebird com or call the Cordova Chamber of
Expert guides share knowledge about species outside of the mudflat excursions including migration, international collaborations, and Commerce at (907) 424-7260.
identification, migration routes, and more. The field trips to Alaganik Slough (a freshwater the amazing Cordova landscape.
easily accessible area provides birdwatchers wetland on the Copper River Delta), art Cordova itself is an enchanting place.
with an opportunity to see flocks of up to workshops, kids’ activities, and guided Nestled between Prince William Sound and
50,000 birds at a time flying in unison over the boating trips. There are many opportunities the towering Chugach mountains, the small
mudflats. Shorebirds that frequent Hartney for Shorebird Festival attendees to fully fishing town is just starting to come alive for
Bay include western sandpipers, dunlin, partake in the migration experience and the commercial salmon fishing season in early
whimbrels, black bellied plovers, and least

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