Birding brings bucks to Alaska
Brenda Wright has been birding for 30 years, slogging through the Mendenhall Wetlands, strolling down Eagle Beach or hiking up the Perseverance Trail in search of some of the hundreds of species of birds that call Juneau home. But her most exciting discovery was a barred owl, spotted last month in her own backyard.
"They're not common in Juneau, but they live here," said Wright, president of the Juneau Audubon Society.
Wright is one of many Alaska birders, as well as nonresident enthusiasts, who enjoy watching for the state's 460-some species of bird. And according to a recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report, out-of-state birders provide a significant boost to Alaska's economy.
Close to 160,000 people from out of state come to Alaska to birdwatch each year, according to the report, "Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis." The report estimates their annual economic contribution at more than $76 million.
"This report underscores the economic importance of birdwatchers to Alaska, and demonstrates exactly why it's essential that we continue to work with our partners to restore and protect habitat to ensure healthy bird populations," said Rowan Gould, FWS Alaska regional director.
The report found that more than one-third of Alaska residents are birders. The report defines a birder as an individual who travels a mile or more from home for the primary purpose of watching birds, or someone who closely observes or tries to identify birds in nature near the home. According to the report, 40 percent of birders said they travel to pursue the pastime.
Wright said Juneau is a destination for many birders in the springtime.
"I think the migratory shorebirds are the biggest draw. This is a destination for quite a few people in the springtime," she said.
Karla Hart, the program coordinator for a state birding program called "Wings Over Alaska," said people came from all over North America in the late 1980s to mid-1990s to see Steller's sea eagles, which took up residence on the Taku River south of Juneau. The eagle, one of the world's largest, is native to northeast Asia and is about 50 percent bigger than a bald eagle.
Hart's program awards certificates to residents and nonresidents who identify 50, 125, 200 and 275 species of birds in the state. Nearly 300 species of bird have been observed to date in Juneau.
Since April, the program has awarded about 150 certificates, including about 50 to out-of-state residents, she said.
"For the most part it was people who came up during the summer. We're getting people to have a certificate and take it home and maybe their birding friends will say, 'How did you get that? Oh, OK, I'll go up there!' "
The Mendenhall Wetlands is the primary birding place in town, she said.
"You can also go up Gold Creek and Sheep Creek for the warblers. Over by Dredge Lakes is really good. And this year I've been getting reports from a few of the birders who have been spending quite a bit of time at Point Bridget State Park. There's a place out there that serves as a little bit of a funnel for the hawks," Hart said.
• Masha Herbst can be reached at masha.herbst@juneauempire.com.