Our Annual Hawk Watch Weekend in collaboration with the Mat-Su Birders will take place this year on April 21 & 22nd. It’s the Greatest Event of the Birding Year in Alaska!
Our Hawk Watch is known as “The Harlan’s Hawk Capital of the World” because you’ll see more Harlan’s Hawks here than anywhere else on Earth.
There is no ornithological tailgate party like this anywhere in the country, and this year we know of at least one birder who’s traveling all the way from Utah for the event.
Celebrate the return of spring migrating raptors with this annual Anchorage Audubon field trip of the spring. Migrating raptors that can be seen along the ridge line near MP 118.8 include Golden Eagle, Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, and Merlin. Swainson’s Hawk and Osprey have also been seen migrating through this area as well as Swans, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings, and the occasional Northern Hawk Owl. Bring warm clothing, binoculars, spotting scopes, lunch, snacks, and lawn chairs and sit back while you watch migrating raptors glide over the nearby ridge. Meet at 10:00 AM at the waysides at Milepost 118.8 of the Glenn Highway. A short raptor identification talk will take place at 10:30 AM.
A special birder’s banquet will be hosted by the Sheep Mountain Lodge on Saturday night, and plans include a talk by the Professional Hawkwatchers from Hawkwatch International who once again will be conducting an entire-migration census of the site during March, April, and May. On Sunday, April 22, the Mat-Su Birders will host their annual Hawk Watch Potluck BBQ at the same location.