The 36th Annual Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival kicks off later this week with four full days of programming, from May 7-10.
The annual event, which showcases local shorebird and waterfowl migration on the Copper River Delta, has brought birders and nature enthusiasts together for more than three decades.
“Come for the birds, stay for the breathtaking scenery, the unique culture, and the chance to celebrate with us as we mark our 36th year,” festival officials say.
Every year around this time, nearly 5 million birds traveling from as far south as Peru in South America rest on the Copper River Delta’s tidal flats before continuing their migration. According to festival officials, the Delta in Cordova may seem remote, but it’s actually “a cosmopolitan highway for migrating birds from throughout the Western Hemisphere.”
An array of birds can be spotted near the Alaganik Road & Slough boardwalk, along Cordova’s many hiking trails, on open water in Boswell and Hartney Bay, on the way to the Big Islands, on the intertidal margins, and even along the Copper River Highway and in town.
The four-day event also features educational presentations by avian experts. Rob Clay, a 20-year veteran in the migratory bird conservation space from the United Kingdom, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Local speakers and presenters include Brooke Kwiik Mallory of the Native Village of Eyak, Dotty Widmann of The Net Loft, and Erin Cooper of the U.S. Forest Service.
In addition, the festival offers classes, guided birding trips, kids activities, art showcases, social events, and more.
Raffle tickets to win an Alaska Airlines roundtrip flight for two are also available online. Ticket sales support festival programming.
For the full schedule, information about tours and activities, and more, visit coppershorebird.com.
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