Haller says boat and kayak tours are another way to connect with birds across the bay. That’s in addition to morning bird walks on Beluga Lake, photography at Anchor Point Beach, field sketching classes and kids’ activities and games. Throughout the weekend, there are birding presentations on topics like the language of crows and ravens. The Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is the headquarters of the festival. Spotted sandpiper females mate with several males, then lays eggs in several nests attended by males who may raise other males’ children. So that’s a pretty cool event to be able to see, and it’s free.” So you can just stop by there at high tide and have a glimpse of a lot of the different shorebirds that are around. “We do two viewing stations out at the base of the Homer Spit, Mud Bay and Lighthouse Village, and we have volunteers out there with scopes. “One of the highlights for folks coming here is just going to some of our viewing stations,” she said. Haller says there will be a variety of birding opportunities across local habitats - from the Homer Spit, to the wetlands of Beluga Slough, to the shores of Seldovia, accessible both by paid boat tours and free viewing with local volunteer guides. Some of the birds can add half their body weight in just a day’s feeding.” “And the birds will stop here and feed and feed and feed until the weather and the wind conditions are just perfect to send them farther north. So this is just one of their many stopover points,” Haller said. Up to the Arctic and other national wildlife refuges, and public lands in Alaska.

They’re coming from their wintering grounds, maybe California or even as far as South America, coming back up to the north, a lot of them heading farther north Alaska, even. “So a lot of birds are migrating through. Lora Haller is the visitor center manager with the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, which is co-hosting the festival with the Friends of the Alaska Wildlife Refuges.

The 31st Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival kicked off Wednesday and welcomes back migratory birds, visitors and locals for four days of guided bird walks, boat tours, presentations and activities around the bay. Yellowlegs spend most of their time in tidal marshes, and have a sharp alarm call.

Odysse homer