If you're a fan of our winged avian friends, then this event is for you! Every year there is a giant migration in Juneau, where millions of birds fly through the area each spring. You can feast your eyes on birds large and small, from eagles to hummingbirds, in the spring Juneau bird migration.
Juneau is such a magnificent area for bird watching! The climate is incredibly diverse with forests, mountains, wetlands, and intertidal areas.
You can find countless nests in the trees and rocks in the surrounding area. In fact, it's not uncommon to see over 280 different bird species building their nests right inside of Juneau.
Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge is the perfect area for some excellent birdwatching.
With over 4,000 acres, many bird species come here to feed and rest. The wetlands offer both fresh and salt water, so there is plenty of different types of food and resting areas for over 140 different species of birds.
The Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge is an excellent area for prime bird watching, as it includes over 9 miles of coastline you can hike.
Make sure to bring your binoculars! You will be guaranteed to see some magnificent sights during your exploration. In fact, there is even great fishing in the area, so bring your fishing rod too if you feel like catching some Alaskan salmon!
Point Bridget State Park is another sought after location for spotting one of the hundreds of bird species flying through the area.
The streams running through this park are filled with Alaska salmon; which many species of birds love! You may get a two-for-one, and run into some bears from the area fishing, too! This park is only 40 miles away from Juneau, even though you may feel like you're in the wilderness.
Some birds, like the Tundra Swans, begin to nest in early spring.
This makes observing them and their nesting habits an excellent activity as early as April. Definitely bring your extra long lenses for your camera for this! Catching birds during their nesting times are a great activity for the little ones in your family, especially if they can use the binoculars too!
Some of the larger birds, like the Bald Eagle, are easy to spot near rivers where salmon are spawning.
These distinctive birds can be seen year round, but are especially visible during migration. You'll even spot the bald eagles in downtown Juneau!
For the most prolific of bird watching, make plans to head to Juneau in April or May.
If you want to see lovely birds building their nests, head out to Juneau in June. But don't wait too long, because the bird population tends to wane by mid-summer. Make sure to check out Wings Over Alaska, a free program where you can find all of the different species identified in Alaska. There have been over 471 identified so far!
Have you ever traveled to the southeast for the Juneau bird migration? What was your favorite species of bird that you saw? Let us know in the comments below!
If you're heading to Juneau, make sure to check out this video, We Dare You Not To Fall In Love With Juneau, Alaska After Watching This Incredible Video!
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