Fowl play, annual migration brings variety of species

April 19, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - Thousands of squeaking, honking geese waddled up and down muddy potato fields on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway on Monday morning. Across the street from the migratory pit stop, morning commuters filled gas tanks and slurped hot cups of coffee.

Overhead, wave after wave of V-formations flew in all directions, filling the skyways with a maze of flapping wings. It's mid-April in the Valley, which means the normally quiet skies now echo with the familiar sounds of migration.

The birds sweep in from as far away as Central America, California and the southern United States. After following the West Coast, they turn inland near Anchorage and head for Mat-Su farm fields for a well-earned rest, where they restock depleted fat reserves. Once rested, they stretch their wings again for a final push north.

As the birds swing through the Valley, people like Bob Winckler, president of Mat-Su Birders, take the opportunity to gaze skyward.

"The big influx is from now to the end of April," Winckler said Monday afternoon. "Most pass on through to the Kuskokwim Delta and the northern part of the state."

Winckler said this is the best time to see a variety of geese, ducks, hawks and other bird species like cranes, swans and eagles as they fly in from around the world and funnel through the Valley.

Many of the birds will be back in August as they head south for the winter, but Winckler said the largest concentration of birds is in the springtime. Their southern migration takes many of them away from the Mat-Su area.

Two bird-watching events will be held this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, at Mile 118 Glenn Hwy. On Saturday, the Anchorage Audubon Society is sponsoring the birding event. Mat-Su Birders will then take over on Saturday at the same location.

"We have a cookout and spend all day," Winckler said. "It's one of the best places in the state to watch birds."

Winckler said swans are often seen flying through like a battle formation, high above many of the hawks and raptors that fly a little lower as they cross the Glenn Highway. A good cross section of people usually flock together for the event, but most of them have a passion for birds.

"People who are interested in birds like to see what's going on," Winckler said. "Others are looking for rarities that they don't normally get to see."

Winckler just likes to get together and compare notes with his fellow birders.

"It's a chance to improve your knowledge of what's going on," he said.

"I still have a long way to go."

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.