Every spring, thousands of shorebirds migrate through Kachemak Bay, making it one of Alaska’s best birding hotspots. The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival brings together birders, scientists, and nature enthusiasts to celebrate this incredible migration. With guided birding trips, expert talks, hands-on workshops, and activities for all ages, the festival offers something for everyone—whether you’re an experienced birder or just getting started.

COMBINING ART AND NATURE

Shorebirds inspire creativity, and each year we feature a keynote artist, an art auction, and hands-on art workshops to celebrate the connection between wildlife and art. Whether you’re an artist or an admirer, there are many ways to experience the beauty of birds through creative expression.

Schedule

May 7, 2025

7:30am – 2pm: Lake Clark National Park Bear/Bird Viewing - Anchor River State Recreation Area

8am – 12pm: Birding Hot Spots - Anchor River - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

8 – 10am: Fins and Feathers Boat Tour - Homer Harbor

8:30am – 4:30pm: Full Day Boat Tour To Seldovia - Homer Harbor

9am – 12pm: Seabird Ventures - Homer Harbor

9 – 11am: Beaks and Bills AM - Homer Harbor

10 – 11am: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours AM - Synergy Gardens

10:30 – 11:30am: Storytime at the Pratt: Birds! - Pratt Museum

12 – 2pm: Beginner Bird Walk - Calvin and Coyle - Calvin and Coyle Trail

12 – 1pm: Mud Bay Viewing Station

1 – 3pm: Beaks and Bills PM - Homer Harbor

2 – 6pm: Kayaking into the Ancient Past - Homer Harbor

2 – 2:30pm: B.A.R.K. Ranger Walk - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

2:30 – 5:30pm: Shorebird Photography on the Anchor Point Beach - Anchor River State Park Recreation Area

3 – 3:45pm: Be a Citizen Scientist with eBird - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

4 – 5pm: Beluga Slough Family Walk - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

4 – 5pm: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours PM - Synergy Gardens

5 – 6:30pm: International Bird Migration Adventure - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

5:30 – 6:30pm: Bird Survival Video Game Competition - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

May 8, 2025

7 – 8am: Morning at the Marsh - Airport Viewing Platform

7:30am – 2pm: Lake Clark National Park Bear/Bird Viewing - Anchor River State Recreation Area

7:30 – 9:30am: Beginner Bird Walk - Calvin and Coyle - Calvin and Coyle Trail

8am – 12pm: Birding Hot Spots - Anchor River - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

8 – 11am: Cold Duck Time - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: Fins and Feathers Boat Tour - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: The Wise and Wonderful Journey - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

8:30am – 4:30pm: Full Day Boat Tour To Seldovia - Homer Harbor

9am – 1pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour AM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

9am – 12pm: Seabird Ventures - Homer Harbor

9 – 11am: Beaks and Bills AM - Homer Harbor

10am – 4pm: Gull Island Tour with Hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake - Homer Harbor

10am – 2pm: Kayaking with Birds in the Wildlife Refuge - Homer Harbor

10am – 12pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking AM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

10am – 12pm: Storytelling, Birding, and Bites on the Calvin and Coyle Nature Trail - Calvin and Coyle Trailhead

10 – 11:30am: Pre-K Puffins: Surfbirds! - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

10 – 11am: Creating Bird-Friendly Spaces with Native Plants Walk - Seaside Farms

10 – 11am: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours AM - Synergy Gardens

11am – 5pm: Gulls And Glaciology Excursion - Homer Harbor

12 – 1:30pm: Mud Bay Viewing Station

1 – 5pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour PM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

1 – 3pm: Beaks and Bills PM - Homer Harbor

1 – 1:45pm: Is That a Bird or a Plane? Birding 101 - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

2 – 6pm: Kayaking into the Ancient Past - Homer Harbor

2 – 4pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking PM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

2 – 4pm: Shorebirding by Ear - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

2:30 – 5:30pm: Shorebird Photography on the Anchor Point Beach - Anchor River State Park Recreation Area

2:30 – 3:45pm: Bird is the Word - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

3 – 5pm: Surfbird Felt Craft - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

3:30 – 4:30pm: Mud Bay Family Walk - Mud Bay

4 – 8pm: Shorebird Dinner Cruise - Homer Harbor

4 – 6pm: Game Night: Wingspan - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

4 – 5pm: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours PM - Synergy Gardens

May 9, 2025

6am – 2pm: Overlook Park Hike - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

7 – 8am: Morning at the Marsh - Airport Viewing Platform

7:30am – 2pm: Lake Clark National Park Bear/Bird Viewing - Anchor River State Recreation Area

7:30 – 9:30am: Bird Song Bird Walk - Calvin and Coyle

8 – 11am: Cold Duck Time - Homer Harbor

8 – 11am: Coldwater, Hot Birds - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: Fins and Feathers Boat Tour - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: The Wise and Wonderful Journey - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

8:30am – 4:30pm: Full Day Boat Tour To Seldovia - Homer Harbor

9am – 1pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour AM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

9am – 12pm: Seabird Ventures - Homer Harbor

9 – 11am: Beaks and Bills AM - Homer Harbor

9 – 11am: Wildlife Sound Recording with Ben Mirin - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

9 – 10:30am: Shorebird Identification - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

10am – 4pm: Gull Island Tour with Hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake - Homer Harbor

10am – 2pm: Kayaking with Birds in the Wildlife Refuge - Homer Harbor

10am – 12pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking AM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

10 – 11:30am: Birdability Bird Walk at Beluga Slough - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

10 – 11:30am: Pre-K Family Birding Walk - Louie's Lagoon

10 – 11am: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours AM - Synergy Gardens

11am – 5pm: Gulls And Glaciology Excursion - Homer Harbor

11am – 1pm: Bringing Birds to Life: Art Workshop with Danielle Larsen - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

11am – 12:30pm: Birdability Bird Walk - Mud Bay Viewing - Kachemak Drive

12:45 – 2:15pm: Mud Bay Viewing Station - Mud Bay Viewing Platform

1 – 5pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour PM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

1 – 3pm: Beaks and Bills PM - Homer Harbor

1 – 1:45pm: Native Plants: A Lifeline for Birds - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

2 – 6pm: Kayaking into the Ancient Past - Homer Harbor

2 – 4pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking PM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

2 – 3pm: Bird Feet Lab at the Pratt - Pratt Museum

2 – 2:45pm: Alaska's Birding TrailsAlaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge - 

2:30 – 5:30pm: Shorebird Photography on the Anchor Point Beach - Anchor River State Park Recreation Area

3 – 3:45pm: Pukorama - Diets of Seabirds - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

3 – 3:45pm: Where Birds Meet the Beach - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

3:30 – 4:30pm: Family Viewing Station - Beluga Lake Airport Viewing Platform

4 – 8pm: Shorebird Dinner Cruise - Homer Harbor

4 – 6pm: Festival Kick Off at the Pratt - Pratt Museum

4 – 5pm: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours PM - Synergy Gardens

4 – 4:45pm: Gone: Half of Alaska's Common Murres Killed in Marine Heatwave - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

4:30 – 6:30pm: Saw-whet Owl Felt Craft and Trail Adventure - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

5 – 7pm: (Teen) Birds, Trivia, and YOU! - Red Bird Cafe

5:15 – 6:15pm: Film: Flyways - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

6 – 8pm: Game Night: Wingspan - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

7 – 8pm: Shorebird Trivia Night at Alice's - Alice's Champagne Palace, 195 E Pioneer Ave, Homer, AK 99603, USA

May 10, 2025

6 – 7:30am: Morning at the Marsh - Airport Viewing Platform

7:30am – 2pm: Lake Clark National Park Bear/Bird Viewing - Anchor River State Recreation Area

7:30 – 9:30am: Beginner Bird Walk - Calvin and Coyle - Calvin and Coyle Trail

8 – 11am: Cold Duck Time - Homer Harbor

8 – 11am: Coldwater, Hot Birds - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: Fins and Feathers Boat Tour - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: The Wise and Wonderful Journey - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

8 – 9am: Beach Walk and Talk: Shorebirds on the Frontline of Marine Pollution - Bishops Beach

8:30am – 4:30pm: Full Day Boat Tour To Seldovia - Homer Harbor

8:30am – 12:30pm: Upper Kachemak Bay Tour - Homer Harbor

9am – 1pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour AM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

9am – 12pm: Seabird Ventures - Homer Harbor

9 – 11am: Anchor Point Birding - Anchor River State Park Recreation Area - 

9 – 11am: Beaks and Bills AM - Homer Harbor

9 – 10:30am: Bird Trading Card Workshop - Pratt Museum

9 – 10:30am: Shorebird Identification - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

10am – 4pm: Gull Island Tour with Hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake

10am – 2pm: Kayaking with Birds in the Wildlife Refuge - Homer Harbor

10am – 12pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking AM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

10 – 11am: Discovery Lab for Adults! - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

10 – 11am: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours AM - Synergy Gardens

11am – 5pm: Gulls And Glaciology Excursion - Homer Harbor

11am – 12:30pm: Beginner Bird Walk Beluga Slough - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

11 – 11:45am: What did we miss? Automated ear-birding in Homer 24/7 - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

11:30am – 1:30pm: Family Viewing Station and Bird Walks - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

11:30am – 1:30pm: Jr. Birder Discovery Lab - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

12 – 12:45pm: The Surfbird's Secrets: Natural History and Ecology of a Poorly Known Shorebird - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

1 – 5pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour PM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

1 – 3pm: Beaks and Bills PM - Homer Harbor

1 – 2:30pm: Kachemak Bay Kittiwake Observations - Homer Harbormasters Building

1 – 1:45pm: Schantz Scholar Talk: Band Resighting: Citizen Scientist Involvement - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

1:15 – 2:45pm: Mud Bay Viewing Station

1:30 – 5:30pm: Seabirds and Otters at the Homer Bluffs - Homer Harbor

2 – 6pm: Kayaking into the Ancient Past - Homer Harbor

2 – 4pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking PM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

2 – 4pm: Shorebirding by Ear - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

2 – 3:30pm: Wonderful Wings Workshop - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

2 – 3pm: Homer Harbor Bird Walk - Homer Harbor

2 – 2:45pm: Northwest Passage Cruise; a High Arctic Immersion - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

2:30 – 5:30pm: Shorebird Photography on the Anchor Point Beach - Anchor River State Park Recreation Area

3:30 – 5pm: Annual Bird Calling Contest - Homer Brewing

4 – 8pm: Shorebird Dinner Cruise - Homer Harbor

4 – 5:30pm: Bird Wing Investigation and Discovery Workshop - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

4 – 5pm: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours PM - Synergy Gardens

7 – 8pm: Presentation by Keynote Speaker, Ben Mirin: Creative Conservation: Applying Your Passions to Nature - Homer High School

May 11, 2025

6am – 2pm: Overlook Park Hike - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

6 – 7:30am: Morning at the Marsh - Airport Viewing Platform

7:30am – 2pm: Lake Clark National Park Bear/Bird Viewing - Anchor River State Recreation Area

8 – 11am: Coldwater, Hot Birds - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: Fins and Feathers Boat Tour - Homer Harbor

8 – 10am: The Wise and Wonderful Journey - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

8:30am – 4:30pm: Full Day Boat Tour To Seldovia - Homer Harbor

9am – 1pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour AM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

9am – 12pm: Seabird Ventures - Homer Harbor

9 – 11am: Anchor Point Birding - Anchor River State Recreation Area

9 – 11am: Beaks and Bills AM - Homer Harbor

9 – 10:30am: Glowing Auks Workshop - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

9 – 10am: Birder's Coffee - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

10am – 4pm: Gull Island Tour with Hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake - Homer Harbor

10am – 2pm: Kayaking with Birds in the Wildlife Refuge - Homer Harbor

10am – 12pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking AM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

10 – 11:15am: Film: Flyways - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

10 – 11am: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours AM - Synergy Gardens

10:30am – 3:30pm: Friendship Walk - Homer Harbor

11am – 5pm: Gulls And Glaciology Excursion - Homer Harbor

11am – 12:30pm: Surfrider Kenai Peninsula Competitive Beach Cleanup - Homer Harbor

12:30 – 1pm: Jr. Birder Awards Ceremony - Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

1 – 5pm: Flow with the Birds: 1/2 Day Kayak Tour PM - Kachemak Bay Adventures Office

1 – 3pm: Beaks and Bills PM - Homer Harbor

2 – 6pm: Kayaking into the Ancient Past - Homer Harbor

2 – 4pm: Homer's Homestead Hiking PM - Twin Creeks Trail Head Lodge

2 – 3:30pm: Mud Bay Viewing Station

4 – 8pm: Shorebird Dinner Cruise - Homer Harbor

4 – 5pm: Organic Farm, Tunnels and Botanical Garden Tours PM - Synergy Gardens

Buy Tickets

Date: May 7 - 11, 2025

Location: Kachemak Bay State Park

95 Sterling Highway Suite 2, Homer, AK 99603

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