ABO - Birding Around Fairbanks

Alaska Bird Observatory

Good Birding Spots Around Fairbanks

Always check the Arctic Audubon Society's Birding Hotline, (907) 451-9213.

The new Birder's Guide to Alaska has detailed descriptions of birding in Alaska, including Interior Alaska. Written by George C. West and published by the American Birding Association, the Birder's Guide to Alaska is available from the ABO Store.

Notes and directions are below. Or click on a black place name for specifics.

Birding Area and Potential Birds

Directions and Tips

Creamer's Refuge - Cranes, geese and waterfowl during migration, songbirds in season, occasional raptors. See Creamer's Field Checklist of Birds

Take College Road to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game offices, located at 1300 College Road. Take the access road north the the Visitor Center and Barn. Maps are available at the Visitor Center and in the kiosk at the trail head or here's a primitive one.

Tanana Lakes Recreation Area (formerly called South Cushman Ponds) - Waterfowl and shorebirds during migration, gulls and terns. Excellent birding during spring migration, late April to late May. See Checklist of Tanana Lakes Birds.

Keep following Cushman Street south of Airport Way until it turns to a bumpy gravel road. Okay, they are gravel pits and not ponds. The best ponds are on the west side (right southbound). It's sometimes possible to drive down to the ponds but check the muddiness carefully. Cushman loops around to the south and west side of the ponds, but be careful.

Aiport Ponds - Waterfowl and shorebirds; sometimes thrushes and warblers in adjoining woods; gulls and terns on the south east side by the river.

The best viewing is often in the ponds by the exit from the airport. Follow Airport Way all the way around past the terminal, and park in the area around the southwest shore of the east pond. Mind the traffic. You can lawfully drive all the way around the runways, and there are ponds and birds at many points.

Smith Lake - Waterfowl and shorebirds, gulls and terns; occasionally owls and other raptors.

Take the Parks Highway to Old Nenana Highway exit. At the railroad tracks, turn left onto Sheep Creek Road and follow it one-quarter mile. Smith Lake will be intermittently visible through the brush on the north side of the road. A swampy track at the culvert will lead you to the south shore of Smith Lake. Obey parking restrictions. The lake is also accessible from the Skarland Trail system on the University of Alaska campus.

University Arboretum - Thrushes, warblers and other forest species.

From the Smith Lake stop, continue west on Sheep Creek Road to Miller Hill. Turn right on Miller Hill and drive to the top. Turn right again on Yankovich Road and follow it to the University of Alaska Large Animal Research Station on the left. Park there, and cross back over Yankovich to the trails into the Arboretum. Oh yeah, there are musk oxen and reindeer at the Large Animal Research Station, and they're cool even if they don't have feathers.

Birding Area and Potential Birds	Directions and Tips
Creamer's Refuge - Cranes, geese and waterfowl during migration, songbirds in season, occasional raptors. See Creamer's Field Checklist of Birds	Take College Road to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game offices, located at 1300 College Road. Take the access road north the the Visitor Center and Barn. Maps are available at the Visitor Center and in the kiosk at the trail head or here's a primitive one.
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area (formerly called South Cushman Ponds) - Waterfowl and shorebirds during migration, gulls and terns. Excellent birding during spring migration, late April to late May. See Checklist of Tanana Lakes Birds.	Keep following Cushman Street south of Airport Way until it turns to a bumpy gravel road. Okay, they are gravel pits and not ponds. The best ponds are on the west side (right southbound). It's sometimes possible to drive down to the ponds but check the muddiness carefully. Cushman loops around to the south and west side of the ponds, but be careful.
Aiport Ponds - Waterfowl and shorebirds; sometimes thrushes and warblers in adjoining woods; gulls and terns on the south east side by the river.	The best viewing is often in the ponds by the exit from the airport. Follow Airport Way all the way around past the terminal, and park in the area around the southwest shore of the east pond. Mind the traffic. You can lawfully drive all the way around the runways, and there are ponds and birds at many points.
Smith Lake - Waterfowl and shorebirds, gulls and terns; occasionally owls and other raptors.	Take the Parks Highway to Old Nenana Highway exit. At the railroad tracks, turn left onto Sheep Creek Road and follow it one-quarter mile. Smith Lake will be intermittently visible through the brush on the north side of the road. A swampy track at the culvert will lead you to the south shore of Smith Lake. Obey parking restrictions. The lake is also accessible from the Skarland Trail system on the University of Alaska campus.
University Arboretum - Thrushes, warblers and other forest species.	From the Smith Lake stop, continue west on Sheep Creek Road to Miller Hill. Turn right on Miller Hill and drive to the top. Turn right again on Yankovich Road and follow it to the University of Alaska Large Animal Research Station on the left. Park there, and cross back over Yankovich to the trails into the Arboretum. Oh yeah, there are musk oxen and reindeer at the Large Animal Research Station, and they're cool even if they don't have feathers.

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