Gates Of The Arctic Birds

Of the wildlife living in or migrating through Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska, about 134 species are birds, according to the park’s species checklist. While the summer season in this national park and preserve is short, the hours are longer and provide plenty of sunshine. Visitors may see aquatic birds like shovelers and teals, raptors like eagles and hawks, and many songbirds like Smith’s longspur and Northern wheatear, most of which are migratory. They will also see some year-round inhabitants like ravens, chickadees, American dippers, and ptarmigan.

Birds are an important food source not only for the park and preserve’s predators, but also the Nunamiut people of Anaktuvuk Pass who rely on subsistence hunting.

Birding in the park and preserve is a popular activity for both hikers and those boating the rivers. If you enjoy birding or are a bird photographer, remember to pack binoculars or a camera.

In addition to Gates of the Arctic, there are also opportunities for bird sightings along the Dalton Highway paralleling the park’s eastern boundary, Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass and Coldfoot.

Here are a couple of birding tips from park staff:

• Nearly half of the birds recorded in Gates of the Arctic live and nest in aquatic habitats.
• Like many animals, birds are often more active in the morning and evening. Because the sun never sets in the summertime, the earlier you start or the later you stay up, the more success you will have.

Check out this table of common birds found in Gates of the Arctic.