Pribilof Islands?? Attu?? (Anchorage, Kenai, Homer: 2009, school, pricing)

[cmacf1]

I've posted a few times on the Alaska boards asking questions and advice about our summer 2009 trip to visit friends who moved to Eagle River last year and now I've got another question.

We had thought about a conventional cruise out of Vancouver northbound or Seward/Whitter southbound, but while we loved cruising in the Caribbean, we think cruising in SE Alaska on one of those behemoth ships would be antithetical to our desire to see and experience the natural beauty of Alaska. So we have considered taking the Alaskan ferry, hopping on and off when and where we wish, and you guys gave me some great ideas on that topic last month. Our issue there is our young kids. I know it can be done, but not sure if we want to be hopping on and off ferries with two little kids.

Our Eagle River friends have offered to keep our kids for several days if hubby and I want to go off on our own for a few days to go birdwatching (our beloved hobby that we don't get to do much these days because of our little girls.) I've heard that the Pribilof Islands and Attu in the Aleutians are great for birding. Has anybody been there for birdwatching or for any other reason? Am I crazy to think that a 3-4 day trip to either spot would be worthwhile? We're leaning more toward the Pribilofs. Am I overlooking some other place that anybody out there knows is prime birdwatching?

I appreciate any advice you can give me!

Also, I've been enjoying all the photos in the photo section! Thanks for helping me to get psyched for our trip, though it is more than a year away still .

[Rance]

Those places are way out west. You'd have to fly out to get there and have any time. You might consider a wildlife cruise out of Seward or Whittier. You could drive or take the train from Anchorage and be in either town within a few hours. I highly recomend the overnighter on Fox Island with a wildlife/glacier cruise the following day. A very nice getaway experience out of Seward. With awsome dining and a cool cabin for the night. Lot's of seabird rookeries. Puffins and other seabirds. Also sealion rookeries and a good chance of seeing whales. The trip to Seward is beautiful by highway. Up through two mountain pass's and along turnagain arm. Scenery you won't soon forget.

[rotorhead]

When you're in Anchorage, make a trip out to potters marsh. They've got an extensive boardwalk there and there are plenty of birds.

If you've got a thing for eagles, drive down to Ninilchik, or better yet, hit Haines in the fall. We've got about 4000 or so eagles in town from about Nov. through Feb. or so, feasting on a late salmon run through some ice-free spots in the Chilkat river. Homer has some bird-related exhibit/installation, I forget the name, and Seward has the Sea Life Center (also great for kids). Don't forget that you can take the train from Anchorage to Seward, very scenic in its own right and also great even with young kids. It certainly beats the long and swervy/boring/carsick ride for the youngsters. There are also nesting pairs of tundra swans in the Kenai, but some of their preferred spots are pretty hard to get to unless by air. We have them in Haines too, right by the roadside in spots.

The places you propose have a reputation for hosting some first-class seabird rookeries, but they're WAY out there and are extremely rural even by Alaska standards. Unless you're in contact with some birding resources that have package transport/lodging/tours you may find that you'll need resources unavailable to the casual tourist (skiffs, riverboats, ATV's etc.) to actually reach the spots where the birds are. As always, timing is everything when you're trying to catch specific species in arctic territory, as well.

[cmacf1]

Thanks Rance and Rotorhead!

In my insomnia last night (I'm still on west coast time from a trip last week to Seattle,) I found some birding packages to the Pribilofs that include air, lodging and transportation while there. But WOW are they expensive! I guess the remoteness dictates the cost. I will definitely look into the Fox Island overnighter and the other things you both suggested. 4000 eagles?!?!?!!? The most I've seen at one time is 5 and that was last week in Washington State. Here in Maryland, we consider ourselves lucky to see one! Unfortunately, due to the kids' and hubby's school schedules, a fall trip can't happen, at least not until the kids are out of school and hubby is retired.

Thanks again -- I appreciate your advice and if anybody has more, I'll appreciate that too .

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by cmacf1

I guess the remoteness dictates the cost.

Thats for sure. I was pricing a trip out to Dutch Harbor to take a flight on a Grumman Goose, and man is that trip expensive

[rotorhead]

Yup, at LEAST four thousand eagles. The place is lousy with them in the late fall/early winter. Thank GOD they don't hang out around my place...you think it's bad cleaning up after pidgeons?!?

Funniest thing about eagles is that while they look pretty majestic, they sound like a seagull choking on a squeaky toy.