Birdwatching

Drifters Lodge is located in an amazing valley setting on the Kenai River. Birds and waterfowl are abundant and a variety of species are available for viewing. Different seasons bring different species. The following lists are only small portion of the species that are seen from the lodge deck.
TRUMPETER SWANS    From the deck of the lodge see them arrive in April have their goslings and raise them until they can fly.  Then in May watch them take off for northern Alaska returning again in September with their young, feeding heavily and then fly south in November for the fall migration. Some years they stay all winter (2008).
CANADIAN SNOW GEESE stop by for the fall migration
ARCTIC TERNS are the longest migratory bird in the world arrive in the spring from Patagonia, Argentina and then again in the fall fly south to Patagonia, Argentina.
SANDHILL CRANES seen in the spring and then again in the fall (September 5-30)
BALD EAGLES cruise every day on the river in front of the lodge. Local nests are visible along the river in the immediate area of the lodge. Can be seen all year long.
OTHERS: Willow ptarmigan, Black Billed Magpie, Arctic Tern, Red Faced Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Dark Eyed Junco.
DUCKS: Harlequin, Mallard, Spectacled Eider, Wood, Merganser, Scoter, Kingfisher (belted)
BIRDS: Robin, Black Billed Magpie, Red Faced Cormorant, Sellers' Jay, Grey Jay, Ravens, Crows, Black Capped Chickadee, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Varied Thrush, Red Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Spruce Grouse Black Backed Woodpecker, Violet swallow, Green Swallow, Brown Swallow.
OWLS: Great Horned, Short Eared.

Frank Williams & Bob Rima
Kenai River Drifters Lodge