Remembering Mr. Whitekeys: An Alaska Original and Champion for Birds

Alaska has lost an original. Mr. Whitekeys, or “Keys,” the beloved entertainer, writer, musician, naturalist, and longtime president of the Anchorage Audubon Society, died October 19, 2026. Known to generations for his humor and political satire, Keys also devoted himself to spreading the love for the birds that make Alaska extraordinary.

Birds were a passion, and he generously shared his enthusiasm and knowledge about the natural world. At Audubon Alaska, we were fortunate and thankful to work alongside Keys on projects that connected people with birds and the habitats they depend upon. He was a treasured partner in the recently updated Birds of Anchorage, Alaska Checklist and the Anchorage Birding Trail. His broad knowledge of Alaska’s birds and habitats, together with an enthusiasm for supporting others in their learning journey, helped bring life to these resources. In his typical personable tone, he offered some of the most memorable bits of wisdom, like, “Birding is easy to begin and impossible to master,” punctuated by a big-eyed smile.

One of our favorite memories of Keys was when he joined Audubon Alaska in 2023 at Utqiaġvik for the Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC) Science and Culture Fair. There, he addressed the audience on the marvels of migratory birds and took adults and children to watch birds across the tundra, introducing people to the wonders of migratory birds in the Arctic.

Key’s commitment to the natural world threaded across time and projects. As longtime president of the Anchorage Audubon Society, one of Alaska’s five Audubon Chapters, he sustained a community of people who share a love of birds and are dedicated to protecting nature. For many years, Keys supported community science by helping lead the Anchorage Christmas Bird Count. After a massive spruce die-off, in 2025 he spearheaded the distribution of thousands of saplings to enhance urban habitat for birds in Anchorage. Keys was a strong advocate and actively engaged in diverse initiatives to protect Anchorage’s wetlands and natural spaces. He recognized that the city’s extraordinary bird diversity and abundance depend on protecting the places birds need to feed, rest, nest, and migrate. His leadership helped strengthen our city and state, and encouraged people to experience and appreciate nature in Alaska.

Keys integrated his diverse talents, bringing a sophisticated humor into environmental education and nature protection. And we will miss that a lot, as humor is an essential ingredient for human well-being.

We will always remember and be thankful for Keys’ productive partnership, his enthusiasm for the natural world, and generosity in sharing his knowledge and talents with all people. We are grateful for the time we had alongside him and for the lasting contributions he made to Alaska’s birding community.