The Utqiaġvik Migratory Bird Festival Is Coming Back for a Third Year

UTQIAĠVIK, Alaska—The third annual Utqiaġvik Migratory Bird Festival will be held at the Fred Ipalook Elementary School and birding hotspots throughout the community from June 12 to 15, 2025. The festival, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Directorate Fellows Program initiative, is a collaboration between Audubon Alaska, USFWS, and other organizations to bring attendees a fun and educational migratory and shorebird-centered experience.

For 2025, organizers plan to bring back the art night, nature journaling and drawing workshops, science talks, and of course, birding tours. All events are free and open to the community, but there is opportunity to purchase merchandise with the 2025 logo featuring the Pomarine Jaeger (Isuŋŋaġluk, Isuŋŋaaluk) designed by Fairbanks artist Addie Willsrud.

The Utqiaġvik Migratory Bird Festival will also act as a launchpad for the Utqiaġvik Birding Trail—a collaboration between USFWS, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Ilisaġvik College, Iñupiat Heritage Center, North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, UIC Science, Tuzzy Consortium Library, and Audubon Alaska. Many thanks go to input from festival organizers Lindsay Hermanns and Aaron Yappert, as well as Iñupiat language resources like Iñupiatun Uqaluit Taniktun Sivuniŋit, the official website of the North Slope Borough, and Indigenous Knowledge Liaison Robin Monġoyak.

“I feel the birding trail highlights how unique and critical the Arctic landscape is for so many migratory bird species, and subsequently, how important migratory birds have been for Arctic communities to celebrate in a place many would characterize as a desolate place,” Hermanns says. “Life abounds in the Arctic!”

The trail details 10 sites throughout town, including the Stevenson Street Beachfront, Freshwater Lake at the end of Imaiqsaun Road, and Nunavaaq Gravel Pit. Site descriptions come with driving directions, special travel notes, and possible bird species sightings for bird tourists and local residents. Utqiaġvik is the economic, transportation, and administrative center of the North Slope Borough. The Utqiaġvik Birding Trail was created as a community asset to grow Alaska's economy through bird tourism and for educational purposes.

About Audubon Alaska
Since 1977, Audubon Alaska has been conserving the spectacular natural ecosystems of Alaska for people, birds, and other wildlife. Audubon Alaska uses science to identify conservation priorities and support conservation actions and policies, with an emphasis on public lands and waters. Audubon Alaska is a program of the National Audubon Society. Learn more at ak.audubon.org.