Flocks of shorebirds, dominated by Western sandpipers gather along the shores of Hartney Bay, Copper River Delta, Prince William Sound, Alaska, to refuel during their migration to summer nesting grounds. (© Patrick J Endres / www.AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
The small community of Cordova, Alaska hosts a shorebird festival in early May to commemorate the epic bird migration through the Copper River Delta, situated on the eastern shores of Prince William Sound. The region serves as a major refueling stopover for many shorebirds, including the tiny Western Sandpiper, who are flying to their nesting grounds further north and west in Alaska. Watching flocks of shorebirds rise and fall like swarms of bees, moving along the muddy flats looking for food is a visual and audio experience. The muddy tidal flats are long at low tide, providing the birds’ access to a rich food source. Once the tide rises and water covers the intertidal zone, the birds congregate in tight groups to rest creating a carpeted pattern of beautiful feathers.
