Anchorage Joins Other Cities to Protect Migratory Birds

Left to right: Paul Schmidt, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and David Wigglesworth, Municipality of Anchorage, sign the “Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds” on July 26, 2008 in Anchorage
Photo Credit: Ron Laubenstein/USFWS

At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26th at the Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Area, the Municipality of Anchorage and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed an “Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds.”  

Urban areas are critical to the survival of bird species, and birds account for the vast majority of people’s most frequent contacts with wildlife. Each spring, Anchorage residents and visitors marvel at the large concentrations of migrating song birds, shorebirds, and other waterfowl that pass through this city of more than a quarter million people. Over the past several years, birding festivals all over the state have been organized to take advantage of the popularity of bird watching and to support local businesses.

"With this treaty, Anchorage proves, once again, that it belongs among an elite group of forward-looking American municipalities that recognize the economic and quality-of-life contributions that wildlife brings to a city,” said the Service’s Alaska Regional Director Tom Melius.

Since 1999, when New Orleans became the first city to join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in this unique program, municipalities such as Chicago, Portland, Houston, St. Louis, and Nashville have signed Urban Conservation Treaties.

 “Birding and others forms of wildlife viewing directly benefit our local economy,” Mayor Begich said. “We are proud to join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a select group of major cities in the United States to recognize the economic and recreational benefits of migratory birds.”

The Treaty is a voluntary partnership agreement between the Service and the City to increase citizen awareness of the importance of Anchorage to migratory birds. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service challenge grant of $65,000, supported by matching funds or services from program partners, the Municipality and volunteers, will be used to implement local projects.  The projects will focus on the Westchester Lagoon area of town, where thousands of residents and visitors walk, ride bikes and otherwise enjoy the lagoon, surrounding trails, and bird habitat.  Funding will be spent on habitat improvement, a rain garden, and bird inventories.  In the long run, these projects will make the area better for birds and increase opportunities for people to enjoy them.  For more information about Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds visit http://www.fws.gov/birds/urbantreaty.html

The Treaty signing was part of a day of activities also celebrating the official opening of the new wildlife viewing boardwalk and interpretive program at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Area at Mile 112 of the Seward Highway. Other activities included nature-related games and prizes, birding stations along the boardwalk, shuttle tours for wildlife viewing around the marsh, the release of a rehabilitated bald eagle coordinated by the Anchorage Bird Treatment and Learning Center, animals from The Alaska Zoo, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Mobile Aquatic Classroom. Although it was a rainy day, hundreds came out to enjoy the activities.

Last Updated:July 31, 2008