The Alaska Hummingbird Festival in Ketchikan, celebrating the return of the Rufous hummingbirds to the Tongass National Forest.

The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center will serve as the hub for a series of educational and creative events, including a juried art show to promote awareness of the region’s spring migratory birds.

The festival’s series of events includes Saturday morning guided bird walks, the virtual Friday Night Insights lecture series, and Earth Day activities at the Ward Lake Day Use area, documentaries on the big screen at the Center, and more. All programs and activities are free to the public.

Schedule of Events:

April 5, 2024:

5:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Alaska Hummingbird Festival Juried Art Show Opening

Join us for the opening reception of the annual Alaska Hummingbird Festival Juried Art Show, hosted by the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, Cape Fox Foundation, and the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau. Enjoy amazing artwork submitted from around Alaska. Cast your vote to determine the winners of the People's Choice Award and discover the winners in Adult Best of Show, Juvenile Best of Show, Adult First Prize, Juvenile First Prize, Adult Honorable Mention, Juvenile Honorable Mention categories.

April 6, 2024:

8:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Birding with Biologists at Rotary Beach

Meet at Rotary Beach for a guided bird walk with biologists. Spotting scopes will be available for close-up views or bring your own binocular. Alaska birding life list, brochures, and migratory bird information booklets will be available.

10:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Birds on the Big Screen

Join the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Rangers for hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and bird themed documentaries on the big screen in the Discovery Center Theater.

April 12, 2024:

6:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Friday Night Insight: Living in Bear Country, Bear Safety

Join the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the USDA Forest Service for a presentation on bear safety and awareness in the SEADC Theater. Biologists will explain how to stay safe in bear country while hiking and tips and tricks to keep bears out of attractants in town like garbage cans.

April 13, 2024:

8:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Birding with Biologists at Ward Lake

Meet at the Ward Lake parking lot for a guided bird walk with biologists. Spotting scopes for close-up views will be available or bring your own scope or binocular. Alaska life lists, brochures, and migratory bird information booklets will be available.

10:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Birds on the Big Screen

Join the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Rangers for hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and bird themed documentaries on the big screen in the Discovery Center Theater.

April 19, 2024:

6:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Friday Night Insight: Pollinators

Join Forest Service Biologist Ben Limle to learn about the weird, intricate, and wonderful life of pollinators. When hearing the word pollinator many think of honeybees or maybe bumble bees, but there are thousands of species of flies, solitary bees, moths, butterflies, and other little critters that play critical roles as pollinators.

April 20, 2024:

9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Breakfast with the Birds at Totem Bight

Totem Bight State Park presents a guided bird walk, followed by a pancake breakfast, hosted by the Ketchikan Area State Parks Advisory Board.

11:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Earth Day 2024 - Migratory Birds at Ward Lake

Join the SEADC and Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District teams for migratory bird activities and bird watching at the Ward Lake Day Use Area.

10:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Birds on the Big Screen

Join the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Rangers for hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and bird themed documentaries on the big screen in the Discovery Center Theater.

April 27, 2024:

8:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Birding at Ward Lake

Meet at the Ward Lake parking lot for a guided bird walk with biologists. Spotting scopes for close-up views will be available or bring your own scope or binocular. Alaska life lists, brochures, and migratory bird information booklets will be available.

Dates: April 5 - 27, 2024

Location:

Southeast Alaska Discovery Center,
50 Main Street,
Ketchikan, AK 99901.

Click here for more information.