Anchorage Daily News

Services are limited at Susitna Landing

Camping will be limited and other services unavailable this season as the state tries to hire a private on-site concessionaire to manage the Susitna Landing facility.

The boat launch ramp, parking and restrooms, however, will remain available.

Owned by Fish and Game, the launch is near the confluence of the Kashwitna and Susitna rivers, one mile down Susitna Landing Road at Mile 82.4 of the Parks Highway.

Amenities such as camping, coin-operated showers, boat fuel sales and the store on site won't be offered until a concessionaire is found.

Birds are coming, birds are coming

And Alaska's shorebird festivals will welcome them back.

The 20th Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival is May 7-10 in Cordova, as millions of shorebirds rest and feed during their spring migration. Western Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Dowitchers, Plovers, Dusky Canada geese, trumpeter swans, red-necked phalarope, northern pintails, shovelers and others typically appear.

The festival includes various seminars, workshops and community events. Details at www.cordovachamber.com.

Kenai Fjords Tours and Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises offer roundtrip six-hour trips across Prince William Sound from Whittier to Cordova for the birding weekend.

Xico Vega of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network is the featured speaker.

The 17th Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is the same weekend in Homer. Some 20 species of shorebirds are expected.

Yupik storyteller Jack Dalton and Paul Baicich of the Council on Environmental Education's Bird Education Network are the featured speakers. Web site: www.homeralaska.org.

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