Important Bird Areas

To conserve birds by identifying, monitoring, and protecting critical bird habitats in Alaska

Horned Puffin Photo: John Schoen

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are exactly what their name implies: places or habitats that are essential for bird populations. The goal of the IBA program is to conserve birds by identifying, monitoring, and protecting critical bird habitats. Because habitat loss is the most serious threat facing bird species across North America and around the world, Audubon’s IBA program is a site-based initiative to address habitat loss through community-supported conservation.

A global initiative of BirdLife International, implemented by Audubon and local partners in the United States, IBA is an effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to breeding, migrating, and wintering birds. Because of the vast, intact habitats in Alaska, there are more globally significant IBAs in this state than any other in the U.S.

Bristol Bay
Important Bird Areas

Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay is home to dozens of global Important Bird Areas and one of the world’s largest concentrations of seabird colonies.

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Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
Important Bird Areas

Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

This area of Southeast Alaska is home to the largest gathering of Bald Eagles in the world.

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Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Important Bird Areas

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Izembek is an important migration and breeding area for many species.

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Taashuyee-Chookan.aani/Mendenhall Wetlands
Important Bird Areas

Taashuyee/Mendenhall Wetlands

The Mendenhall Wetlands are of outstanding value to waterbirds, certain grassland and wet-meadow songbirds, and raptors, and are a key migratory waterfowl and shorebird stopover location on coastal Alaska.

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