Southeast Alaska Birding Trail Sitka

St. Lazaria Island

Caution! Nesting bird site. Island should only be viewed from a boat.

More than 500,000 seabirds nest on this 65-acre island that is one of the most productive seabird colonies in the State of Alaska. Rising only 160 feet above the Pacific Ocean at the entrance to Sitka Sound, Saint Lazaria Island was established as a refuge for seabirds in 1909. It later became part of the Wilderness system in 1970, and was added to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge system in 1980. The island has two low summits forested with old-growth Sitka spruce. Grassy areas top the cliffs on the island.

Among the tangle of tree roots, are the abundant burrows of nesting Fork-tailed and Leach’s Storm-Petrels, Ancient Murrelet, Tufted Puffin, and Rhinoceros Auklet. In the rocky crevices and on the cliffs of the island other bird species nest including Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Glaucous-winged Gull, and Pelagic Cormorant. Albatross and Shearwaters also feed in waters off St. Lazaria.

The island should only be viewed from the boat and people are asked not to land or walk on the island as nesting burrows are easily destroyed and nesting birds will abandon nests when disturbed.

Directions:

Contact a charter/tour boat business to arrange a boat trip to St. Lazaria Island.

Tufted Puffin.
Tufted Puffin. Photo: Milo Burcham

Birding Resources:

Bird Species Checklist:

Other Resources:

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