Salmon are not the only thing migrating to Alaska. Every spring the skies and trees are alive with over 470 species of birds, several that you will never see anywhere else in the world.

Birdwatching or “birding” has increasing in popularity over the last few years as people look for new outdoor activities. Not since the days of John James Audubon have nature lovers given so much attention to birds. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which tracks wildlife recreation, birdwatching is now a hobby of 47.8 million Americans, with “wildlife watching” up 8 percent from 2000 to 2006.

The Kenai Peninsula is a must for any birdwatcher, it is not uncommon to see 30-40 species per outing.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge includes more than 200 miles of waterways and trails. The refuge hosts nearly 70 documented birds that live in, nest in, migrate through, and fly over the area. Trails from Skilak Lake and Swanson River roads as well as right off the Sterling Highway, lead to great opportunities to spot some of the refuge’s many birds.

A short hour and half drive from the lodge is Seward, where you can go on a cruise into the Kenai Fjords National Park. There you will see thousands of seabirds, including the Tufted and Horned puffin, kittiwakes, auklets, bald eagles, murrelets, and many more species in their natural habitat. As a bonus, visit the Alaska Sealife Center while in Seward where you can get an amazing view of the puffin diving under water. www.alaskasealife.org

Homer, also an hour and a half from the lodge, is a mecca for birdwatchers. From Homer hills to across Kachemak Bay, the odds are good to see a possible 241 species of birds — over half the possible 471 species in Alaska. Homer is host to the annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. The 2010 festival is scheduled for May 6-9, and will feature workshops and presentations for beginners and experts alike, family activities, craft fair, Wooden Boat Festival, and special birding cruises. For more information go to: http://www.homeralaska.org/events/kachemakBayShorebirdFestival/index.htm

I personally love having birders stay at the lodge and hearing about their sightings , and looking at their photos. It is infectious, and you find yourself looking and listening for birds in the hopes of seeing a new species. Hope to see some of you avian enthusiast this spring and summer.

Happy Birding!

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Clams may be dug at any minus tide, but a tide of minus two feet or lower is recommended for the best results. See table below for the 2010 clam tides

Pinks are a great way to introduce kids or non-anglers to fishing. It is almost impossible not to catch them if you have a line in the water.

Their run begins in mid to late July and generally last for 3-4 weeks.

For more information on pink salmon I recommend visiting the following page: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/fish/pink.php

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There have been a lot of changes in the last few years at Hi-Lo. We still have Albert and Stanley, two of the best guides on the Kenai, and now they have a shiny new aluminum dock to strut down. Stanley thought his old boat looked bad tied up to the new dock, so he got a new one.

Last summer Hal and Vicki, added a new deck system to Hi-Lo, and remodeled the units. We also moved the gazebo and picnic table to the property across the street, so now anyone staying at the 4-plex has a great place to grill and hang out while waiting on the moose to show up at the pond.

Our web site was also rebuilt in 2009. Check out our blog often..and feel free to offer your ideas, fish stories, and recipes.

We listened to your suggestions and we are proud to finally offer satellite in each unit.

Looking forward to the project coming up in the spring of 2010…a make-over for the office!

I made this dish for a dinner party last month and everyone loved it. It is now one of my favorites. I served it with saffron rice and steamed asparagus. Easy, Quick, and Yummy!

2 lbs salmon skinned

1 cup mayo

1 cup sour cream

½ cup chopped onion

Garlic powder

Plain bread crumbs

Parsley

Mix mayo and sour cream in bowl. Add chopped onion. Spoon small amount of mixture into a glass casserole dish, and spread. Place salmon into casserole and sprinkle with garlic powder. Spread remaining mixture onto salmon, and top with bread crumbs and parsley.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes. Check center of fish with fork to test.