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Leo and Dorothy Keeler. Favorite Places
 Round Island, located in Bristol Bay, is a great place to photograph puffins and walrus. The State of Alaska established the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary to protect the walrus that come here to haul outof the icy sea and warm up. It is the primary haul out for male walrus, with up to 15,000 being seen on the beaches at one time (though 4-5,000 is normal). There are several bird rookeries in the cliffs of this island and many are within good photograpic distance. Horned puffins are likely the most photographed bird on the island, mainly because they occupy the penthouse at the top of the cliffs, near the trails that photographers use. Access is limited to the island with special camping permits required, and beach walking prohibited - so as not to disturb the walrus. Travel to the island requires special access and camping permits. Visitors normally fly commercial jet service to Dillingham then take a commuter service to Togiak, where a charter boat operator can be hired to take you to the island. Permits can be obtained from the Department of Fish and Game at 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage AK. 99518, Travelers are advised to make sure they have camping reservations, all travel, including a boat charter service, arranged before beginning the trip, and to expect several bad weather delays. |
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 Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park is another good place to photograph Alaskan Brown Bears. The waterfalls there create a barrier that fish must jump over to proceed to the spawning grounds, and bears have learned how to catch fish here - in mid air. This is the location where most photographs of bears catching jumping fish are obtained. The Park Service manages a campground with about 30 campsites and Katmai Lodge is run on a concession permit. The lodge is normally booked about two years ahead, but tent camp sites are issued annually by the Park Service. For information on camping at Brooks Camp, call the Park Service at 907-271-2737McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is such a special place that we have joined and become leaders of FRIENDS OF MCNEIL RIVER, an advocacy group working to protect these unique bears. The McNeil viewing program is operated by the State of Alaska, through a lottery drawing system for only 10 permits per day. This control of people, not bears, has allowed the bears to fully accept people in the area, to the point they will nurse their cubs within 20 feet of astonished viewers. Good bear viewing areas managed by the National Park Service include Brooks River, Katmai National Park, and Denali National Park . Viewing sites managed by the U.S. Forest Service include Pack Creek, brown bear viewing area on Admirality Island and Anan Bay, near Wrangell, Alaska. Though these areas are good viewing opportunities, they are also often crowded. Many Alaska tour operators or air charter services offer specialized bear viewing trips. One we know that has excellent service, knowledge of bears and where to find them is Kachemak Air Service, P.O. Box 1769, Homer, AK 99603, (907) 235-8924. Cordova Shore Bird Festival, the first week in May, is a great time and place to photograph millions of birds returning from wintering down south, to nest throughout Alaska. They stop on the Copper River Delta at Cordova to feed and rest. Cordova is located about 100 miles south of Anchorage and hundreds of species of birds, totaling millions of birds can be found there each spring. The Copper River Delta is often referred to as the land of a million heart beats. The Delta has been recognized by the World Heritage Foundation and is classified as critical habitat for migrating shorebirds. Information on the Shore Bird Festival can be obtained from the Cordova Ranger District, Chugach National Forest at (907) 424-7661, or by writing to P.O. Box 280, Cordova, AK 9957
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