May
7
7:00 PM19:00
2026 Schedule
The 2026 Shorebird Festival is taking flight!
Click here to view the festival schedule in grid format.
Click here to get your event listed on the Shorebird Schedule.
Filtering by: competition
May
9
10:00 AM10:00
Bay to Bay in May (Bike/Run)
Hartney Bay to Orca Adventure Lodge Race
This all-ages, family-friendly event offers two options:
Bike 6.1 miles from Hartney Bay to the City Center, then run/walk 3 miles to Orca Adventure Lodge
Run the full 9.1 miles from Hartney Bay to Orca Adventure Lodge
The race is not a relay, and the winner is determined by the most average time. Two winners will receive a prize.
Participants can sign up at Bidarki, online through the City of Cordova Parks & Recreation, or on race day at Hartney Bay. A $5 registration fee is required.
For more information, contact the City of Cordova Parks & Rec Dept at (907) 424-7282
May
10
1:00 PM13:00
The Great Cordova Birding Challenge
This is an 8-hour Challenge from 1:00pm - 9:00pm on Sunday, May 10th. Meet at 9:00pm for tallies and awards! Location TBD.
To join, pick up your Birding Challenge Packet at the Welcome Table!
Checklists must be turned into officials before 9:00pm on May 10th.
Teams that fail to meet the 9:00pm deadline will forfeit one bird from their official total for every five-minute period they are late.
Make sure you double-check your checklist to verify that all birds recorded have been checked off. Totals are considered final when submitted. NO ALTERATIONS OR CORRECTIONS MAY BE MADE AFTER CHECKLISTS HAVE BEEN TUNED OVER TO OFFICIALS.
In the event of a tie, the place will be shared.
Please return the form and entry fee to the Shorebird Festival Welcome Table. Fee only applies for non-festival registrants. Make checks payable to the CORDOVA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
May
11
1:00 PM13:00
Bay to Bay in May- Run and Bike
All Ages and Family Friendly From Hartney Bay to Orca Adventure Lodge
Bike 6.1 miles, then run/walk 3 miles
OR
Run 9.1 Miles
May
5
1:00 PM13:00
Great Cordova Birding Challenge
8-hour Challenge 1:00 pm-9:00 pm May 5th.
To join, pick up your Birding Challenge Packet at the Welcome Table!
1. Checklists must be turned in to officials before 9:00 pm on May 9th at Reluctant Fisherman restaurant.
2. Teams that fail to meet the 9:00 pm deadline will forfeit one bird from their official total for every five-minute period that they are late.
3. Make sure that you double-check your checklist to verify that all birds recorded have been checked off. Totals are considered final when submitted. NO ALTERATIONS OR CORRECTIONS MAY BE MADE AFTER CHECKLISTS HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER TO OFFICIALS.
4. In the event of a tie, the place will be shared.
Please return the form and entry fee (fee only applies for non-festival Registrants) to the Shorebird Festival Welcome Table. Make checks payable to the CORDOVA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
May
2
6:45 PM18:45
Bird Trivia & Social Night
Brush up on your birding skills and go head-to-head with other #BirdNerds at the Reluctant Fisherman Bar & Restaurant.
Free and open to all
Audubon Alaska and the local Prince William Sound Audubon chapter will host a fun-filled event featuring local experts and international shorebird biologists. Grab a late-night snack, dessert, and a beverage, and try your luck with other festival attendees.
May
6
10:00 AM10:00
May
4
8:00 PM20:00
Bird Trivia & Social Night
Brush up on your birding skills and go head-to-head with other #BirdNerds at the Reluctant Fisherman Bar & Restaurant.
Free and open to all
Audubon Alaska and the local Prince William Sound Audubon chapter will host a fun-filled event featuring local experts (Mary Anne Bishop, Kate McLaughlin, and Aaron Bowman) and international shorebird biologist (River Gates). Grab a late-night snack, dessert, and a beverage, and try your luck with other festival attendees.
May
4
to May 7
The Bird Call Challenge
Last House up Ski Hill Rd.
Step right up and try your luck at identifying local Cordova bird calls. Get 4 right and win a prize. This is fully automated, interactive game show awaits new contestants at the Towle House Shed.
May
4
to May 28
Agents of Discovery
Download the Agents of Discovery app and join the Forest Service in an interactive game to learn about shorebirds! Discover challenges along the entire Alaganik Slough Road. Once you reach the Alaganik Slough Recreation Area, discover additional challenges as you stroll the Pete Isleib Memorial Boardwalk. This challenge will be active until May 28th.
May
8
9:00 PM21:00
Awards, Great Cordova Birding Challenge
In-Person. Included in Festival Registration
Directly following four-hour in-person Great Cordova Birding Challenge, all are invited to attend and hear reports of what was seen and Awards for the day’s best birding.
May
8
1:00 PM13:00
Great Cordova Birding Challenge
In Person. Included in Festival Registration, sign up required. For more information, contact Milo: milosphotos@yahoo.com.
Compete on teams of 2-4 to see how many birds you can spot and identify in an four-hour period. Join back up with the teams at the end for tallies, tall tales, and fun prizes. Free with registration, sign up your team at the table in the Cordova Center. Not birding but want to hear the tall tales? Join in for the Awards directly following.
May
7
11:00 AM11:00
Bay to Bay in May
Power yourself from Hartney Bay to Orca Bay. Choose from:
9.1 mile run
Bike 6.1 miles, then run 3 miles
Meet at Hartney Bay at 11am. Ends at Orca Adventure Lodge property.
A great point-to-point adventure along a very scenic stretch of road. The fastest times will be published, but the prizes will go to the most average male and female times. That’s right, try to get the median/average time and you may win a fully customizable Copper River Fleece Jacket gift certificate.
Families are encouraged to participate together, or you might want to finish with a friend. All ages welcome. Free event. Not a relay.
Runners will start at 11 am sharp and bikers will start at 11:30 at Hartney Bay. All participants or their parents will need to sign a waiver, but this can happen the morning of the event. PLEASE get there a little earlier if you need to complete a waiver! It is recommended for participants to sign up in advance. There will be no shuttle service from Orca Bay, so coordinate a pick up from a friend or family, or for some of you, just run back to town to pick up your bike. For more information, to sign up, or to volunteer please contact CCMC primary care office at 907-424-8200. See you there!
May
9
9:00 PM21:00
Awards, Great Cordova Birding Challenge
Virtual. Included in Festival Registration
Bird all day and meet on Zoom for the Awards. Not birding? You can still join and hear the tall tales and join in the fun.
May
9
1:00 PM13:00
Great Cordova Birding Challenge
In Person. Included in Festival Registration, sign up required. For more information, contact Milo: milosphotos@yahoo.com.
Compete on teams of 2-4 to see how many birds you can spot and identify in an eight hour period. Join back up via Zoom with the teams at the end for tallies, tall tales, and fun prizes. Free with registration, sign up your team at the table in the Cordova Center. Not birding but want to hear the tall tales? Tune in via Zoom at 8:30pm.
May
7
6:00 PM18:00
Bird Trivia & Social Night
Virtual. Free and Open to All.
Hosted by AUDUBON ALASKA
Brush up on your birding skills and go head-to-head with other #BirdNerds! Tune in for a virtual birders’ social where you can put your skills to the test with this fun and challenging quiz. The focus will be on visual IDs and calls for Cordova birds.