bird treatment and learning center

Caring for Alaska’s wild birds since 1988

and ensuring they remain a vital part of Alaska’s iconic landscapes.

Our Impact

Rehabilitation success stories

From a parking lot to a lake: a Red-necked Grebe gets a second chance at life in the wild!

Thanks to the staff at Doggie Dog World for swooping in to save the day for this Red-necked Grebe! Staff at the doggie daycare found a bird in their parking lot, unable to walk and loudly screaming (sound on the video to hear the scream!). 

When we examined him, we found no injuries—just a very indignant grebe who told us exactly how he felt about us. We returned this lucky bird to a lake where he now has a second chance at life in the wild.

We bet you're wondering how a grebe ended up in a parking lot and why he couldn't walk if he weren't injured. We can't answer the first question other than to say he might have been picked up and dropped by a predator, but we can answer the second. The genus name for grebes, "Podiceps", means "feet at the buttocks" in Latin.  This positioning allows grebes to propel themselves in the water but puts them at a disadvantage on land where they find themselves unable to take off. Read more about Red-necked Grebes.

conservation education

Summer 2025

The Education Team is gearing up for a busy summer!

We’ve already introduced over 350 tourists to Alaska’s wild birds at Potter Marsh. We’ll host another 450 tourists at programs at Bird TLC, and hundreds more at weekly programs at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center. 

This summer’s Avian Teen Crew has 18 members, including many returning members! Avian Adventures Summer Camps for youth ages 7-12 in June and July are filling up.

If that isn’t enough, Ambassador Bird Tuesdays debut this summer! Programs are every Tuesday at 10:00 am from June 10th through August 25th at Bird TLC.