Adak Island Logistics
When to Go
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When to Go The best time for Asian strays is during migration, but rarities have been found year-round. The last two weeks of May are the best in the spring and anytime from mid-August to October can be good in the Fall. December to March is best for Whooper Swans and other wintering waterfowl.
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Getting There Alaska Airlines has two flights per week to Adak from Anchorage. They are currently on Wednesday and Saturday. Currently, 2023, the flights are on Wednesday and Saturday, leaving Anchorage around 12:30 PM and arriving on Adak around 2:40 PM. The return trip leaves Adak around 3:40 PM and arrives in Anchorage around 7:40 PM. Check at www.AlaskaAir.com for rates and schedules. (It ain’t cheap!) It is a three-hour, 1200-mile non-stop flight on a Boeing 737. If the Anchorage-to-Adak flight is cancelled, you usually have to wait for the next
scheduled flight! In other words, if the Wednesday flight is canceled, you can’t
get another flight until Saturday -- although sometimes they schedule a make-up flight the following day depending on the cause of the cancellation. The flight from Anchorage to Adak currently leaves in the afternoon, so I fly into Anchorage the day before, rent a car, shop for groceries, do some birding, spend the night, do some more birding the next morning, and then head to the airport (see food below).
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“Car” Rental Vehicles of various types and vintage are available for rent from several sources (mostly crew-cab pickup trucks). Adak Housing Authority at 907-592-4512 or adakhotel@gmail.com. The "gas station" is open 24/7. Gas was $6.98 per gallon in May 2023. It accepts Credit Cards and is self-service. You insert a credit card, then select a pump (Gas is #2), then press Enter. Once approved, it tells you to go ahead.
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Lodging The lodging consists of townhouses which are a single unit of a four-plex or duplex There are several different styles depending on who you are renting from. Most include two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry, solarium, and garage. Very comfortable. The "extras" -- internet, etc. -- depend on who you rent from. There are several options; The Adak/Aleutian Experience (Best lodging on Adak!) Their lodgings are units of a fourplexes, with all of the amenities above. They also rent vehicles. High-speed Wi-Fi! Adak Consolidated Services Adak Housing Authority at 907-592-4512 or adakhotel@gmail.com for lodging and vehicles. Telephone is best, as their response to email is problematic. AirBNB is now available. Or contact theadakaleutianexperience@gmail.com Aleutian Outfitters. Their lodging is one unit of a duplex or fourplex, with all of the amenities above. |
Food There are "restaurant(s)" and a grocery store. These restaurants come and go, so you will have to wait till you get there to figure out the dining opportunities. Currently (2023) only one restaurant is open in the evenings (Wed to Sat and their schedule is not written in stone), so you will definitely need to bring some food with you (unless you are with a tour group). Everything is expensive out there. A hamburger is $11 (but you get fries!). The grocery store hours vary from season to season, so check on it before you arrive. They are usually NOT open on flight days, so you can't buy food the day you arrive (but as I said, their days and hours vary...)! Their inventory varies with the cargo flights from Anchorage. Depending where you are staying, you can ship non-perishables ahead of time. Talk to your host about that and the best way to do it. Cargo shipments, including US mail, can be iffy, so ship well in advance of your trip. Plan to bring perishables (eggs, butter, bread, fruit, veggies) with you.
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Medical Adak has a clinic that is staffed with a Physician's Assistant or a nurse (staffing often rotates and depends on available personnel). They have a stock of medicines and can treat common non-life-threatening maladies. They rely on medevac to take care of any serious situations. Be sure you have Medical Evacuation Insurance to cover your stay on Adak. If you are on any prescription medications, be sure to bring extra in case your departure gets delayed (see Getting There above).
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Weather Adak is only about 175 miles farther north than Vancouver, BC. Adak is about 51
degrees north, Vancouver is 49. Because of the moderating influence of the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean, the temperature range on the island ranges from the 20s in the winter to the 60s in the summer. In May, the temperatures are in the 40s. In September
in the 50s. Also, the temperature range on any given day is usually only five to ten
degrees. So if it is 38 F in the morning, it may only get up to 45 F in the
afternoon. It can get remarkably sunny in September, so be sure to pack sunblock! Adak means “Birthplace of the Winds.” The good news about that is bugs are not a problem. The bad news is that dickey birds can be hard to find in those conditions. Be prepared for wind and rain. We have generally had rain on at least half the days we have been there, but rarely constant rain all day (although it does happen). Since wind direction and velocity are important to bringing Asian vagrants to the island, here is the best website to see the current wind situation. Adak Winds
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Clothing Dress for the temperatures and weather conditions specified above. Wear waterproof boots (such as Muck Boots or Wellingtons). You will need them to walk the marsh and Clam Lagoon flats. And you never know when you jump out of the car to chase something if you are going into a wet or dry area. If you are unsteady on your feet, bring a walking stick for balance, as the terrain out here is tricky.
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Bird Seed Several "feeders" are designated on my maps. In some cases these are fry pans mounted on posts, others are simply seed scattered on driveways near a tree, another is a big rock, etc. In 2023, I built and shipped four new feeders tom Adak. When I am on the island, I place them at the Seal Drive, Thrush, National Forest, and Blue Building locations. If you are bringing (or shipping) bird seed, please DO NOT GET THE KIND WITH SAFFLOWER OR RED MILLET! The birds out here don’t eat them! Sunflower chips are the best bet. No mess. Note: As you approach the Seal Drive feeder, you will see a fallen-down spruce tree one intersection before Seal Drive. DO NOT PUT SEED THERE! If you do, it splits the flock from the Seal Drive feeder, making it impossible to choose which feeder to watch if a rare bird is visiting. Just use the Seal Drive feeder and everyone will be happy.
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Time Zone and Daylight The time zone (Aleutian) in Adak is the similar to Hawaii, except Adak does recognize Daylight Savings Time.
So it is -9 GMT.
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Internet Access Not all of the lodging options offer internet access. The Adak/Aleutian Experience does. The Adak Aleutian Experience has Starlink, so it is high-speed interent. I don't know what the other lodgings provide. Check with your landlord for internet availablity.
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Telephone There is ATT and GCI cell phone service available. It will not work with other cell phones. And ATT "Go Phones" do not work out there! Also, the cell service does not reach very far out of town. So the Loran Station, Clam Lagoon (except at Candlestick Bridge), Lake Andrew, and Finger Bay have no service. However, you can use WiFi phone service when within your lodging if your service provider allows that (I know Verizon and ATT do). Consider renting a Satelite phone for emergencies.
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Walkie-Talkies It is STRONGLY recommended that you take a set of walkie-talkies (such as the Motorola Talkabout MT352 -- or whatever the latest model is) so that you can communicate with other birders on the island or with other members in your group when you get spread out. On Adak, birders transmit and receive on Channel 7 with Privacy Code 11. So, "7/11." Most everyone uses a Motorola radio that has both DCS and CTSS privacy codes. Several Midland (and other brands) radio models only have DCS codes. They are NOT compatible with radios (Motorola) that use CTSS codes.Make sure you bring a FRS GMRS radio that has CTSS privacy codes as an option. You may have to reach out to the manufacturer to ask the question before you buy. You should set it to 7/11 before you arrive. |
Boat Trips There is one boat trip provider for auklets and other seabirds. Aleutian Outfitters offers boat trips on an as-needed basis. Contact them for details.
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Tours I do my trips on my own, but if you want a tour, I recommend Wilderness Birding Adventures and High Lonesome. Obviously, getting someone to go with you to share the expenses can cut the lodging costs in half or more.
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Land Use Permit Adak requires all visiting birders, hunters, fisahermen, etc. to pay for a Land Use Permit. It costs $30 for a week or $50 for six months. You can download a copy here to fill out before you arrive to save time at the airport.
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