One of the best places to look for wildlife in Fairbanks is at Creamer’s Field. The ease of accessibility – it is within Fairbanks itself, just down the road from the University – makes it popular with visitors and residents alike. And not just of the human variety. The 1800 acres that make up Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge are managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to provide a variety of habitat for both resident and migratory species.

Interestingly, the parcel’s importance as a stopover for migrating birds came about when this was an operating dairy. Yes, that’s right, a dairy, in Alaska’s cold Interior. During the gold rush era, an enterprising couple brought some cows and horses from Nome (of all places!) to the small but growing outpost of Fairbanks to operate a dairy. In 1928 their operation was purchased by another pioneering family, the Creamers, who enlarged and developed the dairy. It remained in operation until 1966.

During the period the dairy was in operation, the fields were planted in hay, peas and oats, all of which was used in one form or another to feed the dairy cows. These open fields were attractive to passing waterfowl and as the dairy grew, so did the number of birds congregating there each year. When the dairy closed and was put up for sale, the community raised funds for its purchase so that the fields would be preserved for waterfowl use. The original dairy buildings are still in place and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game continues to plant the fields of the diary to provide food and refuge for migratory birds. The refuge also includes seasonal ponds and wetlands that host additional species of birds and other wildlife. A network of walking trails provides access, and interpretive signs throughout provide educational information. This refuge is unique in both its management and location.

If you are lucky, you’ll be in Fairbanks when large flocks of Sandhill Cranes pass through. The wide open viewing fields right off of College Road provide great opportunities for viewing their dances – if your timing is right. As with many migratory species, timing is everything; birds may be present in great numbers for a day or two or maybe a week – and then the fields may be bare for another week, until the next wave arrives.

But even if there are not large numbers of birds to be seen, Creamer’s Field is still worth a visit. The list of mammals common in the Refuge is extensive, and includes woodchuck, beaver, porcupine, red fox, moose, and weasel. Bird species common to the refuge (many of which breed there) include grebes, loons, swans, geese, a variety of duck species and shorebirds, various raptors, grouse, owls, woodpeckers, swallows, sparrows and warblers. And like any habitat, it changes with the seasons – you never know what surprises it holds for you, even on repeated visits.