St. Lawrence Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Established in 1912, the St. Lawrence Migratory Bird Sanctuary encompasses the entirety of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, Alaska. The sanctuary covers the whole island which spans roughly 1,791 square miles, providing a vast and undisturbed habitat for millions of seabirds and migratory species. The sanctuary is notable for its diverse avian population, including thick-billed murres, black guillemots, and various species of eiders and waterfowl. The island’s terrain is characterized by tundra landscapes, rocky coastlines, and steep cliffs, creating ideal nesting sites for seabirds. While the sanctuary primarily serves as a protected breeding ground, it holds interest for bird watchers, researchers, and visitors interested in remote wilderness and Arctic ecosystems. Human activity is limited, and access requires careful planning due to the island’s isolation, harsh weather, and limited infrastructure. The island is also home to a small population of Native Alaskan communities who share stewardship in respect of traditional subsistence use. Outdoor recreation options are minimal outside of birdwatching and nature observation due to the lack of developed trails or facilities, but the undisturbed natural environment makes it highly valuable for conservation and scientific study. Visitors should prepare for extreme conditions, variable weather, and limited services. The sanctuary plays a vital role in the preservation of some of the largest seabird colonies in the Arctic and serves as a benchmark for studying climate impact on migratory bird species.