Best Bets

By Delcenia Cosman • September 4, 2025 1:30 am
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A fledged crane colt follows its parent across the Kachemak Bay Campus lawn on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. The other parent was waiting across the street and rendezvoused with these two at Oodalolly’s. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
A fledged crane colt follows its parent across the Kachemak Bay Campus lawn on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. The other parent was waiting across the street and rendezvoused with these two at Oodalolly’s. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Summer is quickly leaving and we’re sliding into fall, but that just opens the door for a whole slew of other community events. For the latest happenings and goings-on this week, check out these Best Bets.

BEST CITIZEN SCIENCE BET: Kachemak Crane Watch will host one final day of citizen science. On Saturday, Sept. 6 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., community members are invited to report all sandhill crane sightings to KCW via email or phone. Include in your report the date, time, location, number of cranes (adults, colts and banded cranes), details of what the cranes were doing, and your name and contact information. Count Days Fly-ins will also take place at the Beluga Slough picnic table from 6 p.m. until sundown. It’s where craniacs gather! See you there! For more information, contact Nina Faust at 907-235-6262.

BEST FISHING LINE CLEANUP BET: The Kachemak Bay Birders will have their eighth annual fish line cleanup on the Homer Spit on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon, and you can help! Meet by the Nick Dudiak Fishing Hole sign to start. Bags will be provided, bring your own gloves. Michelle Michaud is the coordinator. You are also welcome to pick up trash, which will need to be put in a separate bag. If you would prefer to pick up fish line on another day or time, put the fish line you collect in the fish line receptacle when you are finished — the receptacle is made of white plastic and looks like a periscope. Fish line is recycled through Alaska Coastal Studies-sponsored program, Reel In and Recycle. All Kachemak Bay Birding trips and events are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. All trips are free and everyone is welcome to attend. For questions, call Lani Raymond at 907-399-9477.

BEST AMERICAN LEGION CELEBRATION BET: Homer’s American Legion Post 16 is turning 80 years old, and they’re celebrating with a birthday bash on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 3-7 p.m. The community is invited to join the party for live music, raffles, a beer garden and yummy food! Membership not required — though feel free to ask how you can become a member. Mile 2.5 East End Road.

BEST INVASIVE SPECIES EDUCATION BET: On Saturday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. in Kachemak Bay Campus’s Pioneer Hall, join the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center for a presentation on the work they have been doing on invasive species in Kachemak Bay and Alaska. You can also join via Zoom. To register, visit smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XI9TIZAuSuqmPWNGXUxW2g. 533 E. Pioneer Ave.

BEST COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING BET: The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council invites the public to attend the next community council meeting scheduled for Sept. 19 from 12:30-3 p.m. at Kachemak Bay Campus in room P202. The primary purpose of the KBNERR Community Council is to support the Reserve’s research, education and training programs by providing an organized structure for dialogue and recommendations between staff and community members interested in natural science research and education. Learn more about KBNERR at kachemakbayreserve.org/. 533 E. Pioneer Ave.

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