Bald eagle migration now under way in northern Idaho

December 8, 2015

Bald eagles are now congregating at Wolf Lodge Bay and Beauty Bay on Coeur d'Alene Lake, and in the Bayview and Granite Creek areas of Lake Pend Oreille. Numbers on Coeur d'Alene are lower than they have been in recent years, as some of the migrating eagles are stopping at Lake Pend Oreille on the way south. The eagles are taking advantage of easy meals, as mature kokanee salmon complete their life cycle and die after they spawn on submerged gravel. Once the kokanee supply dwindles, the eagles will continue to the Klamath Basin of Oregon/California, or into Southern Idaho and Utah. The bald eagle is unique to North America. When the first Europeans arrived in North America, there were 25,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles. While most people today admire and appreciate the bald eagle, it hasn't always been so. From 1917 until 1952, over 100,000 bald eagles were shot in Alaska (prior to statehood) under the belief they were competitors with humans for salmon. Development in critical habitats, and pesticide use inadvertently had negative unforeseen effects upon eagles. By 1970, there were only 1500 breeding pairs remaining. The Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 prohibited killing of eagles and protected habitats. In 1978, the Endangered Species Act listed bald eagles as "endangered" in 43 states and "threatened" in 5 states providing further protection. Reduced direct killing of eagles and the banning of certain pesticides have enabled eagles to exhibit dramatic recovery. The bald eagle has a wingspan up to seven feet. Males weigh 8-10 pounds; females are larger at 10-14 pounds. Their white heads and chocolate brown/black bodies of adult bald eagles make it easy to recognize them instantly. Young birds have a brown head until maturity at age 4-5. Many immature bald eagles are mistaken for golden eagles. Fish are the preferred fare of bald eagles. Waterfowl, small mammals, winter or road killed deer are also utilized when available. As with all living things; food, water, shelter and space are the essential elements of the habitat of an eagle. If any one of these is missing or unavailable, eagles will not be present. When areas north of us freeze making fish unavailable to them, the eagles head our way. To avoid disturbing the birds, eagle watchers are encouraged to use binoculars or spotting scopes. Watch the body language of the birds you are viewing. If you are too close, they will appear uneasy. Remain quiet and move slowly. It is illegal and unsafe to stop on a public roadway, so please use only parking lots to view eagles. Several blind corners on this road make it very unsafe if people stop on the roadway. The daily life of an eagle in Wolf Lodge includes a dawn flight from an overnight roost over a mile away. Feeding activity begins upon arrival at the lake and continues throughout the early morning. Eagles will locate a fish from the air or a perch, glide over the water, and grab the fish with its sharp talons. Returning to a feeding perch in a tree, the eagle tears pieces off with its beak to eat the fish. Feeding slows at mid-day, then resumes late afternoon before the flight back to the roost. Eagle numbers on in our area generally peak around Christmas Day, but many remain in the area well into January. To catch the peak of the migration on Coeur d'Alene Lake, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has scheduled its 25th annual "Eagle Watch" week event. From December 27-31 at the Wolf Lodge boat launch and the Mineral Ridge trailhead, Wildlife Biologists and Wildlife Educators from the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Fish and Game, and the Coeur d'Alene Chapter of the Audubon Society will be on hand with spotting scopes, mounted specimens, displays and literature about eagles from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. (They will close at 2:00 p.m. on December 31). The BLM has set up an eagle watch hotline for the latest information on eagle numbers on Coeur d'Alene Lake and viewing conditions. The number, (208)769-5048 will be in operation throughout Eagle watch Wweek. Call this number if there are high winds or winter storms to check if the watch is still on for that day. Happy New Year!