Bald Eagles Are Back for the Watching

As consistent as the calendar, bald eagles have returned on schedule to Wolf Lodge Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene. The annual migration of these magnificent birds has begun, and the numbers of our national symbol available here for our viewing enjoyment grow every day. As of last Saturday, December 5, about 35 eagles were counted in the combined Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay areas. The eagles are here to take advantage of easy "picking's," as the mature kokanee salmon in Coeur d'Alene Lake have completed their life cycle and are dying after spawning on the submerged gravels in Wolf Lodge Bay. By nature's standards, this is not a long time event. Kokanee were introduced to the lake in 1937 and discovered by the eagles on their normal southward migration in search of open waters and available food. 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 probably the most widely recognized symbol in the United States. It first appeared on a coin in 1776 and officially became our national symbol in 1782. Associated with strength and freedom, the bald eagle is unique to North America. Concentrations are found today in the northwestern Uninted States, Alaska, western Canada, the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River and the U.S. Atlantic Coast. When the first Europeans arrived in North America, there were 25,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles. While most today admire and appreciate the bald eagle, it hasn't always been so. From 1917 until 1952, more than 100,000 bald eagles were shot in Alaska (prior to statehood) under the belief they were competitors with humans for salmon. Other of our actions, such as development in critical habitats and pesticide use, inadvertently had negative effects upon eagles. By 1970, there were only 1,500 breeding pairs remaining. The Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 prohibited killing eagles and first protected the species' habitat. In 1978, the Endangered Species Act listed bald eagles as "endangered" in 43 states and "threatened" in five states providing further protection. Reduced direct killing of eagles and the banning of certain pesticides have enabled eagles to exhibit dramatic recovery. In Idaho, the number of bald eagle nests has grown from 11 in 1979 to well over 100 today. There are about 45 pairs that nest in the Panhandle Region of Idaho. The bald eagle has a wingspan up to seven feet. Males weigh 8 to 10 pounds; females are larger at 10 to 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 to 5. Many immature bald eagles are mistaken for golden eagles. Fish, whether dead or alive, are the preferred fare of bald eagles. Waterfowl, small mammals, winter or road killed deer are also eaten 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, the eagles head our way. Also necessary are suitable large trees used as perching sites for foraging and resting. They require variable amounts of security from disturbance. Some become tolerant of human presence, others are easily disturbed. Bald eagle nests are among the largest in the world. A pair of eagles, mated for life, will add material to their nest annually. Nests can reach up to 8 feet across and 10 feet deep. One nest on Lake Erie in Ohio weighed several tons when it fell from a tree in a windstorm. Mature eagles normally lay two eggs, sometimes three, rarely four. Eggs are laid in late February or early March and hatch following 35 days of incubation by both male and female adults. One successfully fledged bird per nest per year is the norm, because often one nestling will out-compete another for food, and the weaker will not survive. However, on occasion more than one bird successfully leaves the nest and takes flight. To observe eagles on Coeur d'Alene Lake, travel to Higgins Point or Mineral Ridge on Wolf Lodge Bay. Higgins point is probably the safest place to view from, as the Mineral Ridge side of the bay has a very limited number of pullouts and there are numerous blind corners. To avoid disturbing the birds, please use the following precautions. Use binoculars or spotting scopes so you may view details without the need to be close. Vehicles disturb eagles less than walking people do, so parking safely off the road and viewing with binoculars is a good method. Watch the bird's body language. If you are too close, it will appear uneasy. Remain quiet and move slowly. It is illegal and unsafe to stop on a public roadway, so please use turnouts or parking lots to view eagles. The daily life of an eagle in Wolf Lodge includes a dawn flight from a nightly roost more than 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 Coeur d'Alene Lake generally peak between Christmas and New Year's. The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Audubon Society join together to sponsor an annual "Eagle Watch." Events take place at the Mineral Ridge Boat ramp in Wolf Lodge Bay and at the Mineral Ridge trail head in Beauty Bay. This year's dates are December 19, 20, 21 and December 26, 27, 28, and 29. The dates are slightly different from previous years to provide two weekends. Personnel from the various agencies will be on hand these dates from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with spotting scopes, mounted specimens, educational materials and information about eagles. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation will also be holding eagle watching activities at the end of Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive. Parks and Recreation's eagle watch dates are December 12, 13, 19, and 20 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Park rangers will be there with spotting scopes and will be answering any questions visitors have about eagles. Local photographer Tom Michalski will be there with a display of eagle photos he has taken in the area. Bring your thermos full of hot chocolate and make a day of viewing a magnificent bird and national symbol - a sight that few in the country have an opportunity to view at such a close range.