Eagles arrive early in Cd'A
A bald eagles catches a Kokanee salmon Thursday afternoon near Higgens Point. The fish come to spawn at the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, drawing dozens of eagles to the area every year. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Two bald eagles sit at the top of a tree near Higgens Point Thursday afternooon. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
A bald eagle soars through the air looking for Kokanee salmon Thursday afternoon near Higgens Point. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
A large number of bald eagles have already migrated to Lake Coeur d’Alene to feed on spawning kokanee salmon.
Carrie Hugo, wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management Office in Coeur d’Alene, conducted the first eagle count on Tuesday and spotted 47 adults and eight juveniles for a total of 55 birds.
Hugo thinks this may be one of the higher totals for this time this year.
The bald eagles visit Lake Coeur d’Alene annually from November to February. The migration starts slow and peaks in mid-December to early January. Last year, 37 eagles were counted by BLM on Nov. 16. By Dec. 20, the number swelled to 383, the highest number of bald eagles counted at Lake Coeur d’Alene since BLM started conducting counts of the birds.
In 2016, 26 bald eagles were counted on Nov. 20, and in 2015, zero birds were counted on Nov. 19.
This year’s early arrival of a greater number of birds means it’s likely those who take the BLM’s annual Veterans’ Eagle Watch Cruise on Saturday, Dec. 1, will have an opportunity to view bald eagles in flight above Lake Coeur d’Alene and public lands in Wolf Lodge Bay.
The two-hour, interpretive cruise is offered by the BLM in cooperation with Lake City Cruises at no charge for military veterans, active duty personnel and their families who have never participated in the event before.
Boarding for the Veteran’s Eagle Watch Cruise begins at 9:30 a.m. The cruise will depart at 10 a.m., returning to The Coeur d’Alene Resort dock by noon. Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise boats are moored on the east side of the Coeur d’Alene Resort during the winter months with paid parking available in the McEuen Field parking lot.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. today, Nov. 16, until space is filled.
Reservations are not taken in advance and group size is limited to six people, including military veterans/personnel.
Call 208-769-5004 to sign up. Due to the popularity of the annual event, prior year participants are asked to refrain from calling to register so others will have an opportunity to attend.
The cruise is expected to fill quickly and the current status of available seating will be posted on BLM Idaho’s Facebook page. BLM personnel encourage checking this page before calling.
The BLM encourages participants to dress warmly, bring binoculars and cameras, and be prepared to learn about these spectacular birds that migrate to the Coeur d’Alene area during the winter months.