Eagle count will likely push record
BRIAN WALKER/Press An eagle snatches a spawning kokanee salmon from Lake Coeur d’Alene on Nov. 18.
An eagle checks out Lake Coeur d'Alene for spawning kokanee salmon on Nov. 18. One Bureau of Land Management theory on why there are more eagles at the lake this year is a possible declining food source on Lake Pend Oreille. (BRIAN WALKER/Press)
An eagle flies above Lake Coeur d'Alene on Nov. 18 in search of spawning kokanee salmon. The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday counted 343 total eagles on the lake, which is on pace to break last year's record of 383. (BRIAN WALKER/Press)
For the second straight winter, the Bureau of Land Management is on record eagle alert on Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Biologist Carrie Hugo counted 343 total eagles on Thursday during her route to Higgens Point, Blue Creek Bay, Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay. There were 299 adults and 44 juveniles.
Last year's count on Nov. 30 was 314 total. The record count is 383 set on Dec. 20 last year. The previous highest year was in 2011, when 273 were counted.
"We are unsure why there are more this year, but one possibility could be that their food source on Lake Pend Oreille (spawned kokanee salmon) may be declining so they have moved south to Lake Coeur d'Alene," Suzanne Endsley, of the BLM, wrote in an email.
"We traditionally see peak numbers around the third week of December so that will determine whether we are seeing an early peak this year or we will have record numbers in mid-December."
The BLM began counting bald eagles around Wolf Lodge Bay in 1974.
For more information on eagle viewing, visit: https://on.doi.gov/2KaDFit