Soaring with eagles
A bald eagles misses picking up a fish in Lake Coeur d'Alene at Higgens Point.
BILL BULEY/Press
An eagle glides through the mist over Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Eagles hang out in trees at Higgens Point.
Eagles take flight from a tree after being disturbed at Higgens Point.
An eagle snatches a fish from Lake Coeur d'Alene.
An eagle is perched high above Lake Coeur d'Alene at Higgens Point.
A bald eagle glides through the sky.
Eagles sit on branches overlooking Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Eagles share branches at Higgens Point.
An eagle turns above Lake Coeur d'Alene.
An eagle flies in the mist above Lake Coeur d'Alene on Tuesday morning at Higgens Point.
An eagle flies into the distance at Higgens Point.
An eagle carries a fish toward the trees, where it will land on a branch and enjoy a meal.
An eagle misses snaring a fish that was floating at Higgens Point at Lake Coeur d'Alene.
The bald eagles have returned to North Idaho
and they are putting on amazing aerial acrobatics at Higgens Point, gliding, soaring, diving and snaring fish with their talons from Lake Coeur d'Alene.
A little info before you go to Higgens or Mineral Ridge on Wolf Lodge Bay to see them, per the Bureau of Land Management.
• To avoid disturbing the birds, 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.
• Feeding activity begins upon arrival at the lake and continues throughout the early morning. Feeding slows at mid-day, then resumes late afternoon before the flight back to the roost.
• Eagle numbers will peak between Christmas and New Year's.
