The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
41°F
Current Conditions
Mist
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Outdoors blog

  1. Blogs
  2. Outdoors blog
  3. Eagle numbers down to 180 but birds putting on show at Lake CdA

Eagle numbers down to 180 but birds putting on show at Lake CdA

One of a series of photos showing a group of bald eagles ganging up on another eagle at Lake Coeur d
One of a series of photos showing a group of bald eagles ganging up on another eagle at Lake Coeur d'Alene's Beauty Bay on Dec. 19, 2011. The victim eagle eventually was able to swim to shore between aerial assaults and sneak into the woods -- on foot. The images were made at a distance of about 1/4 mile by Spokane wildlife photograph Bob Griffith. (Bob Griffith)

UPDATE:  Disregard the previous post about a record count of bald eagles at Lake Coeur d'Alene.  I got the numbers wrong.   Updated version below:

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Bald eagles were crowd pleasers at Lake Coeur d'Alene today, although the number of eagles counted in the Wolf Lodge Bay area has declined from last week.

Hundreds of spectators took advantage of Eagle Watch Week to see the baldies congregate to feast on spawning kokanee salmon.

But the number of eagles tallied in the weekly survey was  183, said Carrie Hugo, U.S. Bureau of Land Management wildlife biologist. 

 That's down from 260 bald eagles counted on Dec. 19. The count was 204 eagles counted on Dec. 13, 121 eagles on Dec. 5 and 100 eagles counted on Nov. 27 — during their annual spectacle.

A record 273 bald eagles was counted at Lake Coeur d'Alene on Dec. 29, 2011.

Nevertheless, it was a good day for viewing and watching the eagles fish.
 
"Lots of activity in Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay," said Hugo, noting that she counted 140 adult bald eagles (white heads) and 43 imature eagles. "Lots of folks out viewing and photographing. It was a good day."
 
Eagle Watch Week runs through Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with eagle experts and spotting scopes available for visitors at the Mineral Ridge boat ramp and trailhead. Take I-90 east of Coeur d'Alene and take the Wolf Lodge exit.
 
The number of eagles could go up or down in in the coming days, but there will be plenty for spectators to enjoy.
Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

Follow Rich online:

Go to the full Outdoors page