WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The 25^th annual Eagle Watch Week sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Fish and Game is set for Dec. 27-31 based out of the Mineral Ridge boat launch and the Mineral Ridge trailhead parking areas along the eastern shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. 

The event is keyed to the holiday break and the peak of the kokanee spawning that lures bald eagles to Wolf Lodge Bay.

BLM wildlife biologist Carrie Hugo counted 126 bald eagles in the area two weeks ago, exceeding the 34 eagles the survey tallied at the same time last year for the November-January gathering.

No eagle survey was conducted last week. Today Hugo counted 81 eagles but said conditions were poor and she believes there are more eagles in the area. 

"Typically numbers peak this week so I don't feel that this accurately reflects what is really out there," she said. "Snow on the trees camouflages adults quite well.

"It was a difficult count.... The beginning was windy with many eagles flying and the middle was a white-out at Blue Creek and at Higgens Point. So take today's numbers with a grain of salt:"

• A record 273 bald eagles was counted at Lake Coeur d'Alene on Dec. 29, 2011.
• See this blog post for tips on CdA eagle viewing areas.

Each day during Eagle Watch Week, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ( event ends at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31) the two Mineral Ridge parking areas will be the hub of activity. High-power spotting scopes will be set up in these prime eagle viewing spots, along with interpretive displays.

Eagle “ambassadors” will be at the sites each day to answer questions regarding the lifeways and habitat of bald eagles.  

Eagle watching visitors must use designated parking areas. Parking is not allowed along Highway 97. 

For rare cases when severe weather does not permit setting up equipment or staffing the viewing sites, the BLM has set up an “Eagle Watch Hotline” with daily status update during Eagle Watch Week: Call (208) 769-5048 after 9 a.m.

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