Bald Eagles

Each October, November and December a spectacular gathering of more than 3,000 bald eagles convenes along several miles of Southeast Alaska's Chilkat River near Haines. A late fall spawning run of 10-pound chum salmon attracts this largest known congregation of bald eagles—the salmon carcasses are choice eagle fare.

This is the last major salmon run of the year in southeastern Alaska, offering the largest single supply of easy eagle food in the panhandle during the late fall. Eagles flock to it from hundreds of miles away. Warm, upwelling water keeps sections of the Chilkat from freezing and the eagles wade in, snatch the dead or dying fish, and drag them ashore onto snowy gravel bars.

Tall cottonwoods line the river and adjacent roadway, and eagles perch in these trees or on nearby gravel bars, snags or stumps. The occasional roar of vehicular traffic has conditioned the birds to tolerate a variety of disturbances, and the implications of this acclimation are obvious to the outdoor photographer—Alaska's biggest eagle extravaganza is also its most unwary!

From our base at a comfortable hotel in Haines, our group makes daily excursions to areas boasting high eagle density. We will photograph the birds in many habitats of this 48,000-acre eagle preserve, showing as many behaviors as possible. We work from a small bus, hiking to photogenic spots along the river and returning to the vehicle or our hotel to warm up after photographing in the cold November air.

The Chilkat River Valley's beautiful scenery adds to the display. Serrate maritime mountains dominate the landscape. Rugged waterways reflect deep green coastal rain forest, while glaciers can be seen across the Chilkat Inlet. Quiet harbors and remote human settlements offer additional photographic perspectives. And there is always a possibility of seeing other animals in the area including, bear, wolf, moose, coyote and mountain goat. A Chilkat trip fulfills your bald eagle photography quest with a broad spectrum of wonderful images of this truly spectacular bird!