Here in Whatcom County we have resident Bald Eagles year-round. Still, seeing an eagle—with a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet--always seems to make one pause in appreciation of their majestic presence. This fall, NCAS offers Eagle-Watching field trips to the Nooksack River.
Come late fall, migrating eagles arrive to join our resident birds for the annual spawning salmon runs in coastal Washington rivers and creeks. In one of the largest eagle migrations in the lower 48 states, these impressive birds congregate in large numbers to feast on dead and dying salmon. Rivers like the Nooksack and Skagit are prime sites, offering spawning salmon the habitat needed to deposit their eggs and nurturing havens for the emerging next generation. For the Bald Eagle, whose Latin name, Halieeatus leucocephalis, literally means ‘sea eagle with a white head’, the salmon are both an easy and nutritious meal. Eagles can be viewed best in morning hours, feeding on the spent salmon from the river or on those washed up on gravel bars. Once the eagles have had their fill they are often seen perched in nearby trees. At night, the riparian forest provides a roosting site.
Eagle-watching trips this December will take interested viewers to key sites along the Nooksack River. Organized by Chris Brewer, an NCAS Audubon Board member, the trips are co-led with two long-time volunteer USFS Eagle-Watchers. Lynden residents Dorrie Jordan and Steve Glenn, like Chris, have assisted eager eagle-watchers on the Skagit River. Dr. Jordan practices veterinary medicine at Kulshan Veterinary Hospital in Lynden, while Dr. Glenn teaches ecology-related courses (including ornithology) at Skagit Valley Community College. Chris is a Bellingham resident currently working for Whatcom Land Trust.
Field trips meet at 8:30 am on December 7 and December 28 and are limited to 15 participants. The half-day trip ends with a bring-your-own lunch.
Contact Chris at 336-207-7505, chrisboyd353@gmail.com, for more information and to register.
Photo: Bald eagles on Nooksack River, courtesy of Eric Ellingson