2008 Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
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Over 3,000 eagles gather along a four-mile stretch of the Chilkat River north of Haines, Alaska each fall to feed on a late run of salmon. This wildlife spectacle is the largest gathering of eagles in the world. Warm water upwellings in the river keep this stretch of the Chilkat River ice-free providing access to the fish when food supplies are exhausted elsewhere. Eagles flock from as far away as Washington State for the abundant feast. Starting in late October, eagles by the hundreds can be seen along the sand bars and in cottonwood trees in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
The peak of the gathering usually occurs in mid-November. It is a rare site -- Register Now to reserve your spot!
The festival is crammed with a full Schedule of Events catering to birdwatchers, photographers, and nature lovers. Event highlights include:
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Photo Workshops |
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Speakers and Presentations |
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Guided Eagle Viewing |
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Featured Entertainers |
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The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve was created by the State of Alaska in June 1982. The Preserve was established to protect and perpetuate the world's largest concentration of Bald Eagles and their critical habitat. It also sustains and protects natural salmon runs and allows for traditional uses, provided such uses do not adversely affect Preserve resources.
The Preserve consists of 48,000 acres of river bottom land of the Chilkat, Klehini, Tsirku and Chilkoot Rivers. The boundaries were designated to include only areas important to eagle habitation. Virtually every portion of the Preserve is used by eagles at some time during the year.
The river "flats" of the Chilkat River, along the Haines Highway between Miles 18 and 21, are the main viewing area for eagle watchers and are considered critical habitat in the Preserve.
Bald Eagles are attracted to the area by the availability of spawned-out salmon and open waters in the late fall and winter. The natural phenomena responsible for five miles of open water during freezing months is called an "alluvial fan reservoir." Water in this large reservoir remains from 10 to 20 degrees warmer than the surrounding water. This warmer water "percolates" into the Chilkat River and keeps it from freezing.
Five species of salmon spawn in these waters beginning in the summer and continuing through late fall or early winter. The salmon die shortly after spawning and their carcasses provide large quantities of food for the eagles. The combination of this large food supply and warm water bring large concentrations of eagles into the Chilkat Valley beginning in early October and lasting through February.
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Live Bird Demonstrations
© Dave Nanney |
Off-road parking and interpretive sites for visitors at Miles 18-21.5 in the Preserve have been developed with four parking areas: two with interpretive displays, and one with restroom facilities. Also, a total of two miles of surfaced off-road trails and 4,000 square feet of elevated boardwalk have been designed and constructed with pedestrian safety in mind. This million-plus dollar project was funded by State and Federal monies and constructed in three phases over two years.
(The above was excerpted, in part, from the Alaska State Parks brochure on the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.)
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