the lake shore. Groups of hearty folks point excitedly with binoculars and cameras at birds soaring against azure skies or perched on tree branches with “eagle eyes” intently scanning lake water, watching for the flash of a kokanee on the surface. Launching, the eagle drops its wings, stretches its talons and grabs the un- suspecting fish, taking the sushi morsel to a branch for lunch. All this is free for those enthusiastic souls wanting to see the United States’ national bird; a species that teetered on the brink of extinc- tion more than 60 years ago. In 1962, only 417 nesting pairs were found in most of the low- er 48 states—distressing news about the bird adorning the Great Seal and widely con- sidered the national symbol since 1782. The pesticide DDT was largely respon- sible for wholesale extermination of the birds. In 1972, they were listed on the En- dangered Species list. Twenty-three years of extensive work proved successful enough for them to be removed in 1995. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service esti- mated that in 2020, there were 71,467 nesting pairs in the lower 48. Ten nesting pairs were found in Idaho in 1970, grow- ing to more than 200 in the 2000s.
It was reported that Benjamin Franklin hu- morously proposed that the wild turkey be designated as the national bird because of its unique North American origin. Ultimate- ly, the bald eagle won as the design for the Great Seal in 1776. Thankfully, the bald eagle has been saved from extinction and bestowed national prominence, being officially declared the U.S. national bird in December 2024. Wild turkeys are beautiful birds, but it seems impossible to believe that thousands of peo- ple would annually face the teeth of winter to watch or photograph them like they do bald eagles in 208 country. Truly, it’s a special treat worth savoring.
Wild in Idaho bald eagle celebration
story and photos by TIM CHRISTIE
The cold wind paints cheeks rosy pink, and you’d best have a warm coat, hat and gloves. It’s bald eagle season, drawing thousands of people annually for the spectacle on North Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene in November and December. It’s the “gotta see them again this year” event for locals, and a motel-filling happening for visitors who’ve read and watched travel sto- ries about the hundreds of eagles gathered to feed on spawning freshwater kokanee salmon. Of course, you can find bald eagles year- round throughout 208 country. Rivers like the Snake, Salmon and St. Joe, lakes like Pend Oreille, and smaller waters attract eagles to
hunt and nest. There, you are lucky to see one or more perched on a tree or soaring on ther- mals. All true, but nothing compares to the eagles gathering for the winter smorgasbord of salmon on Lake Coeur d’Alene. A record 409 eagles were counted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 2023; 2024 showed a decline to a mere 284 birds. Weather and food availability influences the number of birds each year. Outside of Alaska, you’re hard pressed to find another place with such concentrations of eagles.
Weekends find vehicles with license plates from as far away as the Midwest parked along
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