Great eagle-watching trip

The weather was sun, sun, and more sun. Eagles tend to stay high aloft in those conditions, as opposed to staying down in the trees where we can get a closer look at them. But despite that, between eagles, hawks, and large herons, eleven big birds were spotted.

This was a guided eagle watching hike regularly put on by the Skagit River Interpretive Center. Without those great volunteers many people would not know exactly where and when to spot the great birds.

Spotted one giant eagle nest that is used over and over, each year, by different eagles over the years. It was in the very highest tree of all, not surprisingly. One very old nest in Florida is actually twenty feet deep/tall.

The end of the chum run is what brings these great birds in large numbers.

Despite what the media seems to say, looking at eagle-sighting figures Christmas is the absolute peak time for Skagit eagle viewing. By mid-January the number of eagles are down, but certainly not out. So get out there and spot some raptors before they head out. Oh, and do not forget to support local eagle organizations such as SkagitEagle.org