Bald Eagles at Lake Coeur d'Alene, a new record has already been set!

One of our favorite ways to get outside during the winter is to head over to the Wolf Lodge area of eastern lake Coeur d'Alene to watch the eagles.  What's exciting is that this year is already a record breaking year, with over 300 eagles already counted at the start of December - still a couple weeks from the normal peak time period.

Every year from Thanksgiving to the end of the year, dozens of Bald Eagles congregate in the area to feed on the dying salmon that have finished spawning in the lake.  These salmon, called Kokanee, are red salmon that became trapped in the lake when the dam was put in.  They survived the entrapment but no longer make their journey to the ocean, which accounts for their much smaller size compared to their oceanic brethren.

They spawn in the lake and then die, providing a veritable feast for scavengers as they head into the depths of winter. 

If you are familiar with this area, Higgens Point is one of the more accessible and popular viewing areas.  Or, head to the Wolf Lodge exit on I-90 and take Hwy 97 south along the shore of the lake.  Any of the parking areas and viewpoints in this area of the lake can provide a place  to see these stunning birds, but if you are interested in a map and even a video to help you find the best spots, then the Spokesman Review's Outdoors Blog has some great information that you can find by following this link.