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A focus on the Bald Eagles of Alaska

Published on April 2, 2024

One Of The Bald Eagles Stalls To Land On One Of The Beaches Found In Kachemak Bay Photographed During The Natureslens Sea Otters Bald Eagles Of Alaska Photography Holiday

Written by David Miles with images contributed by Pui Hang Miles.

The Bald Eagle is a sea eagle in the same pairing as the white-tailed Eagle. Some range areas overlap, but the Bald Eagles range covers Alaska, most of Canada, the lower 48 states, & even parts of Mexico. The White-tailed Eagle is more at home in the far east. The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States of America & is easily recognizable by its white head, tail, & evenly dark brown body. The beak, feet & eyes are all bright yellow. An immature Bald Eagle does not have a white head but can be recognized by the messy white streaking in its brown colour.

One Of The Bald Eagles Prepares To Dive Against The Mountainous Backdrop Of Kachemak Bay Photographed During The Natureslens Sea Otters Bald Eagles Of Alaska Photography Holiday

What Is The Bald Eagle’s Preferred Habitat?

The Bald Eagle’s preferred habitat is the old-growth forest. An eagle will choose trees at least 20m (66ft) tall for its nest, & there is little evidence that the tree species plays a part in the selection. Generally, the height, presence of water, & prey availability guide Bald Eagles in choosing their nesting site.

A Lone Bald Eagle Perched High In The Trees In One Of The Coves Of Kachemak Bay Photographed During The Natureslens Sea Otters Bald Eagles Of Alaska Photography Holiday

What Is The Bald Eagle’s Preferred Diet?

Bald Eagles are sea eagles; their favourite prey is fish, particularly salmon, which is very popular in Alaska. However, when sea life is unavailable, these imposing birds are not above making a meal out of a small mammal or bird.

A Lone Bald Eagle Perched On A Backdrop Of Dark Rocks In One Of The Coves Of Kachemak Bay Photographed During The Natureslens Sea Otters Bald Eagles Of Alaska Photography Holiday

This glorious symbol of freedom was once a common sight throughout its range. Once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, their population was reduced to less than a thousand by the middle of the twentieth century. Much of this was attributed to certain pesticides, but many Bald Eagles were also the victims of hunters & habitat loss through logging the old-growth forests they so favour for nesting.

One Of The Bald Eagles Flies Past A Superb Backdrop Of A Frozen Waterfall Found In A Cove On Kachemak Bay Photographed During The Natureslens Sea Otters Bald Eagles Of Alaska Photography Holiday

What Is The Recovery of the Bald Eagle?

With the ban on Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (an insecticide used in agriculture) & a significantly reduced amount of logging old-growth forests, the Bald Eagle has remarkably recovered, with as many as 40-50,000 birds in Alaska alone.

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