Birds @ Wings

American Crow
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay
Canada Goose
Common Loon
Golden Eagle
Great Blue Heron
Great Horned Owl
Lewis' Woodpecker
Osprey
Pine Grosbeak
Red-tailed Hawk
Rufous Hummingbird
Steller's Jay
Swans
Warbling Verio
Western Meadowlark
Wood Duck

Bald Eagle

Recognition

The Bald Eagle is Canada's largest bird of prey. Its distinctive features are its white head and tail. But this is true only of the adults since it takes about five years to develop its distinctive plumage. The juveniles are quite dark and are often confused with Golden Eagles. However the Bald Eagle's bare legs separate it from the Golden Eagle's feathered legs.

Haunts

Associated with river and lake shore habitats. They build huge nests in tops of large poplar trees along the Columbia River and valley lakes.

Schedule

Bald Eagles have been seen rebuilding their nests as early as February. They may lay their eggs as early as late March and the young are usually fledged by mid-July. In the fall eagles congregate around the Kokanee salmon spawning creeks such as Tobby and Windermere creeks. While most migrate south a few Bald Eagles hang tough all winter, dining on water fowl and animals killed on the railway and highways.

Field Notes

The Bald Eagle is a symbol of strength and freedom: A female Bald Eagle's wings are almost 8 feet long and pound for pound is stronger than an airplane wing. Eagles can fly higher and see further than any other bird. They can strike their prey with twice the force of a rifle bullet.