The Bald Eagle is a very prominent bird in our area. It takes them approximately 5 years to get their white head and white tail feathers. Before that they are a drab brown colour and often look larger then their adult counterparts because of their “poofy plumage.” The eagles mate for life and it is very hard to tell male from female, although the female is usually larger. We see them on all our tours both in Johnstone Strait and Knight Inlet.
Bald Eagles are frequently sighted in our area. At times they can be seen in large numbers. This is usually where food supplies are high. For example this could be in areas with high concentrations of baitfish or along the rivers in the fall when the salmon are spawning. They are not migratory, but do move around with the food supply. As mentioned earlier when the salmon are spawning we often see many along the rivers, while there will be fewer along the coastline. With little need for camouflage their white head and tail feathers can be spotted easily. The female is slightly larger and her white head extends down a bit farther onto the body, but it is subtle. It takes these birds 4.5 – 5 years to acquire this unique plumage. As juveniles they are a brown colour. With exceptional eyesight and the ability to view 270 degrees they are understandably often seen in high perches and in trees near points and passageways.
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