COEUR d’ALENE — Mineral Ridge is usually a great spot to see bald eagles in late December, catching kokanee in the steely waters of the lake or perched among the evergreens. 

This December, not so much. 

The annual migration of bald eagles to Lake Coeur d’Alene to feed on spawning kokanee is past its peak, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

“It’s fascinating to see those birds,” said Coeur d’Alene resident Marianne Shupe, who came with her extended family to the Mineral Ridge boat launch Monday in the hopes of glimpsing eagles. “The kids are grown now, but I remember their awe.” 

Most eagles have flown south by now, earlier than they typically do. But the Shupes and other community members had a chance to look for them using high-powered spotting scopes and learn more about the birds through educational materials provided by the BLM. 

BLM wildlife biologist Carrie Hugo counted 294 eagles on a single day in late November, slightly higher than last year’s Dec. 12 peak of 284 eagles. 

Eagle sightings have dwindled in the following weeks as the eagles, most of which come from the interior part of British Columbia, make their way to places like the Snake River Plain in southern Idaho and the Klamath Basin in Oregon and California. 

Coeur d’Alene eagle numbers normally peak in late December. 

“It’s a lot earlier this year,” Hugo said. 

That’s likely due to the kokanee on which the eagles feed. 

“Anecdotally, I have noticed the kokanee are much bigger this year but there aren’t as many of them,” Hugo said. “When there’s more competition for fewer fish, some of the eagles tend to leave.” 

Idaho Fish and Game officials said they’ve observed the same thing. Though the agency didn’t estimate kokanee abundance with a trawl this year, biologists have noted that kokanees are bigger in size and fewer in number this year. 

“Based on what we’ve seen, it appears that the kokanees spawned a little earlier than they normally would,” said T.J. Ross, regional communications manager for IDFG. 

Because the eagle population peak typically coincides with peak spawning, an earlier spawning would naturally result in eagle numbers peaking sooner. 

Hugo emphasized that the smaller number of eagles isn’t a bad sign. 

“No one should be worried about there not being as many eagles this year,” she said. “They’re responding to the kokanee. Bald eagles are doing well.” 

Each week during the migration season, BLM biologists conduct a count of bald eagles. BLM began counting bald eagles in 1974, a year after the species was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. 

For 51 years, biologists have counted them along the same 12-mile route, beginning on Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive and running along the north shore of the lake to Higgens Point, then on to Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay. 

There are a dozen stops along the route where biologists like Hugo count as many eagles as they can spot. 

The count is not exact; Hugo said she inevitably counts some eagles twice or misses others.

“It gives us a general idea of whether the numbers are going up or down,” she said. 

Though it varies from year to year, the migrating eagle population in Coeur d’Alene is in line with national trends. 

“It does mirror bald eagle populations in general, which are going up,” Hugo said. 

BLM’s 35th annual Eagle Watch continues today at the Mineral Ridge boat launch parking area. Staff will be on site from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with educational information and spotting scopes for the public to use. 

To check for daily watch activity, call the Eagle Watch Hotline at 208-769-5029. 

    Cedar Shupe examines an educational display set up at the Mineral Ridge boat launch.