Lake Coeur d' Alene Eagle Watch
Each winter, from November through February, a migrating population of bald eagles visits the Lake Coeur d' Alene area. Their main food source is spawning kokanee salmon. The BLM began counting bald eagles around Wolf Lodge Bay in 1974. The number of eagles returning to this area varies from year to year.
Suggested viewing areas: Higgins Point, Mineral Ridge Boat Ramp, Mineral Ridge Trailhead
Directions: About 11 miles east of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Take US-90 east from Coeur d'Alene for eight miles to Wolf Lodge Bay (exit 22). Then south on Highway 97 for three miles.
Safety/Viewing Tips
- Avoid disturbing the birds. Do not approach them on foot.
- Stay as far away from the birds as possible. Binoculars are essential.
- Stay in your vehicle if viewing nearby birds.
- Park off the main road
- Do not stop on the road or look for eagles while driving. Interstate 90 and Highway 97 are heavily traveled. Remember, it is illegal to stop in any traffic lane.
WEEKLY COUNTS (Weather dependent)
2023/2024
January 16, 2024: 32 adults and 5 juveniles = 37 eagles
January 2, 2024: 302 adults and 45 juveniles = 347 eagles
December 27, 2023: 333 adults and 37 juveniles = 370 eagles
December 20, 2023: 363 adults and 46 juveniles = 409 eagles ** RECORD COUNT**
December 14. 2023: 339 adults and 40 juveniles = 379 eagles
December 7, 2023: 184 adults and 23 juveniles = 207 eagles
November 27, 2023: 159 adults and 22 juveniles = 181 eagles
November 22, 2023: 91 adults and 19 juveniles = 110 eagles
November 16, 2023: 28 adults and 1 juvenile = 29 eagles
November 8, 2023: 2 adults; no juveniles = 2 eagles
2022/2023
November 14, 2022: 10 adults and no juveniles = 10 eagles
November 21, 2022: 48 adults and 3 juveniles = 51 eagles
December 2, 2022: 87 adults and 26 juveniles = 113 eagles
*No count due to weather week of Dec. 5
December 12, 2022: 155 adults and 31 juveniles = 186 eagles
December 28, 2022: 149 adults, 33 juveniles and 47 unknown age due to being in-flight = 227 eagles
January 9, 2023: 80 adults, 8 juveniles = 89 eagles
January 17, 2023: 9 adults and 1 unknown = 10 eagles
January 26, 2023: 3 adults and 1 juvenile = 4 eagles
2021/2022
November 10, 2021: 10 adults and 6 juveniles = 16 eagles
November 18, 2021: 65 adults and 11 juveniles = 76 eagles
November 26, 2021: 95 adults and 13 juveniles = 108 eagles
December 8, 2021: 86 adults and 21 juveniles = 107 eagles (no count week of 11/29)
December 14, 2021: 97 adults and 15 juveniles = 112 eagles
December 28, 2021: 8 adults and 2 juveniles = 10 eagles (no count week of 12/20)
2020/2021
November 12, 2020: 39 adults and 2 juveniles = 41 eagles
November 19, 2020: 66 adults and 14 juveniles = 80 eagles
November 25, 2020: 72 adults and 10 juveniles = 82 eagles
December 2, 2020: 68 adults and 4 juveniles = 72 eagles
December 9, 2020: 45 adults and 6 juveniles = 51 eagles
December 16, 2020: 39 adults and 7 juveniles = 46 eagles
2019/2020
December 29, 2019: 20 adults and 2 juveniles = 22 eagles
December 17, 2019: 105 adults and 18 juveniles = 123 eagles
December 10, 2019: 195 adults and 28 juveniles = 223 eagles
December 2, 2019: 234 adults and 25 juveniles = 259 eagles
November 20, 2019: 105 adults and 6 juveniles = 111 eagles
November 14, 2019: 82 adults and 13 juveniles = 95 eagles
2018/2019
December 21, 2018: 194 adults and 35 = 229 total
December 14, 2018: 323 adults and 64 juveniles = 367 total
December 7, 2018: 182 adults and 27 juveniles = 209 total (*Visibility was tough resulting in lower than average numbers.)
November 29, 2018: 299 adults and 44 juveniles = 343 total
November 21, 2018: 95 adults and 15 juveniles = 110 total
November 15, 2018: 47 adults and 8 juveniles = 55 total
2017/2018
January 2, 2018: 141 adults and 38 juveniles = 179 total
December 20, 2017: 326 adults, 56 juveniles and 1 undetermined = 383 total
December 15, 2017: 248 adults and 45 juveniles = 293 total
(*Only includes Mineral Ridge Boat Launch. Visibility too low for count at Mineral Ridge or Beauty Bay.)
December 7, 2017: 323 adults and 49 immature = 372 total
November 30, 2017: 283 adults and 31 immature = 314 total
November 21, 2017: 129 adults, 18 immature = 147 total
November 16: 31 adults, 5 immature, 1 unknown = 37 total
2016/2017
January 13: 4 adults, 1 juvenile = 5 total
December 22: 222 adults, 39 juveniles = 261 total
December 12: 196 adults, 61 juveniles = 257 total
December 8: 166 adults,47 juveniles = 213 total
November 28: 57 adults,12 juveniles = 69 total
November 20: 26 total
2015/2016
January 23: 27 adults, 1 juvenile=28 total
January 9: 87 adults, 5 juveniles, 1 unknown=93 total
December 31: 105 adults, 15 juveniles=120 total
December 23: 114 adults, 26 juveniles=140 total
December 17: 58 adults, 8 juveniles = 66 total
December 10: 30 adults, 4 juveniles = 34 total
December 3: 13 adults, 5 juveniles = 18 total
November 25: 4 eagles spotted = 4 total
November 19: No eagles have been spotted yet = 0 total
2014/2015
January 9: 51 adults, 2 juveniles = 53 total
December 30: 196 adults, 21 juveniles = 217 total
December 18: 110 adults, 19 juveniles = 129 total
December 10: 73 adults, 12 juveniles, 1 unknown=86 total
December 3: 46 adults, 10 juveniles, 1 unknown= 57 total
November 27: 11 total
November 20: 2 adults, 0 juveniles = 2 total
November 12: 3 adults, 0 juveniles = 3 total
2013/2014
January 10: 44 adults, 12 juveniles = 56 total
January 4: 126 adults, 31 juveniles = 157 total
December 28: 140 adults, 43 juveniles = 183 total
December 19: 208 adults, 49 juveniles = 260 total
December 13: 157 adults, 47 juveniles = 204 total
December 5: 84 adults, 37 juveniles = 121 total
November 27: 88 adults, 12 juveniles = 100 total
November 20: 58 adults, 6 juveniles = 64 total