The Eagles Have Landed

By Jack Kintner

This year an abundance of pink salmon will mean another good winter for eagle watching along both the Nooksack and Skagit rivers. Both Washington state Highway 20 (Skagit) and 542 (Nooksack) offer plenty of places to pull off and watch the birds, who will gather in larger and larger numbers as fall unfolds into winter.

This winter’s 21st annual Skagit Eagle Festival is set for January 26 and 27. It’s a little earlier than usual to avoid the Superbowl which is on the following weekend. This is also earlier than their normal February date, meaning that more birds will be seen by those attending. Last year record numbers were seen – as many as 800 birds in the two-mile stretch between the milepost 100 turnoff and Rockport – evidently due to the fact that other nearby feeding areas were not as productive as the river itself, drawing more than the usual complement of migrating eagles.

In Sedro Woolley, at 810 State Route 20 on the north side of the road, a visitors center complete with bookstore is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily weekdays. It’s the headquarters for the North Cascades Institute, North Cascades National Park and the Mt. Baker ranger district of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

It’s worth a stop when driving up Highway 20 to see the birds as they have all the information as well about where to park and where good places are to see them. Their phone is 360/856-5700.

The North Cascades Institute (NCI) also offers two guided trips by Libby Mills this winter to see eagles, the first on December 15 on the upper reaches of the Skagit River as well as the tributary Sauk River, and the second in Rockport on January 5, in order to coincide with what they feel will be peak numbers of birds. The outings are $75 apiece.

The Skagit River Interpretive Center in Rockport is an excellent source of information on good places to go and the ways to do this without harming the birds or blocking traffic. Last year they worked out a series of short trips through the same area that were free, although participants were given the chance to make a free-will donation to the program.

Trips were operated by a professional guide service that donated their time to support the center, and on some weekends hundreds of birds were seen. Their website is www.skagiteagle.org and their phone is 360/853-7283.

On the Nooksack, the best information is available at the Glacier Public Service Center in Glacier, on your right after crossing both Gallup Creek and Glacier Creek bridges as you head east toward Mt. Baker. They are open on weekends in December, 8 to 4:30, to distribute Christmas Tree cutting permits and again in January to give out information on eagle watching. The number is 360/599-2714.

Another good site is the Deming family homestead site that’s now an Eagle Park. It’s a short distance east on the Mt. Baker Highway past the junction with Highway 9. Turn south on Truck Road and you’ll see the parking lot. It’s a large riparian area with trails and usually has good viewing. There’s no phone but the website is www.whatcom.kulshan.com/Washington/Whatcom_County/Deming/Outdoors/Deming_Eagle_Park.htm
There are other places as well. Part of the fun is to ask others if they’ve seen birds, and if so, where? You’ll learn a little about the countryside as well as see more eagles.