Bald Eagles
of Chilkat River, Alaska

		Chilkat Photography Tour Details
		Dates	Nov 15–21, 2009
		Leader	Perry Conway
		Fee	$2,595 from Haines, Alaska
		Deposit	$300
		Limit	16
			Terms and Conditions

Each October, November and December a spectacular gathering of more than 3,000 bald eagles convenes along several miles of Southeast Alaska's Chilkat River near Haines. A late fall spawning run of 10-pound chum salmon attracts this largest known congregation of bald eagles—the salmon carcasses are choice eagle fare.

This is the last major salmon run of the year in southeastern Alaska, offering the largest single supply of easy eagle food in the panhandle during the late fall. Eagles flock to it from hundreds of miles away. Warm, upwelling water keeps sections of the Chilkat from freezing and the eagles wade in, snatch the dead or dying fish and drag them ashore onto snowy gravel bars.

Tall cottonwoods line the river and adjacent roadway, and eagles perch in these trees or on nearby gravel bars, snags or stumps. The occasional roar of vehicular traffic has conditioned the birds to tolerate a variety of disturbances, and the implications of this acclimation are obvious to the outdoor photographer—Alaska's biggest eagle extravaganza is also its most unwary!

From our base at a comfortable hotel in Haines, our group will make daily excursions to areas boasting high eagle density. We will photograph the birds in many habitats of this 48,000-acre eagle preserve, showing as many behaviors as possible. We will work from a small bus, hiking to photogenic spots along the river and returning to the vehicle or our hotel to warm up after photographing in the cold November air.

The Chilkat River Valley's beautiful scenery adds to the display. Serrate maritime mountains dominate the landscape. Rugged waterways reflect deep green coastal rain forest, while glaciers can be seen across the Chilkat Inlet. Quiet harbors and remote human settlements offer additional photographic perspectives. And there is always a possibility of seeing other animals in the area including, bear, wolf, moose, coyote and mountain goat. Your Chilkat trip will fulfill your bald eagle photography quest with a broad spectrum of wonderful images of this truly spectacular bird!



Day 1 (Nov 15)
We meet in the motel lobby in Haines, Alaska, for an orientation session followed by dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Days 2–6
For these five days our energies are focused on photographing bald eagles in every phase of their winter behavior. Our cameras will be trained on them as they feed, roost on dramatic weathered snags, and patrol up and down the Chilkat River searching for expired Chilkat chums. With a big lens (500mm), it is possible to approach some of the birds for tight portrait photographs and also document some "fish disputes" as we walk amidst the river’s highest eagle concentration locations. Traveling from one productive area to another provides different eagle encounters and photogenic backgrounds each day. (BLD)

Day 7 (Nov 21)
Participants make arrangements with their commuter airline for pick-up and delivery to the airport today. (B)