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Five Hotspots for Photographing Bald Eagles
The pros tell us about their favorite places to shoot Baldies.
Sure, Alaska has听by far听the largest population of Bald Eagles in the United States, with听some听30,000 birds. And back in the 1960s, when there were fewer than 500 breeding pairs left in the contiguous U.S., heading for the Last Frontier may have been your best chance to photograph them. But these days, with Baldies nesting in every state but Hawaii, it's easy to get a stellar听shot without ever setting foot on a plane. We asked five photographers about their favorite sites to shoot Bald Eagles in the Lower 48.
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The Spot: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah听
The Photographer: Mia McPherson
McPherson was so impressed by her first trip to听the听Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge that, a few months later, she packed up a U-Haul and moved听to Utah from Florida. 鈥淚 realized there was a tremendous variety of birds here, and I decided that鈥檚 where I want to be,鈥 she says.听In fall and winter, the听fish-filled Bear River draws Bald Eagles to the refuge, located roughly 70 miles north of Salt Lake City. Stop听by the Wildlife Education Center,听right听off I-15 and听just outside Brigham听City,听to learn about the area鈥檚 birds and natural history. Then make your way to the听auto听route, a 12-mile听loop听with plenty of places to听pull over and snap some photos.听Consider calling ahead听for conditions鈥攖he loop can get tricky in听foul weather.
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The Spot: Conowingo听Dam, Maryland听
The Photographer: David Lychenheim
Located听an easy day trip from nearby metros like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, convenience is one reason Maryland鈥檚听Conowingo听Dam is considered the best place on the East Coast to photograph Bald Eagles.听Shooting听there听is pretty simple鈥攋ust find听a spot along the fence that lines听the Susquehanna River.听Ease of access is nice, but the听real听draw? Eagles听galore鈥300 or more on a typical day in winter, says Lychenheim, who runs a听听with updates on current eagle action at Conowingo and helps run an 鈥淓agles Day鈥 event each November. When other water bodies freeze,听the birds听head to听Conowingo听to fish, and they鈥檙e not above snagging shad听killed听by the dam. 鈥淓agles are lazy bums,鈥澨齃ychenheim听says. 鈥淚 tell people that鈥檚 probably what I鈥檒l come back as in my next life.鈥澨齈ro tip:听Conowingo听Pizza听delivers to the dam.听听听
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The Spot: LeClaire, Iowa听
The Photographer:听Todd Gustafson
If you鈥檙e looking for a spot comparable to听Conowingo听but live听in the Heartland, head for听LeClaire, Iowa.听Just upstream from听the Quad Cities area, and about a three-hour drive from Chicago,听LeClaire听is home to Lock and Dam 14 on the Mississippi River, where听a听听protects a favorite winter听roosting site for Bald Eagles. You might not see听Conowingo-like numbers of听birds, but听to get the perfect shot, Gustafson says,听鈥渁ll it takes is one.鈥澨齏hile eagles are the big midwinter draw, if you find yourself near LeClaire听in April, don't pass up the opportunity to photograph the migrating White Pelicans that stop in by the hundreds.听
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The Spot: Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri听
The Photographer:听Noppadol听Paothong
A 400-eagle听winter听day is not out of the question at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Missouri,听an听Important Bird Area听formerly known as Squaw Creek. Visit in November or December and you might see something even more impressive: Paothong鈥檚听best day there听included 1.2听million听Snow Geese,听based on听aerial estimates by听refuge staff. Eagles hunting geese make for some dramatic shots, especially if you can get the bluffs in the background,听and there are plenty of听prime听places to set up, including a 12.5-mile auto loop and several viewing platforms.听If you can still feel your fingers and toes, stick around for听a听sunset听mirrored in听the wetlands of the Missouri River floodplain. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just spectacular when you get that reflection,鈥澨齈aothong听says.听
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The Spot: Skagit River, Washington听
The Photographer: Bonnie Block
Spawning salmon make easy meals for Bald听Eagles. That鈥檚 why Block听loves to catch a ride in Rockport, Washington with听, which caters to camera-wielding eagle nuts. (They even run an annual eagle photo contest.)听December trips book fast, and for good reason. You might see 200 or more Bald Eagles feasting on chum salmon or roosting riverside during a three-hour float. The $75 trip includes a propane heater in front of each seat, but you鈥檒l still need warm winter clothes to keep off the chill. Sunny days might be听pleasant, but that听classic Pacific Northwest gloom also has its advantages, according to Block鈥攖he birds tend to stick closer to the ground. "Bad weather makes for good images,鈥 she听says.听