Chilkat Eagle Reserve 2016

[NorthernFocus]

Well I've returned from my trip to Haines, Alaska, and five full days of shooting on the Chilkat Eagle Reserve. There were more birds this year than I've seen in prior trips. But the weather was horrible. There was some form of precipitation 24/7 during my entire stay/shoot. Hour by hour it varied from pouring rain, drizzle, fog, sleet, heavy/wet snow, then back to rain. And all the while temperatures were between 32-36F(0-3C). Keeping kit dry and myself (reasonably) warm and dry was no trivial effort. The weather conditions coupled with less than eight hours of daylight made for about six hours of useful light each day and some tough shooting. The one saving grace was that the short days limited the time one was exposed to the wet/cold. Evenings were spent drying things out so I'm just getting around to editing photos.

The Chilkat Eagle Reserve encompasses 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of land along the Chilkat River Valley. The last salmon run of the year, primarily chum/dog salmon, occurs here which is why the birds congregate. The greatest concentration of birds occurs about 20 miles upriver from Haines at the confluence of the Chilkat and Tsirku Rivers at a place the natives call the "council grounds". The name refers to the hundreds of eagles sitting in groups appearing to be holding council not because people held council here. The fish arrive and birds gather in mid-October. The gathering typically lasts through the end of the year. From here most of the birds head south for the winter.

In addition to the weather challenges, shooting was more difficult this year due to changes in the course of the river. The Chilkat is a glacial river often called a "braided" river due to the multiple intertwined channels and sloughs. The entire valley bottom is fine glacial dust and smooth gravel. The course of channels in the river change constantly. Due to such changes I was unable to access areas where I have had successful shooting in past years. One thing in particular is that it was very difficult to find birds perched on drift wood that were close enough for good FF portraits

Well at any rate, here are a few photos to get a sense of the place. It is beyond my skills with still photography to do justice to the literally hundreds of birds that were visible at any given time. I'll post other threads with some BIF shots etc.

1) A look across the valley during one of the brief spells that the rain had slowed to a drizzle and the mountains were visible.



2) It's not hard to see where the council grounds got its name.



3) Snow



4) More snow. Unfortunately it wasn't cold enough for the snow to stay on the ground for long.



5) And fog, dense at times. Yes I know more detail could be pulled out with various PP tools. The intent here is to represent things as they appeared to my eye at the time.



6) I wasn't the only one having difficulties with the weather conditions. Check out this landing. Tab through them in the light box.



7) Woops!



8) Ouch!



9) Yeah, I meant to do that.

[Dave Humphries]

Great series Dan, plus informative and entertaining narrative.

Thanks, Dave

[Manfred M]

Great series Dan, in spite of the conditions. I love the last four, although the landing reminds more of what puffins and pelicans look like when landing.

[Wavelength]

Great series; I am not sure what the eagle is doing? has it just lost its balance?

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

...I am not sure what the eagle is doing? has it just lost its balance?

The log was coated with snow/ice and when the bird attempted to land it slipped and fell.

[Shadowman]

Nice ones.

[Rita]

Excellent series Dan. Well worth braving the elements for these.

[Mike Buckley]

Excellent series Dan.

And excellent narrative, too! #4 is quite special in my mind.

Well worth braving the elements for these.

Easy for us to say who stayed warm and dry.

[John 2]

Northern Focus Tours is one of the events I have come to look forward to. As enjoyable as ever Dan and a nice series to boot.

[Craigie]

What a wonderful set of images.

[JohnRostron]

Great series Dan, in spite of the conditions. I love the last four, although the landing reminds more of what puffins and pelicans look like when landing.

I agree. Plus #4!

John

[madcrow]

+10 for the eagle on his crash landing and trying to look cool after. Fabulous images considering the weather.

[rpcrowe]

Super collection Dan... I spent a day at Homer, Alaska but, it was in the Summer and there were no eagles there unfortunately...

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks. I'll get a few more eagle shots posted up soon.

Northern Focus Tours is one of the events I have come to look forward to...

If you want the full virtual tour experience, read the post and view the photos while standing under a cold shower with your hands in a bucket of ice water

[Pixl8tor]

Brilliant. Wonderful shots and story.
Thanks for sharing.
Bill

[Nat]

Wow! So many! I love the eagles and the snow! Wonderful set. That last one looks like he's upset that you got the shots of him slipping....watch out! They can look very angry, can't they?

[kaneohebud]

Hi Dan:
Loved 6-9. Sorry about the weather. I did that for five days on Silver Salmon creek then finally got one sunny day. We take what we get. Didn't know about this area - thanks for sharing.

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you folks enjoyed the post.

Natalie, yes the do look angry all the time. I guess it's those piercing eyes.

Bud, if you get sick of sun and sand it's only a six hour flight. You can be cold and wet along with the us Alaskans

[IzzieK]

That was a great conversation piece. I particularly love the narrative you gave us. Lesson #3 I think. I want to see more actions like the whoops! landing. And no, I wouldn't change location with you at this time. I just want to enjoy your photos from the I-though-it-was-a-cold-night here in my den. I can wait until June when we go over.