Eagles Galore in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (photos)

Eagle picking up fish from the beach in Sandspit.

When visiting Alaska and Canada you’ll be amazed at the number of eagles you will see. These magnificent birds are found where there are large bodies of open water and tall trees for nesting and overlooking the beaches and water. 

We recently saw as many as 20 eagles feeding together on the beach at Sandspit in British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii.

Eagles feed at low tide and watched for offerings from the fishing boats and beachside homes. They are primarily fish eaters.

According to an article on Wikipedia, The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus; hali = salt, aeetus = eagle, leuco = white, cephalis = head) is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.

Eagle Nest

Eagles build the largest nest of any North American bird and will mate and nest at age 4-5 years of age. You’ll see young with spotted brown feathers and dark beaks. The older they are, the more yellow their beaks.

Young eagles at low tide

They are wary of people and will take flight if you get too close, but with a simple telephoto lens you can get some great photos!

Eagles and eagle feathers, important in many cultures, are protected.

Books on Eagles

Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography