The Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area is accessible via Highway 20
from Interstate 5. To follow the route to the eagle viewing areas, use the Preserving
Washington Wildlands guide below. Double-click the yellow note in the upper left corner
for instructions. The Guide also includes an informative article, Success on the
Skagit, by Gordon Todd. Use the ENTER key to move through the pages.
This impressive winter gathering of bald eagles, which is one of the four largest in the Lower 48 states, coincides with the spawning runs of chum salmon on the Skagit River. The carcasses of the spent fish, washed onto gravel bars or into shallow water, are a major food source for the eagles.
As the supply of carrion diminishes in this eagle "kitchen," bald eagle numbers dwindle, until by mid-March virtually all of the birds have dispersed.
The bald eagle is listed as a threatened species in Washington state and a federally-threatened species in 43 other states. Protection of this bird has been one of the chief concerns of The Nature Conservancy of Washington for the last two decades. Today, the Conservancy, the state Department of Fish & Wildlife and several other agencies own approximately 6,000 acres of prime bald eagle wintering habitat along the Skagit River.
The Conservancy's efforts to set aside habitat for wintering eagles began in 1976, with the initial acquisition of 875 acres near the town of Rockport in the North Cascades. In 1983, an additional 38 acres was obtained. This new acreage included privately held property between Illabot Creek and Illabot Slough, an area considered to support the most significant chum salmon spawning segments of the Skagit River. Because of its value for salmon spawning, this area now serves as an important eagle retreat.
By 1996, the Conservancy's holdings within the Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area had increased to approximately 600 acres. One part of the Conservancy's holdings is Barnaby Slough, one of the most heavily frequented bald eagle communal night roosting areas, or eagle "bedrooms," along the Skagit. Census figures show that scores of birds seek shelter in the slough's thick stands of mature cottonwood, alder and bigleaf maple. The site also serves as an off-river perch area during the day. Because the roost is located near the eagles' feeding areas, the birds do not have to travel far or expend much energy to reach their food source.
The Conservancy continues to actively protect the bald eagle in Washington. The Preserve Manager and staff are actively gathering scientific data, interacting with the Upper and Lower Skagit communities and overseeing Conservancy lands. Staff participate on the Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from Seattle City Light, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the state departments of Fish & Wildlife, Natural Resources and Public Instruction. During the eagle wintering period, a preserve naturalist conducts a weekly bird census, gives guided tours of the area and makes presentations to school and community groups. The Nature Conservancy's land in the Skagit Valley and community-outreach projects are overseen by its Skagit Preserve Area Manager, who lives in the Upper Skagit Valley.
As the stark, somber gray of November replaces October's brilliant yellow and red, bald eagles begin returning to their favored wintering grounds along the Skagit River. Gradually the population builds to several hundred, peaking in mid-January.
