BLM Coeur d’ Alene District Office Personnel Host Veterans Eagle Watch Cruise

On a crisp overcast day in early December, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Coeur d’ Alene District Office offered a free Eagle Watch Cruise to local military veterans and their families. The cruise, which has become a Coeur d’ Alene District tradition, is an excellent way to showcase the natural beauty and recreational opportunities present on federal public lands in the area. It is also an opportunity to appreciate our local veterans by providing a truly unique experience. 

Each year, hundreds of American bald eagles migrate from Canada to the Coeur d’ Alene area to feast on dying Kokanee Salmon. The spawning salmon, nearing the end of their lifecycle, are plentiful and make for an easy meal. The eagles are more than happy to gorge themselves and enjoy the banquet the lake offers. This annual pilgrimage and gathering of our nation’s symbol offer an unrivaled occasion to connect with our roots and with each other, in awe of nature.   

Leaving port, the Mish-n-Nock set out with 150 veterans, their family members, Gold Star family members, and current service members to the east side of the lake towards Beauty Bay. The route would pass by five BLM-managed recreation sites at Blue Creek Bay, Mineral Ridge and Beauty Bay. During the journey out to view the eagles, Beth Paragamian, a former Idaho Fish and Game and BLM employee, and Richard Paine, a current BLM employee, provided all aboard an interactive interpretive program. The program included biology, lifecycle and diet information on eagles. 

As the boat rounded Higgins Point, the cruise was graced with the rare chance to see a mountain goat grazing on a hillside adjacent to Interstate 90. After that, the eagles stole the show. The first ten eagles spotted were perched in one tree competing for prime real estate next to the shoreline. From there, eagle sighting was non-stop throughout the duration of the cruise. Richard was on the mic pointing out eagles to the veterans and family members and surprisingly, still had a voice after pointing out approximately 250 eagles. Trees along the shoreline were speckled with the white heads of adult bald eagles. The grey skies and lack of snow along the hillsides allowed the white of the eagles to pop across the landscape. Brown and white dotted juveniles soared over the water showing the gulls who was boss. It truly was a spectacular site to see! 

The 2023-2024 winter has been an amazing year for the number of eagles at Lake Coeur d’Alene, with a record count of 409 in one day. The opportunity to see these majestic birds is open to everyone. The BLM regularly counts eagles throughout the season and posts results on its Lake Coeur d’ Alene Eagle Watch site at https://bit.ly/3X95z0f. This is a great place to get information on when to plan your eagle watching experience.  

The American bald eagle is a symbol of freedom and honesty, wisdom and power, as well as strength and resilience. As stories and reminiscence of shared experiences commenced among veterans on board, the above traits, while not explicitly mentioned, were often at the forefront. Whether it was a veteran passing on wisdom through lessons learned, or stories of resilience in more than difficult situations, one couldn’t help but compare the symbolism of the eagle to the actual traits of our nation’s veterans.  

The BLM Coeur d’ Alene District has been honored to provide this opportunity for veterans to experience a one-of-a-kind natural event. We thank each and every veteran and current service member for their willingness to put others before themselves, to choose the hard-right over the easy-wrong and to live up to the symbol of the eagle.