Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

Bald eagles and Alaska go hand-in-hand, and there’s no better place to get a glimpse of these majestic raptors than at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines, AK. This state park and wildlife refuge covers more than 49,000 acres along the Chilkat River and has become the gathering place of the world’s largest concentration of bald eagles.

About the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve was established to help protect the incredible number of bald eagles that live in the preserve, along with their critical habitat. It also plays an important role in protecting natural salmon runs that are essential for the survival of the bald eagles and the delicate balance of Alaska’s ecosystem.

Visiting the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

Bald eagles gather in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve due to its unique geography near the Chilkat, Kleheni, and Tsirku Rivers. While visitors here have to stay within designated areas to protect the bald eagle’s habitat, some of the best viewpoints of the Preserve can be found between miles 12-18 of the Haines Highway or along the two-mile riverside trail.

Tours of the preserve include a rafting tour and river float.

History

Although officially created in 1982, the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Important Bird Area had a long road to becoming the protected region it is today. The Audubon played a critical role in the formation of the Preserve by sending biologists to conduct research on the eagle population of the area and to educate the stakeholder group that would sign off on the preserve.

Today, The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is home to nesting tundra swans and 200-400 year-round bald eagle residents. The population of eagles explodes to up to 4,000 birds at the height of the Fall Congregation.

Interesting Facts

The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve has played a critical role in protecting some of Alaska’s most-important wildlife. With a diverse population of birds, salmon, mountain goats, and moose, it is a fascinating place to see the beauty of Alaska’s native creatures.

• The highest density of bald eagles in the world can be found in the Preserve between late fall and early winter—953 is the record here for the number of bald eagles seen from one point!
• Breeding tundra swans have flocked to the protected area of the Preserve, with nearly 200 being counted within the span of one year.
• Bald eagles have wingspans of 6-7 feet, can soar at 30 miles-per-hour, and ascend to heights of up to 10,000 feet in the air!
• The vocalization of bald eagles consists of high-pitched whistles—the bald eagle call heard in movies is actually the sound of a red-tailed hawk.
• The bald eagles utilize all areas of the preserve, and the natural salmon runs provide a vital food source to the high fall population.

Points of Interest

As the symbol of our country and one of the most impressive raptors of the avian world, bald eagles are essential to the ecosystem of Alaska. The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Important Bird Area fills an important role in protecting this native species—while allowing visitors a once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing the world’s most impressive population of bald eagles.