Annual bald eagle survey low for this time of year

A lower-than-usual number of bald eagles has been counted in the Chilkat and Chilkoot river areas, attributed to poor salmon returns affecting eagle distribution.

AI Comment from Gemini 2.5 Pro:

This observation of lower-than-usual eagle numbers along the Chilkat and Chilkoot rivers aligns with several concerning trends reported recently on the LEO Network. The potential link to food availability, specifically the suspected poor chum return mentioned in the post, is echoed by broader reports of an ultra-low Alaska commercial salmon harvest in 2024, including historically weak pink salmon runs impacting fishermen elsewhere in the state. Past local observations also noted potential stressors on salmon, such as high water temperatures in Chilkat Lake. The direct impact of fish availability on eagle concentrations was previously documented in Idaho, where low kokanee numbers mirrored low eagle counts.> Compounding the potential food scarcity issue is the significant impact of avian influenza. A recent LEO post highlighted that Alaska’s bird flu outbreak is taking an especially heavy toll on eagles. Critically, just weeks before this survey period, an eagle rescued in the Chilkat Valley tested positive for avian flu, confirming the disease's presence in the immediate area. Earlier cases, such as an eagle death in Sitka back in 2022, show the virus has been a threat in Southeast Alaska for some time.> Taken together, these related observations suggest the lower eagle count reported in Haines this fall may reflect a combination of factors, including anticipated poor salmon returns and the ongoing, direct impacts of avian flu on the local eagle population.