The Bald Eagles of Homer, Alaska
Text and images copyright Tom Hill, all rights reserved

I don't get excited too often about things; I'm a fairly steady guy who takes things in stride. Not much surprises me so when I’m surprised, it's a big deal. Photography is no different. When I go to a location that stuns me, take notice. It doesn't happen often, but Homer, Alaska in winter is one of those places.

I went to Homer Alaska with the sole objective of capturing images of Bald Eagles. Not only was I not interested in anything else, I wasn't even aware if Homer had anything else to offer. All I knew was that Homer was world-famous for its Bald Eagles. These majestic creatures congregate here during the entire winter because of one woman: Jean Keen. She's a fireball who lives in a tiny compound at the end of a finger of land that juts into the bay near Homer called the Homer Spit.

If you happened upon the location you'd find it inconspicuous. Jean’s ancient trailer is situated in a miniature compound at the end of this sliver of land. Every morning during winter, she sets out food for local Bald Eagles. My initial visit was an afternoon in early March. A few dozen eagles perched on lampposts, trees, and other objects in the vicinity, the morning feeding-frenzy over. They appeared to be waiting for more food but none was forth-coming. These birds may very well depend on her for their sustenance during winter. Undoubtedly several would not survive the challenges of the winter if it weren't for Jean. Despite this, her actions have caused controversy, especially the effect on local natural conditions. Personally, among the city and urban conditions of Homer, I believe Bald Eagles return solely because of her efforts. I commend her for the commitment and love she shows these birds.

For a photographer, the eagle proximity is incredible. Without leaving the comfort of the vehicle, head and shoulder shots are readily available. A protocol for working around the eagles is obvious: signs around the parking areas clearly state, "Eagle Feeding Area, Leaving Your Vehicle Will Disturb the Eagles. Please Stay In Your Car". It’s said that Jean is very particular about this rule and enforces it with great conviction. I didn't find fault with these rules; the birds were close enough without having to exit the vehicle, so why leave it?

The sunlight was fleeting my first day, with intermittent clouds, but with steady illumination on my subjects. I was hoping for a bit more consistent light and at that point did not realize how precious light would be over the next three days. Out of a total of three-and-a-half days at Homer, I saw about four hours of daylight. This is not atypical for that time of year.

The main event for shooting Bald Eagles in Homer is morning feeding time at Jean's trailer. During my visit, she began feeding at 9:30 each morning. Easily one hundred birds were awaiting their feast. From the start of sunrise birds flew in from across the bay because few, if any, roost overnight on the Spit, most choosing to retreat to the mountains across the bay overnight. When multiple birds are flying in for the morning feeding, each with an impressive approximate six foot wingspan, it is a sight to behold!

By the time feeding starts, the birds are ready, but not overly eager, just stately in their demeanor. Then the fish get thrown out and the commotion begins! Herring Gulls dive into the feast first while the eagles examine the situation. Momentarily, the first eagle jumps into the fray. The gulls concede their prime positions without confrontation and it’s not long before another eagle joins in, then another. Soon, forty or fifty birds are feeding in the chaos of birds landing, taking flight, soaring overhead, fighting over scraps. From my perspective it was sensory overload, and trying to take it all in was a futile effort. My focus shifted to individual birds which helped. It all made me realize why fish protect themselves by traveling in schools and small birds by traveling in flocks.

This morning frenzy in Jean’s yard has to be the premier action and location for in-flight Bald Eagle images. With so many birds, it was difficult to concentrate on one at a time. When I set up in Jean's compound directly on the other side of the fence from dozens of Bald Eagles, they were literally flying between the photographers. At one point I was focused on my viewfinder and felt a breeze sweep by. Laughter from another photographer made me look up and ask what happened, only to find out an eagle had flown right between us. Incredible!

There were so many things that made this visit such an outstanding photographic experience. Perhaps the surroundings on the Spit were not the most natural of settings. Perhaps the feeding of the birds is affecting the ecosystem. But with hundreds of Bald Eagles present, and at an amazing proximity, it’s unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. Just a spectacular opportunity!

At the age of ten Tom Hill was introduced to black and white photography by his father when he started processing and printing his own pictures. Now a fighter pilot, Tom combines outdoor adventure with photography as time permits. To see more of his work, please visit his website at www.keiko-ni.com/keikosite/home.html.

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