MOUNT VERNON — The hundreds of bald eagles that descend each winter along the upper Skagit River to feast on spawning salmon can sometimes surprise those who come out to see them.
Judy Hemenway, who lives between Concrete and Marblemount and is involved with the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center, knows this well after several years of helping others find the birds along the banks of the river.
“It was this beautiful sunny day about five years ago,” Hemenway said of her most memorable eagle-watching experience. “They call it mating where like their feet are locking … they are together in the air, they will go all the way almost until they hit the ground. It was the most gorgeous sight ever.”
That was the only time she saw eagles interacting that way.
The interpretive center, at Howard Miller Steelhead Park near Rockport, is gearing up for its 20th year. It will open its doors during December and January to help visitors witness the wonders of the majestic birds.
The center is operated by the nonprofit Skagit River Bald Eagle Awareness Team, which has as its mission educating and inspiring others about the Skagit River and the wildlife it supports.
Some bald eagles live in the area year-round, but the majority of those found along the upper Skagit River during the winter come from Alaska. They are drawn by the chum salmon that spawn and die in the river.
“It all stems back to the health of the Skagit River watershed and the Skagit River. If we see less eagles on the river, then there could be a correlation,” Cora Thomas, president of the center’s Awareness Team, said of the importance of the center’s education mission.
While the center’s goal of educating visitors about the birds, the salmon and the river remains the same after 20 years, Hemenway said a lot has changed since the center opened in 1996.
The center started in an old building at Rockport State Park with two portable toilets outside. Eleven years later, the center moved into its current facility, where there are restrooms and a remarkable view.
“Skagit County Parks invited us in and it was just perfect,” Hemenway said of the move to the county park nine years ago. “We overlook the Skagit River.”
The center has also seen an increase in the number of visitors, and Hemenway said it has surprised her that some come from across the globe.
“They come from all over the world,” she said.
Still, the majority are from the Pacific Northwest, including many last year from King County.
Thomas said 2015 was a record-breaking year, with 3,500 visitors going through the center during the 35 days it was open.
Thomas said she enjoys sharing fun facts about the birds.
For example, young eagles can appear larger than adult eagles because of their fluffy feathers. They can also be mistaken for golden eagles because they don’t yet have white markings.
“They just have more fluff. They’ll slim down a little more when they are older and get their adult feathers,” Thomas said. “When it matures it will get the white head and white tail feathers.”
The eagles are starting to flock to the upper Skagit River, and awareness team members and interpretive center staff are eager to share their knowledge with visitors again this year.
“The eagles have already been starting to come in, they are chattering up a storm,” Hemenway said. “We live in this beautiful place and we get to share it with them (visitors) and educate them and teach them about the eagles and the salmon and the whole cycle … It just makes me happy and warm inside that we are sharing the Skagit Valley (with others).”
The center is holding a photo contest to celebrate its 20th anniversary. It will publish the 20 best photos on its website, and the winning photographer will receive a free river guide tour.
The contest opened Nov. 1 and submissions will be accepted until Jan. 15.
Photos must be taken this fall and winter, but don’t have to be of bald eagles. They can showcase any of the area’s natural splendor, including scenery or wildlife.
“I’m excited for the photo contest. I think it gets people really excited about and actually more engaged when they go out for their outdoor adventures,” Thomas said. “It will be fun to see how they interpret what makes this place, or what makes the North Cascades and the Skagit River region, so special.”
Many visitors over the years have donned camera gear, which helped inspire the 20th anniversary photo contest.
“They get shots of things I’ve never seen,” Hemenway said.
