Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

Bald eagle in Alaska

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The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is a 200 km ² large, was established in 1982 in the Haines State Forest State Park in northwestern panhandle of Alaska. The majority of the protected area is located on the lower reaches of the Chilkat River north of Haines. Parts of the river valleys of Klehini and Tsirku River complement the Preserve.

The area hosts the world's largest population of bald eagles with 200 to 400 year-round living there birds. During the salmon run in the fall, the number increases to 4,000 animals.

In the alluvial fan at the mouth of the Tsirku in the Chilkat accumulates by inflows from rain and melting water in the warm seasons more water than can flow. This pent-up reservoir has during the frost months a few degrees higher temperature than the surrounding water, thus keeping the outflow of the Chilkat to Lynn Canal to approximately 8 km ice-free. This open water provides the eagles in winter an adequate food supply.