British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada, is famous for extreme tidal currents that form among the many islands the characterize the region. Tides push ocean water through these narrow, deep passages and the result is a violent, awesome display of water movement: standing waves, broad churning whirlpools and whitewater than can reach 15-17 knots in some places. In spring and early summer, hake fish migrate through these channels. Hake is normally found at depth but when the tidal currents peak each day the turbulence usually pulls some of the hake up to the shallows. As they ascend uncontrolled, the hakes’ swim bladders expand causing them to be so buoyant they float at the surface and cannot descend, leaving them vulnerable to predators. The bald eagles in the area are wise to this daily event and take full advantage of it, providing a spectacle that is known locally as the “eagle show”. And what a show it is.
I joined my friend Berna and five other guests for five days of eagles in British Columbia. We stayed at a remote island lodge, accessible only by boat and float plane, where we enjoyed sublime views and fantastic food. The only sounds were the tidal waters flowing by and the occasional bird call. Even the local grizzly who came foraging by along the beach kindly made no sound to disturb the tranquility. Each day our captain would take us out for a day of searching for whales, bears, dolphins and of course eagles. We did see a few orca, including the famous “Chainsaw“, as well as some black bears that looked to me to be far larger than the same black bear species we see in California. Curiously enough, the bears seemed to be foraging on marine algae at the waterline, a food item I would not have guessed bears use. Our visit coincided with tides that produced maximum currents in the afternoon so it was then that we made our way to the north tip of Stuart Island where the Arran Rapids lie. While the tides rise and currents increase throughout the day, hundreds of bald eagles arrive and perch in the trees overlooking the rapids, waiting. Eventually the currents reach maximum strength and begun to suck hake fish up from the depths. As soon as the first fish appear floating atop the eddies of the rapids, eagles swoop down from the trees to pick the fish out of the water and return to their perch to eat. Often two eagles squabble over a fish, and occasionally the fight results in a dropped fish which of course a third eagle swoops on. This goes on for at least a couple hours.
Here are some of my favorite images of these diving eagles. I have photographed eagles many times, usually in various parts of coastal Alaska, but this was by far the most fun and impressive.
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41826
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight captures a hake fish at the surface. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles catch them.
Image ID: 41827
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Two bald eagles spar in mid-flight.
Image ID: 41828
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight captures a hake fish at the surface. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles catch them.
Image ID: 41829
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41830
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41831
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight captures a hake fish at the surface. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles catch them.
Image ID: 41834
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight captures a hake fish at the surface. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles catch them.
Image ID: 41835
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Juvenile bald eagle in flight captures a hake fish at the surface. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles catch them.
Image ID: 41836
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41837
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41838
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight captures a hake fish at the surface. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles catch them.
Image ID: 41842
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41844
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41847
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
Bald eagle in flight carries a hake fish it has just caught. Hake fish migrate deep in sea channels but strong tidal currents such as those at Arran Rapids lift the hake to the surface where eagles can catch them.
Image ID: 41851
Species: Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Location: Arran Rapids, Stuart Island, British Columbia, Canada
