Issue #12
March 2008
March 2008
Homer's Eagles
Lou says....
The panoramic views from Homer are spectacular and that alone is worth the visit!
The panoramic views from Homer are spectacular and that alone is worth the visit!
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This photo was taken from the Homer Spit Campground looking south across Kachemak Bay toward the Kenai mountains.
But that was not the main reason we came. Years before planning our Alaska trip I learned that Jean Keene, aka the Eagle Lady, feeds eagles from her residence on the Homer Spit. Photographers from all over the world congregate here to photograph the hundreds of eagles that show up every morning. On our visit we met photographers from all over the U.S. as well as England and Italy.
The feeding of the eagles has created quite a controversy. Some Homer residents (there are always a few who want to spoil a good thing) complained and the city council passed a law banning eagle feeding in the city limits. But since Jean has been feeding for so long (27 years), and the fact that she has become somewhat of a celebrity, the city granted her special permission to continue the feedings until 2010.
Jean was the winner of the Lifetime Meritorious Service Award from the American Bald Eagle Foundation in 2004 and has been the subject of many worldwide newspaper and magazine articles as well as television documentaries all over the world.
If you come to see the feedings be aware that you must stay in your vehicle. There are limited parking spaces so come early to get a good spot. Jean feeds the eagles every morning at 9 a.m. November 1st until April 1st.
On our first day we parked in one of the parking spots. Later that day we returned to get Jean's autograph on her book, titled THE EAGLE LADY. Jean had just returned from picking up a pallet of 25lb boxes of fish to feed the eagles with. Since Jean is not physically able to unload the truck she depends on volunteers, usually photographers, to do the work for her. I joined the others and together we unloaded the fish. I knew Jean allowed a few photographers to photograph from inside the feeding area so when she finished autographing her book I asked if she had room for one more, and she did. It was an incredible experience watching and photographing these wild eagles up close as they entertained us with their feeding antics.
Thank you Jean for your dedication to the eagles for all these years.
The feeding of the eagles has created quite a controversy. Some Homer residents (there are always a few who want to spoil a good thing) complained and the city council passed a law banning eagle feeding in the city limits. But since Jean has been feeding for so long (27 years), and the fact that she has become somewhat of a celebrity, the city granted her special permission to continue the feedings until 2010.
Jean was the winner of the Lifetime Meritorious Service Award from the American Bald Eagle Foundation in 2004 and has been the subject of many worldwide newspaper and magazine articles as well as television documentaries all over the world.
If you come to see the feedings be aware that you must stay in your vehicle. There are limited parking spaces so come early to get a good spot. Jean feeds the eagles every morning at 9 a.m. November 1st until April 1st.
On our first day we parked in one of the parking spots. Later that day we returned to get Jean's autograph on her book, titled THE EAGLE LADY. Jean had just returned from picking up a pallet of 25lb boxes of fish to feed the eagles with. Since Jean is not physically able to unload the truck she depends on volunteers, usually photographers, to do the work for her. I joined the others and together we unloaded the fish. I knew Jean allowed a few photographers to photograph from inside the feeding area so when she finished autographing her book I asked if she had room for one more, and she did. It was an incredible experience watching and photographing these wild eagles up close as they entertained us with their feeding antics.
Thank you Jean for your dedication to the eagles for all these years.
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