Homer, Alaska
A Little history of Homer, Alaska and why it is so well known for photographing eagles. It is also quite well known as a halibut fishing destination and claims to be the halibut capital of the US.
Jean Keene, known as “the eagle lady” has lived in a campground on the Homer Spit since her relocation to Alaska in 1977. Jean began feeding a pair of eagles on the Spit shortly after her arrival. She worked for a seafood plant where she had permission to gather surplus and freezer burned fish for the eagles. After ten years, more than 200 eagles were coming by Jean's place for breakfast. Jean loaded fish into barrels and then into her pickup for the short drive home. Before she doled out fish to the eagles, she chopped them into smaller chunks making it easier for them to carry. Jean fed 200 to 300 eagles about 500 lbs. of fish daily from late December through mid April. This daily “gathering of eagles” became well known among the photography community. The opportunity to photograph eagles in a situation like this is quite rare.
Jean Keene, the "Eagle Lady" passed away January 13, 2009. She was 85.
________________________________________
An ordinance passed by Homer officials to ban eagle feeding on the Homer Spit was to go in effect, but an emergency ordinance has allowed eagle feeding to be extended for 60 days following Jean Keene's death. Since eagle feeding had already began for the winter, wildlife officials agreed it might be best to taper off the feedings.
When my cousin from south Texas called and wanted to know if I was up for a trip to Alaska for what is most likely the last opportunity to photograph eagles under these conditions, I could hardly say no. Turned out to be an incredible trip with more eagles than you can imagine. I just wish I was photographer enough to do them justice.
Homer, Alaska
A Little history of Homer, Alaska and why it is so well known for photographing eagles. It is also quite well known as a halibut fishing destination and claims to be the halibut capital of the US.
Jean Keene, known as “the eagle lady” has lived in a campground on the Homer Spit since her relocation to Alaska in 1977. Jean began feeding a pair of eagles on the Spit shortly after her arrival. She worked for a seafood plant where she had permission to gather surplus and freezer burned fish for the eagles. After ten years, more than 200 eagles were coming by Jean's place for breakfast. Jean loaded fish into barrels and then into her pickup for the short drive home. Before she doled out fish to the eagles, she chopped them into smaller chunks making it easier for them to carry. Jean fed 200 to 300 eagles about 500 lbs. of fish daily from late December through mid April. This daily “gathering of eagles” became well known among the photography community. The opportunity to photograph eagles in a situation like this is quite rare.
Jean Keene, the "Eagle Lady" passed away January 13, 2009. She was 85.
________________________________________
An ordinance passed by Homer officials to ban eagle feeding on the Homer Spit was to go in effect, but an emergency ordinance has allowed eagle feeding to be extended for 60 days following Jean Keene's death. Since eagle feeding had already began for the winter, wildlife officials agreed it might be best to taper off the feedings.
When my cousin from south Texas called and wanted to know if I was up for a trip to Alaska for what is most likely the last opportunity to photograph eagles under these conditions, I could hardly say no. Turned out to be an incredible trip with more eagles than you can imagine. I just wish I was photographer enough to do them justice.