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Caption: Eagles Balance of Nature
Caption: There are few places in North America that can support thousands of Bald Eagles concentrated at a specific time.
This hidden location is one of them.
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Caption: @chadcopeland
Caption: Sockeye Salmon The Eagle population is supported by the Sockeyes, also called "red salmon". They are one of the most unique of the Pacific Salmon in that they require a lake for part of their life cycle.
More impressively, juveniles remain in freshwater until they're ready to migrate to the ocean which can be a distance of over 1000 miles. If they don't make it to saltwater they're called Kokanee.
Those that make it to the ocean and return to spawn are called Sockeye Salmon. Feeding ends once they enter freshwater and they use the energy they have until they complete the spawning process which can be 3-8 months. After that they have no energy left and die.
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Caption: Flying over the headwaters of the river provides a predators perspective.
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Caption: A female Sockeye swims over to investigate the camera after spawning. Her body withered and purpose served, she is ready to die.
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Caption: "Humpies" Male Sockeye Salmon are red in color and are known as "humpies" due to the hump behind the head that only develops during their spawning migration.
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Caption: After spawning, the Sockeye Salmon will perish within 24 hours. This is the perfect riverbed for the eggs to be placed and fertilized.
(Note the dead fish on the left)
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Caption: @chadcopeland
Caption: Balance of Nature
Salmon come to these waters to spawn and the Eagles seam to sit in the tree canopy by the hundreds just waiting for the process to end.
Then, almost on cue, they swoop down and pick up the exhausted fish after they have completed the spawning process.
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Caption: @chadcopeland
Caption: @natgeocreative
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