It is a natural occurrence for eagles to gather together in large numbers. Hundreds of eagles gather to feed on whale carcasses, moose carcasses, etc., and in Haines thousands of eagles come each year for six weeks and longer to feed on the salmon run. There has been no report of widespread disease in eagles as a result of these congregations or mine. When the food source dries up, the eagles leave the area just as they do here.

I don't start feeding eagles until late December after the young are well out of the nest and on their own. This is important because if they were fed before that it would have an unnatural impact on them as they might come to feed at my place rather than learn on their own. I stop feeding eagles around the first week of April.

I began feeding eagles with the help and advice of experts on bald eagles. I wanted to make sure that I was not going to create a negative situation. I never allow eagles to be touched. I do not let people out of their cars when the eagles are around because the eagles will flee. I feed the eagles in a protected area away from cars and other dangers for the eagles. I also allow individuals to come into my fenced in yard to witness feeding at close range.

My feeding makes it possible to rescue birds that are severely injured. There have been broken beaks, broken wings, severed feet and talons, and other life threatening injuries. Over the years I have rescued numerous injured birds, which were brought back to health at the Raptor Center in Anchorage. My feeding also provides an important helping hand to the eagles, especially during harsh winters when many eagles would starve.

The ability for people to view wild eagles at a close range on the Homer Spit provides a wonderful experience for over 1,000 people each winter, most of whom would never get the chance to see eagles so close. On Saturday afternoons I do a special feeding so elders from the senior home can view the eagles at close range from their van. They love this experience. Also, busloads of school children have come out to view and learn about eagles. There are usually about 20 carloads of people who come by while I am feeding, including many people from out of town and photographers from all over the world. The eagles have become a real tourist attraction and a boost to the winter economy in Homer.

I do not charge anyone to come and see the eagles. Hundreds of Homer residents support me and bring me freezer burn, fisherman bring me the entrails of their cleaned fish, one local businessman gives me boxes of herring and I also purchase food myself. I am continuously thanked for what I provide on the Homer Spit. The Anchorage Raptor Center is appreciative of what I do for eagles and the Department of Fish and Wildlife has not been critical of my operations.

During the 25 years I have been feeding at close range, with about six to 10 guests including children standing next to me, there has never been an injury or threat of an injury to anyone. The eagles are only interested in one thing, and that is the food that I provide. Thank you.

Jean Keene is a longtime Homer resident known as "The Eagle Lady."