Homer's 'Eagle Lady' dead at 85
Jean Keene, the 85-year-old "Eagle Lady" whose feeding program draws hundreds of bald eagles and scores of nature photographers to the Homer Spit each winter, died Tuesday evening in her Spit home.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 15, 2009 at 1:13 PM
R.I.P., Jean.
She left a mixed legacy. On the one hand, she thrilled thousands of folks who got to see Bald Eagles up close, gave photographers great opportunities, and did a lot for nature education. On the other hand, she badly disrupted the ecology around westerly Kachemak Bay, and helped keep alive unsustainable numbers of eagles. She never thought, for a moment, that she might be working harm. She refused to consider the possibility. But her genuine love for the big birds was evident to anyone who ever talked to her, or watched her, at age 80 and older, feeding the birds on a miserable winter morning.
She told me once she wouldn't mind being re-born as an eagle; Jean, I hope your dream comes true.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 22, 2009 at 1:40 PM
The Anchorage Daily news reports that Keene's assistant will be permitted to continue to feed the Bald Eagles through March. As many of you know, I have a lot of doubts about feeding wild raptors, especially on this scale, but I guess I agree that cutting the birds off suddenly in mid-winter would be bad.
Posted by Genny K. on February 13, 2009 at 1:14 AM
Jim, I know that this subject has caused many a heated discussion on various sites, but I agree with you. As someone who has lived in this area for nearly 30 years, I have seen dramatic changes in the numbers of eagles. It used to be rare to see an eagle; now I see them all the time. If there's a dumpster or a landfill, it has eagles around it.
Posted by David Taylor on February 15, 2009 at 1:45 AM
I too agree with both your and Jim's assessment. I have always had a bit of a guilty conscience regarding my photography in her yard. I loved the opportunities offered no where else (in fact I'll be returning one last time next month), but a lingering question always remained - "At what cost?". Seeing all the eagles gathered is always a glorious sight, but studies have shown conclusively that they have had a destructive impact upon other local bird populations and migrations. I wonder what will happen after March 27? I actually hope the feeding stops permanently at that point - personally, I'd rather die a little poorer and leave the planet a little richer. That's not to say that what Jean did was "wrong", time will tell - and the planet has a way of responding... bouncing back even. Life is resilient, defiant - just as Jean was.
Posted by DAN HART on February 21, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Hello Fellow Photographers;
Yes, January 13th, 2009 was a very sad day for Alaska and Homer. Jean was a dear friend of mine for over 20 years and she will be sorely missed. A lot of people only know her for her Homer eagle feeding; however, she worked with me through the American Bald Eagle Foundation education and research departments for many years. The Foundation awarded her its highest honor, the "Lifetime Meritorious Service Award" a few years ago. Cary Anderson wrote a great book about Jean and her life a few years back as well. She was quite the character--she worked the bush villages of Alaska many years, she was a rodeo horse trick rider, she owned a truck stop, she was a fish processor foreman, etc. But the one thing she did most was love "her" eagles. Over the years she sent many injured bald eagles to Dr. Jim Scott at the Bird Treatment & Learning Center in Anchorage for rehabilitation. She spent countless thousands of her own hard earned dollars to feed the eagles. Many new veterinary techniques were utilized over the years to reconstruct so called "bionic" beaks and other parts. We will all miss her and her devotion to her love of life---regardless of whether she had any biological impact or not (I am a biologist as well as a nature photographer). Thank you Jean for all you did, we will never forget you.
Cordially,
Dan
Discussion
5 repliesJean Keene, the 85-year-old "Eagle Lady" whose feeding program draws hundreds of bald eagles and scores of nature photographers to the Homer Spit each winter, died Tuesday evening in her Spit home.
She left a mixed legacy. On the one hand, she thrilled thousands of folks who got to see Bald Eagles up close, gave photographers great opportunities, and did a lot for nature education. On the other hand, she badly disrupted the ecology around westerly Kachemak Bay, and helped keep alive unsustainable numbers of eagles. She never thought, for a moment, that she might be working harm. She refused to consider the possibility. But her genuine love for the big birds was evident to anyone who ever talked to her, or watched her, at age 80 and older, feeding the birds on a miserable winter morning.
She told me once she wouldn't mind being re-born as an eagle; Jean, I hope your dream comes true.
Yes, January 13th, 2009 was a very sad day for Alaska and Homer. Jean was a dear friend of mine for over 20 years and she will be sorely missed. A lot of people only know her for her Homer eagle feeding; however, she worked with me through the American Bald Eagle Foundation education and research departments for many years. The Foundation awarded her its highest honor, the "Lifetime Meritorious Service Award" a few years ago. Cary Anderson wrote a great book about Jean and her life a few years back as well. She was quite the character--she worked the bush villages of Alaska many years, she was a rodeo horse trick rider, she owned a truck stop, she was a fish processor foreman, etc. But the one thing she did most was love "her" eagles. Over the years she sent many injured bald eagles to Dr. Jim Scott at the Bird Treatment & Learning Center in Anchorage for rehabilitation. She spent countless thousands of her own hard earned dollars to feed the eagles. Many new veterinary techniques were utilized over the years to reconstruct so called "bionic" beaks and other parts. We will all miss her and her devotion to her love of life---regardless of whether she had any biological impact or not (I am a biologist as well as a nature photographer). Thank you Jean for all you did, we will never forget you.
Cordially,
Dan