Juneau Audubon Society (JAS) began collecting Bald Eagle feathers in 2010 for the National Eagle Repository in Colorado. These feathers were then distributed to native Americans throughout the United States to incorporate in traditional headwear and ceremonies.
Now, after years of conservation efforts in the lower 48 states, the Bald Eagle population has increased to the point of recovery. Due to the positive action and work from biologists, researchers, volunteers and many more, feathers are not necessarily in demand from Alaska. Hence, JAS will not be renewing their US Fish and Wildlife permit which has allowed our community volunteers to pick up Bald Eagle feathers and deliver them to us for mailing.
A huge thank you goes out to all of you who have helped JAS with feather collection over the past 14 years! Many volunteers gathered feathers, mostly one by one, and diligently placed them in the hands of a JAS board member. Such a significant number of feathers,- 14,420, have been sent to the repository by JAS over the years. Thank you so much for your efforts, contributions, and support of this project.
Our current permit expires on March 31,2025. If you want to contribute till the end of the permit, by all means, please do so. Either bring your collected feathers to our Membership Meeting and Program (second Thursday of each month), at UAS Egan lecture hall at 6:30 pm or contact Brenda at-large_b@juneau-audubon-society.org. Membership Meeting dates for collection are Dec. 12, Jan 9, Feb. 13, and Mar 13.
