Remembrance - Jean Keene 10-20-1923 to 1-13-2009
In Memory of Jean Keene aka ‘The Eagle Lady’ of Homer, Alaska SOAR FREE JEAN
Camera: Sony A900; F-Stop: f/4; Exposure: 1/320 sec.; ISO Speed: 200; Focal Length: 200mm.
I took this photo on 1-8-2009 while we were down in Homer visiting with Jean and her Eagles of Kachemak Bay. On 1-14-2009 while watching the news I learned that Jean had passed away the evening before, with many friends at her side and one of her beloved Eagles perched outside her home. She was one Spunky Lady who’s only thoughts were always of her Eagles and making sure they would be cared for.
To give a little background, Jean was an ex-rodeo stunt rider who after being badly injured during a stunt one day, had to give up the rodeo, she ended up moving to Alaska in 1977. One day she noticed a couple Eagles near her compound and she wondered if they were hungry, since she worked at a fish cannery she brought home some fish heads etc., and fed the two Eagles, by the end of that winter she was feeding about a dozen Eagles, as the winters came and went the number of Eagles increased into the hundreds. Right after Jean’s death the city council of Homer met and decided that they would allow Jean’s helper to continue feeding the Eagles in her place, until the end of this winter season which ends March 27th, 2009. They met again in February and decided to end the Jean Keene ordinance that would have allowed the feedings to continue for the winter of 2009/2010 this means that as of March 27th, 2009 the feedings will end completely with the hopes of driving off the Eagles that frequent Homer Spit for the winter feedings.
Jean Keene literally put Homer on the map, people from all over the world came to Homer during the winter feeding period to meet Jean, and photograph her Eagles. Photo tours came to Alaska to photograph the Eagles. But all of this is at an end, it seems the voice of those who love and respect wildlife is not as loud or as vocal as the voice of those who feel that the Eagles are a nuisance….they want the Eagles gone. We on the other hand would love to see the feedings continue so that other nature lovers can fulfill their dreams of someday coming to Alaska, to stand amongst these wonderful creatures and capture them through their camera lenses, so we are reaching out to all you nature lovers and asking if you might take a few minutes to write an e-mail and send it to the city clerk of Homer at this address: JJohnson@ci.homer.ak.us Lets all let our voices ring loud and clear…..Continue the feedings and Keep The Eagles on the Spit!
We thank you, and we hope that someday each and every one of you will have the opportunity to visit Jean Keene’s Eagles of Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska.
Images and Writing © Deb Larson
Comments
Thanks so much for the email address to write to, I hope that a lot of people see this. Your images are so great. I can’t image eagles being a nuisance, just carry an umbrella all the time.. Thanks again and I will write the clerk.
Hi Marvin, THANKS SO MUCH!! Hopefully the more people who know what’s going on and who write to the city clerk….that maybe, just maybe the city of Homer will re-think the outcome of their recent actions and allow the yearly winter feedings continue. Winters are harsh, and it is so hard to image that the Eagles are able to get the food that they need to survive, if they were I really don’t think that they would be flying across the bay every morning to get food that man is providing. (This is our first attempt at an article for the ‘Nature Photography Online Magazine’ Group, and will appear as an April ’09 article….so thank you for finding, reading and commenting on it….very much appreciated!!). Take Care Rick & Deb :)
– Rick & Deb Larson
What an incredible story…and what an incredible legacy!! It is sad to hear that this effort is being abandoned…seems a bit like the town of Homer is shooting itself in the foot! This must have been good for tourism for this town. What will they do now?
Hi Blair, It is very sad that the city of Homer is controlled by those who do not appreciate the beauty of wildlife, to consider Eagles a nuisance…seagulls or Ravens, maybe….but not Eagles!! To want to drive these creatures that symbolize our freedom away, is beyond reasoning!! Jean and the Eagles have been a winter draw for Homer for years now. Once professional photographers learned of Jean and her Eagles, they were converging on Homer, and it was the professional photographers that got Jean to change the feeding time as she used to feed them around 5 AM….so there was no day light to take photos. Myself (Deb) and our two kids were out there at 5AM one morning feeding them for her as she had to go into work earlier that morning and she asked if we would feed them for her, what a memory that she gave us to take to our graves, it was so AWESOME to be out there tossing fish parts and having the Eagles swoop near by, grab the fish and take it to a driftwood perch, that’s a memory that no one can take from me or my two kids. I don’t know what is going to happen, but I do know that there is a drive going on to try and get the city to change it’s mind, I’d hate to see any more Eagles die because of lack of food!! Take Care and thanks so much for reading my first writing/article for the ‘Nature Photography Online Magazine’ Group, for April 2009. Rick & Deb :)
– Rick & Deb Larson
OMG!! This cannot be so! How incredibly misguided and well….ignorant. Thank you for the e-mail contact. We must speak up and protest. Not only will the people of Homer lose out, but the eagles and all those who come to obserbve these magnificent creatures.
I’m just so sad!
Hi Karen, Misguided and Ignorant, we would have to agree! HOPEFULLY they will re-think this issue,realizing the outcome of their actions, both financially and for the livelihood of the Eagles….no one can really gaurantee that they will be able to survive the harsh winters on their own after the 30 years of feedings that they have had. We would HATE to learn that the Kachemak Bay Eagle population was dwindling. Thanks so much for reading our first writing/article for the ‘Nature Photography Online Magazine’ Group, for April 2009. Take Care Rick & Deb :)
– Rick & Deb Larson
wow I have seen her work what an outstanding person and amazing work..sad a true icon
Hi Heather, THANKS SO MUCH for checking out our first article for ‘Nature Photography Online Magazine’ group, we appreciate it very much!! Take Care Rick & Deb :)
– Rick & Deb Larson
We were in Homer in June last year and we were there to see the eagles. We came from as far away as Australia and joked that the eagles roost on the “upside down” tree has it’s canopy reaching through the centre of the earth and emerges in our front yard here! I think you know the one I am referring to. ( I will put it up on my RB.) There is a remote chance we will get back this year but we would be very disappointed if the summer eagles had gone. It is sad to hear of Jean’s passing and I believe the winter feed should continue as a tribute to her. We will definitely send off our objection to the council – hopefully they will see sense. Love everything you do – Thank You.
Aloha dearest Deb and Rick,
I remember well your sensational stories about your wonderful friendship with Jean Keene and her legacy with the magnificent Bald Eagles and marvel at your beautiful images. I very much enjoy reading your story and wish you every success in your efforts to maintain the feeding program. 30 years is a very long time and certainly the Eagles are dependent on this subsistence. They have taught their young as well through conditioning and observation to return year after year. I believe it would be a tragedy for it to be discontinued. The Bald Eagle was under threat of extinction for so long, I would hope everyone would do everything possible to help them increase in numbers. Homer Alaska is a beautiful and pristine natural habitat as well. I do hope someone, a patron with considerable influence will step in and help you preserve and possibly offer assistance in funding this worthy project.
Aloha e Malama pono,
Sharon
*THANKS SO MUCH Sharon, it would be an absolute shame if the city of Homer sticks to it’s guns and won’t allow the feeding to continue through future winters, they are going to miss out on so much! I don’t understand why they can’t see what the eagles being there means to their community, some people just aren’t meant to live in an area where wildlife roamed and soared before we moved in, to call eagles a nuisance….where are these people coming from???? We are hoping that my article will have some affect on the situation, the more people that see/read it and then e-mail the city of Homer the better. It would be a travesty if there are any losses because of the decision they made last March. Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)
– Rick & Deb Larson
It would also be wonderful if you would post this journal to our Alaska group. I could offer you a journal feature for a wider audience.
Hi Sharon, I would be honored to do so, more people is what it needs to make a difference. Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)
– Rick & Deb Larson
Sharon, I just opened up my writing in order to add it to Alaska ~ Beyond Your Dreams, but it says that we can’t add anything more to this group. Is there a little glitch somewhere, or was I attempting to add it to your group incorrectly?? We’ve been away so much/long of late that it’s like I’ve gone brain dead when it comes to remembering how to do things. Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)
– Rick & Deb Larson