MAINE PUBLIC • January 12, 2022
Since late December, a rare, wayward eagle native to Russia and Japan has taken up residence along Maine's Midcoast near Boothbay Harbor. The Steller's sea eagle is one of the largest raptors in the world, weighing up to 20 pounds with an eight-foot wingspan. There are only about 4,000 of them left, and the chance to see one has captivated Mainers and birders from around the country. For many birders, a Steller's sea eagle is a chance to add one of the rarest birds they'll ever see to their birding life lists, a cumulative record of all the species they've identified. Nicole Koeltzow has racked up more than 800 so far. She drove to Maine from Tennessee.