Blame it on the white stuff for the low eagle count numbers in 2015.
A total of 637 of the raptors were counted at the annual eagle count on Sunday (Jan. 4) and event organizer Thor Froslev said the poor conditions made it difficult for the volunteers to spot the birds.
“It was snowing so hard that they couldn’t see them,” he said. “The eagles were hidden in the trees and there’s snow on the trees – we couldn’t even see them on the other side of the river.”
A snowstorm blanketed Squamish starting late Saturday (Jan. 3) and continued for much of Sunday, making it difficult for volunteers to count. Despite the poor conditions, Froslev noted that all his volunteers showed up and went to their assigned posts but not many eagles were to be seen.
The 637 eagles is the third lowest amount in the history of the event, which first started in 1986. Volunteers spotted 420 adults, 207 juveniles and 10 unclassified birds. Last year saw a total of 1617 eagles counted, the highest total this decade. The all time high mark occurred back in 1994 when 3769 eagles were viewed.
Volunteers also spotted three wolves, three heron and a bobcat while looking for eagles. The Upper Squamish region had the most birds spotted (126), while the Lower Cheakamus region also saw 88 eagles counted.
Froslev said the snow was the main factor in this year’s count but pointed out that it’s not the first time that flurries have impacted the event.
“We have had years like this before but I can’t remember what years they were – I can hardly remember yesterday,” he said.
For more details on the count, visit www.brackendaleartgallery.com/EagleCount.html.
