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Birdwatching area is now an embarrassment

According to many of the promotional dispatches emanating from the District of Squamish, our itinerant eagle population is one of this community’s keynote features. Another way to put it is bald eagles are for Squamish what the surf is for Tofino.
eagle
An eagle soaring over Squamish earlier in January.

According to many of the promotional dispatches emanating from the District of Squamish, our itinerant eagle population is one of this community’s keynote features. Another way to put it is bald eagles are for Squamish what the surf is for Tofino.

On January 9, 1994, a record 3,769 bald eagles were tallied during the annual Brackendale Winter Eagle Count. News media from across the Lower Mainland frequently report on this unique attraction that draws legions of visitors to town and generates much needed tourist dollars.

But what should be a showcase location on Government Road in Brackendale is in dire need of a make-over. Visitors to the Eagle Run site contend with limited parking on a pot-holed lot, sketchy sanitation facilities and unkempt pathways that are at times nearly inaccessible. Days after a recent snowstorm, birdwatchers had to climb over a plowed snow ridge and then scramble up an unshoveled hillside to reach the viewing area.

The district recently tossed a fistful of cash at the downtown revitalization plan and a highly publicized branding initiative. In the meantime, the powers-that-be can’t seem to find the resources to properly maintain our prime eagle encounter venue.

Many residents have gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to the promotion of the signature raptors in our midst. Twenty years ago, Thor Froslev and Len Goldsmith were key players in the establishment of the Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park. Thor and his wife Dorte operate the Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG), where they host the annual Brackendale Winter Eagle Festival, a month-long party featuring a special line-up of concerts, lectures, art shows and other eagle-related activities. The BAG has become the annual eagle tally command centre. It also boasts extensive eagle displays, as well as an avian rehabilitation centre. And the exemplary Eagle Watch Interpreter Program, run by the Squamish Environment Society, has been in operation since 1995. Local volunteers donate hundreds of hours to enhance the viewing experience for visitors and they recently braved a blizzard to take part in this year’s eagle count.

For decades, the District of Squamish has leveraged the planning and hard work associated with those efforts. It’s time for municipal officials to upgrade a rundown venue that has become nothing short of an embarrassment.

Let’s be clear about what’s at stake here. This is not just about facilitating outings for a few birdwatching enthusiasts. This is about fostering the lucrative eco-tourism sector in a town desperate for economic diversity and growth.

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