Along with snow and cold weather, the winter season also brings to Squamish a host of eagles to feast on spawned out salmon. The wintering eagles attract tons of visitors to town, and the Eagle Watch Program is seeking more local volunteers to help man viewing areas on the dike, and to be ambassadors for both the birds of prey and the town.
“We are having a volunteer orientation evening at the Squamish Adventure Centre on November 6 at 7 p.m.,” said Judith Knapp, Eagle Watch Program coordinator.
The event serves to give new volunteers information on the program and teach them about “ethical viewing” of the eagles.
“Ethical viewing is about viewing the eagles from a distance and understanding their needs,” said Knapp. “They can be easily disturbed by humans.”
Eagle Watch volunteers can be found during the winter season on the dike – rain or shine – every weekend until the end of January and every day over the Christmas holidays in shifts from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m.
“We usually have at least two volunteers on the dike along with two or three scopes so people can get great views of the eagles,” said Knapp. “People who come to the volunteer orientation can sign up for the watches.”
Attendees will also get an eagle watch interpreter kit, and they’ll get to learn all about eagles, their biology and the delicate balance that plays out between the birds and the life cycle of salmon.
“We also teach them about being ambassadors for the program,” she said. “Because people come here from all over the world to experience the eagles.”
Knapp said the program is looking for volunteers with an open mind and tons of enthusiasm. The program kicks off with an opening ceremony on the dike on November 29 at 10 a.m.
For more info, go to http://www.squamishenvironment.ca/EagleWatch.
