Once again, we are witness to the annual gathering of eagles along our local rivers as these magnificent birds wander great distances in search of winter food.
This is a particularly critical time for young eagles. The mortality rate can reach over 50 per cent during their first year of life and the season has already presented a huge challenge, with a poor chum salmon run and recent high water events that have swept away dead fish. Eagles will be moving into protected side channels and small streams to find their food.
A missed or interrupted meal for eagles can be a serious thing as food supplies grow harder to find. But fortunately, there are simple things we can do to help eagles thrive in our area. The most important is to give feeding birds their space. Take your walk during the afternoon when the birds are less actively feeding. Stay off the river bars. Do not approach birds on the ground. Use a long lens, or spotting scope or binoculars to get a closer look. Keep your dog on a leash. Keep your drones at home.
River activities also impact eagles. Jet boats in particular, with their loud propulsion systems, scare feeding birds off the gravel bars. Keep your jet boat tied up at the wharf and stay away from the shore if using a canoe, raft, or paddleboard.
A safe, alternate place to enjoy the eagles is Eagle Run viewing area on Government Road in Brackendale. Eagle Watch volunteer interpreters are on hand, with powerful spotting scopes and loads of knowledge, weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., mid-November through January. Year-round displays provide background regarding the eagles specific to our area.
More eagle facts, a map of eagle viewing sites, and opportunities to support Eagle Watch can be found on the Squamish Environment Society website: www.squamishenvironment.ca/programs/eaglewatch/ and Facebook @squamisheaglewatch
Interested parties can also volunteer for the upcoming Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, Dec. 17 and the Brackendale Winter Eagle Count on Sunday, Jan. 7 by contacting [email protected].
