A Tribute to the Bald Eagle

Wow… eagle close-up! Hello feathered friends!

Remember the famous Bald Eagles of Hornby Island that intrigued people from all over the world last year? Twas Nature’s Reality Show… Biologist David Hancock of Hancock House streamlined live video of the wonderful pair of eagles as they nested on Doug Carrick’s property on Hornby Island and took turns caring for their precious eggs. Unfortunately their eggs did not survive, but another live web feed of a pair in Sidney successfully had two beautiful offspring…

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I have to admit I had the video minimized in the corner of my computer screen at all times as I could not turn away from the opportunity to peer into the lives of Bald Eagles in their natural habitat. I was endlessly fascinated as mom and dad built their huge nest, jumped in glee as the eggs hatched successfully, and watched in total awe as the two gorgeous fledglings (appropriately named Victoria and Sidney) took to the air for the very first time! What an enthralling educational experience for the thousands and thousands of people who tuned in daily! Since then, Hancock has streamlined other live camera feeds at the estuary in Goldstream Park, and the Heronry in Stanley Park. No doubt, the intimate and ‘natural’ look at nesting eagles (and all birds) have made people think twice about threatening the species’ natural habitat…

Hence, the Campbell River Bald Eagle Festival is about to hold its 2nd Annual Event this Saturday at Maritime Heritage Centre at Discovery Pier… The sponser Maj Birch, organizer and passion behind the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society, promises a record number of eagles this year (last year counted nearly 400)… Unlike the other West Coast eagle festivals, the Campbell River one is set when all the local breeding eagles are on their natural territories. The area also gets hundreds of additional northern birds still heading north and hundreds of sub-adults that do not have to stay on a nest territory. So the festival is doubly special… There will be heaps of information, fun activities, and special guest speakers such as David Hancock himself (here’s a link to David’s article on the event last year). The goal is to bring awareness of the life of the amazing Bald Eagles in the area…. So, spread yer wings and fly on over as it should be a flock of fun!

(Above image: Cry of an Eagle painted by local environmental artist Judi Wilde who will be a guest at the event)

*Terramia*