| Once again our planet's largest
| |
| | habitat, all with stunning mountain and
|
| gatherings of Bald Eagles in underway in
| |
| | forest backdrops.
|
| Squamish British Columbia, just North of
| |
| | The closest accommodation to the prime
|
| Vancouver BC, and just 50 km south of the
| |
| | eagle viewing area in Brackendale is the
|
| world class Whistler Ski Resort. Based
| |
| | Sea to Sky Hotel & Conference Center ( on
|
| on population estimates, up to 5% of the
| |
| | Highway 99 at Garibaldi Way. Excellent
|
| world's bald eagles winter in the very
| |
| | eagle viewing areas are only about a
|
| this very accessible area. From one
| |
| | kilometer away. The hotel also offers
|
| viewing space, often dozens of Eagles can
| |
| | discount ski packages to those traveling
|
| be seen, and a short walk in the right
| |
| | to ski or board at Whistler Blackcomb.
|
| direction will allow you to see many
| |
| | There are other good viewing areas in
|
| more.
| |
| | town, particularly along the river dykes
|
| For decades, thousands of majestic Bald
| |
| | at the end of Judd Road, and around the
|
| Eagles have been gathering on the
| |
| | spawning channels between the Mamquam
|
| riverbanks of the Squamish and Cheakamus
| |
| | River and the Squamish Valley Golf and
|
| Rivers, feasting on the ample salmon that
| |
| | Country Club.
|
| either did not quite make it to the
| |
| | Directions: To see the eagles from
|
| spawning channels, or have accomplished
| |
| | arguably the best viewing area, turn west
|
| their life's goal, and thus have met
| |
| | from Highway 99 at Garibaldi Way. This
|
| their subsequent demise. Working to
| |
| | is a left hand turn if you are coming
|
| preserve their energy in the winter
| |
| | from Vancouver, or a right hand turn if
|
| months, eagles will eat up to a two
| |
| | you are coming from Whistler. Turn right
|
| pounds of this high value protein every
| |
| | again in about 20 metres at the
|
| day.
| |
| | T-junction with Government Road. Follow
|
| The highlight of the eagle-viewing period
| |
| | Government road for just under one
|
| is the annual Bald Eagle Count, which
| |
| | kilometer, and you will be at the Eagle
|
| will take place on January 8th this year
| |
| | Viewing area. There is lots of parking
|
| and is headquartered out of the
| |
| | on the right and an interpretive center
|
| Brackendale Art Gallery. Using
| |
| | on the dyke from which you can get a
|
| consistent methodology, a count of the
| |
| | great view of dozens of Bald Eagles. If
|
| eagles in the area on this weekend every
| |
| | you are very lucky, there may also be a
|
| year has been kept since 1986. In 1994 a
| |
| | few seals around, as well as a variety of
|
| world record 3769 eagles were counted
| |
| | other bird species. On weekends from
|
| within a few kilometers of the Squamish
| |
| | December to mid-February there are often
|
| area and its tributary rivers.
| |
| | volunteers from Squamish's Eagle Watch
|
| Bad weather can be good for eagle viewing
| |
| | program on have to offer more information
|
| as the eagles tend to stay closer to the
| |
| | and a peek through higher powered
|
| riverbanks and closer to viewing areas.
| |
| | telescopes. Other great viewing areas
|
| When the weather is great, they are more
| |
| | are near the Tenderfoot Fish Hatchery,
|
| likely to be off for a little fly around
| |
| | The Squamish Estuary, and near the
|
| the rivers, mountains and forests of the
| |
| | Spawning channels between the Mamquam
|
| Squamish area.
| |
| | River and the Squamish Valley Golf and
|
| One of the best ways to see the Bald
| |
| | Country club.
|
| Eagles in their spectacular surroundings
| |
| | Squamish is an outdoor recreation Mecca
|
| right in their own habitat is on an Eagle
| |
| | with thousands of rock climbing routes,
|
| Float tour, or Eagle Safari through
| |
| | hundreds of kilometers of Mountain Bike
|
| Canadian Outback Adventures. ( A dream
| |
| | trails, a dozen excellent day hikes, some
|
| experience for adventure travelers,
| |
| | of the best windsurfing and kite-surfing
|
| photographers, families, schools and
| |
| | on the west coast of North America,
|
| educational groups, it is the best way to
| |
| | excellent white water rafting or
|
| get up close to these raptors without
| |
| | kayaking, and scuba diving in Howe Sound.
|
| disturbing them. While they usually run
| |
| | For the less adventurous, there is
|
| white water rafting trips in the summer,
| |
| | fishing, 3 scenic golf courses, walking
|
| in winter, Canadian Outback takes
| |
| | trails, beaches and lakes, and sailing
|
| vacationers on float tours down the
| |
| | available. The new Squamish Adventure
|
| rivers in the area in order to see these
| |
| | Center was recently opened on Highway 99.
|
| spectacular birds in their natural
| |
| |
|
