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Goldstream Eagle Watch

January 21, 2007 | Tips from Us > Victoria, Bird Watching

A few days ago, I stopped in Goldstream Provincial Park for a quick look for eagles. I wanted to compare this Vancouver Island location to the Brackendale experience I had last weekend (below). Overall, I have to admit I prefer Goldstream. The stream, for which I assume the park takes its name, is smaller than the Squamish River in Brackendale so I was able to count eagle feathers without a telescope. But then, I could smell the pungent spawned-out salmon in a bit more detail as well. Also, the eagles perch in an old-growth temperate rain forest, which creates an ambiance that mentally takes you to the middle of nowhere - just you and eagles (if you are able to ignore the traffic on the highway behind you). Which leads me to the final reason why I like Goldstream better - fewer people. Instead of standing in an exposed bird watching lineup, I sat like a mist enshrouded stump, naturally enclosed with the shrieks of eagles and sounds of the living forest. Goldstream Provincial Park is a short 20 minute drive north from Victoria.

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Posted by Susan, Vancouver at 12:00 AM

Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park

January 14, 2007 | Tips from Us > Squamish, Bird Watching
Find more information about Squamish, Bird Watching

My toes and fingers are still frigid from standing along the Squamish River as I tried to pick out eagles hiding in Brackendale Eagle Provincial Park across the water. I heard there were approximately 1,700 of them, but I could only count about 50 from where I stood. There were four in particular worth watching, as they bantered at the river shoreline, looking for food and doing what eagles do. A younger one flew across the river, right over my head, and down the path where the other eagle viewers were watching. It was perfect, except for the cold, but I already mentioned that, and as long as I stood in the sun it wasn't too bad. Almost. My camera didn't even begin to have the strength to zoom across the water and capture the eagles antics, but that didn't really matter as there were telescopes for everyone to share. Margaret's weekly radio segment from January 5 also gives you more information on the Annual Eagle Festival & Count, see below.

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Posted by Susan, Vancouver at 12:00 AM