Brackendale Eagles British Columbia
Squamish,
BC along the Sea-to-Sky Coastal Highway
Winter Home of the Bald Eagle - Squamish
A residential community just north of Squamish, Brackendale centers around the local arts community. The Brackendale Art Gallery includes a theatre, teahouse and impressive shows and exhibits. On its cedar walls are works from local and visiting artists, and fine Salish carvings. This community also boasts the largest gathering of bald eagles in North America. The art gallery sponsors the annual eagle count each January, drawing international crowds. Nearly4,000 eagles were counted in 1994. Eagles can be viewed from the Tenderfoot Creek Fish hatchery in the Cheakamus Valley down to the Squamish Estuary near downtown Squamish. The eagles start arriving in mid November and stay until mid February, with the largest concentration in late December to January. The most popular view point is the Eagle Viewing Dyke across from the Easter Seal Camp between Squamish and Brackendale. For more information and an eagle viewing map, visit the Visitor Information Centre (phone (604) 892-9244) in downtown Squamish.
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), is the only eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word "bald" meant "white," not hairless. The bald eagle is found over most of North America, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico. About half of the world's 70,000 bald eagles live in Alaska. Combined with British Columbia's population of about 20,000, the northwest coast of North America is by far their greatest stronghold. They flourish here in part because the salmon. Dead or dying fish are an important food source for all bald eagles.
CLICK HERE for Wildlife Float Tours including Bald Eagles
Cultural Heritage:
Wildlife:
British Columbia is home to a rich diversity and abundance of native species and habitats. Programs within the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection endeavour to conserve biodiversity, provide a variety of opportunities for the use and enjoyment of wildlife in B.C., and maintain a balance between the needs of wildlife and the needs of the people.
Obey posted closures of climbing routes on the Chief from March to July, during the critical nesting season of the peregrine falcon.
Photo Credit: Bill McComish, WestCoastPhotos.comWhat You Should Know Before You Go
Fees, Hours of Operation & Number of Campsites
Special Notes:
Eagle viewing is at its peak from mid-December to mid-January but significant numbers of eagles may be present from mid-November to mid-February. Eagle viewing is best enjoyed by the public from areas outside the park boundaries. The main "Eagle Run" viewing facility is located on the municipal dyke, across from the Easter Seal Camp on Government Road in Brackendale. Exit Highway 99 at Mamquam Road and head north on Government Road to the viewing area. An interpretive display explains the eagles and salmon life cycle.
Eagle Watch is a volunteer community-based interpretive program offered to help visitors at the Eagle Run viewing area to understand the eagles and salmon life cycle, and to get a close-up view through telescopes. Interpreters are on the dyke each weekend until early February.
Due to the park's high conservation values, no recreation facilities exist in the park. Recreation use, except for fishing, is closed from October 1 to March 31 of each year. Recreation use from April 1 to September 30 of each year is limited, to maintain low numbers and low intensity use. The park is closed to campfires, camping, trail development, mountain biking, horseback riding, and mechanized activity. Commercial recreation activities are restricted to river rafting opportunities where appropriate wildlife viewing practices are followed and require a Park Use Permit.
Photo Credit: Bill McComish, WestCoastPhotos.com
CLICK HERE for Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park is a favorite destination of outdoor enthusiasts: it offers a wide range of hiking opportunities.
Brackendale Eagles- Squamish British Columbia (BC) - BrackendaleEagles.com
Copyright 2003 © Bill
McComish
All images on this website are legally protected from unauthorized use by international
copyright law. The images may NOT be used in other websites, published, copied
to another computer
or used as the basis for other photographs or illustrations.
Information
