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Goldstream eagles arrive in record numbers
By Amy Dove - Goldstream News Gazette - November 30, 2007

Hordes of eagles have taken over Goldstream River.

Between 25 and 50 raptors have been spotted feasting on the decaying salmon that litter the river bank.

The number is higher than usual for this time of year, said Adam Taylor, a naturalist at Goldstream Nature House. Usually the birds are only just coming to the waterside in November, with around 10 being spotted the first week. This year 25 eagles were reported during the same week.

Winter storms last year forever altered the river’s dynamic, Taylor explained. A once narrow back channel of the river has widened, increasing the number of fish passing though. Even better for the eagles, the area is not accessible to people — leaving them in quiet seclusion to eat.

“We think they just have a larger area where they are able (to eat),” he said of the increased numbers. And while the eagle population is rising, they should pose no threat to the salmon still fighting their way upstream.

“They almost never kill live salmon. You have to remember these fish are literally as big or bigger than the eagles,” Taylor said.

Combine the size of the fish with a mouth full of teeth, and trying to eat a live salmon can become dangerous for the bird, he explained. Plus, there is no shortage of fresh dead fish lying around to eat.

The birds usually hover around Goldstream until the end of December, beginning of January, Taylor said. The change in the river means many of the birds are not visible to the public, however, there is still a healthy presence in front of the nature house, Taylor said, noting as he spoke four eagles were dueling with a seagull outside. The best time to see them is at low tide when the fish carcasses are not submerged in water.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com

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THE END OF THE GOLDSTREAM Salmon Run is a signal to the Bald Eagles that it is time to return to Goldstream for their annual salmon feast. Record numbers of Bald Eagles have been returning to the park - up to 276 in one day - for the past three winters. By closing the estuary to people, the birds can feed undisturbed while visitors are able to see them up close with the use of a video camera and telescopes. This protective measure has proven extremely effective.

Each winter, from early December until the end of February, Goldstream Provincial Park’s Visitor Centre celebrates the return of the Bald Eagles with special programs and exhibits focusing on birds of prey. Keeping the visitor centre open at this time of year is due entirely to public support from donations at the door!