Abundant eagles put strain on local rescue organization
More than double usual numbers here for herring spawn ... and for fighting
Marcel Tetrault , Comox Valley Echo
Published: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Those who reckon they've spotted more of the curved beaks and powerful talons of the bald eagle soaring through the Valley's skies this year are absolutely correct.
There are more than twice as many eagles in the local area as is usual for this time of year, most of them likely having come across the Georgia Strait from Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park near Squamish.
"We've had a lot of eagles in this area in the last three months," said Maj Birch, wildlife rehabilitator with the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society. "Our numbers here are easily double."
Fewer than 400 eagles were counted in the local area last year, while more than 800 eagles were counted in this year's count.
Eagle numbers in Brackendale are down to around 800 birds, only about 20 per cent of the usual population for this time of year of 3,800 eagles.
"That says that there's no fish for them to eat," said Birch. "So then they come over here and they sit around and wait for the herring to spawn."
As the herring spawns, hundreds and hundreds of seabirds and other creatures that see the event as a big feeding opportunity are attracted to the area.
Some of the birds feeding on the fish make fine meals themselves for the eagles soaring above and watching the entire show.
"It just attracts everything, it's a huge feast," said Birch. "After they've had their big feast then everyone goes out for their mating and birthing."
The competition for mates, nesting areas and just the general encroachment on other eagle's territories caused by the abundance of birds in the local area has meant that MARS has had a busy year.
"At this time of year, they're fighting over food, they're fighting over territory, they're fighting over mates as well," said Birch. "Because there are so many more birds here, it's just adding more stress."
So far this year, MARS has treated twice as many eagles as usual, including two eagles that were recently released back to the wild after becoming entangled with one another in a fight.
"They were definitely locked in combat," said Birch. "We ended up having to pick them both up, physically carry them out of the forest and lay them down still attached to each other.
"We then (had to) physically pry the talons out of each others bodies. It was quite an ordeal. If nobody had stumbled on them ... it could have been (a fight) to the death -- it has happened."
During the aerial scrap, the talon of one eagle pierced and then became lodged in the other eagle's leg. The eagle with the pierced leg had, in turn, managed to get its talon stuck through the other eagle's wing.
The eagle with the pierced leg was released at the Fallen Alders Lodge on Thursday, while the eagle with the pierced wing needed a few more days to recover before being released.
Those who would like to get a closer look at some of the birds of prey nursed to health at the local rescue society can do so at their annual open house, coming up next month.
The open house will feature flying falconry demonstrations and Shakespeare the Barred Owl will be on hand as will the rescue society's red-tailed hawk.
In a bid to raise money, the society will be accepting suggested names for the red-tailed hawk at $2 each.
"We're desperately short of funds right now," said Birch. "Having 22 eagles already this year has put quite a strain on our resources."
The society will also be raffling off two limited edition eagle prints, one by artist Mark Hobson and the other by W. Allan Hancock. A grizzly bear tour by Homalco Wildlife Tours or a two-night stay at the Wickaninnish Inn will also be raffled.
The open house will run from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 13 at the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society grounds at 6817 Headquarters Road.
© Comox Valley Echo 2008