Eagle Viewing in Harrison Mills

November in the Fraser Valley means many things – the days are getting shorter, the trees are losing their leaves, the air has a distinct chill to it, and the eagles are back! Drawn by the spawning salmon that travel up the Fraser River to tributaries such as the Harrison River, the eagles have made the Harrison region their winter home for many years. In fact, since 2010, due to global shifts, visitors to the area have been witness to the world’s largest gathering of bald eagles.

Photo Credit: Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival

The 2013 Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival starts on November 16 & 17 and will celebrate the beauty and biodiversity of the Harrison Mills region by honouring the Season of the Eagles and the Cycle of the Salmon.

“The Harrison region is part of the winter homeland for over 10,000 bald eagles – the world’s largest concentration of eagles ever witnessed as they forage, fight and feast on record salmon runs in the Harrison River,’ says David Hancock, Bald Eagle Biologist of the Hancock Wildlife Foundation.

Pretty Estates, located on the banks of the Harrison River and home to Sandpiper Golf Course, Rowena’s Inn on the River and River’s Edge Restaurant, is one of the best places in the region to view the eagles. They’ve recently completed construction on a new bald eagle observation platform – the “Pretty Walk”, and have included telescopes for better viewing opportunities. Live eagle cameras have been installed as well, in partnership with the Hancock Wildlife Foundation, and the River’s Edge Restaurant is streaming live for those who don’t wish to brave the elements.

Photo Credit: Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival

Though the FVBE Festival officially begins on November 16 (and is followed by 3 eagle and salmon inspired weekends), there will be an unofficial kick-off to the celebrations at Pretty Estates on November 12, as a rehabilitated eagle is released. Details have not been finalized, but the intent is that festival organizers and O.W.L. (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society) come together to help rehabilitate an injured eagle. The timing is critical as the rehabilitated eagle will be able to join in the salmon feast and build up its strength.

The festival features designated eagle viewing sites along the Harrison River, including Tapadera, Eagle Point Community Park, Pretty Estates Resort, the Harrison River Resort and Fraser River Safari where visitors can view the eagles from the water. An exhibitors fair will take place at Leq’a:mel Hall in Deroche and is a wonderful opportunity to experience educational, environmental and nature displays and enjoy the works of local artisans and crafts people. In addition, Kilby Historic Site is providing heritage walking tours and are offering free admission on festival weekend.

Photo Credit: Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival

The season of the eagle will be marked by four weekends which will be “eagle and salmon inspired”.

Weekend 1 – Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival

Weekend 2 – November 23 celebrates the first annual Sts’ailes Salmon Celebration at Pretty Estates Resort with a day-long event honouring the Sts’ailes’ commitment to the salmon, their cultural ties through dancing, art and stories, carving and weaving demonstrations, a traditional salmon barbecue, and guided tours of the river, revealing their cultural ties to the Harrison region.

Weekend 3 – November 30 & December 1 – Photo workshop and exhibit in Harrison Hot Springs along with a shuttle bus to the Harrison River to view the eagles at Kilby Historic Site (heritage tours) and Pretty Estates Resort. Eagle viewing tours with Fraser River Safari.

Weekend 4 – December 7 & 8 – Eagle Viewing at Pretty Estates and with Fraser River Safari. Bring your own binoculars and viewing scopes and spend the day eagle spotting at one of the many prime eagle viewing spots along the river.

Photo Credit: Danny Chan

To celebrate the season of the eagle, Pretty Estates is giving away lunch for two at the River’s Edge Restaurant. With innovative west coast fare and a waterfront view, River’s Edge has been told that they are the Fraser Valley’s preferred destination restaurant.

To enter the contest, you simply have to do the following: