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When you see a picture of a bald eagle, you probably think of the United States of America, don’t you? Well, you’ve been misled in two ways: the first being that the bald eagle isn’t bald at all. “Bald” in this case refers to its spotted head or patchy feathers. The second misleading conception of the bald eagle is that it’s American, when in fact, the biggest gathering of the species is found in Canada’s British Columbia.
There’s a permanent population of about 20,000 bald eagles in British Columbia. But from mid-November until mid-February, the highest concentration of bald eagles in all of North America can be found in Brackendale Provincial Park, just outside of Squamish, BC. You can see these massive birds from the town, but if you really want a good view, head into any number of the popular viewpoints within the Park itself.
Some quick facts about this majestic species:
Size: A wingspan of over 2 metres, and can weigh up to 7 kilograms
Lifespan: From 25 to 40 years old
Survival: These birds are king of the sky and are at the top of the food chain. They have no natural predators. Their only threat is us (humans) and the weather.
Diet: They prefer fish, but if fish can’t be found they’ll eat squirrels, rabbits, small deer, anything to feed their bellies.
Romance: Okay, so they may not “put a ring on it,” but it’s suspected they choose one life partner to mate with and the males woo the females by performing fancy flying tricks in the sky.
Found in which National Park?
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Check out this video found on YouTube - the biggest bald eagle gathering in the world!