Tenth Anniversary Celebrated by Eagle Release

Since the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival is right in my backyard so to speak, I took time away from the computer to ride my Goldwing up Highway 7 to Kilby, on the Harrison River, for the celebrations on Saturday the 19th.

I knew David Hancock would be there at 10AM, but not what for. I was pleased to find that it was to speak at and witness the release of a young Eagle that had been rehabilitated by OWL (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society.) There was some confusion over whether it was a male or female, however I'm sure I heard the handler refer to it as a male.

The day was perfect and a crowd of supporters and other interested people gathered near the end of Harrison Bay, about 100 yards from Kilby store.

David and another of the Festival organizers carry the cage prior to the native release song The handler and eagle just prior to release First Nations celbrating the release Lots of people also took time to visit the primary viewing area at Tapedara Estates spawning salmon near Tapadera Estates - the reason that thousands of eagles come to Harrison from November to January

This year is the 10th anniversary of the festival A good sized crowd had gathered to watch the release, including a first nations group who celebrated the release with song and prayer. The eagle came originally from Vancouver Island through the MARS (Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society Because they don't have a "flight cage" like the one at OWL, the eagle was transferred to OWL about 3 months ago where it has been exercising prior to its release today.