Goldstream Park Bald Eagle Extravaganza

The moment you step out of your car at Goldstream Provincial Park, you feel the particular majesty of an old-growth, temperate rain forest. Some people head straight for the river’s crystalline waters. Others are drawn to the giant, 500-year-old cedars that look like moss-covered pillars in an outdoor cathedral, awestruck by so extraordinary a place.

Winter in the park is Bald Eagle season. If you are visiting Vancouver Island from mid- November until the end of As many as 276 Bald Eagles may grace Goldstream’s
estuary in one day (Tourism British Columbia)February, a trip to Goldstream, just 16 kilometres northwest of Victoria, is essential. Up to 276 eagles have been recorded in the estuary in a single day. Each low tide, they feast on the spawned-out carcasses of the Chum salmon that wash down from upriver. At high tide, the eagles make their way to the treetops to digest. The stunning constellation of birds makes for a tremendous photo opportunity. Bring your camera and a pair of binoculars.

“I always tell people to wear a hat, too,” jokes Darren Copley, a biologist and park interpreter, referring to the chance of getting a ‘drop of sunshine’ from one of over 4,000 gulls that join the feast. It’s not uncommon, he says, to see seals, mink and river otter, as well as the odd black bear, feeding safely off in the distance.

Starting in December, the park holds the annual Eagle Extravaganza where volunteers and naturalists are on-hand to teach people about birds of prey. Visitors are also invited to help out with the daily eagle count. Children can enjoy a range of special activities including crafts and face painting.

The visitor centre is one of the best in B.C. Two remotely controlled cameras feed to televisions inside the centre, capturing intimate footage of the estuary. One provides close-ups of the eagles, another catches the underwater action. Coffee and baked goods are available at the bookstore and the fire is usually lit to warm up after a walk along the river.

The return of the eagles is a conservation success story. For years, as few as two birds came back to the park each season. Starting in the early 1990s, changes in management practices led to a dramatic recovery. Now eagles from as far away as California, Alberta and Northern B.C. stock up on all that protein before dispersing for nesting season. Experience for yourself the wonder of one of nature’s great species in a fantastic setting.