Eagle migration

[ferniesnow]

From early March to early May, 6000-8000 golden eagles move through the front ranges of the Rockies. They are joined by other raptors such as bald eagles, hawks, and falcons. At the height of the eagle migration in the later half of March and the first week of April, about 200 golden eagles can be seen each day...Ben Gadd, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies


The places for viewing in Canada, as stated in the book are: Bellevue (Crowsnest Pass), Livingston Gap on the Oldman River, Mt Head on the Highwood River, Mt. Lorette in the Kananaskis Valley, Gap Lake near Canmore, the dam on Lake Minnewanka near Banff, the western end of Abraham Lake along Highway 11, and/or at Pocahontas in eastern Jasper National Park.

We looked last fall and all the days we went, we only saw a couple of local eagles feeding on carrion. Never saw any of the numbers mentioned above.

Has anyone got any experience or tips regarding the places in Crowsnest Pass for viewing this phenomenal event? All information would be appreciated.

 

[JMCX]

Back in 97 a bud and I went for a weekday ride to Cataract. We headed over the pass and down to the valley on the BC side. Not far from the 'Burn' we came across a half eaten moose carcass and next to it two, intact, dead Golden Eagles. They were quite large with no visible signs of injury The talons were amazing. The fresh snow all around the area was packed down but there had been no humans other than us. We checked it out for a while and carried on. Thinking about it later there was probably a mountain lion or wolves watching us from not too far off. The eagles probably paid the price for feeding on another animals kill.

I'm glad we didn't take a souvenir as the fish cops were waiting back at the truck to check our ins/reg. Would have had a hard time explaining that.

 

[ferniesnow]

I have seen eagles migrating up and down the Elk Valley but the numbers are nowhere near what Gadd has quoted as being on the eastern slopes.

 

[niner]

Was a bald eagle at the canyon ski hill in Red Deer today. Was maybe eyeing up the little kids on skis....

 

[HotShotHarry]

I have lived in the eastern slopes for 40 years and have never witnessed such a phenomen. I think Mr. Gadd may have his own agenda for reporting numbers like this and it may have something to do with closing down all the eastern slopes to motorized traffic. JMO.

 

[raceu4it]

Every spring, I usually have 2 or 3 pairs of Bald eagles soaring around, and it's cool to watch the mating ritual off the back deck with a beer!!

 

[pano-dude]

Not eagle related but there was 2 canada geese at the plant yesterday in lac la biche... spring is here

 

[101110101101]

If you ever need company to go find this migration..... count me in. I'd love to do some photography. Fishing Minnewanka once we had a giant bald eagle swoop down so close to the boat, to grab a fish from the water, you could hear it's wings beating.... it was awesome.... we are all so stunned no one even made a move for a camera. Anyway.... I'd be happy to tag along with anyone going to look for any sign of this. (depending on how you get there)

 

[sumx54]

I seen 4 bald eagles today eating on a dead calf northwest of Rocky. Their heads were red with blood. Looked kind of creepy. We've been seeing quite a few all winter, eating on road kill mostly.

 

[ferniesnow]

We do have bald eagles stay the winter in the Elk Valley and it is common to see them on road kill or flying to and from the river. I have seen bald eagles migrating south in the fall in the Elk River valley. 15 of them in about a couple hours of quading late in the afternoon one day years ago.

I'm guessing the thermal currents on the eastern slope is what they wait for and that would make the migration much easier for them. As to the post from Ken, Gadd does have an agenda and he makes no bones about it, but this is a much bigger scenario than Ben Gadd. Do some googling; I think this would be amazing:

 

[rubirose]

There are also a couple of bald eagles north of Stony Plain, saw 1 already about 2 weeks ago flying over Muir Lake school. They like to sit in the fields in that area waiting on gophers to pop up.

 

[Iron Horse Racing]

I was talking to the raptorshelter | brought to you by BubbleUP Marketing & Design, yesterday, at a fundraiser for the raptor shelter, I bid on and won the opportunity to release an Swainson's hawk once it's recovered, being March I thought I'd check in with them see if it's time.

The information they passed on was, the first to show back here from Argentina will be the red tail hawk's, once their back the Swainson's start showing up....looking forward to it...

 

[ferniesnow]

I was talking to the raptorshelter | brought to you by BubbleUP Marketing & Design, yesterday, at a fundraiser for the raptor shelter, I bid on and won the opportunity to release an Swainson's hawk once it's recovered, being March I thought I'd check in with them see if it's time.

The information they passed on was, the first to show back here from Argentina will be the red tail hawk's, once their back the Swainson's start showing up....looking forward to it...

Sweet!

 

[polarice]

dumb question but have you checked this page out

I have seen eagles migrating up and down the Elk Valley but the numbers are nowhere near what Gadd has quoted as being on the eastern slopes.

 

[imdoo'n]

dumb question but have you checked this page out

don't think he gets out much Andrew, lol

 

[pfi572]

Seen the big white heads first week of Feb. feeding on Moose carcass in the GP area .

 

[ferniesnow]

Accomplished the Maycroft, Livingstone Gap, into Coleman loop today; no migrating eagles! Three magpies and a couple that were behind us did see one bald eagle over the river. We saw one eagle when we got back into BC.

The road was a little sketchy and as it climbs to 6200', I was wondering just a little about the time of year and possible wind blown parts of the road. Lots of snow cover and fairly deep still but navigating with the 4x4 was fine. The Gap is a wild place, sort of similar to some of the canyons in Montana/Wyoming.

The first picture is looking north toward the Gap and the river turns an abrupt right. Second picture is looking south. Great scenery in the valley bottom.

 

[Absledder]

Saw an eagle today eating a road kill coyote near pierceland, SK. Not too often you see one around hear.

 

[ferniesnow]

Saw an eagle today eating a road kill coyote near pierceland, SK. Not too often you see one around hear.

Aren't you getting pretty close to lake country? I would suspect there would be eagles hanging out around the lakes and taking advantage of the fishing! Maybe that guy was early and the ice hindered his fishing?

 

[imdoo'n]

Aren't you getting pretty close to lake country? I would suspect there would be eagles hanging out around the lakes and taking advantage of the fishing! Maybe that guy was early and the ice hindered his fishing?

ice fishing?