In December 2010 we had the largest number of eagles ever recorded in the
area-there were over 7000 bald eagles in just 2 kilometers.

The festival is now in its 18^th year and will NOW be occurring on multiple weekends due to its popularity.  

This year the first weekend will have multiple sites ready to welcome the thousands of festival goers with various activities ranging from superb eagle viewing, to nature walks, to an indoor green expo. The second weekend will feature the beautiful Harrison Hot Springs, the third and fourth weekends will focus on Harrison Mills and Kilby Historic Site.  And every weekend will have jet boat tours with Fraser River Safari and David Hancock, eagle biologist, until the eagles leave the valley once again.

The committee would like to thank you for your support in the past and would now like to offer you this opportunity to advertise in the upcoming version of the official festival program “”Flyer” This year we will be accepting ad copy in full colour. The print version will remain black and white however the online version will be in full colour.

Advertising Opportunities

The Festival Program will be print approx 3000 copies in OCTOBER.  The programs are distributed to various accommodations, visitor info centres, stores, services, libraries, attraction sites & all festival sites through out the Lower Mainland. The program will also be downloadable from the festival website.

We offer three add sizes in our program and first right of refusal from our previous supporters

Small 3 ½“ w X 1 ¾” h  $ 125
Medium 3 ½” w X 4”  h  $ 200
Large 3 ½ “ w X 6”   h   $ 325

**You can also enhance your ad by listing your business on our
website for $50 under any of the following headings

               ? Accommodation           ? Restaurants                   ? Other

**Ads must be submitted print ready no later than June 15, 2013
Advertisers assume all responsibility for ad accuracy
Ads should have a high resolution (300dpi) and can be in any image file format. (preferably jpeg, tif, pdf)
Questions contact: Mel melwaard@shaw.ca

          www.fvbef.ca

###

For Immediate Release

The 18th Annual Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival November 16-17, 2013

Thousands of eagles expected to return to BC river in November

Mission, BC, Canada April 29, 2013 — British Columbia is deservedly famous for describing our wildlife treasurers with superlatives, awesome, wonderful, the greatest on earth! Sadly these descriptive words have been chipped at and eroded away in recent times, but one incredibly awesome and wondrous ecosystem still remains. The Harrison River and Chehalis Flats, the home of the richest concentrations of all 5 species of salmon, 3 trout, enormous sturgeon populations and the world’s largest concentration of large raptors. The area has been the temporary home to 5000 – 10,000 bald eagles that gather every fall for the salmon buffet. This incredible site is located just outside of Mission BC, a mere 50 miles east of Metro Vancouver, BC.

On November 16th and 17th the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival will host the event that showcases this annual phenomenon. The two day, educational celebration will entertain everyone from the mildly curious to the avid birder.  Highlights include world class eagle viewing from land sites as well as the extremely popular jet boat tours that run several times a day. Other activities include the indoor Exhibitors Hall with the Vancouver Zoo raptors on site, fish hatchery, interpreted walking tours, expert presenters, First Nations performers and artisans, and mouth watering food options throughout.  Event sponsors and contributions welcome.

Can’t make the November 16^th weekend?  Not to worry, the Festival is the kickoff to the “Season of the Eagles” along the Harrison River as the actual numbers of transient eagles can increase well into December. To get the most out of the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival experience make sure to visit the website www.fvbef.ca.

An important introductory meeting of the Chehalis Flats Bald Eagle and Salmon Preserve (CFBESP) on April 6, 2013.

The purpose of this meeting is to offer some background on how this campaign began and to reveal some of the strategies the “CFBESP Committee”* will be implementing over the next few months.
Full agenda below.  ALL ARE WELCOME

DATE:                    SATURDAY APRIL 6, 2013
LOCATION:        HARRISON MILLS COMMUNITY HALL (POST OFFICE)
                                  1995 School Rd, Harrison Mills, BC
TIME:                    10:00  AM

MEETING AGENDA:
*Presentation of fish ecology – 15 minutes ~Dave Moore
*Presentation on the North West eagles – 15 minutes ~ David Hancock
*Q & A session by a panel made up of the CFBESP Committee to answer questions from the floor

Why have the local citizens decided to establish this Preserve now?

The Harrison Mills area, encompassing the Chehalis Flats alluvial fan which spread out into the Harrison River, just north of the confluence with the Fraser River, has steadily received more and more human attention.  From the establishment of the Chehalis village many thousands of years ago, to the establishment of Kilby to serve the gold rush to hosting pioneering logging and farming families,  to the more recent establishment of camping facilities and several permanent housing subdivisions along the shorelines, this area appeals to people.  The navigable waters of the Harrison River have linked these people and been their lifeline to civilization.  These waters have supported North America’s largest populations of several of the salmon species, one of the world’s greatest concentrations of the sturgeon and a native and sports fishery unexcelled anywhere.

More recently, for nearly 20 years, the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival has annually directed hundreds to thousands of outsiders, and locals, to the wonders of the world’s largest gathering of bald eagles.  Most of the activities and certainly the prime resource to sustain these people economically and recreationally are the bountiful supplies of fish. For at least 15 of the years of the annual Festival we have talked about “Could the time come when we have alerted too many people to the Flats?”  Well, between the increased number of fisherman working the river, the phenomenal subdivision expansion by people who also love this river and its offerings, and the annually increasing numbers of kayakers, birders and now photographers, the collective impact demands that we need to develop some etiquette, some understanding how we can all live together most harmoniously by   incorporating some seasonal rules, to reduce human impact, so we do not “love this wonderful place to death!”

Can human use of this area continue to be enjoyed yet reduce the negative impact to the very resource that attracts us all here?”   Our citizens committee believes that the challenge is to let the various stakeholders know what the wildlife needs are and how we can honor them.  The Chehalis Flats Bald Eagle & Salmon Preserve is defined in both space (on the map) and season (October through February) so you can know when not to intrude – please honor this incredible wildlife resource and it will continue.

Prepared for the ‘coalition of the concerned’ – by the Chehalis Flats Bald Eagle & Salmon Preserve Committee.      Sts’ailes (First Nation),  the Harrison Mills Regional Association, the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival Committee, the Salmon Stronghold  and the Hancock Wildlife Foundation                  Hope to see you there

This is an opportunity to be a part of the fastest growing eagle festival in BC. The Society is looking for new board members to become a part of this dynamic and dedicated group.

Nominations are being accepted for the following positions:

President

Vice – President

Treasurer (to give financial report & make deposits on behalf of the FVBEFS)

Directors at large – 2

If you cannot attend the meeting in person please forward your nominations via email or mail to the following address:

Attention: FVBEF Society info@fraservalleybaldeaglefestival.ca or c/o Mission Chamber of Commerce 34033 Lougheed Hwy, Mission BC V2V 5X8

The Society also is need of committee members to be a part the committee in a variety of other ways. Examples of this are:

* PR and Media Contact * Volunteer Training Coordinator *
* Weekend Site Volunteers * Inventory Coordinator *

Sts’ailes local name for Chehalis Bald Eagle & Salmon Preserve is Lhá:lt

The Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival has promoted the presence of bald eagles in the Harrison Mills area for nearly 20 years.  Most recently David Hancock reviewed various bald eagle winter concentration areas in British Columbia and Alaska.  The historic evidence clearly shows that bald eagles frequent many spawning rivers throughout the northwest, with large numbers recorded at specific sites like the Chilkat River in Alaska, the Squamish River near Brackendale BC and the Harrison River, a tributary of the lower Fraser River of British Columbia.  Just upstream along the Harrison is the alluvial fan forming the Chehalis Flats where the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the world have been recorded. This same river flats is designated part of the first Salmon Stronghold, to signify this is Canada’s most productive river ecosystem. This area is special and deserves special attention.

The reasons for these eagle movements and the huge gatherings of eagles on the Chehalis Flats in southern British Columbia are largely two-fold:  weather conditions up north and salmon availability for the eagles throughout the area.  The food availability locally is driven by the incredible productivity of the Harrison River system salmon runs.  Historically we have seen that just having lots of spawned out carcasses does in itself not bring record numbers of eagles.  Normally the wintering eagles are dispersed all along the northwest coastal salmon rivers, feasting on the carcasses until they are eaten out or frozen under the ice. As this food source disappears under the ice or is eaten out, the eagles move south.   On top of the influence of weather conditions is the actual numbers of salmon actually returning to the different rivers each season.  Fewer spawned-out salmon in the northern rivers simply means, regardless of impacting weather, that less poundage of salmon are there to feed eagles – or bears, gulls, wolves etc.  With fewer spawning carcasses to the north, the eagles come south to the Chehalis Flats.

The past 15 years of gradual build-up in numbers of wintering eagles at Harrison Mills seem to be related to a decline in other spawning salmon populations in northern rivers – and of course due to the increasing numbers of eagles.  Then in 2010 we had a world record for a gathering of eagles.  David Hancock counted individually 7362 eagles in a 3 kilometer section of the Chehalis Flats and probably several thousand more existed in the trees, soaring and spread southward to Harrison Bay (Hancock D above).  This is almost twice the size of any earlier recorded gathering of eagles anywhere in the world.

The point to be made here is that our big numbers of eagles here are likely the result of the collapse of most of the northern runs of chum salmon in the fall of 2010.  We are simply at the southern end of their potential migration and with fewer salmon carcasses to the north the eagles kept coming south.  We greeted them, and they depend upon, the food resource of the Chehalis Flats,   Canada’s most productive salmon river.

The importance of the fish and the Chehalis Flats alluvial fan are increasingly important to bald eagles.  The flats are the southern most of the large salmon spawning areas and do not just offer one of the last great feasting areas for the eagles before nesting but an important resting and socializing place for the eagles to build up reserves for winter.   As might be expected the Harrison Mills area also hosts the world’s largest known eagle night roost:  the cirque of hills and ancient lowland forest of cedar and Douglas fir surrounding Echo Lake, one kilometer west of the Chehalis Flats.  Each night and morning the eagles can be seen entering and leaving this ancient roost site.  All the large forest surrounding the Chehalis—Harrison complex serve as day and night roosts for bald eagles in good weather.

The Chehalis Flats cut with the channels for spawning salmon, the surrounding shorelines of giant cottonwoods, the hills along both sides of the Harrison Valley from Mt. Woodside on the east to the Echo Lake cirque and night roost to the west, constitute one of the world’s greatest bald eagle wintering habitats known.  The salmon flats of the Chehalis that feed these wintering eagles is a national treasure that needs protecting.

The Salmon Concerns:   Undoubtedly an even bigger issue justifying the preservation of the Chehalis Flats is the welfare of the vast diversity of spawning salmon and the year-round sensitivity of spawning and rearing habitats utilized by these salmon population.  The Harrison River and its tributaries have recently been proclaimed Canada’s most important salmon river and been designated the first Salmon Stronghold in Canada.   The aim of the Salmon Stronghold is to preserve the total biological diversity that characterizes this area as one of the most productive rivers in the Pacific Northwest.

All 5 species of salmon spawn in this ecosystem along with steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout as well as bull trout and a variety of other species that depend upon them for food or share their habitat. Adult salmon, their eggs and fry are present throughout the Chehalis Flats and the adjacent gravel beds every month of the year, and then the juvenile salmon move into the tributaries, river margins and wetlands where some may reside for more than a year after that – growing and feeding other wildlife before finally swimming downstream and into the Salish Sea for the next phase of their lives.

Most importantly, some of these fish are present in the river gravels during the time when the water is low and the eagles are present on the Chehalis Flats.  This is the time of spawning, digging of the redds, the hatching of the delicate yolk sacked fry (alevin) which are particularly sensitive to disruption by foot traffic and shallow operating boats.  Well meaning observers on foot or in a boat may inadvertently disrupt incubating fish in an effort to move closer to observe the activities of eagles, spawning salmon or waterfowl.  We need to keep unnecessary disturbance on the flats to a minimum.

Unique Salmon Challenge:   Salmon that spawn on the Chehalis Flats are particularly susceptible to foot and boat traffic.  Spawners have keyed in on the choice gravels and wetlands, loosened and fed by Harrison Lake runoff and warm groundwater-fed aquifers that still provide flow in late winter. Many juvenile salmon fry will remain in the gravel until late March, their presence obscured by surface gravels that belies their busy life just beneath the surface while they await the spring freshet to carry them free. The goal of the Chehalis preserve for salmon is to ensure that foot and boat traffic on the soft wetland gravels is minimized after spawning and until inundated with sufficient freshet flows in the spring.

 The Bald Eagle Concerns:  The incredible gathering of bald eagles during each fall and winter need not just food.  They need peace and quiet and rest.  A bioenergetics study done 20 years ago showed that bald eagles cannot sustain their body weight, no matter how much they eat in a day, if they have to undertake wing-flapping flight for more than 28 minutes a day.  They can soar almost effortlessly for many hours, in fact soar and glide for hundreds of miles a day.  But the challenge for this large scavenger – predator is to eat and rest and socialize.  The flats are the world’s great feeding and resting grounds for the eagles.   We need to not disturb them or the spawning salmon on these flats.

The purpose of Chehalis Flats Bald Eagle & Salmon Preserveis to initiate some program to reduce human disturbance to the loafing eagles out on the flats and protect the shallow waters with eggs and fry from constantly being trodden upon by people, motors and disruptive wakes.   From the eagles’ and salmon’s perspective, we see no problem at all with boat, kayak or fisherman traffic along the Harrison River main channel or humans walking along the commercial developments bordering the west shoreline.  These areas have large trees to let the eagles sit securely, well above the passing humans below. They have no shallow gravel beds in which eggs or fish are disturbed.

The Chehalis Flats Bald Eagle & Salmon Preserve is Born:

I have to admit that the “disturbance concerns” have been talked about for some years by local residents.  However, until I and others saw, via our live streaming eagle cams, that show the constant human access to the flats and shallow waters and the repeated disturbance to the fish and feeding and loafing eagles, I was not as fully aware of the problem. These cams could also serve in the future to not just be an educational tool for the benefit of the eagles, salmon and the other wildlife but as surveillance and monitoring tools for violations.

The disturbances are caused by many kinds of intruders. When the water is higher the motor boats, jet skies and joy riders disturb the shallow waters.  As the Flats dry out the most frequent and disruptive activities are the kayakers and walkers.  Some have even posted blogs that say how they got away from jet boaters on the deep river channel by accessing the flats to flush the eagles for good close-up photos of the flying birds!  Indeed!  On one day, when the water was a little higher, we had Sea-Doos, helicopters, jet boats and punting hunters out on the flats;  dog walkers, off-road bikers,  4wheelers and cameramen with long conspicuous lens and fisherman add to the constant invasion of these spawning waters and the eagle feeding and resting areas.  More respect for this international ecological treasure is needed.

The Preserve Campaign:  It may well be that a campaign that targets the education of the outdoor sports clubs, the fishermen and hunters and the camera buffs, supplemented by posters at each launch or water access site would go a long way to solving this issue.  I suspect those wishing to view the glory of our nature wish to do so in a way that is not as totally disruptive as is happening. Perhaps this educational campaign will do its job.   The salmon, the eagles – the ecosystem – needs more peace and respect.   Some Chehalis Flats conservation etiquette awareness may be all that is needed.  Some stronger words in access regulations may be needed or considered.

Sincerely,

David Hancock,   Eagle Biologist

Hancock Wildlife Foundation, Director Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival.

Dave Moore,   Fisheries Technician and General Manager

Harrison Fisheries Authority

Kim Charlie, Fisheries Biologist,   Sts’ailes First Nations.

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We have a record number of exhibitors coming out to Le’q:amel Hall this year so it will be a fantastic please to warm up (dry off) and visit many booths. Perhaps you can even get some Christmas shopping out of the way as the line up of local artisans looks fantastic.  Site #1

Now just for the record…the weather out along the Harrison River can be very different than Vancouver. There have been many years where Surrey had snow and we did not..the sun was shining in the Valley and Vancouver was under a bank of fog. We also prepare as best we can for the elements (being an outdoor Nov event) so rain or shine we are ready to go.

For a more accurate weather forecast for the event please visit HERE – for road conditions check out the Drive BC along the # 7 Lougheed or #1 Highway  and if you love nature , eagles and the great outdoors visit HERE.

Thank you and see you along the way.

Yesterday, Fraser River Safari took guests out to witness the awe inspiring return of the bald eagles to the pristine and beautiful Harrison River and Chehalis Flats.

What we witnessed was at first wondrous, however it soon became almost horrifying to many of us.

Yes, the sun was shining and the scenery was spectacular. Yes, there were hundreds if not thousands of eagles in the area, BUT what we noticed was the abundance of river traffic with absolutely no regard for the fact that the eagles are trying to feed and rest on the flats.  KAYAKERS, JET SKIS, JET BOATS and even HELICOPTERS kept leaving the main channel of the river and heading straight for the area on the flats where the eagles were feeding, which caused them to be driven off and disturbed over and over again. All are equally intrusive, in fact kayaks can be the worst unintentional culprits as they mimic predatory movements.

We are telling the world about the amazing gathering of eagles and we want the world to share the experience but LOVE the eagles from a respectable distance, please.

David Hancock of Hancock Wildlife, a renowned eagle biologist will be doing interviews all day today on this subject.

Thank you for caring and please share our story as it takes everyone working together to make a difference.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Our theme photo this year was taken by Lauren Nicholl and featured throughout the festival promotions including the 2012 Souvenir Button.  With each button purchased participants will receive  5 Enter to Win’s opportunities that are valid at the 5  “Hot Spots“.
Buttons are $3 each or 4 for $10. WITH EVERY DOLLAR RAISED GOING BACK TOWARDS HOSTING NEXT YEAR’S EVENT

The buttons are generously sponsored by the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s – community advisor Mark Johnson

WHERE CAN I BUY MY BUTTONS ?

Buttons can be purchased at the 5 Hot Spots , Mission Visitor Centre, Inch Creek Hatchery, Exhibitors Fair at Le’q:amel, Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem and Kilby Historic Site.  

Buttons are also available at Tapadera Estates.(although NOT a “hot spot”)

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES AVAILABLE TO BE WON ?

Prizes vary from site to site and include a pair of KOWA binoculars, 2 X $25 Gift Certificates for the Sasquatch Inn,  a stay at the Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge, $100 voucher for Old Orchard Campsite, books and calendars, supplied by Hancock Wildlife Foundation and various FESTIVAL souvenirs.

Restricted Participation:    All attendees are required to have a single lens reflex camera.

((Other workshops for the “point-and-shoot” camera fans will be organized separately – possibly for the following Saturday.))

Sponsored by:  Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival, Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge & the Hancock Wildlife Foundation. 

Date and Agenda:  2 nights – 3 days.  Learn tips for your SLR & Photoshop Stay at Eco Lodge Friday & Saturday nights.

Friday: Nov. 30, 2012 – 6:30 PM arrive at Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge

This involves opening dinner and after dinner lecture.

Saturday:  Dec. 1 – all day.  Breakfast, lunch & workshop in AM.
Afternoon Boat trip on the Harrison River with evening dinner & workshop.

Sunday:   Dec 2 – all day.  Morning breakfast, workshop – till participant dispersal in late afternoon.

Boxed lunch for field workshop on river – weather dependent.

Package Price Per Person:     $495.00  based on double occupancy at Lodge includes the total Workshop Fee

DETAILS

Work-Shop Site:  the incredible Harrison–Chehalis River complex that each fall is home to many thousands of Bald Eagles – in December of 2010 we had over 10,000 eagles in this small region – viewed from the same  Fraser River Safari Tour boat. The Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge is at this eagle gathering site.

Association:  This project is a cooperative event as stated above and becomes the 3rd weekend of the Bald Eagle Festival.  ((Week 1 – Nov. 17 – 18 centered around Harrison Mills – the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival events, Week 2 – Nov. 24 – 25 centered around Harrison Hot Springs events  This 3rd weekend is to be this Photo Work Shop held at the Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge.

Place/Location:   The Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge and sites along the Harrison River. See a ‘Virtual Tour’ and background on ‘Trip Advisor’.   The event involves two nights and parts of three days.  Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge would provide the accommodation, fine dining and the workshop space.  The Fraser River Safari Tours would provide the River Tour. The Sasquatch Crossing facilities are not licensed but allow a BYOB policy. (( Note from Hancock:  I have stayed at several Sasquatch Crossing events and it is a wonderful venue, so spiritually located and catered to by Denny and Al –  incredible hosts.))

Number of Participants:   possible  8 -16 students + 3 workshop organizers.

Workshop – Camera Leaders:    Glen Browning, one of the “Featured Photographers”  at the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival, and Christian Sasse, author of the new book, White Rock Eagles, would hold the photography and Photoshop workshops jointly and give practical advice on the field and boat trips.  Their work and background is available on their respective web sites.   David Hancock, eagle biologist, will give an opening discussion about “Bald eagles as photo subjects” and be available to answer biological questions.

Workshop Costs:  include workshops, all food & accommodations for the 2 nights and parts of 3 days at site & boat tour of river with Fraser River Safari Tours accompanied by lecturers.  Cost   $495.00 per person double occupancy.

The participants are responsible for costs getting to and from the Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge.

Booking Contact: First come, first serve.   Please make reservations at the Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge
( 604 796-9798  sasquatch.crossing@stsailes.com). Full participation is 16 applicants in 8 rooms.

For additional River Tours:  Fraser River Safari Tours: Toll Free 1-866 348-6877 http://www.fraserriversafari.com/

1) What is the easiest way to get to the “Festival” ?  and

2) Where can we stay?

Answers:

1) The easiest way to get to the festival is to get to the beautiful City of Mission as quickly as possible.

From the South side of the Fraser River and West of Mission head down the # 1 Highway until you see ”EXIT  92 Mission / Abby/ Sumas” . Follow the direction to the Abbotsford/Mission Hwy 11  Cross the Mission Bridge and take the first exit on the North Side that reads “Mission/Agassiz”  . Follow the directions to the Lougheed Hwy #7 and head east.  The Mission Visitor Centre will be open to assist you 34033 Lougheed Hwy, Mission BC V2V 5X8.

From the North side of the Fraser and West of Mission head to Mission along the Lougheed Hwy #7 and continue right through downtown and you will pop out right at the Mission Visitor Centre

2)  The Festival is supported in many ways and we love to be able to give back to our Community. Please find below a list of local accommodations  that we have compiled over the years.

On the accommodation side there are many options from Mission to Harrison Hot Springs ranging from 4 star accommodations to luxury suites. I will list a variety below.

The Mission Best Western which is a 30 minute drive from the heart of the festival, however the route is lined with some incredible viewing areas as well as interesting site locations.

Site # 9 Pretty Estates Resort has different accommodation options from B & B style rooms to private cabins

Harrison Hot Springs has several hotels and is located a 15-20 minute drive from the heart of the festival.

Harrison Mills Retreat is located right on top of all the sites that open during the festival weekend

Sasquatch Crossing  Eco Lodge is a popular B &B operated by the Sts’Ailes Devlopement Corp.