Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the Pacific Flyway, along which birds migrate north each spring to Siberia, after wintering
in South America, and then make the return trip south each fall. The highest concentra-
tion of migrating birds can be viewed at the George C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary, where up to
50,000 snow geese stop over in November. Nearby the 4,000-hectare (9,900-acre) Burns
Bog, one ofthe world'slargest peat bogs,is home to 140species ofbirds. The delta'swet-
landsarealsoanimportantwinteringgroundformanyspecies,includingtrumpeterswans,
the world's largest waterfowl. Birdlife is also prolific in Victoria, including Beacon Hill
Park, which holds a large population of Canada geese and ducks.
THE EAGLES OF BRACKENDALE
Brackendale, 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) north of Vancouver along Highway 99,
is home to the world's largest winter concentration of bald eagles. Between mid-
December and the end of January, more than 3,000 of these magnificent creatures
descendonastretchoftheSquamishRiverbetweentheCheakamusandMam-quam
tributariestofeedonspawned-outsalmonthatlitterthebanks.Thedeadfisharethe
result of a late-fall run of an estimated 100,000 chum salmon. The birds begin ar-
riving in late October, but numbers reach their peak around Christmastime, and by
early February the birds are gone. The main viewing area is along the dike that runs
along the back of Brackendale.
The best place to learn more about these creatures is the
Brackendale Art
Gallery
(604/898-3333, noon-5pm Thurs.-Sun. in Jan., weekends only the rest of
the year), which has an adjacent bird-watching tower that rises some 11 meters
(36 feet) above the surrounding trees. Through January, the gallery is Eagle Count
Headquarters, with slide presentations, talks, documentaries, concerts, and guided
walks. To get to the gallery, follow the main Brackendale access road over the rail-
way tracks, take the first right, and look for the gallery nestled in the trees on the
right.
Victoria boasts the mildest climate of all Canadian cities, with Vancouver a close second,
but the mild climate comes with one drawbackâit rains a lot. Most precipitation falls in
winter, and summers are relatively dry. Overall, the main contributing factor to the cli-
mateofbothcitiesisthePacificOcean.ThewarmwatersoftheJapanCurrentradiateheat
