2009 News and Information
Local Expert Starts Urban Eagle Summer Series
21 May 2009The bald eagles are nesting, and Richmond has noticed. In May and June, as part of the Raptors in Richmond series, the City of Richmond will host two events designed to introduce residents to the world of the bald eagle.
David Hancock, biologist and renowned bald eagle expert, will kick-start the events with an informative and personal presentation, The Urban Bald Eagle, on Friday, May 29 at the .
Hancock’s talk will be followed a month later with the family friendly Eagle Watch in Steveston – which will allow attendees to view eagles nesting in the wild through high-powered telescopes and binoculars. Naturalists will be on hand to answer questions.
Date: Friday, May 29, 2009 Time: 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Location: Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate Admission: $4 Details: A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Pre-registration is advised by calling 604-276-4300.
“Most bald eagles nest high in the dense tree canopy, making their nests difficult to see during the summer months. The nest on Steveston Island however is on the top of a dead tree, giving a rare opportunity to see local eagles nesting in the wild,” explains Hancock.
Date: Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, 2009 Time: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Location: Britannia Heritage Shipyard, 5180 Westwater Drive in Steveston Admission: Free
Originally trained as a pilot, Hancock left that career to pursue his love of nature. Since then, he has gained over 50 years of experience observing bald eagles. He recently authored the book, The Bald Eagle of Alaska, BC, and Washington, and was the driving force behind the Hornby Island Eagle Cam, the online phenomenon that received over 10 million hits in 2006. In 2009 Hancock’s website www.hancockwildlife.org has live cameras on three eagle nests in British Columbia, giving viewers a thrilling insight into these amazing creatures.
Raptors in Richmond is hosted by the City of Richmond Parks Department. It is a series of educational events that enable participants to get up close and personal with some of the fabulous birds of prey that make Richmond their home.
For more information on these events or other upcoming Raptors in Richmond events, please contact the Richmond Nature Park at 604-718-6188 or visit www.richmond.ca/begreen.
