Every year in June, bald eagles gather on the Hillsborough Canadian Heritage River near the village of Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island, to feed on the annual run of gaspereaux.
To celebrate this natural phenomenon, the Hillsborough River Area Development Corporation and the Hillsborough River Association are holding their annual Bald Eagle Festival, June 12-13.
The organizing committee has been expanding the program of the festival every year, giving more opportunities to explore the wildlife and the eagle habitat, as well as highlighting the history and cultures of people who settled along the heritage river over the centuries. The Hillsborough River Eco-Centre has a wonderful interpretive panorama of both the cultural and natural history of the area, so it is a perfect venue for the festival. It is in three languages, including Mi'kmaq.
The nearby trails, Acadian forests and the wildlife management area provide an authentic backdrop for eagle viewing at the feeding grounds, birding and woodland tours. The weekend will feature the popular Birds and Breakfast, as well as an interpretive tour of Aeneas MacIntyre's ancient red pine trees and viewing of an eagle's nest. This last event is bilingual.
New this year is the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop (pre-register with Tracy at 368-6080).
Bald eagle viewing will take place along Pigot's Trail and the Allisary Creek impoundment, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., on both days. Scopes will be set up by guides who will help participants get a close-up view of these birds soaring over the river in search of fish or feeding along the water's edge. In addition, naturalists will talk about the natural history of the salt marshes as well as the dykes used by Acadian, Scottish and Irish settlers. There will also be a talk on eagles by eagle biologist Gerald MacDougall, a taxidermy demonstration by Danny Clark, draws for an eagle banding tour and a demonstration of wildlife wood-carving.
As a special treat, Acadian groups from different parts of the Island are converging on Mount Stewart to give it a true Acadian flavour. There will be children's programs, period costumes, an interactive eagle and robin story and puppetry, games and of course, the always popular face-painting and Acadian food preparation. There will also be an Acadian food fair, cultural showcases and talks on the Acadian settlement by Georges Arsenault and Francis Blanchard and on Mi'kmaq culture by Methilda Knockwood. There will also be lots of music, including Mike Pendergast and friends, as well as Acadian songsters from different parts of the Island.
The event will kick off early Saturday morning with a Birds and Breakfast activity along the Pigots' Trail at 6 a.m. with people meeting beforehand at the Eco-Centre. A special opening ceremony takes place at the Hillsborough River Eco-Centre on Saturday at noon. The festival continues with admission to activities from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., both days and for 15 minutes prior to Birds and Breakfast. Daily admission is $5 for a single person or $10 per family. For questions email jdmcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca or call 569-1209 in the evening.
