The mystery and history of one of Alberta’s most fascinating bird species

CALGARY When Peter Sherrington and a friend trekked up Mount Lorette in March 1992, they had no idea it would mark the start of a major biological discovery in Canada.

It was a clear day, the sun high in the sky, and Sherrington recalled looking up and seeing a large, black dot floating overhead. He was delighted when he realized it was a golden eagle.

“I thought, wow, it’s nice to see a golden eagle. We assumed it was just one of the local birds,” Sherrington said.

But then another dot appeared, and another … and another. By the end of the day, Sherrington had spotted more than 100 golden eagles while watching from what’s known as a fairly insignificant peak in Kananaskis Provincial Park.

It was then Sherrington realized he had stumbled upon something fantastic.

“Every time we looked up, there were more golden eagles,” he said. “Everybody thought of the mountains as barriers, but we established they were very serious avian highways.”

Twenty-five years later, Sherrington, now 72, is the research director with the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation (RMERF), and takes thousands of visitors from all over the world each year to observation sites across Alberta to watch the eagles.

Back in 1992, Sherrington said golden eagle sightings were rare. But after discovering several migration routes in Kananaskis Country and the Crowsnest Pass, Sherrington had solid evidence that more than 4,000 golden eagles soared to and from their nests each year — a phenomenon that’s been occurring for almost 11,000 years.

“Nobody had any idea,” he said. “In fall 2007, we saw almost 5,500 golden eagles in one spot. Not only did we watch the eagles, but we also recorded every butterfly, every songbird. We were discovering all sorts of amazing things nobody ever looked for.”

An aerial addiction some might say, Sherrington still pulls 16-hour shifts during migration season, waking up at first light to blog, and then feverishly juggling note taking and bird watching until sundown.

Since the RMERF’s inception 25 years ago, Sherrington and dedicated groups of researchers, visitors and volunteers have clocked 43,000 hours unlocking the beauty and mysteries of the golden eagle in Alberta and B.C.

“I think I’ve spent more time studying golden eagles than I spent in my actual profession,” he said with a laugh. “It’s the greatest golden eagle migration on the planet, and it’s right on our doorstep. It truly is a world-class phenomenon.”

With spring migration from March 1 to April 22 and the fall migration from Sept. 20 to Nov. 15, Sherrington said anyone and everyone is welcome to join the observers — who are out each day

from dawn until dusk during the migration periods — and watch the eagles.

March 20 marks the day Sherrington first discovered Western Canada’s hidden wonder all those years ago. To mark the occasion, guests are welcome to celebrate with coffee and doughnuts Monday from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Hay Meadow site.

For daily updates on golden eagle activity or to venture out on an eagle excursion, please visit eaglewatch.ca.