My Hometown
Every winter, thousands of visitors flock to this community to spot these incredible birds of prey
Here in the Annapolis Valley, N.S., it is not unusual to look up towards the sky and see a bald eagle soaring overhead, riding the thermal currents of the air or slowly circling around as it searches for food. After all, the area is rich with orchards and farms, and small mammals and other prey are plentiful. There is one small community nearby, however, where they say that the eagles outnumber the residents!
Sheeld Mills is located in Kings County and is home to many farms, including those specializing in poultry. Many of the chickens do not make it through the harsh Canadian winters. For the past 20 years or so, the farmers have been tossing the remains out into their fields. The hungry bald eagles swarm around and are glad to help dispose of these ready-to-go meals!
The population of bald eagles during the winter months has grown by leaps and bounds, and the area is now home to one of the largest wintering-over populations of bald eagles east of the Rocky Mountains. It is not unheard of to spot hundreds of these birds on a cold winter’s day out there enjoying a chicken dinner.
As the eagle population has expanded, so has the interest in these birds. Nature photographers and bird enthusiasts alike are now drawn to Sheeld Mills.
In an eort to make it safer for all, and to help attract visitors to the area, the decision was made to only feed the eagles in one open field. Thus, the annual Eagle Watch Festival was born! For two weekends in the middle of winter, the Sheeld Mills community hosts about a thousand visitors, oering entertainment, breakfast and information sessions. It is a huge success for the village and for the eagles, who must look at these strange humans gawking at them in wonder and amusement, as they feast.
The festival weekends are truly like a red carpet event at a Hollywood awards show. Photographers can be seen lining up with their cameras, telephoto lenses and tripods, huddled in warm winter jackets. Their fingers are numb from the cold and poised over the shutter release, hoping for that perfect capture!
I tend to go to the area throughout the week, when it’s quieter and fewer people are vying for the perfect angle.
Watching the birds is an unforgettable sight I never grow tire of. Seeing them up close—their immense wingspans, lethal talons and beaks, and sharp eyes—gives me a magical feeling! They sit in large flocks (did you know a flock of eagles is called a convocation?) in the trees surrounding the field. One by one they descend to grab a meal and head back to safety.
There is enough food for all, but the most juvenile eagles are still the last ones to score a meal. Eagles may be known as birds of prey, but why get your own meal when you can steal one?
It is exhilarating both as a nature photographer and as a nature lover to be able to witness this scene. I wish you all could see it!