For the last few decades, Bald Eagles have gathered near the Community of Mount Stewart to feed on the June run of gaspereaux in the Hillsborough Heritage River. To celebrate this natural phenomenon and the cultures that have occupied the Hillsborough watershed, the Hillsborough River Area Development Corporation and the Hillsborough River Association are hosting the 7th Hillsborough River Eagle Festival on Sunday, June 15th.
This year’s Eagle Festival will feature eagle viewing, Lady’s Slipper walks, a display of owls and their calls, Acadian, Scottish and Irish displays, children’s programs, horse and wagon rides, and crafts. The festival activities are scheduled between 11 am and 5 pm. There will an exciting new talk on eagles by biologist Gerald MacDougall and a taxidermy demonstration by Danny Clark. Bald Eagle, Bobolink, and other bird viewing opportunities will take place from 12 to 3 pm along the Pigot’s Trail which passes between the Allisary Creek Ducks Unlimited Impoundment and an Acadian dike along the Hillsborough River. A horse and wagon will provide visitors a ride from the Eco-centre to and from the dyke and an opportunity to experience travel as it once was. Scopes will be set up on the trail by knowledgeable guides who will help participants find good views of these spectacular birds soaring in search of fish or feeding along the water’s edge. The guides will also explain the way water was controlled to make these Acadian dyke lands so productive for forage and other crops.
This year’s Eagle Festival will kick off with early morning birding along the Pigots’ Trail at 6 to 8 am with people meeting beforehand at the Eco-Centre. Knowledgeable guides will be on hand and birders are asked to bring their own binoculars.
The Eagle Festival is centered at the Hillsborough River Eco-Centre which features a wonderful interpretive panorama of both the cultural and natural history of the historic Hillsborough presented in English, French and Mi’kmaq. The Hillsborough is the Island’s first designated Canadian Heritage River. The Eco-centre is located at the junction of the Confederation Trail and Main Street in Mount Stewart. This festival is in part funded by the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program of the Government of Canada’s Department of Canadian Heritage. To defray expenses, admission for the Eagle Festival is $5 with children under 12 being admitted free.
Everyone is invited to participate in this fun, family event in celebration of the majesty of the Bald Eagle in Mount Stewart, the eagle capital of PEI. For more information please call 676-2242 or 569-4351, visit us on Facebook at Hillsborough River Eagle Festival or watch for our posters.
Media contacts:
Ryan McAdam-Young – 676-2242 or email mcadamyoung@msn.com
Dan McAskill – 569-4351 or email jdmcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca