David Hancock Louisiana Report March, 2013

Friday, March 15 2013 @ 01:22 AM EDT

Contributed by: davidh

Our Louisiana trip in review:

Wow wow wow -- what a wondrous trip, Mary & I were welcomed by all and there is so much to see in Louisiana.

The flight down was very exciting but relatively uneventful except the landing. The planes were on time and the only excitement was the New Orleans arrival --- in the middle of a thunder storm. Well not quite the middle but our “final approach” to landing was accompanied by thunder bolts dancing right beside the aircraft – within the airport perimeter. We were the last aircraft to land for nearly two hours. They got us off the plane but apparently the thunder cell moved directly over the airport and prevented other aircraft on final from landing. Furthermore the ground crews were not allowed to approach the grounded aircraft -- I suspect for danger of the aircraft or the workers being struck and blowing up. We had to wait two hours for the thunder cell to pass -- and our luggage to get off the plane! A small inconvenience for us but apparently we brought the next two weeks of sunny but chilly weather -- perfect getting around and birding days. Louisiana had six nights of freezing -- our Vancouver area - one!

This trip was thankfully a week after Mardi Gras as Mary and I don’t like noisy crowds. However we enjoyed New Orleans and a journey through Bourbon Street and some fine blues and Zydeco music in the French Quarter.

The Story of the PMV (Port Metro Vancouver) Esplanade Eagles

Thursday, February 07 2013 @ 02:19 PM EST

Contributed by: davidh

The development of the North Shore Harbor, known as the Lower Road & Spirit Trail Development, has been the home of a pair of territorial bald eagles for at least 5 years. The pair reportedly tried twice to nest on an old crane that is slated for re-building - this did not work. Then in the spring of 2011 they built a nest in a cottonwood tree above the Esplanade road but did not succeed in raising young in 2011. Reported during the winter of 2011, much of the nest blew down. Then they again came back in the fall of 2011 and were seen on their favorite cranes beside the water’s edge and occasionally in or near the nest tree. Then I was about to get involved!

Low Level Road Project – Mitigation Measures – Bald Eagle Habitat

Thursday, January 31 2013 @ 04:01 PM EST

Contributed by: davidh

Ian Galsworthy

Port Metro Vancouver

100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place

Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 3T4

direct: 604.665.9244 mobile: 604.753.9906

fax: 1.866.284.4271

Report on the Low Level Road Project Regarding Bald Eagle Nest Mitigation Jan 30, 2013

As a long time advocate for bald eagles I was at first sad to learn that the 5 year efforts of a bald eagle pair to establish, while unsuccessfully, a nest on the Port Metro Vancouver property in North Vancouver was coming to an end. Then I learned that a permit to remove this nest had been given by the Ministry of Environment, but that there was a possible positive upside for eagles. MOE was demanding mitigation, and this mitigation was being very positively viewed by Port Metro Vancouver.

Heart of the Fraser

Sunday, January 20 2013 @ 03:26 AM EST

Contributed by: davidh

Hi All:

Those of you who have had the opportunity to visit our Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival or view our Chehalis Flats Tower Cams, or who might get views from the new Harrison Mills live streaming cam, will already know of the jewel in our midst -- The Fraser River and Valley. Our cams and effort largely focus on one of the side tributaries of the Fraser, the Harrison River and its incredible tributary, the Chehalis -- all just an hour north of Vancouver. This Chehalis Flats is where the world's largest flock of wintering bald eagles annually gather.

Coming up on this site you will learn of our collective efforts to bring together an educational campaign about how the Chehalis Flats needs some protection from vehicles, boats, seadoos, kayaks, hikers and phtographters. The HWF, Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival, the Sts'ailes First Nation and the collective of the Harrison Mill Community Group are working to preserve this incredibly productive and yet vulnerable area. This is all part of the bigger project of Mark Angelo to bring attention to the "heart of the Fraser". Please watch a fine short video of the Fraser lowlands.

David Hancock

Dear River Advocates,

For your interest, attached is a link to a great new 3 minute video with renowned river advocate Mark Angelo (also World Rivers Day Chair) on the wonders of the lower Fraser River and the need to better care for it. A part of this stretch includes what's referred to as the Heart of the Fraser, the focus of one of the most important conservation initiatives in all of Canada.

A special thanks is extended to sponsors North Growth Foundation and the International River Foundation.

Hope you enjoy the video:

Heart of the Fraser

Best Wishes, Worldriversday2
Scott Denkers
WRD Communications Coordinator

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Report to Web Supporters on HWF Annual Meeting

Sunday, December 16 2012 @ 08:35 PM EST

Contributed by: davidh

Hi all:

Well what a fiscal year to have gotten over and what an incredible fall for the current year to now be experiencing at this halfway position. As many of you know the HWF has a fiscal year July 1 through June 30. We just closed out the 2011 -2012 year with the Annual Meeting on Friday Dec 15. So many things to touch on.

Comments on the Annual General Meeting:

1. Dr. David Bird moved and the Directors unanimously passed to thank all the volunteers from the key mods to all those contributing by posting questions and answers to the various Forums, Facebook etc. I am reluctant to make specific kudos simply because so many do so much. JudyB, with her expanding group of mods and different levels of helpers, totally keeps the web going. She has become our webmaster as well as web manager and Karen keeps me going or pointed to the next presentation. I can't leave this without acknowledging that Mary again seems to enjoy directly assisting in my talks or being a 'bald eagle widow' -- I am not sure which prevails. Needless to say in addition to being the Foundation Secretary she is the resident Foundation social convener: chief cook and bottle washer -- I can only hope she does not read this! Again, and with the confusion of fiscal years and calendar years, it is best to simply say that Nancy has again produced a wondrous calendar with image contributions by so many. The Directors and I pass along our sincere appreciation for all your time, devotion and contributions.