Wintering Bald Eagles

Bald Eagles feeding on a deer carcass. The deer may have broken through ice when crossing the river.

Bald Eagles feed mainly on fish, either self-caught or taken from Osperys. But when fish are scarce they prey on smaller mammals like hares, muskrats and beavers. They will also take waterfowl and can be seen forcing ducks and coots to dive again and again until the exhausted bird is easily captured. However in winter when the waters freeze the Bald Eagles that remain in the Columbia Valley rely largely on carrion.

Northern Pygmy Owl

The Columbia Valley has the highest diversity of owls (13 species) of any bioregion in Canada

Northern Pygmy Owl - Canada's smallest owl. They are smaller than an American Robin - about 7 inches high. They may be small but they can carry prey weighing up to 3 times its own weight. This White-footed Deer Mouse was an easy lift to the poplar tree perch.

Columbia Lake

Autumn fog and smoke transformed this scene into a pastel painting

Columbia Lake, headwaters of the Columbia River which flows 2,000 km northwest and then south before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at Astoria Oregon.

This shallow lake’s average July temperature of 18°C makes it the largest warm water lake in the East Kootenay.