Submitted photo Dan Schiebelbein - local photographer and Naturalist

By Chantal Wagner

Bald eagles spotted in Medicine Hat, not uncommon says Nature Centre

Jan 8, 2021 | 12:35 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat has a resident pair of bald eagles that have been here for a number of years, says park interpreter Marty Drut.

He says they have a permanent nest just across the river from Police Point Park.

The eagles will visit the nest from time to time during the winter and get ready for breeding season which starts in late February to early March.

Submitted photo – Interpretive Program Staff

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Meantime, Drut says the Christmas bird count in December tallied 16 eagles this year. Adding that it’s very possible those 16 are still around and it’s likely they will stay all winter

He says double-digit eagle numbers are not uncommon and some years they see close to 30.

“It varies annually but there can be a good number of them around. Some of the ones that are being seen are young from the pair that were hatched that year and others are just here in the area because there’s ample food supply for them and even though it can be cold here in Medicine Hat, it’s still fairly mild.”

If you want to get a glimpse of the pair of eagles, they are just across the east side of Police Point Park in a set of trees or south of the water treatment plant.

Drut adds the other nests belong to great blue herons, which won’t be coming back until the spring,

Though the Nature Centre is closed at this time, staff are still on site. Drut says you are welcome to call the nature line at 403-529-0225 or visit their Facebook page.

Interpretive Program Staff

Dennis and Kathryn Milner