Hi All

I have a story very similar to Ed's. This involved a pair of Bald Eagles, a Harbour Seal and
one very large salmon.

I was visiting with a friend on Gambir Island (NW of Horseshoe Bay) when I caught some
movement out over the water. I had just enough time to catch the last part of the dive by an
eagle as it splashed in on top of a fish. We sat waiting for it to lift off again but it
became obvious that this was just not going to happen. The fish was just too heavy.

The eagle had come down about 500' from shore and we wondered just what it was going to do. It
struggled for a few minutes and then struck out for the nearest land. Twenty minutes later as
the bird neared the shore the head of a Harbour Seal popped out of the water very close by. It
must have been attracted by the noise of the eagle swimming. It stayed in the area until the
bird made it ashore but it left us scratching our heads as to why it never took the fish. If
that fish had been on the end of a line it would have been gone.

Part way though this mini drama another eagle had flown in and landed on a low rocky point
where the first bird was heading. It sat very patiently waiting as the first eagle dragged a
very large salmon out of the water and then they both feasted on it. Once on shore most of the
action took place just out of view beyond the top of the point so it was difficult to sort out
the sex of the swimmer but I suspect that both birds were a pair that breeds locally.

Roger Craik
Maple Ridge BC