Delta’s housing challengesextend to ourfeathered friends at the topofthe food chain,whoalso have a toughtime findingahomeinthelocalenvironment.
WhiletheCityof Deltaishome to B.C.’s largest populationofbreeding couplesof bald eagles,fewer numbers oftalltrees make it tough to find a place to raiseafamily, says longtime eagle expert David Hancock, withthe Hancock Wildlife Foundation.
“Deltaisthe eagle capitalofthe world,” said Hancock,who’s spenthislifetime researchingthebirds.
“Nocityintheentire world hasas many eaglesas Delta,” he said,adding
that he was referring to the numberof breeding pairs.
“Itisthe eagle-breeding capitalofthe world.”
The Squamishand Harrison River areasarenoted for having large populationsof seasonal, wintering bald eagles, butthat’s notthe sameasthe numberof breeding pairs.
While wintering eagles swoopin thefall to feed on salmon, Deltaisthe placewhere the eagles setuphomeand reproduceand hasthe largest numberof breedingcouples.
Thecity’sproximity to lotsof water andshorelinegives eaglesfishingopportunitieswhilethe VancouverLandfill offersanall-you-can eat buffetoffusion food ofall types. The waters inand
around Deltaare rich withfood sources, Hancock added.“We produce huge amountsoffood.”
Whilethere’slotsoffood there’snotan equaldistributionof30-metrenesttrees because we’vetakendown milesof habitat, headded.
Hancock saidnestsusuallyneed a one km radius but today, eaglesarenesting 300 to 400metres apart becausethereare so fewtreesin Delta.
“That’s thelimitingfactor,isthetrees.”
Last year,there were 83breeding pairs of bald eaglesin Delta.
That compares to 53in Surrey,44in Richmondand26in Vancouver.
In all,from North Vancouver to Hope, therearemorethan740breeding pairs asdocumented by GPS.
That’s a change fromthree pairsin 1964,he added.
The Ministryof Water, Landand Resource Stewardship has similar numbers saying currentlythereare about700 active bald eaglenestsfromtidewater to Hope.
“This numberisgrowing, but remains limited by the availabilityof suitable, mature nesttrees within any given bald eaglenesting territory,” saidtheministry.
Hancock addedthat inthe winter,the Fraser Valley welcomes eaglesmigratingfromtheforestsofnorthern B.C. and Alaska, up to 50,000, who go back home inthe spring Plus,thelocal breeding population remainsuntil July until the young ones canfly.
Fromthemiddleof August to midSeptember, “you’renotlikely to see a single bald eagle…they’re just not here. They’re totally gone.
“Theyallleavehere to go north to Alaska,” ornorthern B.C. then returnin October, heexplained.
He’s beentracking eaglesfordecades andknowswherethenestsarelocated in Delta. Forexample,eight eagles’ nestsline residentialArthurDrive, which snakesalongside Chilukthan Slough,oneofwhichisnear Harris Barn,whileanotherisnear Sacred Heart Parish. “It’sa very productive road,”he said.
While eaglesused to be shot because it wasthoughtthey were devouring salmon stocks andDDTfurther hurt populationsinthe1960s, eaglesnow are part ofurbanlife.
“The eagles have totallyadapted to livingintheurban-suburbanarea,” he said.
ingpairsofbaldeagles.
In the wild, eaglesproduceone youngbirdfor eachterritory. In thebig city,it’s doublethat.
“It’s much moreproductive, because there’s much morefood availableinthe Lower Mainlandthanthereisinthe outer wildernessarea.”
Hancock saida major part of their fishdiet, apartfrom salmon,isasmall fishthat spawns inbig numbersin the intertidal zone, particularly around Boundary Bay.
Thefishare“midshipmen” named fortheir markingswhich representthe uniformofamidshipmanona boat. That’s themostcommonfishfood for eaglesfrom California to Alaska, he said.
Boundary Bayisoneofthe largest spawningareasforthosefish,headded.
“That’s abig attraction to eagles becausethey’re(here)all summerlong forthem,” Hancock said.
“I’d like someone to championthe factthat Delta hasthe largestconcentration,thebreeding populationof eagles,ofanywhereinthe worldand they have a big obligation to maintain them,abig responsibility to keep them going, because it’s themostproductive area forthem.”
HANCOCKWILDLIFE FOUNDATION PHOTO Deltaishometohundredsofbreed-
HANCOCKWILDLIFE FOUNDATION PHOTO
Nest camera show raising familyof eagles.
RICHARD
We oftensaythat we live ina vacation, beingblessedtolive innaturallybeautiful Delta.Ihave always lovedsunsets, and Wellington Pointoff River RoadinLadner isoneofthebest places to catchthe brilliantskiesall year longwithagorgeous Fraser River foregroundandmountainbackground.I wasadmiringthe sunsetonthisday inJunewhenI was surprised by being joined by my son andgrandkidswho allhave inherited my love ofsunsets.
DELTA
A colourful rainbowbrightens upthelateafternoonskyafter adayofheavy rain.Thesun brokethrough thegrey clouds asItookthis photofromthe publicwharf overlookingthe Chiloctin Slough. Itshows the beautyofour community even duringourdreariestofdays.
JOHNNY VANTOL PHOTO
DELTA
I love allthelocalfreesummer events. I recently wenttothe VancouverLandfill openhouse forthe firsttime.Ienjoyed seeing so manyeagles and a few deer.
RACHEL SANKER PHOTO
DELTA
ANDREA
Ilove my Ladnerlife! WhenIamout walkingmorning,noonand night, rainorshine, my heartisfulllikeatoddleratChristmas.The safariadventures I find in everynookofeach beautifulneighbourhood,bringsahappiness to my heartthat no words candescribe! Ourheavenlylittle havenLadnerwhere the communitystarts withMotherNature’s beautifulhand.
The South DeltaPlein Air Paintersareout every Wednesday, year roundatlocationsonly in South Deltapaintinginawide varietyof mediumsand recording thesupernaturalsurroundings.Although manyofourmembers belongtothe South DeltaArtists Guild, mostofourartistsare fromthegeneralpublic. We are opentoanyone who wouldliketopaint outdoors, no fees, no rules, Wednesdays year round.
TherearemanyreasonswhywelovelivinginDelta
KEVINRIDLEY
Contributing Writer
In 1992, my wifeTrinaandImoved to Ladnerfrom Vancouverfortheopportunity to purchase ourfirst houseand startafamily.
We hadheard so many great stories aboutthe peopleandthecommunity, we knewthisis where we wanted to be.
Thefirst Day we movedin ourneighbors John Donnellyand Joy Dorras- Donnelly came over to help usunload ourtruck with some beersand snacks and we have been best friends ever since.
John Donnellyisthe producerofthe Barnside Harvestfestivalas wellasthe new Barnes to Beaches Rideand back thenheinspired me to getinvolved in thecommunity.
With our two kids Eliseand Quinnnow toddlers we openedthe RunInn Deltaa specialty runand walking shoe storein Februaryof2002and we are still going strong over24 years later.
Oneofthemostimportantaspectsof our business wasfindinga way to be involved andgive back to the communitywhich we have achievedthroughhost-
inglocal Fun Runs Like the upcoming Run walk Roll with the Delta Police Department. Thisisalocal5km which raisesfundsfor Special Olympics. This will be ourfifth year withthe event.
We also have the Winded5kmon July 25thwhere we partnered with severallocal businesses- Four Winds, Newmansand SouthlandsGrange to help raisefundsfor Reachand Deltassist.
For10 years we hosteda kidsCross Country meet withmorethan1,200 kids participatingfrom15 schools,as well we were organized the Jogfor a Jugfor 12 years in Point Roberts.
For24 years we have organized weekly running and walking clinicsforalllevelsandhelped hundredsof runnersand walkersachieve their fitness goals. Over the years we have forged somegreatfriendships with many of our run clubmembers and we like to thinkof themas ourextendedfamily.
TrinaandIfeelfortunate to live in acommunity where people want to know their neighbours. Being socialisanimportant part of all of ourlives especially with everything going oninthe world today. We are happy to do our part to tryand make it better.
Asalong-timeresidentof SouthDelta Iamnot onlya local realestate expert for thoselooking to buyandsell,I alsolive,work,and volunteer here. Foroveradecade Ihave builtasolid reputationasa competentandtrustworthy expert,whostrives to consistentlyprovidethebest possibleservice to all my valuedclients.Contact me todayfor aFREEmarket evaluation,or to discuss your homeownershipgoals!
PHOTO SUBMITTED Kevin Ridleywithhiswife Trina,daughterEliseand sonQuinnandtheir familydog.
Diefenbaker Parkin Tsawwassenhas this beautifullilypond water area visiblefromthebridgeatthebackofthepark. Itissoserene...so reminiscent of Monet’s Waterlilies’ paintings. Theparkhassomany family/kid friendlyareas andis certainlybecomingthe go toparkin Tsawwassen.
JOANHANSEN PHOTO
MayDays2026
TheRoyal CanadianLegionBranch61
•S.M.Products(BC) Ltd. • CraigmanHoldings
•The MayDaysCommittee
•andallthemanyvolunteersfortheirhelp
Wewouldalsoliketothankyouallforyourpatron-
age,thisisouriggestfundraiserofthyearand
enablesustogivebacktothecommunity.
• (i'\ella BRANCH61
DELTA
LadnerVillage Marketcelebrates30 amazingseasons
TheLadner Village Marketcelebratesis30th anniversary.
This season,visitors canexpectthevibrant, highenergy experience the marketisknown for, witha curated mixof hyper local vendorsfrom Delta,alongsideexciting new businesses joining thelineup.
Gardens at May Days.Wecould notdoitwithout you! Thank
Ofcourse, you’llalso find your cultfavouriteslike Johnny’s Pops, PocketPies, Mister G’s BBQ, and more,plus farmfreshproduce, hand madeartisan goods, and live music setthroughout Ladner Village.
As B.C.’s biggestopen air market,itcontinues to be a must visit summer destinationthat brings togethercommunity, small businesses, and the charm ofthevillage.
AsB.C.’s biggestopenairmarket,it continuesto beamustvisitsummerdestinationthatbrings together community, small businesses, andthe charmofthevillage.
2026 marksthe30th anniversary ofLadner Village Market,ameaningful milestonefor both the marketandthecommunity.
This season will celebrate“30 Yearsin Ladner” by recognizing the vendors, families,and visitorswho have helped shapethe market over thedecades, with Aug. 23 servingasa specialanniversary date.
The remaining Market datesare: July 19, Aug. 9 &23,and Sept.6&20.
FILE PHOTO
DELTA
Blessedwithvastamountsofoutdoorspacetoenjoy
Here are just afewplaceswhere you can get outside,enjoy ahikeand getin touch with nature.
Deas Island Regional Park
Locatedonanislandinthelower reachesoftheFraser River, thisis a greatplace
forapicnic,aquiet walk,ora paddle alongthe slough. Thetallcottonwood treesand surrounding wetlandsare home to a varietyof wildlife– from eaglesand chickadees to frogsand otters. The park derivesits name from John Sullivan Deas,afree Black tinsmith,whoestablisheda salmon canneryonthe site in 1873. Deas Island Regional Park is home to three localheritage buildings: Inverholme Schoolhouse, DeltaAgricultural Hall and Burrvilla.
Astheonly publicly accessible part of Burns Bog, the Delta Nature Reserveallowsvisitors to experience bog ecosystems. Strollalong rustic boardwalksmeanderingthroughforests and hardhack meadows,and over wet, soggy soils. Lookfor bogplants such as Labrador teaand bog laurel. Watchfor songbirds, woodpeckers, hawks, and eagles.
Thereare2.5kmof walkabletrails. Formoredetailson these parksor othersinthe regionoperated by Metro Vancouver, see:www.metrovancouver. org/services/parks.
Herearejusta fewplaces where you cangetoutside, enjoy a hike and getin touchwith nature.
EarthwiseGardenisaperfectcommunitysanctuary
TheEarthwise Garden,nestledin picturesque Boundary Bay,isan ecologicaldemonstration gardenthat illustrateshowitis possible to have a healthy, beautiful landscape without theuseof harmful chemicals.
The Gardenalso makesanideal localescape for thosewho want to get someexercise,enjoy a breathoffresh air,or simply retreatinto natureand listen to thebirds sing.
TheEarthwise Garden has gone through changes overthe past couple years,andthe publicisinvited to comeand seetheprogress thathas been madeonthe garden renovation. Visitors canexplorethe pathways that meanderthrough stunning, themed garden bedsincludinga nativeplant garden,dry garden, pollinator garden, heritage garden,andmore. Be sure tocheck outthenew Demonstration Community Food Garden,a spaceded-
Whether youarelooking fora rewarding volunteering experience,or need
beautiful place to escapeandenjoythespringblooms, theEarthwise Garden is the perfect communitysanctuary.
icated to growinganinteresting variety of edibleherbaceousplants,flowers,
If youlove to gardenand want to make adifferenceinthecommunity, Earthwise Societyisalways welcoming new volunteers. Volunteeringisagreat way to exercise yourgreenthumb while connecting with nature andothers, andthe peaceful garden settingoffers plenty of room to maintainphysical distance.
Whether youarelookingfora rewarding volunteeringexperience,or need a beautifulplace to escape and enjoy the spring blooms,theEarthwise Gardenisthe perfectcommunity sanctuary.
The Gardenislocated at 64003 Ave. Formoreinformationemailinfo@ earthwisesociety.bc.ca orvisitwww. earthwisesociety.bc.ca.
