Dozens of bald eagles are currently descending upon the Harrison and Fraser rivers every day to feast on millions of salmon carcasses that have spawned in recent weeks.

While this year's large sockeye run has received a lot of media attention, low numbers of salmon returned to many other river systems up the coast of British Columbia bring the annual bald eagles to Chilliwack's back yard by the hundreds.

"The eagles have come in very early and in very large numbers," said David Hancock, a noted wildlife biologist and founder of the Hancock Wildlife Foundation.

Hancock spoke about the annual eagle migration during a jet boat tour with Fraser River Safari on Wednesday in advance of this weekend's 15th annual Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival.

"This is the largest grouping of predators in one location in the world," Hancock said of the stretch of Harrison River from Kilby up to the Chehalis reserve.

On Wednesday, Hancock didn't do a detailed count but estimated between 2,200 and 2,500 bald eagles were present in the vicinity with approximately 100 more arriving each day.

After the jet boat tour hosted by Rob and Jo Anne Chadwick of Fraser River Safari, Kelsey and Darren Charlie from Chehalis gave an official welcome to visitors and students from Deroche elementary school.

Bev Day from OWL (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society) then conducted a release of a young bald eagle that had undergone rehabilitation at the society's Delta facility.

Visitors and the young students then got to meet Sonsie, OWL's adult bald eagle used as an educational tool.

On Nov. 20 and 21, the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival Society hosts the festival at 12 locations from Mission to Chilliwack. Viewing sites where events are planned include Kilby Historic Site, the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, Sandpiper Golf Resort and Sts'ailes Lhawathet Lalem in Harrison Mills where there will be artisan demonstration and sales, an educational walk, a salmon lunch, eagle feather beading and Sasquatch Tours dancing.

For full festival information visit www.fraservalleybaldeaglefestival.ca.

phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com