The following chronology of eagle activities was compiled from 13 years of observing approximately 15 different breeding territories on Hornby Island. Dates will be earlier in southern Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley and
later in northern Vancouver Island and up the coast.

Return from Migration		October 2, give or take 3 days.
Major Nest Building Time		From October 20 to November 15. Bringing branches to nest, large ones around the outside and fine twigs on the inside.
Winter Survival Time		November 15 to January 31. With shorter and colder days, nest-building stops. Much of their time is spent getting food, mostly fish but also winter-weakened birds and ducks.
Mating		Think of St Valentine’s Day, February 14 (a suitable time for mating) but include the two weeks before and after this date—in other words, the whole month of February. Eagles are also seen mating in the first half of March, just a week or two before laying eggs, but at no other time in the year.
Final Nest Preparation		A second flurry of nest-preparation takes place from mid-February to mid-March—adding more branches, followed by soft materials like dry grass and moss.
Egg Laying		March 25, plus or minus one week. A second egg 2 or 3 days later.
Brooding		The male and female take turns sitting on the eggs for approximately 35 days—from March 25 to May 1, plus or minus one week. One could consider the month of April as the ‘brooding’ month.
Chicks Hatch		May 1, plus or minus one week.
Chick Development		Peeps can be heard by June 1o, sitting on edge of nest by June 20, flapping wings by June 25, flapping and jumping by July 1.
First Flight		July 25, plus or minus one week (85 days after hatching).
Migration Off Island		From mid- August to September. This migration includes adults, new eaglets and other non-breeding eagles. All eagles go.
Adult Eagles Return to Island		October 2, plus or minus one week.
Immatures Straggle Back To Island		One or two arrive in November, a few in December and increasing numbers in the next few months.