Canada's insider blog

In winter, the deciduous trees of the Annapolis Valley lose their leaves, odd pieces of fruit still frozen on the trees; the harvest festivals are over and the bulk of tourists are gone. Most, but not all.  For two weekends in winter some thousand visitors come to line the fields around the farming village or hamlet of Sheffield Mills to join in a festival unlike any other. As the site of the largest colony of wintering eagles in eastern North America, Sheffield Mills is the perfect location to host Eagle Watch when visitors are invited to see these extraordinary birds in their natural hibernal habitat. And what a sight: some 500 eagles soar above the snow-covered fields and settle, looming white-headed sentinels, on the branches of leafless elms and apple trees.  

Nova Scotians are hospitable by nature. The 20^th Annual Sheffield Mills Eagle Watch (January 29-30 and February 5-6, 2011) welcomes visitors to the Community Hall for a pancake and sausage breakfast or cinnamon bun alternative, plus homemade bread and baked beans afterwards.  There’s live music too. This year, the “polymetric folk-jazz” duo of Arianne and Andy, country singer Laura Roy, harpist Johanne McInnis and Celtic musician, Dusty Keleher, are among Eagle Watch’s several performers.