Special thanks to Mossy Moss for allowing us to adopt these caches. We are wonderfully lucky to be able to take this series over!
While paddling, please respect the sensitive wildlife habitat of this lake. This cache (like all the ones in the series) shows off some of the amazing wildlife you might see at this amazing lake. Nestled in between HWY 1 and Lougheed HWY, Burnaby Lake is a truly urban park. Despite this, there are many amazing animals and plants that call this park home.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus is the scientific name of the Bald Eagle. These are truly amazing birds, the second largest bird in Canada (the largest is the Golden Eagle), with a wingspan of 1.68m(66 in). From the location of this cache, there is an active eagle nest! Look in the tops of the trees on the south side of the lake and you can see a large brown shape, the nest. Eagle nests are very large, some record ones are the size and weight of a Volkswagon Beetle. This nest is actively being used by a pair of eagles,even though they aren't always there. Eagles frequently build multiple nests, and return to them each year. One nest is the main nest, where the eggs and hatchlings are. The rest of the nests are places for the adults to fly off to and have a quiet break away from the kids. Adult bald eagles have brown feathers all over except a very distinct white tail and head. The juvenile eagles are speckled brown all over.
To reach this cache you require some sort of vessel. Kayaks or canoes would work best. In summer the lake becomes covered with water lilies which might make paddling difficult. In August the water level gets very low and it will be hard to launch from Piper Spit. Paddle very carefully to avoiding getting stuck.
In the center of the lake is a rowing course (from the Rowing Pavilion). It isn't usually busy, but if there are rowers on the lake please be careful to stay out of the rowing lanes.
This cache is a small water bottle. It is tied very carefully to prevent it from falling in the water, please do not untie it.
Other caches in the series:
GC2XQVC: Neovison vison
GC2xQW7: Cyprinus carpio
GC2XQM: Ardea herodias
GC3QYYA: Castor canadensis