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Construction
Photos: March | July | September
Taima
the Eagle | Illahee the Salmon | Natural
History |
| As
you walk down a wooded path, you're drawn to the sounds of a
gentle stream leading to a waterfall. Along the path, you see
a bald eagle gliding among the tall Douglas fir trees. Farther
down the path, you enter a lava tube tunnel, and experience a
unique view swimming schools of Coho salmon near the stream bottom.
Eagle Canyon provides a perfect look into a typical northwest
watershed, offering both sky high and under water perspectives. |
Opening
date: May 29, 2004 | Cost: $2.4
million | Size: 20,800
sq. feet
Animals
Athena,
a bald
eagle, is the star of Eagle Canyon. She is very vocal,
occasionally talking with keepers and visiting birds. Coming
from a rehab center in McCleary, WA, Athena was deemed
non-releasable 
because
of her weak flying ability. Although she has grown
much stronger over time, Athena will never be strong enough
to be released into the wild, therefore she has made the
Oregon Zoo her permanent home.
Sharing
the exhibit are Coho
salmon, which symbolize life and sustenance
for several Native American tribes. Salmon play an integral part
in the ecology of the Northwest, bringing nutrients upstream from
the
ocean and providing food for predators such as bears, eagles and
humans.
Features
Throughout the exhibit, follow the Story of Taima
the Eagle and Illahee
the Salmon to learn more about the lives of eagles and salmon and
the effects of human impact.
An interactive watershed model near the bridge allows visitors
to follow the flow of water from the Cascades in an actual scale
model of a local
watershed.
Near
the top of the canyon, children can play in a life size eagle's nest,
experiencing life as a bald eagle.
Two
video monitors with live-video feeds from a Cascades site outside
of Eugene, Ore. and a river site in the Columbia River Gorge, help
educate visitors about healthy watersheds and native Northwest
animals.
watch the cams now! Art
Projects
Bronze
salmon sculptures, created by Scott Foster, are seen on the face
of a waterfall. These sculptures illustrate the story
of the spawning
salmon's upstream journey home.
A
salmon life-cycle tile mosaic, by Illahe Tileworks from an illustration
by Doug Katagiri, provides a solid graphic representation of
the salmon's life story. Visitors can also enjoy hand-made sculptures
throughout
the tunnel.
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