'twas a day fit for neither man nor beast as sheets of rain whipped sideways and treetops grudgingly touched their toes. The thought of curling up with a book or magazine beside the cosy wood stove was appealing, but I had promised to deliver books that I was donating to 18 north island schools. Fortunately, the driving was easy as we rode a blustery tailwind north and by 10:30 am we were in Courtenay. Later, just south of Campbell River, the howling southeaster whipped the waves into a frenzy, sending salty spray over the road. The only thing missing were the surfers and storm-watchers. But, it was all the "storm before the calm." An hour later the wind had blown itself out, patches of blue appeared in the sky, and golden rays of sun beamed through like spotlights. The journey home was peaceful, and we ever found one of my Island photo-wish birds.
BIRDS FOR SCHOOLS Of course, I didn't try to visit all 18 schools, especially when Cortes Island and Port Alice were on my list. I used all the help I could get. I was very fortunate to enlist Juliana and Moriah (and Joan) at Village Park Elementary to help with my Comox Valley deliveries. It was a pleasure to have the assistance of two wonderful children who are interested in birds. My visit to Village Park was extra special as I had taught there over 35 years ago. (That thought made me feel pretty old!) A REWARD FOR A GOOD DEED? Perhaps, there is something to the notion that good deeds are rewarded. I did feel good about donating books to schools as I firmly believe that the "power of children" will be a fundamental force in saving the natural world. Not only did the storm clouds disappear, the sun actually peeked out, and as I stepped out on Deep Bay Spit, I finally found an Island Snow Bunting. I had seen the Snow and Mckay's Buntings last year at Iona, but never on the Island until today. The Bunting was foraging in the sparse tall grass just above the tide line. It appeared to be eating seeds and occasionally jumped up at a passing fly. Snow Buntings breed in the Arctic and spend their winters in southern Canada and the northern states. NANAIMO - BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE) SAVE-ON FOODS (COUNTRY CLUB) CHAPTERS FALCONER BOOKS COLE'S PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS DEEP BAY - SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED VICTORIA - BOLEN'S BOOKS MUNRO'S CAMPBELL RIVER - CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM BOOK BONANZA SAVE-ON FOODS DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE CHEMAINUS - LITTLE SHOP OF NOVELS LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS (FRASER & NAYLOR) NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA SOOKE - SOOKE HARBOUR HOUSE
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