5 Minutes of Fame - Whether it was 5 minutes of fame or 5 minutes of embarassment, I did enjoy my interview with Bruce Williams on the A-Channel morning show. I considered it my "coming-out" party as I have finally agreed to do several presentations in the near future. I told Bruce that if I could survive the test of fire in front of the cameras, I might have a chance in front of 150 people at UVIC in 2 weeks. However, the best part of being in Victoria was to be able to chase a few birds. I had half a dip at the Ridge Golf Course as it was ladies day and the male Redhead was off with the boys somewhere else. But, I wasn't disappointed as I had a charming visit with Mrs. Redhead. The other bird on my wish list was the amazing American Dipper. I stopped in the dark confines of Goldstream Park to see if it were home.
Mrs. Redhead seemed to be enjoying country club life as she leisurely paddled around oblivious to the concerns of our troubled world. The only thing that bothered her was an occasional itch which she had to stop and sctatch. Occasionally Mrs. Redhead would dive and help herself to some gourmet vegetation. The Amazing American Dipper - One would expect a songbird to be in a forest or field perched on a tree or bush but not the American Dipper. It is found in fast flowing, shallow streams where it behaves more as a duck than songbird as it dives and swims underwater to catch aquatic insects. Indeed, it is the only aquatic songbird in North America. Shorebird Legs - American Dippers are gray in colour, averaging about 7" in length. They have long pinkish legs like a shorebird which are adapted for walking in shallow streams in search of underwater prey. The Thinker - Doesn't the pose remind you of the statue "The Thinker" by Auguste Rodin? The Dipper seems to be in intense meditation or thought. Actually, I'm only trying to illustrate the white eyelids which are a unique feature of this dark bird. Back in the Water - Despite spending so much time in the water, the Dipper still has to bathe and cleanse its feathers just like any other bird. Dipping - Unlike birders, when the Dipper dips, it usually comes up a winner with some aquatic snack. On the Rocks - A common place to look for the Dipper is on the rocks in the middle of a fast flowing stream. Somenoes Tit - Somenoes was busy with Coots, Cormorants, Kingfishers, ducks, and Great Blue Herons, but it was the tiny Bushtit that caught my attention on the way home. A lone juvenile Redtail surveyed the Somenoes scene trying to decide on which menu item to select. 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 SAVE-ON FOODS SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS DEEP BAY - SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED VICTORIA - BOLEN 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 NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA SOOKE - SOOKE HARBOUR HOUSE
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