Apr. 27 - Tourist Day
Today was just a tourist day. I had to take my camera to Victoria Camera Repair for a cleaning and checkup. They've always done excellent work on my cameras and lenses, and if you get there early, they can often do same-day service. Meanwhile, I still had a backup camera and would leisurely look around with no real targets in mind. The problem with birding and twitching is that the result is often dipping. No matter how you look at it, dipping is just a euphemism for failure, and that's something all of us can use less of. My plan was simply to visit some birding locations and enjoy the views. If a few interesting birds decided to drop by for a visit, that would be great. If they didn't want to show up, I would still enjoy the scenery.
It was a gorgeous sunny day and I started with a quick look around Clover Point which was almost pointless. There were only a few gulls lazing around, but like the rest of the tourists, I enjoyed the views of the distant mountains and the passing ships. I didn't expect to see the Whimbrels at the golf club as it was already close to noon, and the course would be filled with golfers. Early is always better as the Whimbrels have some foraging time before the golfers hit the back nine. I checked anyway, and proved myself right, but I would have preferred to be wrong. Oh well, on with the sightseeing like the other tourists. Ogden Point was next, and voila! A Great Blue Heron - a perfect tourist bird.
The Great Blue was putting on a show, demonstrating the finer techniques of how to eat an eel.
Ooops! Who's got who? The eel wasn't quite following the script.
Half way out to the point, a pair of Black Oystercatchers was demonstrating their foraging and dining techniques. Just like golf you have to bend your knees for the low ones.
There's nothing to it. You just sever the abductor muscle.
To the victor goes the spoils. It does look tasty.
I thought the Wandering Tattler would pay me a visit at the end of point, but there were no birds of any description. Instead there was a tourist special - a mink! It was enjoying the summer-like sunshine when I came along. It then decided to slink under the giant boulders at the side of the breakwater.
My next stop was Esquimalt Lagoon. If last year was any indication, we should be seeing a lot of Caspian Terns this year. Last year they seemed to be a regular feature from Victoria to Campbell River. I never went past Campbell River so I don't know the status beyond that point. Anyway, you can be sure to see them at the Esquimalt Lagoon. There were three on the sand bar today.
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On the Brink of Extinction
One of the rarest breeding birds in B.C. is the Coastal Vesper Sparrow. It is a subspecies of the Vesper family that breeds along the coast from northern California to southwestern B.C. The Coastal Vesper is a grassland bird that requires a specific grassland ecosystem for survival. Unfortunately for the Vesper, the same ecosystems like the garry oak meadows on southern Vancouver Island have been destroyed by industrial, agricultural, commercial, and residential development. The consequences for the Coastal Vesper have been devastating, and they are now endangered in many places along the coast. In B.C. they have been relegated to a postage stamp area around and in the Nanaimo Airport. In 2006 when the Coastal Vesper received official "endangered" status from the Committee on Endangered Wildlife in Canada, there were only six breeding pairs recorded. The good news was that the Garry Oaks Ecosystem Recovery Team had made the recovery of the Coastal vesper one of their priorities and was able to forge a stewardship agreement with the Nanaimo Airport. The bad news is small population of Vespers is constantly threatened with extinction. Airport expansion and continual development can lead to an erosion of the fragile Vesper habitat. Habitat management practices and predation by house cats are other ongoing concerns.
In the scheme of things, the extinction of the Vesper may have no economic consequences, but it is another nail in the coffin for the survival of humanity. It is a symbol of our commitment or lack of commitment to safeguard our environment and protect the natural world for generations to come. As we callously destroy our natural world for our own selfish purposes, there will come a time when our food supplies, fresh water reserves, and even the air we breathe will all become compromised.
Apr. 27 - For the past few years I have checked for the spring arrival of the Vespers everytime I was in the area. It is always heart-warming to see them again. I am constantly amazed at how they can overcome so many obstacles and make it back to the desolate surroundings of their summer home.
For the past three springs I have discovered the Vespers in the trailer compound south of the airport. There isn't much there but the Vespers seem to like it. Perhaps it has the right kind of vegetation and seeds for them.
This is the signature photo of the Vesper. It's like they have been relegated to a concentration camp.
Every time I see a Coastal Vesper Sparrow, I wonder if it will be the last time I would ever see one.
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The last stop on my tourist day was Sebastion Road. There were no breeding plumaged Pacific Loons or Horned Grebes to greet me, but there was a river otter. I haven't gotten around to checking out what kind of fish it was munching on. Maybe someone out there can help me. Wendy, where are you when I need you?
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May 1 - A few Local Shots
Backyard Buddy - NOT! It's not just that the cowbirds victimize all the other birds with their brood parasitism, but their high pitched squeal is also very annoying.
The female cowbird looks so innocent, but in reality she is a deadbeat mom. Raising your own family is one of the greatest joys in life. She doesn't know what she's missing and probably doesn't care.
Happy Harry - It always gives me a lift to sit and watch the Rufous hummers. They look like they are having so much fun.
I haven't quite figured it out, but this year nobody's guarding the feeders as in past years. My only theory is that the males are guarding the distant satellite feeders.
In my last journal I promised the next Violet-green photos would be "wireless." Well, the perch I installed above the hydro lines was a bust. No one was interested in it. However, Mrs. Violet-green has bailed me out.
For the past few days she has been busy gathering nest material from the garden.
I thought that nest preparation was completed long ago, but I guess I was wrong. What have they been doing in the three weeks they have been here?
Here's some more Violet-greens from River's Edge. There seems to be a few nesting holes in the snags they're utilizing. One of the snags is only about 20 feet high which provides some good photo opportunities for anyone who is interested.
Eye level shots would be the best, but those situations are not that easy to find.
I stuck with the photo shoot until I could get the violet to show adequately. This was the best I could get today.
The House Wren has been a regular feature at River's Edge for the past few years. I've encountered them in several locations in the subdivision.
As I mentioned on my tourist day, Caspian Terns are becoming more common around V.I. This one was at French Creek. I wouldn't be surprised if the folks at the Columbia River are shipping them up here.
Another interesting invader is the European Collared Dove. They are becoming more prevalent than ever on the Island. I think Adrian has a bunch of them living with him on the west coast. I found this one at San Malo and it had a partner.
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Bird Poster
My posters are on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House; Nanoose Bay - Credit Union; Courtenay - Graham's Jewellers
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