Dinner is Served!

Imagine that you have been invited to the eyrie for dinner. What would expect to see on the menu? In the past I've seen eagles dining on roadkill deer, washed up dead seals, and even a sea lion carcass. However, those dishes were just for the eagle dining out. They would be difficult to transport to the nest. Obviously, you are thinking fish, right? Of course, you're right. Fish is the favorite food for eagles, and they love serving it to dinner guests. Here's a sampler of the seasonal fare that you might expect at this time of the year.

Want a tasty musical treat? According to Doug Carrick of the Hornby Eagle Cam fame, the midshipman is fish of choice for eagles of the Northern Gulf Islands. In case you didn't know, the midshipman is the famous humming fish. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I find that very interesting. They are available at low tide when the males hide under seaweed or rocks to protect the eggs laid by the females. Apparently, the eagles have learned to turn over rocks and probe the seaweed for these fish. They also keep an eye on the crows for any fish that they may have discovered.

How about a buffalo sculpin? They look dangerous with their spikey projections but apparently they are an eagle delicacy. Reminds me of the Japanese blowfish.

There are many types of sculpin. Here's a staghorn just for variety. They all taste the same.

Just for a change, a little finger food. Now these slippery herring do look tasty. I'm amazed at how proficient the eagle was at snatching two handfuls of herring at once. Ever try grabbing a handful of jelly? The eagles have their chance when the herring ball-up.

The nestlings sure like the midshipman. I'm sure you will agree.

Here's the dorsal view of the midshipman.

Finally, the mysterious main course. Your guess is as good as mine. My best guess? How about a well-aged wolf eel carcass? In other words, I don't have a clue.

And now for the coup de grace - a cartilaginous dessert delight fit for eagles and Englishmen - a head of Pacific shark ... don't be afraid to ask for seconds.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Many scientists have gone on record to suggest that the proliferation of salmon farms may spell the end of wild salmon as well as many other fish species. Fish farming poses a double-edged threat to the native species. First, many believe that the spread of sea lice from the farms as well as the associated garbage and effluent is disastrous to the natural environment and the native fish species. The second danger is the expanding krill fishery required to feed the farmed fish. Krill is the foundation of a multiplicity of aquatic and even avian species. Although aquaculture scientists will argue that the krill harvest is sustainable, there are other reports that say Antarctic krill populations have been reduced by up to 80%. There are other factors that affect krill abundance, but with a population drop of 80%, any harvesting would seem suicidal.

Given the significance of krill as the foundation for many other species, krill harvesting has been prohibited off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. However, despite the prohibition by the U.S. there is apparently krill harvesting in B.C. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the connection between the krill and the abundance of all other species. Given declines in major species like herring, salmon, and even rockfish, it doesn't seem very prudent to be harvesting the one ingredient necessary for the recovery of any stocks. Unfortunately, it's money, big business, and politics that make the decisions. The quick buck today and the hell with tomorrow.

Assuming the demise of wild salmon and other fish species, what would be the effect on other widlife? Would that mean the end of bears and eagles and many other creatures?

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A Mini Birding Fix

Aug. 12 - I couldn't remember my last dedicated birding trip. I've made the occasional stop here and there while running chores, but I needed a birding fix where my only focus was the birds. I finally got my chance this morning. Shortly after a morning coffee I was out the door with my camera. I was long overdue for a few shorebirds so I headed to Admiral's Lagoon. Shorebirds aren't prolific there but there are the occasional surprises. Today there were no surprises, but I was happy just to see a few shorebirds.

As soon as got to Admiral's I was greeted by a very striking Black-bellied Plover still very much in breeding plumage. It was foraging at the water's edge about 20 m away and as expected, it kept its distance before flying off to the sandbar.

As the plover was departing, three peeps flew in then headed up the beach towards Qualicum. I followed hoping they would stop and forage. My wish came true as they landed by the next beach access where they were joined by about 20 more peeps. When I finally got there, they flew back past me towards the lagoon. I wasn't annoyed. It was great to be out in perfect weather, and I enjoyed seeing them in their synchronized flight weaving in and out of the shoreline. Finally they landed at the point just before Admiral's. I slowly worked towards them, but when I was about 20 m away they flew towards me. I froze and watched with delight as they landed right at my feet, too close for pictures. A minute later they had foraged past me and were now in camera range.

Most of them were juvenile Least Sandpipers. Yellow legs betrayed their identities as Least while the trim and neat plumage betrayed their ages as juveniles.

Finally, I spotted one that looked a little different. It had olive gray legs not yellow, and look, webs between the toes. It was a Semipalmated Sandpiper.

The short, straightish bill was also typical of the Semipalmated Sandpiper although some juvenile Westerns can also have fairly short bills.

The semipalmated is common but not abundant on the west coast. This one didn't have a band so it wasn't part of Nathan's study group.

After my shorebird fix, I stopped at River's Edge for a songbird fix. Cedar waxwings are guaranteed at the settling ponds. I just stood and waited by the short fir trees until a few landed there in about 3 minutes.

Pine Siskins have been scarce around my yard. A group of 3 dropped by to say hello.

Over at the nature trail on Peterson I was expecting Willow Flycatcher, House Wren, White-crowneds, Oranged-crowns, and Goldfinches. The first birds I saw were Willow Flycatchers. The big miss was the House Wrens. I'm assuming they have already started their way south.

I saw several Willow Flycatchers. They are usually quite abundant in this location.

I didn't see any fly-catching going on. Most of them seemed to be gleaning insects from the branches and leaves.

Another abundant species in this location is the White-crowned Sparrow.

There were several adults still carrying food. There were also many juveniles around.

Here's one of the juveniles I was telling you about.

I only saw a couple of Orange-crowned warblers. They seemed to be playing tag through the willows and choke cherries.

American Gold-finches were present, but I only saw them in the distance. I didn't get a picture until I got home. There was a family of gold-finches in my garden checking out the sunflowers.

It was great to get out to visit a couple of my favorite locations and enjoy a few of the local birds.

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Bird Poster

My poster is on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House

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PUBLICATIONS

VOLUME I & II BOOKS AVAILABLE AT

PARKSVILLE & QUALICUM - MULBERRYBUSH BOOKSTORES

NANAIMO - SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE),
SAVE-ON FOODS (COUNTRY CLUB), CHAPTERS, FALCONER BOOKS

PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY

COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS

SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE, TANNER'S BOOKSTORE

COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS

BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS

DEEP BAY - SHIP & SHORE

SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

VICTORIA - BOLEN BOOKS, MUNRO'S, CROWN PUBLICATIONS, IVY'S

CAMPBELL RIVER - SAVE-ON FOODS, COHO BOOKS, CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM

DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE

CHEMAINUS - WILLOW"S WILD BIRD STORE

LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS

NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA

LAKE COWICHAN - GALLOPING MOON GALLERY

TOFINO - BOTANICAL GARDENS

QUADRA ISLAND - EXPLORE & BOOK BONANZA

LANGFORD - WILD BIRD CENTER

SOOKE - READING ROOM BOOKSTORE

SOOKE - MUSEUM

Port Hardy - MUSEUM

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