society news
Thanks to all for braving the snow for the annual bird count
Hi Everyone,What a day for the Pender Harbour count on Wednesday, eh? Several people
gave it a valiant try, but if not blessed with a 4x4 (or nerves of steel if
driving a 2-wheel drive vehicle), getting here just wasn't possible. Two of
the routes were cancelled, but the rest went ahead despite the terrible
conditions of heavy snowfall and, out on the water, brisk northerly winds.
Many of the ponds and small lakes were frozen and even parts of the harbour
were choked with ice. All group counts were affected by the weather, of
course, and the preliminary tally of 63 species was the lowest yet for the
Pender Harbour count (Tony will probably adjust this once all data are
compiled).
At the end of the day eleven stalwart counters gathered at the Copper Sky
Café for a delightful dinner courtesy of Cindy Cantelon. Stories of the day
were traded, as usual, all prominently featuring the weather. However, Paul
Jones' group, counting by boat in Malaspina Strait, proved to be the worst
affected; braving near-blizzard conditions, they recorded just eight species
(in some years this route can get over fifty)!
On the positive side are three outstanding highlighs of the day, two of
which had nothing to do with birds. First, two groups each saw a bobcat
(Rand's Garden Bay group and John Dafoe's Sechelt Inlet group). Two bobcat
sightings in one day - amazing! Second was Solveigh Harrison's (a member of
Rand's group) solo sighting of a wolf! It was not totally unexpected as at
least one has been seen several times in the Oyster Bay area recently.
Thirdly, the Sechelt Inlet group saw what they think was a great grey owl
flying away from a fish farm.
Would anyone who took photos during the count please send me one or two
shots that tell the story of the day, and that you wouldn't mind having
published in The Local. Thanks!
Thanks everyone for your help on the Pender Harbour count. Have a good
Christmas and a great New Year!
John