Great weather for ducks

Island Wild for Fri. January 29, 2010

The male Green-winged Teal sports a cinnamon-coloured head with a shimmering emerald ear patch. Photo Jim Dubois.
It’s been a long, wet winter, and a common greeting on the streets these days is: “Great weather for ducks, eh?” In truth, it’s an accurate assessment. This time of year, the waterfront is flooded with about 40 different species of waterfowl and shorebirds ... just waiting to be discovered.
So many birds make our local offshore waters their winter home that it’s a virtual smorgasbord of wet feathered delights. February’s increase in daylight makes any rainless day a great time to grab binoculars and head down to the shore.
Gulls are challenging, with at least eight different species, leaving ducks as the easiest waterfowl to learn. Mallards win the trophy as the area’s most common dabbling duck, easily seen on any river, pond or shore. The male’s iridescent green head and chestnut breast are unique, while females are a drab brown – like most female ducks.
Three species of teal may be found locally on occasion, but normally, only the Green-winged is common here in winter. These smallest of the puddle ducks, 38-41 cm (15-16 in.) bring stunning colour to our grey winter waters. The male Green-winged Teal sports a cinnamon-coloured head with a shimmering emerald ear patch, along with a green ‘speculum’ (trailing edge of secondary feathers). A grand total of 48 Green-winged Teal were counted during Campbell River’s 2009 Christmas Bird Count.
Another duck worth knowing is the elegant, long-necked Northern Pintail. Almost twice as large as a teal, the pintail grows to about 66 cm (26 in). A winter visitor, the Northern Pintail features a pointed, pin-like tail (thus the name). The male’s chestnut-coloured head features a bold white line extending up from the white neck.
Day after day, rain or shine, cormorants stand their ground on offshore boulders, dive for small fish, or hitch a ride on floating logs. Identification is challenging, as slight size and colour variations exist between three West Coast cormorant species (Pelagic, Brandt’s and Double-crested). These large, dark seabirds often stand upright, holding their wings out to dry; cormorants lack the waterproofing found in most seabirds.
Other common waterfowl in local waters include shoveler, gadwall, wigeon, the colourful harlequin, little bufflehead and merganser. Scaup and scoters usually swim a bit further offshore. Oystercatchers can occasionally be seen at Rotary Park.

Indian Plum a late winter bloomer

Island Wild Jan. 22, 2010

Indian Plum (Osoberry) is among the first wild plants to leaf out and flower in early springtime. Photo Christine Scott.

"Plum blossoms soften a stone wall, and give warmth to the moon." (Tony Black Feather, 1934-2004).

Nothing says spring like the first wild blooms on our native plants. Although the familiar hot-pink Salmonberry is well-known to Pacific Northwest residents, another early indigenous fruit shrub recently caught my attention.

Indian Plum (Osoberry) is among the first wild plants to leaf out and flower in early springtime, and it’s a beauty, both in floral delight and for its multi-coloured, edible little plums. Delicate white bell-shaped flowers with five little petals hang in pendant clusters from reddish-brown branches bearing long pale-green leaves with a cucumber scent.

Oemleria cerasiformis, a shrub native to the Pacific coast, grows on Vancouver Island; it’s known to grow naturally as far north as Comox but was once successfully transplanted at Sayward. Gardeners would do well to find and cultivate this wild shrub, which attains a height of 1.5 to 5 metres.

Indian Plum is already leafing out on the Lower Mainland, with blossoms rushing out almost before the leaves. How precious those first fresh greens must have been to First Nations groups, who ate the cucumber-flavoured leaves, the ripe fruit, and tea made of the bark.

One to five little plums – about 1 cm long – grow per cluster. Ever resourceful, aboriginal peoples also dried the fruit for winter use, although a taste-test last summer revealed it to be slightly bitter – but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a little honey.

Bees and hummingbirds relish Indian Plum’s early nectar, and birds ravenously attack the fruit. For people, however, it’s only safe to eat in small quantities; indeed, only a thin layer of flesh is available, along with one large pit.

A member of the Rosaceae family, this deciduous shrub does a triple-header, offering blooms in late winter, tiny plums in summer and early yellow leaves by mid-summer.

Indian Plum – a perennial – grows in moist, humus-rich soil in part-shade, from ripe seeds or greenwood cuttings, and suckers may be transplanted in the dormant season. The flowers are ‘dioecious’ (individual plants are either male or female, so both are needed for pollination.

This is one shrub well worth seeking out at a native plant nursery for backyard wildlife habitat or native plant restoration purposes.

Forests present a winter cone-undrum

Island Wild for Fri. Jan. 15, 2010

Western Redcedar cones resemble a small wooden flower. Photo Karalyn Hubbard.

Winter woodlands are chock-full of cones, but not the creamy summertime treats. Forest cones –dry, scaly, and brown – (botanically referred to as strobili, single strobilus) are organs on conifer plants containing the reproductive structures.

Cone-bearing trees developed on earth about 300 million years ago, making conifers some of the most successful plants in the world. A conifer is a category of evergreen tree with needle-like leaves (Sitka spruce, pines, firs, hemlocks) or scale-like leaves (cedar and juniper).

The term “pinecone” is often used to describe any species of cone, but it’s more accurate to include the tree’s name (spruce cone, Douglas-fir cone, cedar cone, hemlock cone, etc.).

Conifer trees bear both male and female cones – usually on the same plant. The more recognizable woody cones (females) produce seeds. The male cones, which produce pollen, look very different and may be difficult to see. Always the clever one, Mother Nature positioned the female cones on the higher branches, a configuration thought to improve chances of cross-fertilization.

Although cones may be brown, dry and common, they are far from boring. Complex factors lead to remarkable variations in size, shape, and colour. Cones can be tiny or huge, and cylindrical, egg- or cone-shaped. Together with needles and bark, cones help identify different conifer tree species.

The term ‘scale’ doesn’t usually conjure up images of pine cones, but all conifer cones have scales. Many species have overlapping scales (individual plates) spirally-arranged in one of nature’s most beautiful configurations. Some cones close their scales when wet and open when dry, over and over again, a mechanism that assures seed dispersal by wind in dry weather.

Children love to collect pine cones – and the more different species they can find, the better. Cones are not perishable, so they can decorate a child’s shelf forever, and when the novelty of the cone wanes, they can be tossed to the backyard birds.

You don’t have to be a conehead to appreciate cones, and cone-hunts should be on the agenda for all winter family outings. Mid-winter is a great time for a woodland walk in search of cones, and it’s not difficult to find half a dozen different kinds on most nature trails.

Photo source: http://karalynhubbardphotography.blogspot.com.

New Year’s facelift underway for Oyster River trail

Island Wild for Fri. Jan. 8, 2010

Vancouver Island’s only native squirrel, the Red Squirrel must increasingly compete with the imported Gray Squirrel.

Some nature parks lose their lustre in the coldest months, with deciduous trees bereft of foliage, wildflowers absent, and many woodland critters snoozing in their dens.
One noteworthy exception is Oyster River Nature Park, one of the area’s premiere winter destinations, where trees reach up to touch the sky. A bevy of animals including Red Squirrels, Coastal Black-tailed Deer and Little Brown Bats make this forest their home.
This dense five hectare (12 acre) wedge of old- and second-growth forest nestles between the Oyster River (near its estuary), the Strait of Georgia and the former UBC farmlands. One of the area’s most charming sandy beaches is located just a short stroll from the park trailhead.
Major changes are underway for the popular park, located midway between Campbell River and Courtenay. Better trailhead signage, more interpretive information and new cedar fencing will all enhance visitor enjoyment of the park, which already attracts about a hundred users daily, says Peter Woods, Parks Coordinator, Strathcona Regional District.
“These trails are suitable for all demographics,” says Woods, noting that families, joggers, seniors and dog-walkers all seem to enjoy Oyster River park.
One improvement already in place is a new wooden footbridge over the old channel – an amenity that turned a popular pathway into a loop trail – always a desirable option for users. The park’s woodland, heavily logged 60-70 years ago, still boasts impressive specimens of old-growth Douglas-fir and Bigleaf Maple.

Photo buffs will find dozens of winter nature subjects alongside the four major trails within this park. Mosses and lichens become shining delights when no leaves mask their beauty; rows of pores on coppery cherry bark resemble amber jewels; Rattlesnake Plantain orchid leaves look vivid in striped white and green.
A daytime nature walk may include a peek at the wild Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) – the only squirrel native to Vancouver Island. These shy charmers are active by day, even in cold weather, foraging primarily on seeds and cones.
The smaller ‘Red’ averaging 230 grams, must now expend energy to defend its territory against the Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) – an introduced species twice its size – which continues a troubling northward expansion on Vancouver Island. The Red Squirrel is protected as a furbearer under the BC Wildlife Act (Yellow-listed).
Oyster River Nature Park falls within the jurisdiction of Strathcona Regional District, maintained under the stewardship of Oyster River Enhancement Society.
Check out the improvements at Oyster River Nature Park. From the Old Island Highway, take Regent Road east to the parking area, located across from the Glenmore Road intersection.

Community’s own all-nature calendar debuts

Island Wild for Mirror Dec. 4, 2009

Karalyn Hubbard poses with her local 2010 nature calendar, inspired by Mother Earth’s beauty.

Flipping the page to December reminds us of the New Year ahead, and many banks, garages or grocery stores hand out generic calendars with boring pictures.

Like most folks, we look at our calendar daily, and use it to keep track of absolutely everything, so it’s wonderful when the monthly photo twigs our interest and brightens our spirit.

Now, with just one month to go before we flip to January, 2010, a Campbell River photographer has produced the community’s first all-nature photo art calendar, chock-full of luscious images of grasshoppers, eagles, spawning salmon and deer.

Hot off the press, Karalyn Hubbard’s first calendar is sure to fill the New Year with nature’s loveliness. January shows crunchy frost on red maple leaves; February features an ice formation called “Winter lace.” Golden water drops on a silver leaf prove the simplest things on Earth are precious and beautiful.

Here’s a chance to flip to a new month and see butterflies and wildflowers…and a ladybug nestled in a dogwood bloom. Hubbard snapped most of the images locally, and added a black border around monthly selections so those wishing to frame their favourites won’t need to purchase matting.

Among the photos are some of Vancouver Island’s premier nature images, snapped by a talented artist with an eye for striking themes and creative angles. In one remarkable scene, Hubbard captured a bald eagle carrying moss to soften a nest, while an eagle nestling looks on.

In pursuing the great outdoors as a subject, Hubbard explains her goal is “to share God’s beauty with everyone so they can appreciate the beautiful everyday things that surround us but are often taken for granted.”

She adds: “You just have to slow down and take notice. With a photo, the image is captured forever. Precious wildflowers that so many walk by – or on –without noticing, mushrooms, lichen, pinecones…there is beauty in everything.”

After receiving a Kodak Instamatic in her mid-teens, a love of photography blossomed. Currently, her snapping fav is a trusted Sony.

Contact Karalyn Hubbard Photography by E-mail regarding her calendar ($17.50) or unique greeting cards: kbphotography@shaw.ca. Blogsite: http://karalynbranscombephotography.blogspot.com/. Her nature photos are also sold in Willow Point at Cipollines Bakery (across from Sybil Andrews Cottage by the shore).

Sea lions play during bachelor's holiday

Island Wild Nov. 20, 2009

A colony of adult and sub-adult California sea lions (all males) with one larger, lighter Steller sea lion (male) in the middle. Photo Jim Dubois.

A California sea lion lying on its back with flippers in the air, a ritual called ‘finning’ that may help regulate body temperature. Photo Jim Dubois.

It was a dark and stormy night. The only sound louder than wind and rain was incessant barking of a California sea lion colony intent on keeping us awake. Last week, while staying ocean-side at Cowichan Bay, we learned how much noise these large sea mammals can make if they’re determined to prove their dominance.

Resort staff maintained it was a delightful sound, but assured us that these massive noise-makers would only be ‘in residence’ on their dock for a few more weeks. The sea lion males, they said, were ‘on vacation’ and far north of the female counterparts they’d left behind in California.

The next morning, all was forgiven when we opened the drapes to a majestic sight of these highly social animals floating together on the ocean's surface in ‘rafts’ as they waved their fins in the air as much to say: “Sorry for the racket during last night’s stag.”

Lisa Spaven is the marine mammal response coordinator at Nanaimo’s Pacific Biological Station (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). She explained that visiting California sea lion males visit Vancouver Island in late fall only to feed and compete, but will soon swim back to the females in California.

Only males migrate to British Columbia from California. Groups of these highly social mammals, called ‘colonies,’ often rest closely packed together on docks, floats or other haul-out sites on land. Renowned for their intelligence and playfulness, California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) are (much to the regret of many) popular performers in zoos and aquariums. In British Columbia, this species is not currently considered at risk.

Steller (northern) sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), however, are year-round residents of the Pacific Northwest coast, preferring to haul out in unpopulated areas well offshore. They have been designated a species of ‘Special Concern’ by COSEWIC.

Steller’s are much larger and lighter than California sea lions (light tan to reddish brown in colour). A thick neck covered with a mane of long, coarse hair resembles a lion’s… hence the common name ‘sea lion.’

Sea lions are a different species of animal from seals, but both are members of the scientific order Pinnipedia... finned ocean mammals that spend time both in the ocean and on land.

These hefty mammals tend to be larger than seals, and by far the more social and vocal. The loud ‘barking’ sound alerts us to sea lions’ presence, while seals utter only a low grunting sound.

On a proactive note: a new province-wide collaborative program, the B.C. Marine Mammal Response Network, assists distressed marine mammals, and collects valuable information from deceased animals. The program keeps track of threats such as disease outbreaks, inappropriate or illegal human activity, contamination, disturbance, vessel strikes, and entanglements.

If you find a dead, injured, sick or harassed marine mammal floating or on the beach, call toll-free: 1-800-465-4336 (24 hours/day: 7 days/week). For more information, contact Lisa Spaven by E-mail: Lisa.Spaven@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

‘Two-tailed’ fish thwarts gull’s ambition
Island Wild for Fri. Nov. 13, 2009


With high hopes, this over-ambitious gull snared a ‘two-tailed’ fish. Photo Jim Dubois.

This photo of a Pacific Staghorn Sculpin shows the branched (cheek) horn, the black spot at the back of the first dorsal fin and the fin banding pattern. Photo Jim Dubois.

The eyes can sometimes be bigger than the stomach. Think of a hungry mob at a smorgasbord or Uncle Albert at Christmas dinner.

In the same way, birds and fish can both be prone to over-ambition when it comes to filling their plates (or in the case of animals – gullets) beyond the point of what they can reasonably handle.

Last weekend, Campbell River photographer Jim Dubois witnessed a splashy scene starring an overly-ambitious gull doing battle with its unwilling prey.

While standing on shore, watching a gull swimming along in shallow water, he noticed as the bird began leaping into the air and diving underwater. This it did a half-dozen times, the last time a bit higher than previous attempts. Successful at last, the gull resurfaced with what resembled a sculpin…gourmet food for hungry gulls.

As the gull reached shore, treasure in beak, Dubois took a closer look through his camera’s viewfinder and noticed the fish didn't look quite right, and seemed to possess two tails. After a few fruitless attempts to get ‘the thing’ down its gullet, the bird left in search of easier prey.

In this case, the seagull’s ambition was thwarted when it could neither swallow nor disgorge the ‘two-tailed’ sculpin. Left onshore, the wild sushi likely ended up as dinner for a larger marine species that would be undeterred by the sculpin’s prickly ‘horns.’

Suspecting a monster of the deep or genetic mutant, Dubois went in for a closer look, and found an eight-inch sculpin that had tried to swallow a four-inch sculpin – now firmly lodged inside the larger fish’s mouth.

Both fish were Pacific Staghorn Sculpin (scientific name: Leptocottus armatus). Folks who grew up on the west coast commonly referred to this large-headed species as a bullhead – for obvious reasons.

This native Pacific Northwest fish possesses a large, branched spine or thorn on each operculum (cheek), which resembles a stag’s horn or antler, thus the name.

As part of Mother Earth’s marine food cycle, gulls feed on small fish, which in turn feed on smaller fish. Oftentimes, the prey become the preyed upon. Mark Steinhilber (Head of Life Sciences, Royal Alberta Museum) confirms that cannibalism is common in most fishes.

Steinhilber has often seen this “bite off more than you can chew” behaviour, with varied outcomes. “Sometimes, amazingly, the prey fish is slowly digested (the tail slowly disappears over a few days) and sometimes the “predator” dies. The opercular spines or horns are considered anti-predator adaptations and I imagine they make swallowing prey a bit more difficult.”

The Pacific staghorn sculpin is a marine dwelling fish measuring 12-15 cm at maturity. Highly recognizable because of its large, flat head, and small eyes, it’s antler-like projections with 3-4 spines are unmistakable. Markings include smooth skin (grayish olive on back, yellow on sides, white on underside), a dark splotch on the tail end of the first dorsal fin, and light barring on the other fins.