to set the scene....it is very green out there. Not only does it seem greener than normal, the water levels are higher than normal for this time of the year, in fact the current level is just about perfect, it would be nice if it stays that way but of course that won't happen. Levels are always fluctuating either up or down.
here is the first bay and see those swirls in the water? Those are created by spawning Chum Salmon.
further along we're at the log bay....those high water levels are really noticeable here. Another noticeable thing is that top log out there. Those logs have been there since early the past century but that top one seems to in danger of toppling...will be interesting to see how that all plays out.
way out there, over by the Harrison River, you can make out a few eagles and gulls
The Bald Eagles are just starting to return, their numbers will depend on how many fish return and how quickly bad weather comes up country.
Of course it isn't just the eagles that are returning...
those are American Wigeon out there grazing on the exposed gravel bars....
on land more and more Song Sparrows are showing up, some of course have been here year round.....
more surprising were the number of Fox Sparrows seen today. It almost seems a bit early for these guys to be showing up.
a lot of Dark-eyed Juncos have shown up the last few days too. Again, a few have been with us all summer.
Now I want to share something very upsetting that happened where we were camped in a provincial park. All bird lovers need to know that this sort of thing happens 'out there' and we would be naive to think that the same thing couldn't happen right here in our IBA.
The particular park is a relatively new one. Prior to being designated a provincial park, it had been one of those free for all, anything goes forestry recreation sites, so as a conciliatory measure duck hunting was, and still is, allowed in this park but only in certain sections at certain times....
so on the first of 3 consecutive evenings, just as the sun was setting (read the above sign), 2 pick up trucks sped through the campground and parked just adjacent to this location. Several people got out, shot guns in one hand, beer in the other and proceeded to start shooting. This continued until well after it was so dark that there was no possible way they could actually see anything. The next morning....
this Mallard duck was floating dead in the pond....upsetting but.... Next evening the same two trucks once again showed up, this time earlier and although there was some shooting it appeared to be within the time limits. I should note that the above Mallard wasn't the only injured or dead duck found. A Ring-neck was found by another concerned camper, we found a Barrow's Golden-eye with it's head shot off and another, sadder situation where one was still alive but suffering as only it's lower mandible shot off.....but the worst was yet to happen... On the third night the same two trucks arrived, this one of the trucks left, while the other stayed and the shooting commenced...
while I was sitting not that far away taking pictures of this Great Blue Heron, one of a pair that had spent the summer in the park....
these so called 'hunters' shot it's mate. Now between ourselves and the other camper both the R.C.M.P. and Conservation officers were contacted and supplied with numerous photos and other evidence but the sad part is that because no one witnessed the actual shooting the chances of anything happening are minimal. The conservation officer asked to be called immediately if we saw the trucks again (which we never did) - but consider this....the conservation officer that attended the scene came from Pentiction, a 2 1/2 hour drive away...even if the trucks did return and we called immediately what were the chances of someone arriving in time. The other sad thing is the fact that this officer also said this sort of thing happens a lot more often than you'd think.
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