A family of Great Horned Owls to be exact.
Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Check out these Hooters
Finally got to see some wild owls!
A family of Great Horned Owls to be exact.
A family of Great Horned Owls to be exact.
Orcas Trapped in Ice
Here's some amazing footage of the dozen killer whales trapped in the ice about 30 kilometres off the coast of Inukjuak, Quebec.
If the reports are true, then there is a happy ending to this story.
The killer whales reportedly reached more open waters in Hudson Bay thanks to overnight winds that shifted the ice.
The killer whales reportedly reached more open waters in Hudson Bay thanks to overnight winds that shifted the ice.
The Future of Polar Bear Tours?
Is The Polar Bear Family & Me shedding light on the future of polar bear tours in the Arctic?
Good bye group buses, hello individual perspex cages!
Good bye group buses, hello individual perspex cages!
Sleepy Bear
Logging is one of those gut-wrenchingly complicated issues for me. On one hand, seeing vast swaths of land gutted of its natural beauty makes me sick but on the other hand, logging is still a necessary evil as we still depend on lumber for so many things in our daily lives. There's a large portion of the BC population that also relies on the forestry industry for jobs so livelihoods are at stake, even as industry increasingly exports Canada's raw logs overseas. With such reliance on logging, there's no attempt to hide it on Vancouver Island, which makes it easier for curious members of the public to view the effects logging has on the forest ecosystem. I chose to take a bit of a closer look yesterday. I did not like it one bit. Although seedlings grow where massive trees once stood, the ecosystem will not return to its former glory for a very, very long time. These lands have been basically transformed from wild forests to cropland.
This is not the positive outlook you've come to expect on this blog so to help brighten things up a bit, here are a few photos of a little black bear, I came across, taking a nap on a mossy hill that likely took hundreds of years to develop into a cozy mattress.
This is not the positive outlook you've come to expect on this blog so to help brighten things up a bit, here are a few photos of a little black bear, I came across, taking a nap on a mossy hill that likely took hundreds of years to develop into a cozy mattress.
I'll just add that this black bear was enjoying an early afternoon siesta in a small forested area right next to this...
No soft blankets of moss here.
Orca Photo Shoot
My photography skills were very much humbled during my latest experience with nature.
When you go on a whale watching trip, you dream of capturing that perfect shot but let's be realistic. The chances of that happening are slim, especially when you aren't familiar with the behaviour of wild whales. So best to leave the photography to the experts and just enjoy the show being performed before your very own eyes.
Easier said than done!
Especially for someone like me who enjoys takes tonnes of photographs.
Yes, I admit that what I don't get in quality, I compensate for with quantity.
Yes, it was a struggle turning the camera off after numerous failed attempts of capturing these magnificent beasts coming up for air but I eventually did and enjoyed every minute of my brilliantly sunny afternoon off the coast of San Juan Island .
But I did manage to get at least one somewhat decent shot of a killer whale...
but at least I didn't miss the orca breaching in the distance or the one that swam right under our boat.
I'd love to go out on the water and watch them every day so it's no surprise that I can't wait to do it again!
When you go on a whale watching trip, you dream of capturing that perfect shot but let's be realistic. The chances of that happening are slim, especially when you aren't familiar with the behaviour of wild whales. So best to leave the photography to the experts and just enjoy the show being performed before your very own eyes.
Easier said than done!
Especially for someone like me who enjoys takes tonnes of photographs.
Yes, I admit that what I don't get in quality, I compensate for with quantity.
Yes, it was a struggle turning the camera off after numerous failed attempts of capturing these magnificent beasts coming up for air but I eventually did and enjoyed every minute of my brilliantly sunny afternoon off the coast of San Juan Island .
But I did manage to get at least one somewhat decent shot of a killer whale...
but at least I didn't miss the orca breaching in the distance or the one that swam right under our boat.
I'd love to go out on the water and watch them every day so it's no surprise that I can't wait to do it again!
Avatar Grove - Home of Canada's Gnarliest Tree
After a two-year campaign spearheaded by the Ancient Forest Alliance and backed by thousands of petitioners, a small patch of forest affectionately referred to as "Avatar Grove" near Port Renfrew, British Columbia, was declared off-limits to logging through a new Old-Growth Management Area. After hearing and reading much about this forest and its star attraction, Canada's Gnarliest Tree, it was time to check it out.
By following the directions to Avatar Grove, you head towards Port Renfrew and beyond, where you can see evidence of clear-cutting from the road. It's very sad to see mass swaths of forest habitat devastated by mankind, and as you walk through protected areas like Avatar Grove, your appreciation for nature and its power to renew itself provides a small sense of optimism that those destroyed areas will once again rise to a great mass of biodiversity over the next few centuries.
Nevertheless, on to cherish a small victory against the all-mighty forestry industry.
Avatar Grove is split into an upper and lower grove by a logging road. While some may rush on over to the Upper Grove to see Canada's Gnarliest Tree, a walk through the Lower Grove can be just, if not, more rewarding, as giant Douglas Firs and Red Cedars tower over you as you make you make your way to a babbling steam and waterfall.
This isn't a nice afternoon walk with grandma as some may say! Unless it's one of my grandma's you're talking about! Between the relative steep slope near the start of both hiking paths to the muddy and slippery sections, caution should be taken on the makeshift trails and proper footwear is highly recommended. If you're on the adventurous side, don't make the same mistake I made in wearing a decent pair of jeans either! But enough about that. This forest is remarkable!
There are plenty of examples of lush old-growth rainforest here, including many very interesting red cedars with plenty of twists and contorted burls. Pay close attention to the lush vegetation of the understorey, and how trees are growing on top of other trees. Very cool stuff if you ask me.
While there is no formal path in Avatar Grove, a path has slowly worn its way along the forest floor. This can be a good thing for humans but a potentially bad omen for these beloved trees. Sure, they may have been saved from the chainsaws of the logging industry but now they may face a slow and arduous death, in the face of erosion caused by the eager visitors to get a very close look of these magnificent trees. Hikers trampling near the base of trees for a great photo op have revealed roots that were once underground. While a couple of footsteps may not seem like much, multiple those intrusions by the hundreds over just a couple of years in the wet conditions of the rainforest, and significant amounts of soil around some of these trees slowly stray further away from their original location. I'm usually not a fan of boardwalks in areas of ecological importance as I have seen them ruin the ambiance and turned them into tourist traps but while I walked through Avatar Grove, it became readily apparent that the status quo can not continue over the long run, especially as word of Avatar Grove's beauty becomes known to the mainstream public.
Is it worth potentially endangering the longevity of these few jewels to raise awareness of old-growth rainforests and hopefully, protection of other old-growth areas from logging? Perhaps the greater good trumps but maybe we should try to make Avatar Grove an example of a sustainable paradise where hikers and nature can co-exist with as little damage as possible to the trees and ecosystem this initiative has helped protect. Please keep this in mind when visiting the Grove as I too had great ideas as to the types of photographs I thought I'd take of myself with the trees but looking at the current state of the base of many of these trees, I chose not to take part as many have apparently done so in the past. Hopefully, you will try to thread carefully as well.
It should come as little surprise that the threat of erosion might be greatest near Canada's Gnarliest Tree in the Upper Grove. In addition to all the foot traffic, natural erosion appears to occurring nearby as well.
It just happened that upon logging into my computer back home that evening, I received an e-mail from the Ancient Forest Alliance with news of their latest initiative of raising funds to build an official boardwalk and trail to protect the Avatar’s Grove ecological integrity and visitor safety. Looks like great minds think alike! Hopefully, the boardwalk plans are fairly basic so this incredible setting isn't ruined by heavy-duty boardwalks found in other rainforests along the coast.
Anyways, you probably arrived here to see photos of Canada's Gnarliest Tree so here it is ...
Somewhat surprisingly, the tree has been hollowed out over time on its back side...
Once again, my photographs fail to capture the beauty and splendour of this special place. It truly is a remarkable forest and definitely worth preserving. I will certainly be coming back to Avatar Grove and the surrounding area to explore it in even greater detail.
--- August 2012 Update ---
A couple of videos from my recent visit to Avatar Grove:
By following the directions to Avatar Grove, you head towards Port Renfrew and beyond, where you can see evidence of clear-cutting from the road. It's very sad to see mass swaths of forest habitat devastated by mankind, and as you walk through protected areas like Avatar Grove, your appreciation for nature and its power to renew itself provides a small sense of optimism that those destroyed areas will once again rise to a great mass of biodiversity over the next few centuries.
Nevertheless, on to cherish a small victory against the all-mighty forestry industry.
Avatar Grove is split into an upper and lower grove by a logging road. While some may rush on over to the Upper Grove to see Canada's Gnarliest Tree, a walk through the Lower Grove can be just, if not, more rewarding, as giant Douglas Firs and Red Cedars tower over you as you make you make your way to a babbling steam and waterfall.
This isn't a nice afternoon walk with grandma as some may say! Unless it's one of my grandma's you're talking about! Between the relative steep slope near the start of both hiking paths to the muddy and slippery sections, caution should be taken on the makeshift trails and proper footwear is highly recommended. If you're on the adventurous side, don't make the same mistake I made in wearing a decent pair of jeans either! But enough about that. This forest is remarkable!
There are plenty of examples of lush old-growth rainforest here, including many very interesting red cedars with plenty of twists and contorted burls. Pay close attention to the lush vegetation of the understorey, and how trees are growing on top of other trees. Very cool stuff if you ask me.
While there is no formal path in Avatar Grove, a path has slowly worn its way along the forest floor. This can be a good thing for humans but a potentially bad omen for these beloved trees. Sure, they may have been saved from the chainsaws of the logging industry but now they may face a slow and arduous death, in the face of erosion caused by the eager visitors to get a very close look of these magnificent trees. Hikers trampling near the base of trees for a great photo op have revealed roots that were once underground. While a couple of footsteps may not seem like much, multiple those intrusions by the hundreds over just a couple of years in the wet conditions of the rainforest, and significant amounts of soil around some of these trees slowly stray further away from their original location. I'm usually not a fan of boardwalks in areas of ecological importance as I have seen them ruin the ambiance and turned them into tourist traps but while I walked through Avatar Grove, it became readily apparent that the status quo can not continue over the long run, especially as word of Avatar Grove's beauty becomes known to the mainstream public.
Is it worth potentially endangering the longevity of these few jewels to raise awareness of old-growth rainforests and hopefully, protection of other old-growth areas from logging? Perhaps the greater good trumps but maybe we should try to make Avatar Grove an example of a sustainable paradise where hikers and nature can co-exist with as little damage as possible to the trees and ecosystem this initiative has helped protect. Please keep this in mind when visiting the Grove as I too had great ideas as to the types of photographs I thought I'd take of myself with the trees but looking at the current state of the base of many of these trees, I chose not to take part as many have apparently done so in the past. Hopefully, you will try to thread carefully as well.
It should come as little surprise that the threat of erosion might be greatest near Canada's Gnarliest Tree in the Upper Grove. In addition to all the foot traffic, natural erosion appears to occurring nearby as well.
It just happened that upon logging into my computer back home that evening, I received an e-mail from the Ancient Forest Alliance with news of their latest initiative of raising funds to build an official boardwalk and trail to protect the Avatar’s Grove ecological integrity and visitor safety. Looks like great minds think alike! Hopefully, the boardwalk plans are fairly basic so this incredible setting isn't ruined by heavy-duty boardwalks found in other rainforests along the coast.
Anyways, you probably arrived here to see photos of Canada's Gnarliest Tree so here it is ...
Many photos online show the tree from a front angle, either straight on or a bit from the side (like above) so here are a few from the back side, just in case you were curious...
Somewhat surprisingly, the tree has been hollowed out over time on its back side...
Once again, my photographs fail to capture the beauty and splendour of this special place. It truly is a remarkable forest and definitely worth preserving. I will certainly be coming back to Avatar Grove and the surrounding area to explore it in even greater detail.
--- August 2012 Update ---
A couple of videos from my recent visit to Avatar Grove:
Apologies about the dark videos. It seems as though the conversion to YouTube's video format darkened the video big time. You'll just have to visit Avatar Grove yourself!
How to Rescue a Beached Dolphin
Weird... just the other day, I was thinking about what I'd do if I came across a beached whale while walking along a deserted beach.
Well, it just happens that about 30 dolphins beached themselves at Arraial do Cabo (Brazil) and were saved by beachgoers during the morning of March 5, 2012.
The whole event was captured on video.
Now that's how to save a pod of beached dolphins.
GratÃssimo to those who got wet and helped in the rescue!
Well, it just happens that about 30 dolphins beached themselves at Arraial do Cabo (Brazil) and were saved by beachgoers during the morning of March 5, 2012.
The whole event was captured on video.
Now that's how to save a pod of beached dolphins.
GratÃssimo to those who got wet and helped in the rescue!
Turkeys, Porcupines, and Deer
A visit back home wouldn't be complete without at least one walk in the local forests I grew up enjoying year round.
Yesterday's walk was particularly rewarding with multiple sightings of wild turkeys, porcupines, and white-tailed deer.
With more snow falling tonight, the rest of my mini-holiday looks promising.
Yesterday's walk was particularly rewarding with multiple sightings of wild turkeys, porcupines, and white-tailed deer.
With more snow falling tonight, the rest of my mini-holiday looks promising.
TEDx and the Power of Sharing Ideas
If you share a passion for ideas or are simply looking for inspiration, you have to attend a TEDx event like I did last weekend.
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of Ideas Worth Spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx, a program of local, self-organized events that brings people together to share a TED-like experience.
So who's TED?
TED isn't a person. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer -- TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.
Still confused?
Perhaps, watching a TED Talk video will flesh it all out...
still not convinced?
Hopefully word gets out on initiatives like TED and Hubs, and we turn more great ideas and thoughts into reality.
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of Ideas Worth Spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx, a program of local, self-organized events that brings people together to share a TED-like experience.
So who's TED?
TED isn't a person. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer -- TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.
Still confused?
Perhaps, watching a TED Talk video will flesh it all out...
When you attend a TED event, not only do you get to listen to incredible ideas and inspirational stories but you also have the opportunity to discuss your own with like minded individuals.
The fact that TEDxVictoria was sold out and included so many youth, gives me faith that our future is in good hands.
The fact that TEDxVictoria was sold out and included so many youth, gives me faith that our future is in good hands.
TED is a great start at inspiring the masses and starting the conversation but how do we turn those ideas and inspirations into reality?
This is where I hope the Hub comes into the picture.
The Hub identifies itself as a social enterprise with the ambition to inspire and support imaginative and enterprising initiatives for a better world. The Hub is a global community of people from every profession, background and culture working at 'new frontiers' to tackle the world's most pressing social, cultural and environmental challenges. It believes that there is no absence of good ideas in the world. Couldn't agree more!
The Hub believes the problem is a crisis of access, scale, resources and impact. So it felt vital to create places around the world for accessing space, resources, connections, knowledge, experience and investment. The Hub has been working across five continents to create places for people who change things. This is the ambition. The Hub set out to create places that borrow from the best of a member's club, an innovation agency, a serviced office and a think-tank to create a very different kind of innovation environment. Places with all the tools and trimmings needed to grow and develop new ventures. Places to access experience, knowledge, finance and markets. And above all, places for experience and encounter, full of diverse people doing amazing things. These places are called Hubs, and Hub Ottawa is set to open very soon.
The Hub identifies itself as a social enterprise with the ambition to inspire and support imaginative and enterprising initiatives for a better world. The Hub is a global community of people from every profession, background and culture working at 'new frontiers' to tackle the world's most pressing social, cultural and environmental challenges. It believes that there is no absence of good ideas in the world. Couldn't agree more!
The Hub believes the problem is a crisis of access, scale, resources and impact. So it felt vital to create places around the world for accessing space, resources, connections, knowledge, experience and investment. The Hub has been working across five continents to create places for people who change things. This is the ambition. The Hub set out to create places that borrow from the best of a member's club, an innovation agency, a serviced office and a think-tank to create a very different kind of innovation environment. Places with all the tools and trimmings needed to grow and develop new ventures. Places to access experience, knowledge, finance and markets. And above all, places for experience and encounter, full of diverse people doing amazing things. These places are called Hubs, and Hub Ottawa is set to open very soon.
Hopefully word gets out on initiatives like TED and Hubs, and we turn more great ideas and thoughts into reality.
Salmon Run
One of the many perks to living in Victoria is being able to witness a very interesting natural phenomenon as salmon return to Goldstream Provincial Park, only 16km away from the provincial capital. After the fuel spill earlier in the year, there was uncertainty if the salmon would return but luckily some did.
It seems as though I was a bit late in witnessing the salmon run in all its exciting glory this year but it was still very interesting to watch nature - perseverance, sex, and death - in its rawest form just a few feet away.
Borrowing the words of one of the Park's interpretative signs:
From October to December, Goldstream Provincial Park is host to one of nature's most fascinating spectacles. It begins when three species of Pacific salmon, compelled by an irresistible urge to forsake the rich feeding grounds of the Pacific coast, return to this stream to spawn a new generation.
Upon reaching the spawning grounds, male chum develop large hooked jaws with dog-like teeth, and purplish bars along their sides. Females develop a dark stripe. The female selects a patch of gravel and is joined by males who fight continuously to be near her. Males moves back and forth, occasionally quivering over her back.
The female digs a redd (a series of nests) in the gravel by turning on her side and thrashing her tail along the stream bottom, causing rocks to be lifted and carried downstream by the current. Testing the depth with her anal fin, she continues to dig until the nest has reach the right depth - as deep as half a metre.
The female releases about 400 eggs into the nest to be fertilized simultaneously by milt from the male. Time is critical because once the eggs swell and harden, they can no longer be fertilized. The female then moves upstream to dig a new nest. This excavation covers the deposited eggs just downstream. The process continues until about 3,000 eggs have been laid.
Males may leave the redd site to look for another egg-bearing female but the female remains to prevent others from claiming the territory and digging up her eggs. Weakened and battered, both males and females are dead within 10 days of entering the stream.
A new generation of salmon now lies under the gravel, awaiting its own battle for survival.
It seems as though I was a bit late in witnessing the salmon run in all its exciting glory this year but it was still very interesting to watch nature - perseverance, sex, and death - in its rawest form just a few feet away.
Borrowing the words of one of the Park's interpretative signs:
From October to December, Goldstream Provincial Park is host to one of nature's most fascinating spectacles. It begins when three species of Pacific salmon, compelled by an irresistible urge to forsake the rich feeding grounds of the Pacific coast, return to this stream to spawn a new generation.
Upon reaching the spawning grounds, male chum develop large hooked jaws with dog-like teeth, and purplish bars along their sides. Females develop a dark stripe. The female selects a patch of gravel and is joined by males who fight continuously to be near her. Males moves back and forth, occasionally quivering over her back.
The female digs a redd (a series of nests) in the gravel by turning on her side and thrashing her tail along the stream bottom, causing rocks to be lifted and carried downstream by the current. Testing the depth with her anal fin, she continues to dig until the nest has reach the right depth - as deep as half a metre.
The female releases about 400 eggs into the nest to be fertilized simultaneously by milt from the male. Time is critical because once the eggs swell and harden, they can no longer be fertilized. The female then moves upstream to dig a new nest. This excavation covers the deposited eggs just downstream. The process continues until about 3,000 eggs have been laid.
Males may leave the redd site to look for another egg-bearing female but the female remains to prevent others from claiming the territory and digging up her eggs. Weakened and battered, both males and females are dead within 10 days of entering the stream.
A new generation of salmon now lies under the gravel, awaiting its own battle for survival.
Wildlife Seen in Banff National Park
It's time to get up close and personal with some of the wild animals I came across on my trip in Banff National Park.
And we can't forget about the black bears and grizzlies!
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| Elk |
 |
| Clark's Nutcracker |
 |
| Harlequin Ducks |
 |
| Hoary Marmot |
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| Chipmunk |
 |
| Raven |
 |
| Ptarmigan |
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| Ground Squirrel |
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| Rabbit |
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| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep |
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| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep |
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| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep |
And we can't forget about the black bears and grizzlies!
The Grizzly Bears of Banff National Park
Where there's...
there must be a grizzly bear and her two cubs nearby....
I watched these guys for 45 minutes before they stumbled their way into the forest.
I came back the next day to the same area in hopes of seeing them again, and surprise, surprise, I did, or at least some of their friends, including this bear...
who was just going about its business, munching away on grass and dandelions, until another grizzly came out of the forest into the meadow. They stared each other down for a moment and then the chase began. Here's a quick video of the very end of it....
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