THE VOID

Tofino Wildlife

I’m a sucker for sunsets. Because of Tofino’s geographic situation, there isn’t any land to the west of us. Creating a beautiful canvas for nature to paint upon.

I have a theory about people and sunsets.

As a species, we learned a long time ago that the day was “good” and the night was “bad”. Our eyesight wasn’t designed for night vision. A predator could prey upon you If you went walking around at night in the forest.

So we had it branded into our DNA that we need sunlight to survive. Our ancestral DNA recorded this collective common experience.

Over the years I have observed an interesting behaviour here in Tofino, which I also suspect happens on all the beaches on the Earth. When the sun is just about to slip into the darkness, our ancestral DNA kicks in. It reminds us of the coming darkness and how we must seek shelter for the night.

I have seen many people on the beach stop walking and just stare! Everybody stops walking and stares.

In the setting sun we remember our past.

To record this video, I simply walked out front of my apartment and sent the drone straight up. Makes it really easy!

INTRODUCING BABSJE

Tofino Wildlife

Originally I called this Blue Heron “Harriet”. I now am going to call her “Babsje”in memory of Babsje who recently passed. She loved these beautiful birds like no other and took the most amazing pictures of them.

She would paddle her kayak around the lake, visiting them like old friends. I liked to think that she will be reincarnated this Spring as a Blue Heron at the same lake.

Her legacy is recognized.

ERNIE’S CLOSE UP

Tofino Wildlife

This is Ernie. Ernie and Ethel claim this tree as one of their perching trees. In a given eagles territory, they will have many of these perching trees. They almost always have the best aerial real estate. Eagles territories are kind of like puzzle pieces. They all fit together. Tofino’s harbour has about a dozen of these puzzle pieces and they all butt up against each other. This is Ernie and Ethel’s favourite perching spot. Eagles prefer old growth trees as they are usually are the tallest and with the best view. Being beside water is another thing all eagles insist upon. This tree is called the Eik St. tree. It has a history with Tofino. It’s the longest surviving resident of Tofino. It’s estimated to be over 1000 years. It is a Western Red Cedar. I forget the height but it is the tallest tree in town.

A local unscrupulous land developer, wanted to build some condos beside the Eik St tree and demanded It be cut down! In his mind, the tree imposed a hazard to his condos. The tree was in perfect condition!

The locals banded together and said NO WAY! We raised enough money to build a steel girder supporting structure around the tree. This structure insured that the tree would remain upright, even during one of our famous windstorms!

You will not see that steel structure in this video but you can see where the tree was topped. This topping made a perfect Heli pad for both Ernie and Ethel! 

Notice the wind was blowing and how the drone was constantly being buffeted. Ernie doesn’t seem to mind me being around. This drone has a zoom capability. I always like to use it when filming eagles. It keeps me further away creating less chance of spooking them.

HAVING THE BLUES

Tofino Wildlife

I’m not sure how to write this post?

This is not a posting about my latest Blue Heron shots but one for help in finding out what has happened?

As you already know some of the best Blue Heron shots come from Babsje over at https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/

Her last posting was December 20th 2023. I have been corresponding with her over time. Her health has been suffering of late. She broke her foot and then caught Covid. Then to make matters even worse,she fell and broke her left arm. She was at the Hospital when she fell breaking her left arm. That was January 9th and I haven’t heard from her since. This is unlike her and I fear she has become either too sick to reply or worse.

If anyone knows or can find out what has happened,I and many others would be grateful.

BULLYING

Tofino Wildlife

One thing you can just about guarantee Is that sooner or later everybody is bullied. If you haven’t ever been bullied,that’s probably because you most likely are the bully.

Bullying applies to not just humans but also wildlife. I’ve seen just about every kind of animal bullying other animals.

Several days ago I saw a male Anna’s hummingbird bullying a female hummer. Males tend to take possession of a given feeder. They will perch close by warding away any other hummer coming in to have a drink. A male hummer will guard “his” food source the same way a dog guards It’s bone!

During the cold weather hummers need extra calories. They burn more calories than normal just trying to keep warm.

One female hummer was getting desperate for food. She basically told the male hummer “SCREW YOU! I’M GETTING A DRINK”!

The male hummer decided to teach her a lesson! He wanted to dissuade her from feeding at his food source. He put his talons into her backside and hung on. She unfortunately chose a feeding port that didn’t have a perching bar. So she had to hover in place while drinking. Because of this extra weight she couldn’t hover. She was slowly being forced downward,which jammed her beak in the feeding port. She no longer could pull out. Her bill was bending badly. The male by this time had climbed up onto her head to put extra weight down on her.

She managed to finally pull her bill out of the feeding port. They gently fluttered to the ground as one. The male was standing on her head pinning her to the ground.

This is where I decided enough is enough and decided to end this. I moved to open the sliding door. (I had originally thought he was trying to mate with her but after seeing this I realized he was being a typical male asshole.) I moved to open my sliding door and that movement was enough to take his attention away so that she was able to escape and fly away! He pursued her immediately!

I’m sure she is ok but most likely will not do that again. I have since put out another feeder for her and the other female Anna’s. Males can be brutally territorial!

Not many people have feeders out at this time of year. My feeder the other night froze solid! I now bring the feeder in If I think It’ll get too cold.

Bullying happens in nature and with humans as well. I now believe that bullying starts in the cradle and ends in the grave.

Groups of humans bully others as there is strength in numbers. Just look at the 6pm news for proof of that.

UP THE CREEK….WITH A PADDLE

Tofino Wildlife

I went upstream to check on the salmon run? I figured it was done and sure enough…. it was. Not only was it done but there wasn’t a single dead salmon to be found anywhere! Even on the bottom of the stream was vacant! With the heavy rains the creek swells into a raging river, which flushes all those dead salmon out into the bay where my crab minions await their salmon dinners!

I also didn’t see any Boo Boo’s. All my furry friends have gone to sleep. So I made sure to walk softly.

This video shows me paddling upstream. I shot this with my drone.

Surrounded by ancient growth,I am in my element.

AQUATIC AUTOBAHN

Tofino Wildlife

This video shows some of the problems I’ve had to overcome with filming salmon. Shallowness and water speed.

I modified the original drift rig to be shorter. So that it could drift downstream without hitting the bottom………..but It appears I still need to adjust it even more!! You will hear the rig hitting bottom several times!

This section of the stream I call “The Speedway”. It’s not only fast but shallow! I think the new drift rig is about 8 inches in height and yet it still smacks the bottom!

This is a picture of my original drift rig. Its 20 inches in depth. Great for deep pools but not the Speedway!

I used stainless ready rods for the camera support. I can adjust the camera height as its threaded.

Halfway down the Speedway the rig gets hung up on a submerged tree limb. You can see that the fish are basically staying still and I’m the one moving!

Watch for my cameo.

REFLECTIONS

Tofino Wildlife

The aquatic world is surely an alien one. After all, one can only visit for a brief moment and never live there. It is not our element, we ironically would be like a “fish out of water” If we tried to live down there.

This year’s salmon run started off on shaky ground but Nature managed to come roaring back to the rescue!

The bears are full! They catch a salmon by instinct but can only take a few bites before dropping it and searching for the next one.

In this video you will see mostly Chum salmon. There are lots of Chum salmon because they do not appeal to our palate. There are very few Chinook salmon and zero Sockeye……guess why?

notice the dance of the leaf

SPAWNING TIME

Tofino Wildlife

It’s that time of year again,spawning time. This year we’ve had poor rain levels and so that in turn makes the streams low. When the streams are low,the salmon cannot swim upstream to spawn.

They arrive to their natal stream by sniffing it out like a bloodhound. They “stage” at the streams mouth. The salmon breath in the freshwater, which begins to change them. They all wait for the streams to increase in flow rate. If it doesn’t rain the streams remain too low for the salmon to spawn upstream. If this persists they will perish before they get a chance to spawn.

Which means in 3 years time there will be a poor return.

I checked the stream levels. I have never seen the stream this low before. So am worried that we may not have a good return?

Having said all that,It’s been raining all today! So our salmon friends may still have a chance!

ROCK A BYE BABY

Tofino Wildlife

Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetops, When the wind blows, the cradle will rock, When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all.

I’ve been dreading this post ……

Frank and Freida own the territory on Frank island. Frank island is on Chestermans beach. Chestermans is in the shape of a “L”,with Frank island being at the bend of the “L”. Their nest is very prominent. Anyone walking on the beach can see the nest from a distance.

The song “Rock- a-bye-baby” is very apt as Frank and Freida’s nest has fallen. We had a bad wind storm a month ago. Two eaglets were in the nest at the time. A friend went and rescued them both. Unfortunately one of them perished. However Frank Jr. seems to be doing fine. He is on the other side of the island at a rehab clinic.

I’m sure Frank and Freida are still in mourning.

Nests keep getting larger and larger each year as the eagles add to it. Some nests weigh in at many tons,but sooner or later………they all fall down.

HAPPY WORLD NATURE PHOTOGRAPHIC DAY!

Tofino Wildlife

Today is National Nature Photographic Day!

I found this Sea Otter in Tofino’s harbour. I kept my distance and observed what she was doing? She was having a Rock crab dinner!

She was drifting with the tide. She would submerge and come back up further down tide. I calculated her speed and direction. When she came up the fourth time she was only 10 feet in front of me! She wasn’t aware of my presence for a few seconds,but when she realized she submerged in a nanosecond!

I know It’s a female because of her nose. Females have pinkish marks on the nose. The pink marks are scars. The males grab the nose to make the female more submissive.

A FAMILY THAT SWIMS TOGETHER,STAYS TOGETHER

Tofino Wildlife

I got a new toy……a drone! When I saw this pod coming into the harbour I got excited! I knew they were heading down Tofino inlet! It’s a dead end,so I also knew I’d catch up with them.

This pod’s catalogue number is the T 109,aka “The Runaway’s”,also known as ‘BIG MOMMA’S” gang. I was very happy to see that they had a new member added to their ranks,a calf!

This pod visits Tofino on an almost regular basis! It’s always exciting to visit with them!

I do not know the name of the large bull,but will try to find out?

When I shot this drone footage I was around 400 meters above and used the zoom to get in closer.

above : Unknown bull (they should call him ‘BIG DADDY”)

Above : This is a shot of Big Momma and her new born calf in the distant.

A closer shot of the calf.

“SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIENDS”

Tofino Wildlife

My little feathered friends have come back from their winter vacationing in the south. Most are Rufous with some Anna’s thrown in for good measure.

Around sunset each night their numbers increase dramatically! The collective noun for a group of hummers is a bouquet, charm or shimmer. They gather for “LAST CALL”! They fill up to stay warm during the night. They go into a state of “torpor”. A energy saving mode. So during this “feeding frenzy” they are going CRAZY! The Rufous are actually the ones going crazy, while the Anna’s seem to perch quietly wondering what the ruckus is all about?

During this feeding frenzy period I open the sliding door and just watch and listen to them. By doing this they become familiar with me being there. I like to put my finger out to see If any will perch on it and they do!

Of course I have to remain completely still! Any movement and they are gone instantly! I even found they will take off If somebody walks past within 100 feet!

What you cannot tell is that my hand is being chilled! All the air being disturbed by their wings (50 to 60 times per second) blows the heat away from my hand, making it cold! What you also cannot tell is that when one of them perches on my finger the warmth from their tummies warms that spot up!

So far my perching record is 3.

THE PINK MOON

Tofino Wildlife

Romeo above

Juliette above

Delilah above

April’s full moon is called a Pink Moon. It’s also been called the spouting moon,egg moon and fish moon.

For me personally,they are all Eagle moons! Finding my eagle friends perched at the top of a tree was perfect! I do not get many chances to capture the full moon and a eagle. All my (Ducks) Eagles must be in a row,….or at least on top of a tree!

FREEDOM COVE

Aerial Photography, Floathouse

I went up to Freedom Cove yesterday. Freedom Cove is a beautiful spot where Wayne Adams and his partner (Katherine) live on a floating garden! Their son Shane also lives there.

Wayne is a famous carver. His works of art are not only highly sought after but are world renown. His speciality is carving of whale bone as well as Woolly Mammoth tusk!

Wayne and his family have called this cove home for over 30 years. A unique paradise to say the least.

Unfortunately Wayne passed away last week. Many of us made a pilgrimage to Freedom Cove yesterday (Tuesday,April 26th,2023) to celebrate his life! It was heartwarming and not without tears.

His wife Katherine gave his eulogy. She mentioned his favorite bird were Hummingbirds and wouldn’t you know it, seconds later a Hummingbird zipped past her!

We all shared our favorite stories of Wayne and then feasted.

I recently bought a drone and thought I’d take a video of the cove and surrounding area. It’s a great video showing the entire cove and floating gardens.

Wayne will be greatly missed!

TAG TEAMING

Tofino Wildlife

Tomorrow, Winter says “Adios” and Spring says “Hello”! Change is afoot in both the Earth and the critters. The whales are swimming past Tofino heading northward and waving to the locals as they go past.

The Trumpeters are saying goodbye and flying north to Yukon,while the Bears are coming out of their dens saying “WHERE’S MY COFFEE”! (I just had to add that as most people do turn into Bears If they don’t get their morning fix.)

When the Trumpeters leave, the bears wake up. It’s amazing to see this unfolding each year. Everybody must have the same clock,as their timing is always impeccable! The Trumpeters and the Bears tag team each other and Nature is the coordinator!

THERAPY

Tofino Wildlife

I’m convinced one of the reasons people go stir crazy during the dark cold winter nights is because they are not exposed to warm light. When I say warm light I do not mean the actual physical warmth but more the psychological warmth we all recognize and need.

Seeing a picture of a beautiful sunset is one thing but to actually participate in one is pure therapy! A good vaccine against the winter blues.

My friend Romeo and I wish you winter warmth.

SNOW MOON

Tofino Wildlife

Tonight is the Snow moon. ….not that I’ll be able to see it,as It’s been raining a lot! This was shot in 2016.

When the moon rises in the east it’s always very faint. As It rises It gets brighter and brighter. There is about a 20 -30 minute time window when the brightness and contrast are perfect! The GoldiLocks zone,where it’s not too faint and it’s not too bright,It’s just right!

THE COLD MOON

Tofino Wildlife

This is Ernie. He and Ethel live on Strawberry island. This months moon is called a “Cold” moon. (Oak moon sometimes) I’m glad I was able to get these shots, as they would turn out to be my only moon shots! Nothing but cloud today onward. So we will not be able to see the Cold full moon on Wednesday?

Ernie looks so stoic. Ethel was right above him. They are beginning to pair up as mating season is about to happen.

THEY’RRRRRRRRRRRRRE BACK!!

Tofino Wildlife

I always say “when the bears go to bed,the Trumpeters arrive”! They tag team. They are flying down from the Yukon. I took pictures when one of them had a neck ID tag on. (K-18) I sent the shot and location to the National Registry for Trumpeter swans.

The researchers thanked me and in return told me their story. (K-18 and K-19) They both had been caught and tagged in Taye lake in the Yukon. They crimped a metal ring onto their left ankle and also slipped a plastic neck sock on. This plastic neck sock has the ID number on it and is designed to decay and fall off. It doesn’t restrict their swallowing.

I copied this from a Jan 2013 (January 23rd,2013) Received some info about K19 from Jim Hawkings with the Canadian Wildlife Service out of Whitehorse. This is what he had to say about K19…………….”Not sure if anyone else (Ruth??) has tracked this down yet, but this is one of the birds captured in Yukon Territory, summer 2003 during the captures for the satellite telemetry study spearheaded by Ruth Shea and Rod Drewien. The bird was captured on 22 July 2003 at Taye Lake, 37 miles NW of Whitehorse (band # 1939-01708). It was not marked with a satellite transmitter. This is the first recovery I know of from this bird, but Ruth (or other folks in Southern BC) may have other sightings that never made their way to the banding lab’s recovery database. The other banded bird in the group was likely K19’s mate, formerly marked with neckband K18.

Only two have arrived so far with 8 being the size of this wedge (air) and bevy (water). I always look forward to seeing them. They are notorious for being skittish! They prefer to winter over in deep quiet fiord like inlets.

They are the largest bird (by weight) in North America.

BEARS IN THE MIST

Tofino Wildlife

I went yesterday to collect my trail cameras I had set up 7 weeks ago at my favourite salmon/bear stream. I came across 5 bears but zero salmon.

Salmon spawn….and die. Their bodies either sink to the bottom or float downstream. These dead fish get stuck in certain spots along the rivers edge. The bears know this.,and so they “patrol” the river banks going from spot to spot searching for a dinner! The vast majority of salmon a bear will eat are already dead. Why run after food when Mother Nature has a great supermarket/fridge!

So when I paddled upstream I was surprised not see any morts laying on the bottom? I did see bits and pieces but just one whole fish.

When It rains hard,all that rainwater drains down into the river system, swelling the volume. What this basically does is act like a powerful hose. It flushes all those dead salmon out into the estuary, where the hungry happy Gulls await!

This cleans the system of dead salmon. So If It had just rained and flushed,I wouldn’t be so alarmed but It’s been several weeks since strong rains. That means in those two weeks there hasn’t been any salmon to die,and that’s the troubling part. It makes me wonder If there “die off” from that drought?

We won’t know the effects of this drought for 3 years?

Seeing so many bears in such a short span of time and not seeing any salmon was disconcerting.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FURRY KIND

Tofino Wildlife

It’s that time of year again when the salmon run and the bears chase after them…..and I chase after the bears!

I went up to my favorite stream to do some salmon videos. I bought a new GoPro and was looking forward to using it. It has a stabilization circuit built in that keeps the frame “steady”! I’ve had problems in the past with the video being too jittery. The surface ripples and the fish bumping into the camera made the video too jittery for me. I built a device (for lack of a better term) I call a “Drift Rig”. I attach the GoPro to it and let it drift downstream through a school of salmon! Once I let it go I have zero control over it. If It wants to turn left but the salmon are to the right,tough luck! So It’s a crap shoot each time I release it at the best of times!

I have learned that the best time to do these videos is during low tide. At high tide the salmon spread out but at low tide they all congregate in the deeper pools. They know instinctively that they are susceptible to predator attacks during low tide. So going during low tide is the best……….. but also the worst! It’s too shallow to get into the stream to begin with! So I usually tie up out front and walk in. I have a canoe hidden in the bush. I grabbed the canoe and paddled upstream. On this occasion It was more like walking upstream as the water level was really low and slow!

I got to that deep pool and sure enough there were several hundred Chum swimming slowly about in it! I got the drift rig set and released it upstream of that school of Chum salmon. The flow was so slow that one run (about a 100 feet) took 20 minutes! When It gets near the end (where it shallows up) I wade out into the stream, grab it and shut it off. I then walk back upstream to repeat! I managed to get in about 7 runs.

So when I let the rig go I basically have to wait 20 minutes. During this time my head is swivelling around like a radar watching out for bears.I am constantly looking around me as a bear could literally pop out anywhere! Sure enough on the third run I see a bear walking downstream towards me. I got my camera ready and waited for it to get close. It was in the shade and I wanted it to walk into the light…but it didn’t. Instead It saw me, crossed the stream and began to walk back upstream.

My camera bag is heavy. I cannot wear it with me when I wade into the stream. It not only would get wet but It also would make me more prone to slip as the added weight throws my balance off.  So I placed it halfway between the starting point and the end. That way If I see a bear coming I could get to it quickly……or so I thought?

It was on my 5th run when I realized that doing this was not a good idea. I was chest deep grabbing the rig when I looked over my right shoulder and saw a bear not twenty feet away from my bag and it was slowly walking towards it!

I yelled loudly at it and turned to get out of the water as quickly as possible! I made all sorts of noise splashing about and that sure enough scared off the furry interloper. I decided from that time on I would always wear my bag all the time and only took it off right beside the spot where I went into the stream. Later I thought to myself “that’s all I need is for Yogi to go galloping off with all my equipment”!

So I finished the seventh run and decided to head back downstream. The tide was beginning to rise. I do not like to leave my Zodiac alone as bears can walk over and easily damage it with their claws. So I was anxious to get back to my boat, but the first thing I had to do was put the canoe back into the forest. There is a pathway I’ve made about 100 feet long. It goes through thick bush to a small clearing. This is where I hide my canoe.

I beached the canoe, grabbed the paddles and some other gear and started to walk into the forest……and that’s when I was startled! I ran face to face with a big old bear walking in the other direction! It immediately ran like a bat out of Hell to the base of a tree, grabbed onto the trunk and stared back at me with very wide eyes!

Now remember I had a time element going on, the tide was coming in and I did not want to get cut off from my boat. I also have to get all this gear and the canoe back into the forest or it’s going to go “bye bye” with the outgoing tide!

Which meant I had to walk past this agitated and scared bear! Realizing this,It really pissed me off and I immediately yelled at the bear!

“OH GREAT,YOU JUST HAD TO BE COMING OUT WHEN I WANTED TO GO IN…….FUCKING GREAT”!

Now by this time I realized this bear was more afraid of me than me of it. So I held my breadth and marched forward! Well,that bear shot up that tree like a rocket! It reminded me of “Jack and the Beanstalk”! It went up about twenty feet and just stared down at me. It took me 3 trips to bring everything in and “Jack” was intently watching me go back and forth from on high!

Of course after putting away everything I took some shots of poor old Jack before I left. I apologized, thanked him and left.

Getting back to the boat was ok but the water was already about waist deep. Another half hour and I’d be getting wet!

After getting home I reviewed the footage. The videos were a disaster! I found there was way too much organic debris in the water for beginners and that there was saltwater in the pool! (normally at low tide the stream flushes that deep pool of saltwater)

The saltwater makes the video image fuzzy but the freshwater makes it crystal clear! The stream was flowing so weakly that It couldn’t flush this deep pool of saltwater. So all the salmon are not only fuzzy but hard to see!

The reason I explained this process in detail is to show you “one” my failures. People always say they love my shots but there is a price to pay (in behind the scenes) that you never get to hear about.

Basically, I make mistakes and learn how to do it better! I’ve always said “the person who makes the most mistakes (and learns from them!) will end up with the best shots”

Moral of the story……do not take any salmon videos during a drought!

GHOST EAGLE

Tofino Wildlife

Our weather is very odd for this time of year? Normally by this time of year we are having tremendous bouts of rain but we haven’t had any rain to speak off for months……and this is a Rainforest!

Which has created late season forest fires! These fires send smoke over our way, creating very interesting sunsets!

This is the Daredevil. I can always depend on him to be around. I went to visit with Romeo/Juliette but neither were there? Off to the salmon streams I bet. So It was just me and the Daredevil and a ghostly sunset!

The lack of rain has made things very difficult for the salmon. With such low water levels the salmon cannot move up into the river systems. They eventually will die and not spawn. Which means in 4 years time this run will be severely decreased.

It also means that next year there will be fewer bear cubs. The lack of salmon this year has immediate and long lasting effects.

Having said that,Nature is very resilient!

BANDIT

Tofino Wildlife

All the Crows look the same to me. The only differences I can see is in their personalities. There is one Crow I have named. I call him Bandit. He will only take a treat from my hand while I’m riding my bike! It’s what he does,It’s his thing I guess.

Crows have very sharp talons but Bandit is always very careful not to hurt me. I had always thought that he takes the treat with his talons but it appears he grabs it with his mouth!

He lives in a section of town I always ride through and I know he is watching for me. When he sees me he will swoop in front of me to tell me “HERE I AM”! I then get his treat ready and ride off knowing he’ll come up from behind me and very gently grab his treat!

Such a cool Crow!

“OH LOOK…..THEY DELIVER”!

Tofino Wildlife

I was told by a friend that a pod of Orcas (T109’s) were heading down Tofino Inlet! I quickly grabbed my gear and headed out looking for them. It took me 1 1/2 hours to find them and unfortunately by the time I did find them they were in shadow.

I was surprised to see not just one but many paddle boarders paddling out to meet the Orcas as they went past! This spot Is a long ways away from anywhere! I did see a float house off in a cove and understood where they all had come from. Must have been 10 of them.

These Orcas love coming to hunt down Tofino Inlet! I think they had made a kill just when I was arriving? Several were breaching in celebration!

It’s always exciting when they come to visit!

ROBBIE

Tofino Wildlife

I had full intentions of going out tonight on a evening shoot,but after looking at the lack of clouds,I decided to cancel. I was already down where I keep my boat when this revelation hit me.

“So no pictures for me today” I thought, but then you’ll never guess who dropped in to say hello,…….Robbie! Rita stayed up on a pole. She’s more skittish then Robbie.

It’s always so good when I get to talk to him. He must think I’m nuts and just feels sorry for me. He drops in to make sure I don’t need help finding my way home. Speaking of which, I can call him as I ride home and he will follow me. He will fly with me and the only time I can keep up with him is when I’m going down this long hill!

Ravens just may be the most intelligent animal out there? Their use of tools and being able to figure things out ahead of time is remarkable!

I’m very happy he dropped by!

SUNSET STRETCH

Tofino Wildlife

Take a close look at Romeo’s feathers. Those feathers to a eagle are like our teeth when we are young. They go bye bye and a new one grows in. Only difference is a eagle repeats this each summer.

Eagles and many birds molt during the hottest time of the year, usually August. The warmth allows them to shed feathers and not become hypothermic. Eagles try not use a lot of energy during this period. Molting zaps their energies. Most of a eagles energy goes to to keeping themselves warm. So during these hot periods they do not need to eat as often. So they can afford to stay still for longer periods of time.

In the winter they need to eat constantly as their heat output needs to increase due to the colder weather.

Think of it like a woodstove,in the summer when it’s warm out, you never use it,but in the winter when It’s cold outside,you use it all the time!

DISAPPEARING ACT

Tofino Wildlife

This is The Daredevil. One of my greatest joys has been getting to know him. Becoming familiar with his movements and his favorite spots to perch. Did you know that each eagle has a hidden escape route through the thick forest? Think of a tunnel but it winds through a forest. I always think of that Star Wars footage of the land speeders racing through the forest. (I actually visited that area btw.)

When a eagle has a fish another eagle can try and take the fish! The chased eagle (If close to it’s escape route?) can fly into the forest knowing when to dart left or right but the pursuing eagle does not know the route and will either give up or most likely crash and burn!

I’ve seen this happen several times. The eagle with a fish seemingly disappears into a solid wall of green,being hotly pursued by a second eagle. Then usually seconds later I hear a loud crashing noise! The crashed eagle cannot take to the air due to the dense packing of trees. So It has to hop along the ground in a desperate fashion! It makes all sorts of noise desperately trying to get off the forest floor! It knows it’s very vulnerable to ground predators and by making so much noise It can attract a nearby ground predator?

and the other eagle being pursued exits the forest tunnel victoriously with it’s prize!

NAME GAME FINAL

Tofino Wildlife

Well It looks like we have 17 names to choose from! Here are the choices

Lynette https://lynettedartycross.com/ ROBIN

Babsje https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/ WISHBONE

Robbie https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/ OBERON

Chris https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/ CHANCER

Annette https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/ TYRONE

Liz https://lizgauffreau.com/ MERCUTIO

Noelle https://saylingaway.wordpress.com/ TYBALT

Andy https://sealandair67140807.wordpress.com/ SHAKESPEARE (SPEAR)

Jennie https://jenniefitzkee.com/ CHOCOLATE

Greg https://penumbrahaiku.wordpress.com/ TUBE (TO BE)

Emma https://emmafcownie.com/ BARRY

Array https://widdershinsfirst.com/ SHAKESPEARE

Linda https://lindaschaubblog.net/ RUSTLER

Jane https://janesheartsong.wordpress.com/ ROUNDER

Sandra https://intothelightadventures.com/ SHAKESPEARE

SRT https://srtnews.net/ PARINDA

Marsha https://alwayswrite.blog/ SAMSON

So there you have it folks,17 excellent names to choose from! I’d like to thank everyone who weighed in and for giving such creative names!

After pondering the matter now for some time,I’ve decided the name this fine young Eaglet will hold is “WISHBONE”. I liked it because of the comedy and one can never have too much laughter in ones life, can they?

So Babsje has earned a picture of this beautiful creature and I thank you Babsje for the great name!

NAME GAME

Tofino Wildlife

I was visiting my friend Romeo! The sunset light was fantastic! He had just caught a fish and headed over to his favorite eating spot,a small rocky islet that’s protected by shallow waters. A few minutes after ,I see this other darker coloured eagle coming from the east,from their nest island,Beck.

I instantly realized It was his youngster coming over to get some of daddy’s catch! The eaglet came in like a hurricane! Poor Romeo,It was all he could do to get out of the way! Romeo promptly grabbed his dinner and came over to where I was watching,our meeting spot,his throne.

Remember that eagles carry food with their powerful talons. So when he perched onto his throne,he did so with just one foot! The other was holding the fish! I was very impressed!

I looked back at the eaglet and it looked dejected. This is the final stage of fledging. Up to this point the eaglet would of been fed by both adults,but to get it used to not always getting what it wants,they reject feeding it. It will become hungry enough and start searching for food on it’s own, while mum and dad watch at a distance.

So in celebration of this young eagles coming of age,I would like to put up another “name game”!

This is Romeo and Juliette’s offspring and I “think” it’s a male?

The person who chooses the best name, gets a picture of this beautiful eagle!

INTRODUCING “NUTMEG”

Tofino Wildlife

This juvenile is Ernie and Ethel’s. (Strawberry island) I do not know the sex yet? I’ve found they need to be about one year to be able to tell. This one is being called “Nutmeg”. Thanks to Babsje for coming up with the name. http://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/

I name them but to be honest they only hang around for a few months and then they are gone. They may come back in two years time but I’d never be able to tell who it is?

PICTURE PERFECT

Tofino Wildlife

The full moon this month is on Thursday. It’s a Sturgeon moon. The name came from the Algonquin tribe. The sturgeon were more easily caught during August. We are closer than normal,so It will be a so called “Supermoon”.

I went out on Sunday hoping to be able to go out on either Monday,Tuesday or Wednesday as well, but the fog had other ideas! I got a few this month.

FEATHERED MISADVENTURES

Tofino Wildlife

I was told by a good friend that there was an injured Eagle up in Fortune Channel! So I gathered my gear, included capturing gear, and headed out.

Some tourists had reported an injured Eagle. Whenever tourists report anything I’m cautious. Most do not know what they are seeing?

It took me over a hour to get out there. So when I arrived at the spot where they had seen the eagle,there was no eagle? I expanded my search area to 3 miles and did 4 passes. Still nothing.

So here is what I think happened. An eagle had tried to get a fish but accidentally went into the water. It was close enough to shore,so it swam. They literally do a breaststroke. It made it to shore but was hypothermic and so couldn’t fly. They instinctively will climb as high as they can get (to protect themselves from ground predators) and wait to warm up. Once they feel warmer, they’ll shake to remove as much water as possible. Then once fully recovered, they’ll fly off.

The tourists had spotted not an injured eagle but a very cold eagle I bet. This is why I’m reluctant to act upon what I hear from tourists. But hey,……..I had to check to make sure one of my friends wasn’t injured.

In the process of searching I came across a bear. Looked like a 3 year old female. She was a real sweetheart! I enjoyed spending time with her.

I could see to the south the fog spilling over the ridge. That meant everything was socked in and the only pictures I would be getting would be up in Fortune. So I stayed with her for over an hour. She really loved the sea asparagus! I’ve seen them sell that stuff in the local supermarket.

When I left I bundled up as I knew the fog would be cold. Sure enough the fog was not only cold but it had sat down and I couldn’t see anything! I practice going from point to point as If I’m on a compass bearing all the time. I’m very mindful of this! So because I’m very familiar with points of land I was able to get back to town without a compass or GPS. I do have both but wanted to test my abilities…….and I passed!

I am glad there was no injured eagle and that I found such a beautiful bear!