Gentle Giants, Wee Porkers

These gentle giants provide coyote protection on a farm in Langley. The owner said her predator losses went to zero after she got the dogs. Apparently they love to work, sleep much of the day, and patrol all night.

huge dogs provide predator protection

And these once nearly-extinct little KuneKune pigs love petting and attention.

kunekune pigs

Thanks to the Langley Environmental Partners Society for hosting this WaterWeeks: Farm Fresh Bus Tour!

We enjoyed it, and learned a lot. Great to visit all these small organic and heritage farms operated by passionate folks attuned with nature.

Ag Journalists Tour Byrne Creek with Someone Very Special

It was a pleasure to meet Cathy Glover today and get a photo taken with her at the monument to her late father Ken, who was instrumental in leading initial cleanups of Byrne Creek and the ravine decades ago.

A group of agriculture journalists toured the lower ravine with us. We talked salmon, invasive species, water quality and quantity. I feel there are common concerns about such issues across BC and Canada.

Glover monument Byrne Creek

Super Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver Fall Forum 2019

Great day at the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver (@iscmv) Fall Forum today in Maple Ridge. I’ve been active on the ISCMV board for a few years.

Interesting speakers, and several educational tours. I chose to visit ARMS, the Alouette River Management Society (@AlouetteRiverMS) to see their hatchery and education center. Got to see a chum salmon dissection, and learn about coexisting with black bears and cougars.


ISCMV invasive species council vancouver ARMS

Soggy Burnaby Rivers Day

It was a very soggy BC/World Rivers Day at the Burnaby Village Museum today. Thanks to all the volunteers!


Our Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society booth


Byrne Creek Streamkeepers volunteers with Rivers Day founder Mark Angelo


Great chatting with Dannie, the Co-Existing with Coyotes Coordinator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society, who was in the booth next to ours.


Entertainment rain or shine!


Burnaby Councillor Joe Keithley on the left, Svend Robinson (former Canadian MP, running again in the upcoming election) to the right, and environmentalist, photographer, and First Nations educator John Preissl in the middle.


Sav Dhaliwal City of Burnaby councilor and chair of Metro Vancouver


Burnaby Mayor Michael Hurley


BC and World Rivers Day founder Mark Angelo

world rivers day burnaby bc


American Kestrel that cannot be released back into the wild due to effects of injuries


Barred Owl that cannot be released back into the wild due to effects of injuries

Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade at RiverFest in New Westminster

Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade at RiverFest on the New Westminster waterfront today. Always a blast.

I admit as an environmentalist I wonder at all the fuel burned for fun, but the Fraser is a working river, and all these folks from tugs to SAR earn a well-deserved day of fun.

Their skill and professionalism are astounding.

working boats parade new westminster BC riverfest

mark angelo rivers day founder
Rivers Day founder Mark Angelo

mayor cote new westminster bc
New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote

Nuthatches, Chickadees at South Burnaby Feeder

They’re still at it, cleaning out our feeder a couple of times per day. The chickadees appear to be better at flight control than the nuthatches, but occasionally get into spats, too.

nuthatch

nuthatch

nuthatch

I need to remember the histogram display — it’s hard to see if highlights are blown out when you’re viewing on a small screen outdoors, but display the histogram for a shot and it’s clear what’s happening with the exposure.

Streamkeeping, sustainability, community, business, photography, books, and animals, with occasional forays into social commentary. Text and Photos © Paul Cipywnyk