Had an errand to run in North Vancouver today, so we combined it with a walk around Rice Lake. It was chilly, but lovely, and fun to watch an American Dipper bop around for awhile.
There were also several Common Mergansers
Respecting Wildlife Without Making Life a Disney Movie
I’m an animal lover. I’m a wildlife and nature photographer. I’ve always had pets, always cared for them to their dying days. . .
But I think some folks are ignoring reality when it comes to animals.
Humans are terrible? Sure, some are, hopefully not too many. Of course we’ve had huge impacts on wildlife, not to mention on each other.
And factory “farming” is gross and disgusting.
But have you ever watched a large cat disembowel an ungulate, and start eating its stomach and organs while the ungulate is still alive?
Ever watched an eagle or an owl stripping flesh off of a still-quivering rodent?
Ever seen a 12cm coho smolt gulp down a 6cm chum fry?
Is that somehow better than us killing?
Nature is not Disney. It never has been, and it never will be.
I think Disney and its ilk have done a huge disservice to children who’ve fallen under their spell.
Predators are not sci-fi movies or documentaries. Predators are daily life, starting from plankton all the way up the food chain to carnivorous mammals. . .
That does not mean that humans cannot reduce their footprint by reducing meat consumption etc.
But let’s not somehow put wildlife up on pedestals as shining examples of harmony and love and whatever. . . .
Lights at Lafarge, the Psychedelic Series
Took our annual Skytrain ride out to Coquitlam for the Lights at Lafarge.
I’m calling this set the psychedelic series. Will post more later.
Humans Are Terrible at ‘Managing’ Wildlife
Something I think we need to keep in mind when thinking about issues such as “culling” wolves and seals, or working with species at risk, or habitat loss, or sustainability, or climate change, etc., is that here in British Columbia, our homo sapiens species has gone from a population of about 55,000 in 1851 to some 4,648,000 in 2016.
That’s an 85X increase in only 165 years.
And our population continues to grow at 5.6% a year.
Caribou? Elk? Wolves? Seals? All a drop in the bucket compared to our numbers. . .
Eagles, Herons at Brackendale, BC
I didn’t expect to see much in the falling snow, but did spot a couple of eagles and a couple of herons on the river at Eagle Run in Brackendale.
Puffy Snow at Alice Lake
Big, wet, fluffy snow falling at Alice Lake near Squamish, BC, today.
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
We checked out the Heritage Christmas at the Burnaby Village Museum on our way home today. Got there a bit early, would look better darker. Free admission!
Shooting Sea Shells at Centennial Beach in Delta, BC
Spent a lovely hour or two down at Centennial Beach in Delta, BC, wandering the beach. It was pouring rain in Burnaby, but only overcast further south.
Looking north toward Vancouver
Looking south
Looking at a reflection in the pond
It was a fairly quiet day for birds, but I did chase this Northern Flicker around a bit
I had a wonderful time wandering the beach, shooting various shells and other beasties. Such a wonderful array of patterns and colors.
Keyboard Kat
No get work done, no buy cat food. . . : – )
Fraser Foreshore Park Teeming with Birds
Took a walk along Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby. It was cold and wet, but lots of bird action.
Chickadee with slow-mo rain drops
Fluffing the rain off
Takeoff!
Junco
American Robin
Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Tug boat wash
Too cold and wet to linger!
