Wishing everyone a Happy Solstice Sunset from Burnaby, BC!

The snow was high, and so were my spirits despite some tough slogging through high snow in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in SE Burnaby, BC, today.

That’s been quite the snow here in Burnaby, BC.

A few shots of the accumulation on our balcony and on the sidewalks in our townouse complex. I’ve shoveled for over an hour today arleady.

The birds are feeling it, too. We have two hummingbird feeders and alternate them as they start to freeze. This wee Anna’s Hummingbired looked very cold, and there was also an American Robin outside our front door all puffed up trying to stay warm.

And a Varied Thrush

What we woke up to on our balcony

36cm of snow on our patio table

Clearing the snow from the walks

In addition to the Wildlife 2023 Photo Calendar I put together (see post below), I’ve also made a BC Scenic Nature Views Calandar 2023.

It’s available for online ordering, but in US$ and with US shipping. Still looking for an ordering – printing – fulfillment solution in Canada.

Here’s the back cover that shows all the months:

It was sunny but cold at Fraser Foreshore Park in south Burnaby, BC today.

Steller’s Jay

House Finches

Junco

A lot of the birds I saw today were taking advantage of the sunny day to chow down in preparation for the cold snap.

While walking along the Central Valley Greenway in Burnaby, BC, today, I came across at least a dozen dead crows. It was disconcerting.

I called Wildlife Rescue and they referred me to the BC Wild Bird Mortality Investigation program. I also reported it to City of Burnaby Parks.

I searched a bit online and came across this story of unusual numbers of dead crows in eastern Canada.

UPDATE: My interview with CBC Radio’s Gloria Macarenko.

UPDATE (Dec. 16): Environment Canada says tests show Avian Influenza