Often the reason a destination is popular has little to do with the superb natural features of an area. Goose Spit Park in Comox, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia is one such area. Usually portrayed as “the” place to enjoy the sunset and an evening beach fire, Goose Spit has much more to offer the curious naturalist including a unique …
Natural History
Coastal Naturalists on BC Ferries this Summer
The Coastal Naturalist program begins on Friday, June 25th on BC Ferries sailings between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Photo by Sara Borck – © Parks Canada Have you ever wondered why Orcas are called ‘Killer Whales’ or what an eelgrass meadow is? Did you know that during the BC Ferries sailing between Victoria and Vancouver, you are actually in the …
Sensational Sea Lions
A juvenile Sea Lion swims by me at Norris Rock near Hornby Island, BC. My partner and I are the only divers in the water this afternoon and outnumbered 30-2. We hover in 20’ of water anxiously watching an undulating cloud of sand, silt, fur and bubbles head our way. A welcoming committee of curious juvenile California Sea Lions (Zalophus …
Rathtrevor Beach Ramble
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park Most people mention the endless stretches of sandy beach, ocean swimming and eel-grass tide pool exploration when they talk about Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. However, this 347 ha Provincial Park has much to offer the terrestrial naturalist as well. There is no question that the rich eelgrass beds hold a treasure …
A West Coast Giant
Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) grow to an average 70 meters in height although some are much taller. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) is in the big leagues as far as trees are concerned, along with other west coast giants like Douglas-fir and western red cedar. To me, the very name “spruce” conjures up an Emily Carr-like image of a dark green, …
Where the Wildflowers Are
Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum), one of many streamside flowers to look for this spring on Vancouver Island. The spring wildflowers are in bloom on Vancouver Island! When British Columbia emerges from its long damp winter it is an ideal time to look for flowers in bloom. There are a number of different species of beautiful wildflowers that grow along coastal …
Ripple Rock Trail
Seymour Narrows and the former site of Ripple Rock from the viewpoint. A hundred years ago, the name of Ripple Rock evoked dread in the hearts of mariners, but today entices hikers to explore natural history as well as human history, on the Ripple Rock Trail. The stretch of water in Seymour Narrows, part of the Discovery Passage north of …
Ancient Horsetails
During a recent visit to Sayward I happened upon a patch of giant horsetails rising from a roadside ditch. Strangely alluring, the pale brown wand-like fertile shoots appear in spring, followed shortly after by green, vegetative shoots. These anemic fertile shoots, which only last for a short period, are easily overlooked. Most of us are more familiar with the green …
Weird and Wonderful Slime Mold
At any time of year it is nice to go for a stroll in the forest and seek out some of the weird and wonderful things living there. One of the most overlooked, and interesting of these are the slime molds. Often found on rotting logs or decaying stumps, slime mold may be bright yellow like a blob of scrambled …
The Littlest Duck
The male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) sports attractive iridescent purple and colours on its head. The Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) may be the smallest ducks in North America, but they are the favorites of many bird lovers. Because of their petite size and elaborate courtship displays, they are always fun to watch. Whenever I see them in freshwater ponds or the shallow …