Marine Bird Guide: The Auks
June 11, 2019Today’s post is all about Auks! Auks are a group of marine birds, also known as alcids. They include murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets. These birds are all wing-propelled diving birds, meaning that they dive underwater to feed using their wings to swim. Scroll down to learn about: Common …
Shorebirds of British Columbia
June 6, 2019An identification guide to some shorebirds you may see in Victoria, British Columbia. Scroll down to learn about: Black Oystercatcher Red-necked Phalarope Black Turnstone Brown Pelican Great Blue Heron Black Oystercatcher Black Oystercatcher, Photo by Volunteer Robin, image taken with zoom lens and heavily cropped Latin Name: Haematopus bachmani Distinguishing Features: …
Common Marine Birds
June 2, 2019An identification guide to some marine birds you are likely to see in Victoria, British Columbia. Scroll down to learn about: Bald Eagles Ospreys Pelagic Cormorants Double-Crested Cormorants Pigeon Guillemots Great Blue Herons Glaucous-Winged Gulls Bald Eagle Bald Eagle, Photo by Captain Yves, taken by zoom lens and heavily cropped. …
Salmon, Essential for Survival
May 29, 2019Salmon. Salmon. Salmon. The Oxford English Dictionary definition: “A large edible fish that is a popular sporting fish, much prized for its pink flesh. Salmon mature in the sea but migrate to freshwater streams to spawn.” Suggested Oxford amendment: “Critical to the survival of the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW)”. …
Herons Nesting in Beacon Hill Park
May 24, 2019Great Blue Herons can be found year-round in Victoria and along the British Columbia coast. You may see them along the water hunting for fish. The Great Blue Heron is a large bird commonly found in coastal environments, Photo by Captain Yves Most exciting is the nesting colony in Beacon …
Swiftsure Yacht Race Begins
May 23, 2019It will be an exciting weekend in and around the Victoria Harbour because the Swiftsure International Yacht Race festivities begin today. Scroll down for the events listing. Sailboat heeling over on a beautiful day. Photo by Captain Yves. What is a yacht race? A yacht race is a race between …
From One Island to Another: New Zealand to Vancouver Island
May 22, 2019My move from New Zealand to Victoria is always received with a similar response: “Canada is like New Zealand on a larger scale”, “British Columbia really reminds me of New Zealand” and one of the more creative “Canada is like New Zealand on steroids”. Emma, one of our naturalists, wrote …
Whales Face Challenges as Salmon Decline
May 2, 2019Southern Resident Killer Whales with Baby in Haro Strait Southern Resident Killer Whales Face Many Challenges: Declining Salmon May be the Worst Written by Stefania Gorgopa Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are at risk and declining salmon are a large part of the problem. SRKW primarily eat Chinook Salmon. A large …
PACIFIC WHALE WATCH ASSOCIATION – THE FACTS
April 1, 2019Pacific Whale Watch Association The Facts and Our Focus • We are 100% focused on the health of the whales and science-based solutions that best support their current and future well-being. • We have put together a science-based vessel management plan with input from leading experts on the subject of …
TYPE D KILLER WHALES, NEW SPECIES?
March 13, 2019Up until recently, scientists have believed that there were 3 species of Killer Whales (Residents, Transients & Offshores) and 10 different sub species (this includes Type D Killer Whales). Five subspecies in the Northern Hemisphere and 5 subspecies in the Southern Hemisphere. The Northern five consist of our very own …