Monthly Archives: October 2014

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) off Taylor Beach

Posted on by
surfscoter

Surf Scoter off Taylor Beach: photo by Garry Fletcher

From September on through winter we see flocks of Surf Scoters feeding offshore on Taylor Beach . Today they were 100 metres offshore. They usually do not approach the shore as closely as the grebes and loons.

“The British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks (BC Conservation Data Centre 2000) has designated them as a “Blue Listed”  species. Blue List taxa are of special concern because of characteristics that make them particularly sensitive to disturbance from human activities or natural events. Blue-listed taxa are at risk, but are not extirpated, endangered or threatened (Master 1991). “(SFU biology)

A western grebe hangs out with a flock of Surf Scoters

A western grebe hangs out with a flock of Surf scoters

gfscoteroct292014

Surf Scoters on Taylor beach Oct 28, 2014

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Merginae
Genus: Melanitta
Species: M. perspicillata

Material Safety Data Sheet for Diluted Bitumin (Dilbit)

Posted on by

From the National Energy Board we can find out what is in Dilbit and what precautions we need when it lands on the shores of Metchosin.
You can see the original in this link : or as copied in the images below:

https://docs.neb-one.gc.ca/ll-eng/llisapi.dll/fetch/2000/90464/90552/548311/956726/2392873/2450810/2478758/2522888/Material_Safety_Data_Sheet_-_Diluted_Bitumen_-_A4A9D1.pdf?nodeid=2508614&vernum=-2

ALSO: The following link gives the Occupational and Health Guidelines for Benzene, a Potential Human Carcinogen

https://docs.neb-one.gc.ca/ll-eng/llisapi.dll/fetch/2000/90464/90552/548311/956726/2392873/2450810/2478758/2522888/Occupational_Safety_and_Health_Guideline_for_Benzene_-_A4A9D2.pdf?nodeid=2504533&vernum=-2

dilbit1 dilbit2 dilbit3 dilbit4

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) returns for the winter.

Posted on by
western grebe

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) photo by Garry Fletcher

westgrebe

Western grebe : Taylor Beach Vancouver Island photo by Garry Fletcher

wgrebevert4The Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) overwinter here on Southern Vancouver Island in the protected coastal bays. In the past two weeks they have returned to the waters of Taylor beach.

They are one species which is having a difficult time due to habitat loss for nesting, and are also vulnerable in the event of Oil Spills here in the Strait of Georgia and Strait of Juan de Fuca.

From the Race Rocks website it was noted that three pairs were seen in Pedder Bay throughout January and February of 2006. Although our observations here have them diving and feeding throughout daylight hours, past research has shown that they also feed at night:  following trails of bioluminescence as the fish swim through the water. (see reference below) It may surprize some to know that this is one of the few prairie-wetland nesting birds which do not migrate South during the winter, but instead migrate West over the Rocky Mountains to the Coastal Bays of Vancouver Island.

 

A western grebe hangs out with a flock of Surf Scoters

A western grebe hangs out with a flock of Surf Scoters

The Western Grebe is classified by the Alberta Government as a Species at Risk. This Field Summary gives further information on it.

night foraging

Research on Foraging indicating a night-feeding pattern is presented in the research of James Clowater, See the link to his thesis at the bottom.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Podicipediformes
Family Podicipedidae
Genus Aechmophorus
Species occidentalis
Common Name: Western Grebe

The Shoreline of Metchosin: What do we have to lose with tanker traffic

Posted on by

Along the shoreline of Metchosin and underwater we have ecosystems which are at risk of being heavily impacted in the event of an impending oil spill catastrophe given all the proposed projects which will increase ship traffic to unacceptable levels in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The presentation by Garry Fletcher linked here was done on the evening of October 23rd, 2014 at the Metchosin Community Hall organized by Karyn Woodland and the local Dogwood Initiative Group. ( NOTE: comments are included under the images and all images are copyright of the photographers who took them, John Harper(GeoBC); the ecoguardians at Race Rocks: Ryan Murphy, Raisa Mirza, Alex Fletcher, Anne Stewart, Adam Harding, Mike Robinson and Courtenay Edwards, and myself. The graphics from the first part on Oil Spill Risk are from  posts of Nov.4 on Oil Spill Risks
Link to a description of the three presentations to the Town hall meeting by Kai Nagata of the Dogwood Initiative, Andrew Weaver, Green Party MLA for Oak Bay and Intervenor in the Kinder Morgan hearings, and Garry Fletcher, Intervenor for the Board of Friends of Ecological Reserves in the Kinder-Morgan / Trans Mountain Expansion project hearings. gfpresent

Oil Tanker Traffic -Metchosin Town Hall Meeting

Posted on by

This letter went out from Karyn Woodland to Dogwood Supporters:
Thursday’s Town Hall on Kinder Morgan was a great success. Presentations (to a full house) were informative and thought-provoking, and the questions from the audience further illuminated the issues. Moderator Jackie Larkin expertly kept the event equitable and flowing. At the close of the evening photographer Bev Hall presented the panel with gifts of local scenery cards … and we acknowledged Terry Dance Bennink’s calm and strong shepherding of her Dogwood flock. Green Party (Oak Bay/Gordon Head) MLA Andrew Weaver praised Dogwood for their focused, non-partisan work on behalf of ‘ordinary citizens’

SPEAKERS: Garry Fletcher, Andrew Weaver, Kai Nagata

A huge thank you to our excellent speakers: Garry illustrated, with stunning photographs, what we have to lose; Andrew gave a candid account of how the NEB hearing process is flawed; Kai (27 years young!) emphasized the significance of municipal governments in environmental stewardship.

A FEW KEY POINTS FROM THE DISCUSSION

• Climatologist Andrew Weaver said coal – the burning of which constitutes 50% of greenhouse gas emissions – is the culprit when it comes to ‘climate crisis.’
• The greatest risk from oil tanker traffic is a spill which will decimate the marine environment and create havoc for humans (unknown health impacts, job loss from industries like tourism and recreation, agricultural loss, property value decline…); despite the glitzy ads to the contrary form Trans Mountain.
• We all held our breath while the Russian ship Simushir, carrying 400 tonnes of bunker oil and 50 tonnes of diesel fuel, drifted off the coast of Haida Gwai. Veteran West Coast Mariner, Brian Falconer, maintains the coast guard underestimated the risk: “…they’re setting up a false sense that we can actually do something about an oil spill. The reality is we won’t be able to do anything” (TC, Oct 22, p A5). The tankers carrying bitumen will be far larger than Simushir. (As I write, a 134′ barge carrying 3,600 l of diesel fuel is adrift in the Beaufort Sea …)
• Dilbit is already being shipped past our shores with ‘temporary’ permits.
• Christy Clark says she has five conditions before approving pipeline expansion (http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/07/statement-by-premier-christy-clark.html). Andrew Weaver says – implement those conditions now.
• Andrew also noted that, on Wednesday of this week, Christy Clark’s gov’t dismantled large portions of the climate legislation enacted by Gordon Campbell’s gov’t; an action with huge implications which went unnoticed because of events on Parliament Hill.

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

• Good to see the following candidates in attendance at the Metchosin Town Hall: Moralea Milne (incumbent Councillor, who initiated the first motion opposing increased tanker traffic in 2012); Andy MacKinnon, Anne Richmond. (Apologies received from: Chris Moehr, Kyara Kahakawila; Bob Gramigma was at a Council related meeting).

• Municipal candidates responses to the Dogwood survey are now posted: http://www.localvote2014.ca/

• Municipal mayors/councillors/candidates may say, “It’s not my jurisdiction,” but Kai Nagata pointed out
Municipal Mayors and Councils have a great deal of influence – if they choose to use it.

We, the voters, must support those brave enough to take a stand.

(e.g., Andrew Weaver is pushing for a complete ban on heavy oil tankers in BC waters – municipal councils could get behind him on this initiative)
• Municipal Councils – backed by the citizens they represent – are perhaps the “last bastion” to stop the massive giveaway of public resources to large corporations.
RAVEN
• Donations to Raven – a Trust for 1st Nations Legal Defense, totalled $170;  thanks to Allison’s generous initiative. (And we had not even thought to collect donations, as evidenced by our blue recycling bin ‘collection plate’!)

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

Horned Grebe, ( Podiceps auritus)

Posted on by
hornedgrebe4

Horned grebe Podiceps auritus off Taylor Beach, Oct 10, 2014

 

These photos were taken by G. Fletcher off the shore of Taylor Beach on Oct 10/14 Unfortunately I didn’t have a telephoto along!

The tentative identification is the Horned grebe.

The following is quoted from From the Species at Risk Registry
“Horned Grebe: Scientific Name: Podiceps auritus
Taxonomy Group: Birds
Range: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario
Last COSEWIC Assessment: April 2009
Last COSEWIC Designation: Special Concern
SARA Status: No schedule, No Status

Threats NOte Bolded sentence:

The factors limiting Horned Grebe populations in Canada are not known, but several possible causes for the decline have been identified, including degradation of wetland breeding habitat and droughts. Permanent loss of wetlands to agriculture and development threaten Horned Grebe populations. Temporary loss of wetlands during droughts can also negatively impact Horned Grebe populations, and the length and frequency of droughts in the Prairies is expected to increase in the future, due to climate change. Eutrophication, i.e., the alteration of an aquatic environment linked to a significant input of nutrients that increases the production of algae and aquatic plants, as well as degradation of nesting sites from the accumulation of fertilizers used in agriculture or other contaminants could also threaten populations. In the Prairies, the major expansion of some predators, including Common Ravens, Black-billed Magpies and racoons, could be a factor causing a decline in the Western population. Type E botulism has been reported in the Great Lakes since the late 1990s and may be an important source of mortality for both resident and migrating waterbirds. Oil spills on their wintering grounds can also threaten Horned Grebe populations. At sea, these birds are particularly vulnerable, since they spend most of their time on the water. Competition with Pied-billed Grebes for breeding habitat could be a limiting factor for the Western population. Similarly, Red-necked Grebes may exclude Horned Grebes from nesting on some ponds. Finally, Horned Grebes become entangled and drown in nets in some commercial fishing areas. It is estimated that 3000 grebes and loons are netted annually by fishers on the southern part of Lake Winnipegosis in Manitoba. On the Great Lakes, birds are killed annually in fishing nets during both spring and fall migrations.