I am becoming frustrated about birding photography because I am growing to recognize focused photographs and can easily determine that a lot of mine are not (focused, that is)! At times, my equipment IS holding me back and I’ve decided that, given that I am highly enthusiastic about taking photos of bird species, likely my point and shoot Canon Powershot will not always feel adequate. Today, however, I’m going to post some of those poor quality photographs because, as I’ve said before, I’m trying to archive my sitings as my interest lies primarily with my observations and encounters and only as a sidebar, the photography.
I can not share with my readers what utter joy I have been having exploring this one pond ecosystem and it seems as though every season, I’m discovering more. My eyes are wide open, that’s for sure! Read Birds, Art, Life by Kyo Maclear and you will find me inside those pages!
The nesting platform that has been for four years, attended by a pair of Osprey, this year, has been occupied by a ‘sitting goose’. Damn! How could this happen? Surprisingly enough, I’ve witnessed it happen before at the more westerly platform location and watched as the Osprey family violently fought the goose away. This year, the Sikome Osprey couple arrived just a week ago, to learn that it was impossible to inhabit their familiar platform with such a stubborn, however, unusual bird already well-moved-in. You know, dear readers, and I know that this is going to lead to a certain fate for the large numbers of goslings that will fall crashing to their deaths, not long after hatching.
However, Enmax, who DID respond to my call for help in very short order, was unable to reach the nesting bird in their long armed bucket yesterday, due to the changed drainage ditches and rock retaining systems that were constructed before fall of this past year. They wrote to tell me that the Osprey would have to wait until the gosling hatching and then, mayhaps, they would reclaim the nest. I just wondered, after this response, why they can not erect a new platform in the meantime…and so…more drama today!
As I drove to Frank’s Flats, Maxman in tow after Mass this morning, I noted that Mr. and Mrs. Osprey were sitting on two different light standards staring, with evil eyes, in the direction of the platform. The goose sat, indifferent. I sent off a post to social media once I arrived at the pond.
Returning home, the first stick was set down.
“Uh oh,” I thought to myself, “by end of day, this, a nest will be!”
Sure enough, after Pow Wow dancing class (you should try it!), I drove down to check on progress! A full nest is well engaged on the top of the sign that appears east 22x just before the bridge. This nest edges the bike path directly and has a view of a bustling and particularly noisy traffic area. Oh dear!
Yes, I HAVE let Enmax know….but, what saddens me is that, at the destruction of this nest, the Osprey will have to sort out a new location…and there just isn’t one that makes any sense. What makes sense is for Enmax to grow some determination, get that goose down, and let the Osprey nest.
I’ll keep you informed…and in the meantime…this is all for the birds!
People are now out and fishing on the river.
I watched as a Bald Eagle and the two Osprey did the work of negotiating their way around these wires that cross over the Bow River…in the name of advancement.
The Black-headed gulls have returned to the south…I noticed this first when I was in my neighbourhood park at dusk last evening and hundreds of them flew overhead…pure magic!
First time for everything…I watched Mr. mount Mrs.(not posted here)
At Frank’s Flats…the past couple of days…The male Loon appeared yesterday and fished the pond for the entire day. Today, he was gone.
Since chopping down most of the trees and leaving this single deciduous tree just on the other side of the fence, the crows are at a loss for where to build new nests. They gather together these days, in far larger groups than this…but, I’ve noticed a change in their activities.
