Pitch-in Crew, Pollinator Garden Work Party, Birding Walk
On Easter Monday, 4 degrees and steady rain made perfect conditions for a small and cheerful crew who picked up after the ravens. The crew combed the forest parallel to Squamish Valley Road opposite the landfill. Their findings made up most of the 350 kg contributed by SES for Pitch-In Week.
The weather was better for the weed-and-plant effort at the Pollinator Garden the following Saturday afternoon. Our Pollinator Garden, like all the best gardens, continues to be a work in progress. It’s tricky at this time of year separating the weedy plants that are pollinator-friendly from those that aren’t.
For Sunday, the final day of Earth Week, we held a birding walk in Crumpit Woods. Here’s a report from Tiffany, one of the participants:
It was a wonderful event! Everyone had a great time and Christopher was a fantastic guide. About 20 people showed up. We found some feathers of a Northern Flicker (something must have preyed on it) and an owl pellet. Some of the exciting birds we saw were a Black-throated Grey Warbler which was a “lifer” for many and three Red-Breasted Sapsuckers, all making nesting holes. We heard a few Sooty Grouse and an Orange-crowned Warbler. We saw some Turkey Vultures, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and some Chestnut-backed Chickadees. It was a beautiful day to be out there and were even serenaded by all the Pacific Chorus Frogs in the wetlands. Christopher taught us about how he knew the feather was from a flicker’s tail because of how rigid it was, since they use their tails as a prop when feeding and pecking. We learned about different bird calls and how to identify them and how to use binoculars. We also learned that sapsuckers will construct multiple houses but only choose one to nest in.
Thanks to those who organized and led the events as well as to those who participated. May the spirit of Earth Week guide us all for the rest of 2022.
Photo above by Alison Wald: Christopher pointing out birds of interest to the group, April 24, 2022.