Outdoors. _ TheReview Wednesday, January 24,1990 — Al7 -“-Eagles start nesting early @ BALD EAGLES Courtesy Alex Matheson Farm Eidwenn Thomas, Munro Road, telephoned to say that the pair of bald eagles that have been nesting virtually in the back comer of her lot have been on territory for some time now. They actually began eagles bring the quarry back to the trees in which they partially pluck it, prior to feeding. It has been reported elsewhere that recent counts of bald eagles in the general vicinity of Vancouver ‘Our birds have barely begun the courtship ritual, accompanied with the characteristic but unexpectedly soft series of nofes and chortles’ sporadic nest repairing activity as early as November! This is an early start indeed and one wonders if the very mild winter has had anything to do with the urge to get on with things. At any rate, Thomas has noticed the birds carrying quantities of seaweed, grass and twigs to the nest. Her birds are certainly well ahead of the pair which carry on a good deal of their annual courtship activity in the top of the big Douglas fir in our front yard. Our birds have barely begun the court- ship ritual, accompanied with the characteristic but unexpectedly soft series of notes and chortles which tend to stimulate one another and strengthen the pair bond. The business of pitching woo is often interrupted by hunting, the birds sailing swiftly down to Bazan Bay below in search of waterfowl. When successful, the + ands Funeral Chapels 656-2932 or 388-5155 Offer a complete choice of Professional Services. — TRADITIONAL — MEMORIAL — DIRECT CREMATION — FULL PRE-ARRANGEMENTS SERVICES Services from your church or in either of our chapels at 1803 QUADRA STREET VICTORIA have resulted in numbers consider- ably lower than those obtained a year ago. However, this may not signify a drop in the population since the birds are highly mobile and tend to move about with reference to the ready availability of preferred food items. Recent rains and flooding may well have had a marked effect upon the dissemination of the carcasses of salmon which have spawned and which normally comprise a staple item in the diet of foraging bald eagles. A good deal of more ini rmation is required before one can infer that the population of bald eagles has significantly declined. I am again interested in the sighting of an emperor goose in Cy Hampson photo ~ the area, certainly one of the most attractive of the larger waterfowl and white-fronted geese or “speckle-bellies” which breed in the Arctic. Also the reports of an adult smew in the Vancouver area. Mary and I last saw this most attractive member of the mergan- ser group in Scotland where we managed to photograph it at close range. Should any readers of this col- umn be interested, I’m giving an extension course for University of Victoria called The Art of Bird Photography, at Dunsmuir Lodge during February. While this is not a technical course in ornithology, it will deal with several hundred species ranging geographically from the High Arctic to northem Mexico, from Gaspe across Can- ada, from East Africa to Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, the work of some five decades in the field with cameras and notebook. Afternoon or evening sessions will be held. 7 | | | Contuyy (lf your property is currently listed with a Real Estate Broker, the best exposure to the marketplace. CAROL OAKFIELD 656-8606 Saanich Peninsula Realty Ltd. DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH FOR SALE AS IS - WHERE IS 1981 CHEVROLET 3/4 TON VAN Vehicle can be viewed at the Public Works yard located at 1620 Mills Road, North Saanich. Sale is by sealed bids. All bids should be marked to the attention of the Treasurer and must be recieved on or before 2:00 P.M., January 26th, 1990. The highest or any bid may not necessarily be accepted. R. Gillis Treasurer SALES LEADERS DECEMBER, 1989 Ss DOROTHY MOO RE BRIAN McQUARRIE BETTY KAHAKAUWILA PEMBERTON. HOLMES®*6a TOM FISHER KERRY CHALMERS SALTSPRING ISL. 537-5568 VICTORIA 384-8124 SIDNEY 656-0911 _ oe ———— SO . FREE T.V. ADVERTISING