‘couple of days ago,
island in the High Arctic,

Outdoors
| Unlimited

By Cy Hampson

During a-short walk along Island View Beach a
i-was suddenly translated to an
nearly. 2,000 miles: to the

north-east. My “‘translator’’. was an incredibly han-

dsome Arctic tern, a number of which we had found, a’

few years earlier, nesting in. that remote northern

“region.

There was no doubt abut its identity, The blood-red

bill, jet-black cap, flexible swallow-like tail and the—
barely discernible dark margin at the tips of the flight:

feathers were all there. In the Arctic, Mary and I had
spent many hours observing their easy graceful flight
While marvelling -at. the slender, pointed wings which

‘No flowers, no

in the slightest natural depression on the tundra near a
small lake. We had watched the males’ drop vertically
into the water, only to rise in an instant with a
fingerling grasped firmly in the beak.

The tiny fish were taken back to the general nesting
area where they were ceremoniously presented to the
waiting females. This was part of the courtship ritual.
chocolates, °.no  diamonds,.. no
engagement rings. Just a tender, tasty morsel, fresh as
the icy waters could provide,

As the season advanced, we were impressed with the
Vigilance of the terns. They seemed always on the alert
for potential nest- raiders: such us jaegers, glaucous
gulls and Arctic foxes.; Whenever such: enemies ap-
proached the territory, they were met by what must

have seemed a skyful of diving, screaming, fighters, -
cach equipped with a rapier-like beak that penetrated

feather.or fur with ease.

The interlopers never failed to beat an ignominious

retreat, leaving the field’ to the demonstrative and
highly maneuverable terns.

Nor were we the only observers to note this effective
defence of territory. Both northern phalaropes and old
squaw ducks took advantage of the situation, selecting
their nesting sites inside the area so well guarded by
those feathered watchdogs.

down at the eggs.
Nevertheless, they would take a sharp peck or (we at

intervals as though to remind her that she. was really.

-and North. America,

small Eskimo boy. He had founda nest with its two
eggs and then lay down on his: tummy with the nesta
few inches in front-of his nose.

His elbows were resting on the tundra and his chin in
his hands as he contemplated the eggs before him. One.
leg was bent vertically upward at the knee, mukluk in
the air.

Within minutes, one of the terns had landed on his
head and the other on his: raised foot! Dick Fyfe,
CWS, has a line photo, documenting the event,

Arctic terns are renowned travellers, enjoying more
hours of daylight than any other creature. In the late
summer, those in the Eastern Arctic fly across the
north Atlantic to the coast of Europe. From here they
wind their way down. the entire coasts of Europe and
Africa, and still farther south to re egions inside the”
Antarctic Circle where daylight hours ‘ar > again. very
long. Then westward to points: below the tip of South
America,

From. here they turn northwards ci many of them
fying the full length of the continents South America
finally reaching: the breeding
grounds within the Arctic Circle during ame time of the
24-hour day:

The . straight-line’ distance. of their migration ‘is

Judith -Barrett-Lennard who recently left for Australia.
: Squitti was formerly Barrett-Lennard’s assistant.

' Squitti as employment: counsellor. -She’ll be dealing with

- the majority. of “visits” to: employers on: the ‘Saanich
‘Peninsula.

almost equivalent ‘to - flying completes around the
world atthe equator!

And Arctic terns are very long fied: one banded
bird having lived thus for no fewer than 27 years! Just
for: fun, compute his lifetime mileage.

Arctic tern
had carried them so very far.

We had found them nesting. in small colonies, often
without any nesting material whatsoever. Just. two
buffy eggs, spotted with dark brown and lilac, resting

Cy Hampson Photo
While the terns at first. vigorously. protested our Poy f

invasion of their premises, they seemed after a time to
afford us some measure of acceptance and often
alighted on Mary’s parka hood as she stood peering

not kin, - ; ;

But perhaps the most delightful picture that 1 can
conjure up in connection with Arctic terns concerns.a

There? Soa ‘couple of. ‘changes. at ‘Sidney’s local: em-
ployment agency — Peninsula Employment Project (PEP)
—— a federally funded Agency now in. its second year of.
operation. :

‘ Joseph Squitti higads up PEP as co- a ordinator. ‘tépldcing.

~ Centre — sponsored institutional training in Victoria and:
around the ‘province, information: about . on-the-job-.
- training and wage subsidy programs 8 which Job seekers:
may be eligible.

. The office does not handle UIC claims but applications
-may_ be. picked’ up there. But if a person-has not already:
_Tegistered at Canada Employment Cenure: PEP can.
process tegistration. ;

Once. registered at the PEP. or Victoria CEC Squitti says.
“registation for ¢ mployment must be. updated every 28 days.
if, people wish to be. considered for: ¥ Jobs vacancies placed

’

Vivianne Ellington has joined the team, working under ‘

Brentwood Bay’ or
. Recent fire at.

Our “company is womens to ‘customer. satisfaction t COMPETITIVE PRICES
hn fact, our very philosophy. and growth as a busine $. depends. on

eos ona PERSONAL el, we profeasionly Ir

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