Port Renfrew

Steller's Jay: Nature's Punk Rocker

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With their bright blue feathers, stylish mohawk, and mischievous behaviour, the Steller’s Jay is like nature’s punk rocker. Part of the corvid family, they’re known to be among the most intelligent in the avian world. They’re also excellent mimics with a large repertoire that includes other birds, animals, and even mechanical objects. I once heard a Jay imitating a Red-tailed Hawk, which is thought to be a tactic used to try and scare other birds away. These guys are truly something special so take a moment to appreciate the beauty of BC’s provincial bird up close.

Loup Creek: Exploring for Ancient Giants

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In March, I identified a spectacular grove of unprotected ancient giants along Loup Creek near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory. This region was heavily logged in the 1970s and 80s, save for a strip of old-growth along the river. Most of the old-growth that remains today along Loup Creek is protected within an Old Growth Management Area and a Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) for marbled murrelets. But a prime section (pictured below) containing dozens and dozens of ancient redcedars, giant amabalis fir, and Douglas-fir trees was left unprotected. While bushwhacking, we also spotted ribbons marked "Falling Boundary" and "Road Location", indicating potential future logging plans by Teal-Jones.

The BC government is currently working to expand WHAs for marbled murrelets. We've recommended to the Ministry of Forests that this grove should be added to the adjacent WHA, ensuring a contiguous stretch of old-growth is protected along the river, but we don't know whether they will listen.

Tell BC Forests Minister Doug Donaldson to enact both immediate and longer-term, science-based solutions for ancient forests by: 1) Emailing him at: FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca. 2) Tagging him on Twitter using @DonaldsonDoug 3) Phoning his office at: 250-387-6240

Exploring & Climbing Ancient Giants at Eden Grove

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While further exploring Eden Grove in Pacheedaht territory earlier this year, I came across another epic stand of ancient giants!

The grove, located near Port Renfrew, boasts magnificent, monumental redcedars in every direction and forms a perfect, pizza-slice-like triangle. Nicknamed the "Pizza Slice” for now, it truly is a slice of heaven. 🌲🍕

In early March, with the help of our friends at Expedition Old-Growth, we were able to climb and measure the grove's biggest tree: an enormous, burly cedar that came in at 175 feet tall and nearly 14 feet wide!

The "Pizza Slice," Eden Grove, and the rest of Edinburgh Mountain's remaining ancient forests comprise one of the most outstanding, unprotected old-growth "hotspots" on Vancouver Island, where over 96% of "big tree" forests have already been logged. Sadly, this rare, intact mountain is being chipped away at by Teal Jones, one cutblock at a time.

Time is running out to save ancient forest hotspots like this one. Without immediate moratoria, the Province's plans to develop a provincial old-growth strategy will result in a classic talk-and-log scenario.

Speak up. Tell the BC NDP we urgently need immediate AND long-term solutions for old-growth:
https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/send-a-message/

(Note: These images were captured prior to physical distancing & travel restriction measures being put in place. Small communities like Port Renfrew are now asking people to refrain from visiting at this time.)

Surrounded by ancient redcedar trees that remain unprotected and at risk at Eden Grove near Port Renfrew.

BBC Earth Features Port Renfrew's Ancient Forests on Instagram

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BBC Earth has featured Avatar Grove, the unprotected Eden Grove, and Big Lonely Doug in their latest Instagram story (which reaches 5.2 million followers!), helping to raise global awareness of the need to protect these rare and endangered ecosystems. See the story where I tour Connel Bradwell through the ancient forests near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory on their page here: www.instagram.com/bbcearth/ (click the circle image of BLD or direct link). Below are some photos from our day out in the field!

Takaya, the Lone Wolf, Killed

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Takaya, the Lone Wolf, Killed

Here are photos of the lone wolf, Takaya, which I captured just this past Sunday in the San Juan Valley near Port Renfrew. Tragically, Takaya was shot and killed Tuesday near Shawnigan Lake, making these likely the last images of him still alive. Takaya became famous after living alone on Discovery Island for the past eight years before recently swimming to Victoria where he was relocated by Conservation Officers to Port Renfrew.

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Run With The Ghosts Of Giants

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Check out this great short film by friend & filmmaker, James Frystak, featuring three trail runners using their passion to raise awareness about the beauty and destruction of BC's coastal ancient forests.

The film follows the runners through stunning old-growth forests like Avatar and Eden Grove and the brutal new clearcuts on Edinburgh Mountain near Port Renfrew in Pacheedaht territory.

As the last remaining old-growth forests of British Columbia are reduced to clear cuts and 2nd growth plantations, a group of trail runners and big tree activists come together to explore what it will take to save the endangered Eden Grove of Port Renfrew, British Columbia. Please share this and head to https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/take-action/ and sign the Petition to Protect BC's Endangered Old-Growth Forests and Forestry Jobs