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.

Anna's Hummingbird Babies

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The little hummingbird family I fed over winter had babies!! Three little zippers have been growing up quick right in my backyard and it’s been a wonder to watch them. They make little ‘peeping’ sounds and just melt your heart. More might be on the way as well! Ah, quite the proud sugar daddy right now 😊

Carmanah Valley From Above

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An aerial view over the stunning Carmanah Valley in Ditidaht territory. Flying over the south coast, one quickly realizes just how hard it is to find a view of unbroken wilderness like this.

Nearly everywhere you look is a patchwork of clearcuts, second or third growth plantations, tufts of old-growth sprinkled about, and roads - everywhere roads.

It can almost feel strange then to see a sea of unbroken green like this. Like an emerald blanket, the forests wrap around every nook and cranny, peak and valley, for as far as the eye can see.

Knowing that this area is protected fills me gratitude, wonder, and joy. As a big tree seeker, staring down at the tapestry of tall trees has my mind spinning about what future adventures in this valley might uncover.

The old-growth forests of Carmanah wouldn’t still be here today though if it wasn’t for hard-fought efforts in the 1980’s and 90’s to stop clearcut logging by Macmillan Bloedel. It stands as a testament to the fact that your efforts can and do make a difference.

Let’s keep working together to protect the remaining endangered old-growth forests in BC for ours and future generations to cherish and explore.

Carmanah Valley: New Giant Spruce Tree Identified

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UPDATE - 2024: We’ve since climbed and documented this tree with professional climbers! See the photos and story and watch the incredible video too!

At 12.5ft wide, over 250ft tall, and with a crown that is a world unto itself, this Sitka spruce may now be the largest known tree in the Carmanah Valley.

We came across it last weekend when myself and some friends were exploring in the park. After a long day of bushwhacking, daylight fading, and snow beginning to fall, its giant, multi-forked canopy caught our eye from a distance. We bumped into another group of big tree seekers before making our way over to this Goliath of the woods, shouting with excitement as we approached it.

Certain trees just enter into a different category of big and this would be one of them. It can be hard to comprehend their incredible age and immense size. To be in their presence is both humbling and inspiring, and fills you with stoke!!

The Carmanah Valley is special place. Protected in the 1990’s after hard fought conservation battles, it is home to some of, if not the the very best, old-growth Sitka spruce stands in the country. It’s also famous for having the tallest tree known in Canada, the Carmanah Giant, which stands 315ft or 95m tall.

With its sweeping valley bottoms and rolling slopes all still intact, it leaves you wondering what else could be out there. For now, this appears to be the biggest, but more could surely be in store. Only time and further exploration will tell!

The Easter egg hunt continues…

Anna's Hummingbird in Winter, BC

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Here are some portraits of my hummingbird pal. I hung out with this guy all day yesterday, thawing his feeder and watching him buzz about. These beautiful birds sure can survive harsh weather. At night they enter a state of ‘torpor’, a hibernation-like mode where their metabolic rate drops by as much as 95% and their body temperature lowers to a hypothermic threshold barely sufficient to maintain life. During the day, their body temp climbs to 40C and their tiny heart beats 1200 times per minute while flying! They’re essentially a rainbow glitter ball that eats half its body weight in sugar each day with the ability to fly forwards, backwards, sideways, and even upside down. How cool is that. Their iridescent feathers are incredible too - an effect created by microscopic air bubbles that refract light at different angles. I’m sure there’s plenty of magic involved as well ;)