Haida Gwaii Naturalist Perspective - Birds and Plants (part 2)
(click on images to view them full size)
A bog walk?
One of the many things that I enjoyed about our recent trip to Haida Gwaii was being able to visit a number of abandoned Haida villages which are hosted by Haida Watchmen and also having the opportunity to get off the boat for kayaking and nature walks. There was so much to see and learn during this trip - I felt like a sponge - in a good way! The coastal islands have such a diverse ecosystem with their rock and sand beaches, shear cliffs, old growth forests, natural hot springs, protected inlets and bays, fresh water streams and bogs.
Bog walking boots - also getting in and out of zodiac boots. (EXIF data iPhone image)
Bogs you may be wondering - why would she be so excited about a bog? Well our most learned guide, Danny Katt (I mentioned him here) led us on a very educational walk through a bog (and for those who may be wondering - a bog is a type of wetland characterized by spongy, acidic soil composed of partially decayed plant matter, primarily mosses, known as peat. Because of its soil conditions it is home to very specialized plants). This specialized area required specialized gear for navigating the sometimes very tenacious mud and I’m happy to say only one person became disconnected from their footwear - meaning their boot got sucked into the mud and they walked out of it - luckily reconnecting before stepping in the mud (see the above image for our safety footwear).
I found the plants particularly fascinating as there was such a variety including berries (salal which seems to grow everywhere, labrador tea and sheep laurel), carnivorous plants like sundew, ferns, mosses and grasses.
Sun dew plant. EXIF data 200mm, 1/100s, f16, ISO1000)
The sundews in particular caught my eye as these are lovely rose coloured plants with fleshy parts that are covered with what looks like dew drops - this is fact droplets of a mucus like substance that traps insects which the plant then digests. These plants are perennials and have been shown to live up to 50 years. Their rather ruthless relationship with passing insects is due to the poor nutrient quality of the soil - they use insects to supplement their dietary requirements which I find to be a rather cool adaptation.
Western Toad. (EXIF data 200mm, f8, 1/200s, ISO400)
There were so many interesting species of plantlife and aquatic (non fish) in our sightings (including a Western Toad) that we generated a second list to complement the Mammals and Birdies list (part of our after dinner chats).
List of Plants and Cool stuff. (EXIF data iPhone image)
The Birds!
Oh my the birds we saw - so many varieties and with such interesting stories. There were marbled murrelets, a seabird which requires old growth trees for nesting and their story is so interesting! They lay one egg on a moss covered branch with the parents sharing incubation duties of 24 hr shifts for about a month after which the egg hatches. They continue feeding the nestling until it leaves the nest and flies out to sea on its own. These birds highlight the need to protect our old growth forests as their future depends on having this specific habitat for breeding.
A vivid carrot beak on the Black Oystercatcher as he perches on a rocky outcrop during a rising tide. (EXIF data 200mm, f4.5, 1/300s, ISO800)
We also saw so many pigeon guillemots that it became a bit of a game like the old VW bug “slug bug” game that some of you may remember. Black Oystercatchers were also plentiful and nicknamed carrot beak for obvious reasons.
Pigeon Guillemot with distinctive orange legs. (EXIF data 840mm, f8, 1/1250s, ISO400)
One seabird of particular note was the Shearwater we saw fly by - I wasn’t able to capture an image, but it was so amazing to see this bird that migrates between the Pacific Northwest and New Zealand each year. It has one of the longest migration paths of any bird.
Sandhill crane strutting along the pebble beach. (EXIF data 840mm, f6.3, 1/400s, ISO6400)
We also saw a number of Great Blue Herons, but a surprise sighting was the Sandhill Cranes which are such unique looking birds. It was fun to watch them nestled down in amongst the pebbles on a beach before they got up and started strutting around.
Tufted Puffin swimming near SGang Gwaay. (EXIF data 840mm, f13, 1/1250s, ISO 800)
Prior to this trip I had not seen a puffin despite living on the NE coast of Scotland for four years. I broke that dry spell by seeing not one, but two different species of puffins - Horned and Tufted Puffins which was very exciting and I managed to capture a few images despite them being so far away.
Pelagic Cormorant and her chicks. (EXIF data 840mm, f6.3, 1/1000s, ISO 4000)
Another highlight for me was seeing a Pelagic Cormorant nesting in a nook on the side of a cliff - as we moved the zodiac a little closer we could see a young nestling begging for food and as I looked even closer I could see a second and possibly third chick on the ledge. Definitely tight living quarters as those young ones get close to fledging.
Rhinoceros Auklet with a mouthful of fish taking off. (EXIF data 840mm, f6.3, 1/2000s, ISO5000)
However, I think my favourite bird of the trip was the Rhinoceros Auklet which is a close relative to the puffin. One of the things that fascinates me about this bird is the ridges on the top of their mouth which allows them to hold a mouthful of fish securely when they are diving. The second cool fact about these birds is the fluorescent horn which is thought to be used to attract a mate during breeding season. Ed Yong (An Immense World) talks about the specialized vision of birds and insects which is often used for identification. Their ability to see in light spectrums unavailable to humans has helped them to evolve for survival.
“For us, UV feels enigmatic and intoxicating. It’s an invisible hue lying just on the edge of our vision - a perceptual void that our imaginations are keen to fill. … The reality is that UV vision and UV signals are extremely common. “My personal view is that it’s just another color,” Innes Cuthill, who studies color vision, tells me.” (Ed Yong, An Immense World)
There were so many other birds and plants that we saw and I have put together a gallery that you can access here.
Still Processing all of the nature that we experienced
I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount and diversity of wildlife, birds, sea life and landscapes that we saw. It was a lot! I found that getting up at 5:30 am each morning and sitting at the back of the boat watching the sky turn from a deep blue to the morning sunrise hues was a deeply personal and spiritual experience. This was my quiet time of the day where I journaled or photographed what I saw. I also used the time to just sit and take it all in - there was so much to process and I’m still processing the experience as I review images and write these blog posts.
Seeing such a diversity of wildlife and birds makes me recognize and acknowledge all the more how important it is to protect this habitat so that we can continue to enjoy them and allow them to continue to live and flourish in their natural habitats.
What is your habit for seeking some personal time for reflection? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or contact me directly by clicking on the “Connect With Me” button.
Bald eagle having a mid air snack of freshly caught fish. (EXIF data 840mm, 1/2500s, f11, ISO1000)
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
