National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This morning, my 79-year-old dad was out in the winter dark shovelling a path through a half foot of fresh snow to ensure his hummingbird feeders were full of fresh, sugary liquid by dawn’s first light.

And it wasn’t the first time.

He’s one of a legion of residents across southwestern B.C. and Vancouver Island on a crusade to ensure resident Anna’s hummingbirds don’t perish in the unusually cold weather gripping the region the past few weeks.