Category Archives: Animals

Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Will the heavy rains come in time for this year’s Chum run in Basil Creek?

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Very little water is trickling through Basil Creek, where Cortes Island’s principal Chum run occurs in late October. There have been few days of rain on Cortes since May, and some of the area’s shallow wells stopped producing in July. Only about 10 Chum were seen in Basil Creek during the 2022 drought. Unless water levels rise, this may be the second year in a row when there is not a significant creek for the Chum return. 

According to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, BC is going through ‘one of the most extreme periods of drought in recorded history.’ 

Continue reading Will the heavy rains come in time for this year’s Chum run in Basil Creek? →
Animals, Disaster, Politics

Chart added – Proposed Open Fire Ban; Moving towards a Dog Control Service

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Regional Director Mark Vonesch brought two Cortes Island motions before the SRD Board on Wednesday, September 13. Both were passed with no opposing votes. The first was to draw up an Open Burning Bylaw in the parts of Cortes Island within the South Cortes Fire Protection Area. However the electorate needs to approve the second item, a proposed Dog Control Service. 

Vonesch was on the way home, waiting in the ferry line-up at Heriot Bay, when he spoke with Cortes Currents:

Continue reading Chart added – Proposed Open Fire Ban; Moving towards a Dog Control Service →
Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Holy Mola! That’s a big fish!

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Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Sunfish sightings continue to surface on the West Coast and — Holy Mola! — some examples are pretty big ones. 

Jackie Hildering was astonished by a recent photo depicting an enormous Mola mola submitted to the Marine Education Resource Society citizen science project, which is collecting data on two different species of sunfish along the Pacific Coast.  

Continue reading Holy Mola! That’s a big fish! →
Animals

At the Cortes Library: Insects, a presentation

Sean Nightingale, from Wild Cortes, will be giving a presentation about insects, at the Cortes Island Regional Library from 5:30 to 7;00 tonight. 

“I’ve grown up being super interested in biology. I’ve focused on restoring ecosystems. Insects play an important role. They’re one of the most numerous animals that we have on the planet. They play an important role in ecosystems when it comes to habitat creation,” he explained.

“I do a lot of talking about stuff on the seashore, the forests and talking about insects, reptiles and amphibians as well. If someone had a question, like, ‘what’s this bug?’ – I was always the one who was picking up the bugs and didn’t mind showing people.”

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Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Kakawin breaching at Harbour Quay in the Alberni Inlet

Editor’s note: Are we going to be hearing more stories of orcas coming closer to human communities as they search for food?

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Port Alberni, BC – As the sun was setting on Saturday, Aug. 26 three kakawin, the Nuu-chah-nulth word for orca, traveled into Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay for what some would say is the farthest up the Alberni Inlet they’ve been seen.

Only meters from Fisherman’s Wharf, orcas breached multiple times, putting on a show for the lucky crowd who cheered them on. Soon, videos and photos would be circulated on social media to share the incredible sight.

Continue reading Kakawin breaching at Harbour Quay in the Alberni Inlet →