Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
When a humpback whale dies, it is — and should be — personal, says Jackie Hildering of the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS).
A young female humpback named Spike was found dead in the shallows of Malcolm Island off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., on Sunday.
Continue reading ‘Absolutely gutting’: Mourning the death of Spike the humpback whale
By Chadd Cawson, The Columbia Valley Pioneer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
We cannot talk about one spooky black bird one may associate with Halloween – the crow – without speaking about its creepy cousin of the Corvus Corvidae family, the raven. While there are over eight different subspecies of ravens, the one seen soaring above the Columbia Valley on the unceded territories of the Secwépemc and Ktunaxa Peoples and the land chosen as home by the Métis Peoples of B.C., is the western, or northern raven, also referred to as the common raven.
Continue reading Ranting Ravens: Intelligent and mischievousBy Chadd Cawson, The Columbia Valley Pioneer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As we kick off the month of Halloween, let’s talk about one of nature’s spookier birds, the crow. While there are 40 different species worldwide, the species we most commonly see flying above the unceded territories of the Secwépemc and Ktunaxa Peoples and the land chosen as home by the Métis Peoples of B.C., is the American crow. Despite its name, this member of the Corvidae family, can be found soaring across Canada (along with most of the U.S.) except on the Pacific Coast, where its close cousin, the Northwestern crow, flies in its place. The Corvidae family has many members which include jackdaws, rooks, and ravens, which look almost identical to crows at first glance but are slightly bigger in size.
Continue reading Cawing CrowsCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The BC Green Party has tabled legislation to uniformly protect bear dens, which double as winter nurseries, across the province.
Adam Olsen, Green MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, said the party’s private member’s bill is timely with bears bulking up before their winter hibernation — a critical period for pregnant sows, which give birth to their cubs in the safety of their dens.
Continue reading BC Greens push for provincewide protection for bear den ‘nurseries’By Chadd Cawson, The Columbia Valley Pioneer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Believe it or not, there are over 20,000 species of bees worldwide. Most are solitary, and don’t live in hives or make honey. There are eight recognized species that do.
Continue reading Western honeybee: Queen, her workers, and drones
