I had an opportunity this week to submit an article to Miss604.com, on behalf of Stanley Park Ecology Society. It’s always a pleasure to volunteer for SPES, and it’s exciting to appear on Rebecca’s (Miss604) blog; she has a huge following. I hope you enjoy it. Here’s the link: The Harlequin Ducks of Stanley Park
I have been a nature photographer for a long time. Transferring some of those skills over to graphic design is a relatively new exercise for me. I don’t think of myself as a graphic designer—in my job I have the privilege of working with some very good ones—but when you work in the non-profit world, you …
It has been a very good year. From wandering the moody shorelines of Vancouver’s Stanley Park, to cruising Norway’s fjords, touring Berlin and Prague, and exploring Australia and the South Pacific, I can say that I have covered more kilometres this year than ever before. Here are my favourite images from this year. These first …
Traveling by cruise ship is one of the best ways on earth to see some pretty cool wildlife. There’s a whole range of animals that you can only see at sea, and pelagic birds, in particular, are a real treat. Pelagic just means ocean-going; there’s a variety of birds that are practically never seen from …
I’ve spent a fair bit of time crossing this country from one end to the other, and I’ve come to realize that to really understand this nation, there are a few experiences that every Canadian should have at least once. Every Canadian should be in Ottawa for Canada Day, for example. Everyone should drink Caribou …
Read more “Fishing in the Whiteshell: The Perfect Canadian Getaway”
I’ve been a naturalist long enough to know that as soon as you project human values on the animal world, it’s going to come back and bite you. Let’s face it: eagles are far from noble, no matter how much they look the part. Owls are no wiser than any other bird of prey, and …
They’re loud, greedy, invasive, polluting and aggressive. They eat anything that moves and a lot of things that don’t. Hate them if you will, but seagulls are 100% badass. Here are the secrets to their astounding success. 1. Communicate. Loudly. Oh, I know what you’re thinking. “They screech and they squawk; you call that communicating?” …
Apparently river otters never got the memo about staying in the rivers. I’m a compulsive explainer. Wait, let me explain: I have worked as an interpretive naturalist for a very long time, and I really love what I do. So when I’m out for a walk, just minding my own business enjoying the fall colours, …
When you walk the same route every week of the year, you become finely attuned to the passing of the seasons. I spend at least part of every day wishing I had my camera with me—walking by scene after scene, trying to emblazon it on my memory, resolving that next time I’ll have my Nikon. …