Diary

Week ending Jan. 6, 2008.

Three winter storms have hit; one after the other. Marit remarked that she'd never seen such big waves on Baynes Sound. But compared to the ferocity that struck a year ago, these winds were relatively tame. We lost power momentarily but it recovered within seconds each time. Good fail-safe engineering, B.C. Hydro! Of course, it helps to have all those weak trees blown over earlier. Let's see if we can survive the next series of storms that are due this coming week.

Erik, we've just booked our flight and bought our tickets yesterday. They're non-refundable so don't change the April wedding plans. I'm looking forward to seeing you in Norway this spring.

Remember how I taught you to pile wood so that it wouldn't fall? And your last stack stood firmly for two years? I'm embarrassed. My sloppy piling lasted two weeks, and I can't even blame this on the wind. You'll have to come by this summer and remind me of the lesson.

On the other side of the property I've started a new project. This unkempt area is the future site of my new chicken ranch. I've roughly cleared an area for the coop and will be installing a foundation and floor joints in the coming days. Construction schedules are tentative; I no longer like to work in the blowing rain and there's a lot of that expected. No rush. I've got three months to finish the structure. The plan is to order the birds immediately upon return from our Norway trip. With any luck we should have the flock established just in time for the next H5N1 bird flu panic.

Actually I'm more concerned about other dangers; the natural predators on the island. Hawks, eagles and owls can be easily controlled by netting. Raccoons can be more of a problem since they are becoming established on the island, but the worst threat is wild mink. Mink have caused havoc in many other chicken flocks on Denman Island. I'll have to secure the area, including wire netting sunk below ground level. Battle stations everyone!

Its a bit late, but Marit just realized what she should have requested from Santa Clause last Christmas; a good rain suit. Every morning this year she's taken her long morning walk. Ofter the storms seem to be at their worst while she's out. But so far its just been rain and wind. I understand other areas around us have had a lot of snow recently. And Norway is currently enjoying some heavy snowfalls. Here, well, Mount Washington currently has 380 cms. (and their alpine cams look really inviting) but we're only green and wet.

Our next door neighbour, Laurie, came out to spend a couple weeks here. She's a "seasonal resident" and lives in the lower mainland. We asked her over for dinner today and caught up on each other's lives. She consented to having a photo shared on the site.

Once again, Happy New Year everyone and I hope this first week of 2008 has shown promise for the rest of the year.

Week ending Jan. 13, 2008.

We'll soon have flowers blooming in the front rockery. On Friday Marit called my attention to these Snowdrops that are beginning to form flower heads. These are one of our favorite plants, blooming cheerfully in the middle of winter.

We need these morale boosters to help us weather the continual series of storms that pound the island; one after another, about three a week. Wind warning seem to be a standard feature of our weather forecast. But at least the storm track has been from the south this week and temperatures have been warmer, as high as 8°.  No snow. And more importantly, no power loss. The electricity has kept flowing. Bonus!

Another accident victim yesterday. This unhappy Fox sparrow tried to take a shortcut through our front room window. I assumed the worst when he lay with his feet in the air but  eventually he rolled over and got to his feet. I struggled for years to learn the detect the difference between a Fox sparrow and the more common Song sparrow. They both look similar. But when they stand still for close examination, the identification is a lot easier.

After the bird finally flew off to nurse its concussion, I attended an information session at the community hall. Representatives from "Island Scallops" had  displays and were available for questions and discussions. They felt it was necessary to counter the deluge of mis-information that has circulated regarding their operations and their application for expansion. It was interesting to talk with them and learn their side of some controversial incidents.

Progress has been slow on the chicken coop project. I'm a fair weather builder and only work in the decent hours between storms. (Or more honestly, I've wimped out with a cold). So I haven't yet completed the floor of the structure.

The floor joists are in place and have been covered with a 1 cm. wire mesh. Even if any predator gets through the  netting I've buried along all sides of that platform, they'll never manage to get through the floor. The 2 m. x 2 m. structure is mounted on cement corner blocks. And with a partial bag of cement that was left over, I created a large decorative rock. (I forgot to store the bag inside before the last major rain storm). Tuesday is forecast to be storm free, so I expect to complete the floor then and start on the walls. I'm reasonably confident I can finish before mid-April.

Its been a long time since I left the family farm and detoured through university and into corporate employment. But I clearly remember some basic practices about raising livestock. And one fundamental principle is don't give names to animals that may ultimately end up on your dinner plate! So Wendy, I'm sorry but I won't be naming a chicken after you.

Week ending Jan. 20, 2008.

Really! Just minutes ago we looked out the window and saw a huge broken raft of logs drifting south in Baynes Sound. Two tugboats were herding the logs, trying to somehow contain them and control their movement. It reminded me of two cowboys trying to round up a large herd of stampeding cattle.

Daylight was quickly fading as the tide carried them southward past the house. The ferry sailed just before the logs blocked its path. We watched as the lights of the tugboats disappeared down Baynes Sound and wondered how the the tugs could control the unraveling log boom in the dark. The tide will be running strongly until 10:52 tonight.

Those logs were not far out in the channel. We wondered if any of the oyster rafts or scallop farm operations had been damaged. Even the logs themselves are costly and the large raft may be valued in the six figure range. This mishap could be quite serious. Stay tuned.

Earlier, the weather has turned clear and sunny. The storm path has detoured around us and we're starting to enjoy the colder temperatures of a Canadian winter. Tonight's forecast is for -6 C. But as long as the sun is shining everybody's happy. Even the Red-winged blackbirds have started their chorus, and a few of the Golden-crowned sparrows have started singing.

I've had lots of time to play with my chicken project. I mean, work on the coop. Marit came out with the camera and took some photos as I was erecting one of the walls. For those of you familiar with my craftsmanship, I want to stress that this building is square!

The bottom photo shows the state of the hen house a few hours ago when I packed up for the day. The window is deluxe; aluminum, double pane, sliding open, and with a screen. When I picked it up from a salvage centre in Courtenay I didn't notice that it was a bathroom window with frosted glass. Well, maybe my hens will be shy when moulting and appreciate the privacy.

There's lots of exciting bird activities. There's a Brown-headed cowbird that failed to migrate and is staying here all winter. On the beach just bellow, over a hundred American widgeons have been feeding for two days. But the biggest stir in the birding community has been the sighting of a White-throated sparrow by Mikel Calahan. Its occasionally seen here during migration, but never in winter. She managed to get a great picture. To me, it looked familiar. Then I realized I've had two of these birds at my feeder all winter. They look so similar to the other masses of sparrows that I hadn't recognized their uniqueness. They're very skittish and I've tried for three days to get a decent picture. They won't cooperate and pose. That little guy in the centre is the best shot I could manage.

Okay. The coop d'jour. Only the two walls are boarded. The two others are still open. And the roof is just plywood, not yet shingled. So I still have lots of opportunities to play outdoors in the great weather.

My only other activity of significance was attendance at a special meeting of the Denman Island Resident's Association (DIRA). Three new directors had to be elected in mid-term to replace three who had resigned. There was a good turnout and three strong capable individuals with diverse opinions were selected and installed. I suspect the executive meetings will continue to be very lively. At that same meeting, the first rumblings surfaced to investigate the possibility of incorporating as a municipality. Currently the provincial government has reorganized  us into a larger territorial area in which we'll contribute a large percentage of the funding through our property taxes, but have virtually no representation in the governing structure. I think its called taxation without representation. Some people get upset over that.

Week ending Jan. 27, 2008.

It was forecast. We expected it. But the great winter storm was a complete no-show. Apparently our old home sites of Port Moody and Coquitlam experienced a complete blizzard. But at daybreak on Denman, we can only look to the mountains across the water. Marit and I were actually hoping for snow. We haven't had our share this winter. Its not fair. Whine, whine,,,

Two houses are now for sale on our street. Dick, do you recognize your old house? (we still refer to this as "Dick's place"). It has a great ocean and mountain view, but is not waterfront. List price is $329,000.

The property right across the street from "Dick's Place" is also for sale. (picture below). The house isn't quite as attractive, but its a waterfront lot. And it carries a slightly higher price tag; $439,000.

Incidentally, the white stuff showing on the lawn is just frost. The nights have been a bit cold; from -3 to -5. (The outside thermometer shows -1.8 now as I write on Sunday evening). In the daytime, well, I really need my wool toque and extra sweater when working outside.

I haven't mastered the technique of nailing while wearing gloves. Oh, I can hold the hammer but its awkward to fetch a nail and position it properly. And speaking of nails, I've discovered that the moon seems to affect their tensile strength. On Tuesday's full moon, I found the nails were continuously bending as I pounded them. The harder I tried, the more they bent. It was frustrating because I was trying to hurry. The full moon is the only influence I can come up with. Anyway, here's two views of the current state of the chicken coop.

The "fanny-pack" protruding from the rear of the coop is a row of nest boxes. I'll be able to gather the eggs by lifting the lid and reaching in from the outside. When its necessary to go into the building, I have a deluxe door; a recycled sliding pocket door that I replaced in our house. Unfortunately I suspect it won't be too durable. When I shortened the door by cutting off a top section, I discovered its internal construction. Compressed cardboard! Not really intended for exposure to the elements.

While working on the coop yesterday morning, about 11:30 AM, I heard sirens. On Denman, That's not a common sound. And at this point in this weeks report, I have to revert to a somber format.

I only know him as Jimmy; one of the unique characters on Denman. He wasn't exactly homeless, but he didn't have an address. He lived in an old van that he periodically moved to avoid conflict. It was always somewhere near the downtown core. Saturday morning his van caught fire and burned. Its only speculation that a heater may have been the cause in this chilly weather. In any event, the fire was described as quite spectacular. And when the fire was extinguished, Jimmy was found dead inside, badly burned.

I'd often seen and talked to Jimmy around the downtown area. Sometimes he was sitting and reading in the front seat and would chat as I came nearby. I found him to be a likable individual; always well spoken. As to his past or his current activities, I know nothing. Only hearsay. His passing was quite a shock to everyone, and the community will be a little emptier without him.

Week ending Feb. 3, 2008.

Last Tuesday we were graced with a minor snowfall; 4 cm. at the most.It was hardly enough to cover the grass on our lawn and it was gone in a few days.

But winter hasn't left yet. At 8:55 AM today the temperature was -4.1 centigrade. This picture (right) shows the current state of our garden. Most of the white colour on the house and lawn is heavy frost, although there still are a few patches of snow hidden in the shade of our plants. The garden is still producing but I just brought in the last of our parsnips. (Note to self: Plant a bigger batch next year; they were good). The brussel sprouts are gradually being depleted as are most of the vegetables. Except the winter leeks; we still have lots of them.

Marit has been trying out a lot of new recipes and been creating some great dishes, particularly using the "slow cooker" or crock pot. The winter harvest is being well utilized; she's a super cook. But I'm concerned that by April I may not fit into the new suit I just purchased.

This afternoon I became a real couch potato; stayed inside and watched the Super Bowl. I guess the game would have been more exciting if I really cared who won, but the last few minutes of the game were really interesting as the Giants made their final touchdown drive and then held of the Patriots in the final moments. However I was really disappointed in the main attraction; the commercials. That's the real reason many of us watch the show. In the past, there have been some great innovations in the content, but this year was a let-down. They wee just silly, not funny. I wonder if it had anything to do with the writer's strike? Or am I just becoming too jaded?

Since the week has been very non-eventful I'll cut this short. No accidents on the water, no fires in vans, not even any swans on the frozen marsh that I monitor. Just routine activities of rose bush pruning and chicken coop construction.

But I can't finish without showing the current state of the hen house. Here's how it looked this morning with the fascia and the new gutters. However the picture is already obsolete. Those two old tree stumps in the foreground have now been removed.

The next challenge I'll have to face is providing electricity to the structure; probably using trenched cable. That's tough digging, and not as much fun as it used to be when I was just 60. But the chicks will need heat lamps, and the hens will need "extended" daylight, (so they can read their copy of Poultry News in the evening). Besides, it keeps me busy and out of the house.

Week ending Feb. 10, 2008.

I didn't notice when these snowdrops first began blooming but its over a week ago. The birds must have noticed because they all seem to agree that spring is very near. The House finches have been warbling some extremely complex and beautiful melodies in the morning, sounding as marvelous as canaries. (Come to think of it, they actually are very close cousins).

The Golden-crowned sparrows have sporadically been serenading but this White-throated sparrow hasn't made a peep. I think its very confused; its not even supposed to be here. In this area its listed as very rare; only passing through on spring and fall migrations. Never in the winter. But this individual has been at my feeder for two winters. I just hadn't identified it earlier.

This week I managed to get semi-decent shots of the bird, and decided  anything that rare deserves to have two pictures posted. (No, it isn't in a cage. I just have a ring of 2 inch, or 5 cm, wire mesh surrounding my feeder to protect the little guys from predators).

There's a lot of interest on Denman about "alternate energy" concepts and a number of individuals have implemented some forms of solar electricity. Some are entirely self-contained and off the power grid. Last Thursday evening I attended workshop on "solar water heating". I guess "workshop" is the best description of a group discussing ideas and techniques, and encouraging someone to start a project. The concept is great; have the sun preheat water before its fed into the standard electrical hot water tank. Unfortunately there are also complication to be considered including freezing, over-heating, and venting as well as invasive modifications to the house structure.

I could envision approaching it as a hobby, costing more than I could recoup in my remaining allotted lifespan.(Sort of like raising chickens).

Speaking of which, my project and its associated spin-off tasks, continues. Recently, its been mainly spin-offs. Marit pointed out that the area was ugly, and I was making it even messier. She was right of course. So I've spent some days improving the area; burying access to the septic facilities and changing some contours of the surface slope. Anyone who has previously visited our home can probably recognize the change in this area. (The green string visible in the enlargement denotes where the fence will be installed for the outside pen).

This morning's activities were a race with the weather between rainstorms. While I was hurriedly searching for tools, Marit told me I should clean up that area of the garage at my next opportunity. Naturally I thanked her for the excellent suggestion and I'll certainly get around to it. Sometime.

Earlier in the week I installed an underground cable and completed the wiring of the chicken coop. I proudly and expectantly screwed in a light bulb, threw the switch, and ... blew the circuit breaker. Such an ego deflater. After a few minutes investigating I discovered that a connecting screw in one of the plug facilities had been left fully extended and touched the side of the metal receptacle box. After a quick fix; second time successful.

Now I'm just hoping for a rainy day so I can leisurely review the seed catalogues and send off my orders. Earlier, spring seemed so far away that I didn't bother. But its gaining in urgency. I'd rank very highly in the procrastinator's club, if I could get around to joining.

Week ending Feb. 17, 2008.

The colours in Marit's garden were vivid this afternoon as the sun shone over the Beaufort Mountains. There's still frosty in the morning but the real cold weather seems to be over. Earlier this week the temperature rose to 12.5 degrees behind our garden shed; a gift of the left-over tropical weather that funneled clouds and rain from the south.

I know we can expect another another good snowfall sometime in early March. It always seems to happen when we get too cocky. But I'm hoping the groundhog was right; there was no shadow at the prescribed time this year.

Another quiet week. I didn't attend the major cultural event last night at the community hall; the Free Store Fashion Show. It was a fund raising event to provide solar powered emergency lighting for the back hall. Many residents have spent months preparing their fashion statements from garments and material in our local "Free Store". Marit attended and said it was really fun; great creativity and lots of humour. (If Marit thought it was humorous, it must have been hilarious. She doesn't even chuckle at Monty Python.) No, Marit wasn't in the pageant. But she did contribute  baking for the dessert table.

For more information on the event and some photos, check Captain Keith Walker's site. Incidentally, the Free Store has recently been renovated and now looks reminiscent of a boutique. It even has a small changing room for those unsure of the fit. (Our Free store is similar to Thrift stores in the city, except the goods are free among islanders).

What have I been doing this week? Well, the  seed orders were finally sent off, (I'll be waiting every day at the mail box for delivery),  pruning trees and roses, grooming the winter vegetable plants, patrolling the beach, and developing a chicken play-pen.

Birkeland's Tip #2. Don't build straight structures on sloping land. It complicates even the simplest tasks. For instance, installing screen smoothly and tightly between two straight posts is easy; unless the screen is on a twenty degree angle. Try it some time. Its a good thing my hens are not arriving until the second week of May. Instead of panicking I can still putter.

Next Wednesday; two significant events. One: the Denman Island Garden Club will meet. On the agenda will be a presentation and discussion about our local SPUDS project. The other, and occurring at the same time: a total lunar eclipse. Lets hope we have a clear sky because the next such event will not occur until 2011.

Week ending Feb. 24, 2008.

Work began on the ferry hill. The road is being widened to provide a third lane. Currently when vehicles wait for the ferry, the line often stretches far back up the hill, leaving only one lane open. Anyone driving a passenger down to the terminal has to use the left lane. And yes, conflicts do occur.

Heavy equipment is necessary to carve into the hillside. And a mountain of gravel is required to build a stable roadbed. With all the construction, getting down to the ferry can be frustrating. Especially for those accustomed to rushing at the last moment. This construction is scheduled to continue all through March.

Surprisingly the contractor is bringing all the gravel across on the ferry. All previous major projects have used a barge to bring over the bulk gravel. The huge double tandem trucks don't leave much room for other vehicles and some get left behind. Earlier this week the ferry experienced overload on the 7:00 AM sailing; the first trip from Buckley Bay. Its never happened before.

The problem is particularly acute because we we have a smaller ferry; about half the size of our regular vessel that is in drydock until the end of June. To manage the increasing traffic that will occur from Easter and onward, another small ferry is being added to the route on March 20. the two ferries will pass each other on each sailing. Schedules are posted but what's the difference; just get down to the dock whenever you can. Hopefully the road construction will be completed by March 31. (That's their plan).

Earlier this week I had to send some house pictures to our insurance agent. Too bad I had to take them in the dreary fog and drizzle. Everything looks so much better this weekend in the sunshine. Today the thermometer rose to 13.2 degrees but it was definitely shirtsleeve weather in the orchard. Nature seems to think its spring. My garlic plants have sprouted. And a new influx of robins have arrived to join the stragglers that stayed here all winter. I'd insist its spring, but of course that doesn't officially happen here until the herring spawn; still another week or two.

The annual Comox Valley eagle count was held today. Denman Island participated this year with "birders" searching the entire island. I traveled the road and beach from our house to Scott Rd., about 5 km. north. Personally I was disappointed finding only four. Three of them were found at two different spots in the woods feasting on deer carcasses. (The turkey vultures have not yet returned). Eagles must have a great sense of smell. Even with their excellent eyesight they'd never find the dead deer in the bush visually. As to the total eagle count for Denman, I haven't yet heard. But I know there are a of eagles around recently as they gather for the herring fishery.

There have been a couple of casualties in my yard also. Friday morning I found a found a pile of small grey feathers just inside my chicken pen. Obviously a hawk took one of the visitors at my feeder. Another Junco lay with its feet up on our deck; possibly as a result of fleeing in panic, right into our window.

At the chicken pen I've developed a new talent. Sewing! I'd used two different types of wire strand on the fence; a close hardware mesh on the bottom to keep out mink, and a lighter mesh above. To join them I simply sewed them together with a long wire. Threading the wire through the mesh sounds simple but it took quite a few hours to complete. Now all I need is a net cover, but I'll wait until I'm sure there won't be any more heavy snowfalls this year.

Time to finish. Marit just got back from four days in Vancouver, and she brought a guest.

Week ending Mar. 2, 2008.

Every year at this time John Tayless gives a talk, Plankton and Herring and Sea lions (oh my), explaining the intricate drama of this annual phenomenon. Every year I attend. He may discuss the same topic but I hear new things every time. John is a retired marine biology professor who now lives on Denman. He's not only brilliant, he's entertaining. The talk was given in the old school; a two classroom building that was Denman's public school for generations until a new school was built in the 1990's. The room was packed.

Two primary facts were explained. First, the timing; due to increasing sunlight, thermal mixing of the water, and the rich nutrients, the plankton population is now beginning to rapidly expand. The herring spawn at this time to hatch their larvae at the opportune time for food and survival.
Second; herring are important. They are the "grazers" of the ocean feeding on the plankton. Salmon, seals, and sharks can't eat plankton. They rely on herring. No herring; no salmon, cod, or sea lions.

We witnessed the beginning of this drama today when Marit and I, along with out guest Ann Kristin, hiked down to Boyle Point on the southern tip of Denman Island. High clouds had begun forming at dawn and the temperature felt cold. Probably we were spoiled by the sunny
periods earlier this week that brought the temperatures as high as 14.5 degrees; too warm for jackets.

From the light colour of the water below it appeared that a school of herring had recently spawned there. Eagles were everywhere. Groups of sea lions were active. Gulls were flocking among them to grab scraps of fish that fell from the jaws of the sea lions. It was ... wild.

The sea lions were not only barking noisily, they were making sounds we didn't recognize. I thought they were belching. The eagles, well I now realize why they weren't around our place last Sunday. The herring haven't come to our side of the island. Incidentally, the bald eagle count conducted last weekend  identified 214 birds on Denman; 154 adults, 38 juvenile, and 22 that were soaring too high to be able to differentiate. That's a lot of eagles.

We finally had to leave, (the ladies were freezing)  but on the way home decided to stop  at Filongley Park. There we found the fishing fleet. Approximately fifty boats were spread out in both directions. The perspective would be lost on a wide angle panorama, so I only photographed specific groups of boats.

It appeared that only the gill net boats were fishing. There has been no opening yet in this area for the purse seine boats. Last year the gill netters were "short changed". The Department of Fisheries tried to regulate the catch and when they gave the gill netters their turn, it was too late. This year, Fisheries has simply turned them loose to find their own fish whenever and wherever they can. (I suspect the fisheries personnel might argue with my simplistic interpretation).

This is the stretch of coastline where Mike and I conduct the monthly waterfowl inventory. Today there were more birds than I have ever seen in the area. Huge flocks of scoters gathered at the southern edge of the fleet. It appeared that every species of duck was ready for a change of diet. I was very appreciative that today was not our day to count.

One very very disturbing fact has emerged. The fish are declining. In the previous few years approximately 120,000 tons of herring were detected and the Fisheries based their "sustainable" harvest on 20% of that figure. This year, after detailed scientific assessments, less than 70,000 tons are spawning. And the average size is declining by several centimeters. Many areas are being closed to fishing. Barkley Sound is closed. The west coast of Vancouver Island is closed. The only areas still open for herring harvest are this area of Georgia Straight, and a small area around Prince Rupert.

You know, years ago a booming pilchard fishery used to exist all along our Pacific coast. Now there are no pilchard.

I think we're in trouble

Week ending Mar. 9, 2008.

We've had ring-side seats for the rehearsals. Even these simple staged events look risky; I can see why they need so much practice. The scenario appears to be the interception and capture of a fleeing boat by a helicopter attack force. There's a huge amount of spray when the helicopter flies low over the speeding ship. Visibility must be poor on the water. Then the helicopter appears to lower an object onto the boat; probably intended to be an armed officer in in a real scenario. Quite dramatic actually.

They'll need more practice, just in case the fleeing boat doesn't slow down as this one conveniently did. Or if it takes evasive action, or if weapons are involved. I don't know if its the police, navy, or coast guard but rest assured, they'll be ready when needed. The west coast of Canada is secure. So the bad guys better watch out. (oops, I mean "evil-doers".)

In the category of drama, the only other island event this week was the "hearing" for the Island Scallops expansion. The Island Trust has been very practical. They have followed correct procedures, drew up bylaws to rezone the area to allow expansion of the scallop lease, and then called for full public hearing before passing the bylaw changes. Only three submissions were in favour; two were from Island Scallop employees and one was from the Department of Agriculture that originally approved the lease. All others were strongly opposed. This time most speakers were quite rational, focusing on the industrialization of Baynes Sound being opposed to the alternate recreational and conservational purposes that we envisioned. Yes, there were a couple of poems thrown in, and some unnecessary slurs on the origin of some of their financial backers. But in general the submissions were pertinent and reasonable. The trustees now have been thorough and fair, and have full documentation to support their decision if challenged. Due diligence indeed.

For me, the week's highlight was the gull identification workshop taught by Dr. Art Martell on Friday evening. Over 22 species of gulls occur in North America and at least half of them can be seen at some time in this area. Especially when the herring spawn. Each can be identified by small differences in size, colouring on their wing tips, shape of the bill, colour of the eye or feet, or shade of grey on their back. Easy, sort of, unless they're moulting, or are less than four years old, or hybrids of two species (common). Everything made sense as Dr. Marcell described it and showed illustrated examples.

But when he took us on a field trip the next morning I was overwhelmed and lost. All the factoids were scrambled in an unrelated memory mass. Looking through our scopes we saw a million gulls on the beach. Two million maybe. Juveniles and colour variances and ... total confusion. I'll have to take some time and get familiar with them one by one. Eventually.

Incidentally, one of the reference books that was highly recommended is now out of print. I did find two used copies for sale on Amazon.com; for $637 each! (They originally cost $60 new). If you can't afford gold or fine art, invest in bird books for growth potential..

News from the herring fishery: The season for purse-seine fishing closed last Wednesday. 6,400 tons were landed. The season is still open for gill-net boats, gulls, and sea lions.

On the home front, lour week was just the opposite of Toronto's. Decent weather and warming temperatures. Toronto must have mistakenly used a west coast Willie on Groundhog Day. I understand they have arrested him for fraud. (To my friends in Norway; sorry but I can't translate that). Our crocuses have been out for a couple weeks now. The rhubarb plantation is starting to grow. And the tulips are promising to put on another great display on the roof of our root cellar.

But we're coming to the end of the brussel sprout season (Marit says "Good"!). I just brought in the last carton of potatoes. And the remaining apples won't keep much longer. My turn to say "Good!" because Marit has made some great pies recently.

Sometimes I think I should add aspirin tablets in my bird feeders

Week ending Mar. 16, 2008.

This marauding gang of turkeys has become very unpopular in the neighbourhood. The amount of manure that 31 turkeys can produce is really awesome. And they're especially unwelcome when they decide to spend the night perched on a rooftop. Even the neighbourhood animal lover who for years encouraged their visits by feeding them now wants them gone. Dead or alive! Does anyone want turkeys? This is a serious offer. Any number. We'll catch them. You just take them away and either pen them or pluck them. No questions asked.

On the waterfront, help is on the way. The second ferry has arrived and is docked at Buckley Bay. It'll begin operation next weekend to help cope with all the traffic that's expected over Easter. The picture (right) not only shows the ferry parked behind the ramp, it also caught the train at the local "flag stop". Many people don't realize you can get here by train. Once a day the passenger car travels from Victoria to Courtenay, and back again. It'll stop at Buckley Bay if requested and passengers can walk to the ferry. (You may have to enlarge the picture by clicking on it).

Earlier in the week we had a scare when we noticed the ambulance drive by and go to the house of an elderly neighbour. After suffering a minor stroke, the 93 year old lady was found by a local health care worker. She was treated by the ambulance crew and tended to by Dr. Malthouse who was quick to respond. Her step-daughter came from across the province to give 24 hour care during the week.

On this side of the street, everything is relatively quiet. The garden is pretty barren, getting ready for this year's planting. I just can't rip out the last of the crops that are still producing greens. All the brussel sprouts have been harvested and the plants consigned to the compost heap. And for that, I'll have to apologize to my next door neighbour. Like all members of the cabbage family, brussel sprouts really smell when they rot. Bad! My compost pile, which is next to the fence, stinks! No wonder he hasn't been out working in his yard recently. On the next decent day I'll have turn the pile and rebuild it using manure and soil layers. Sorry neighbour.

Last Wednesday Mike and I conducted the monthly water bird count. We were a few days late but it was the first "window of opportunity" in the stormy weather. Because of the herring spawn, there were a lot of birds in the area. In the one mile (1.6K) stretch that we monitor there were approximately 17,500 gulls. The majority of these were Glaucous-winged and Mew gulls, with lesser numbers of Thayer's and California gulls, aas well as a few Ring-billed and Herring gulls. We even found one Glaucous gull (not Glaucous-winged); very exciting since they're seldom seen here. (Yes, I know; we're easily amused). There were also extremely large numbers of Red-breasted mergansers and Common Goldeneye. But strangely, some species were extremely scarce. One of our most common ducks, the Harlequins, were entirely absent.

This morning I had to take a photo of these primroses and dwarf daffodils. They seem to thrive on the blustery weather we've experienced. There also seem to be other special treasures popping up throughout the garden, like the white crocuses in the blueberry beds, and the purple ones in with the raspberries. I don't remember planting them; they just showed up. Must be a gift from the little people; Denman's equivalent of leprechauns.

Now, both Marit and I are of Norwegian ancestry. 100%. But there are a few Irish stragglers who have ended up on Denman, like Des Kennedy and Keith Walker. So I'll extend a Happy St. Patrick's Day to all on the 17th. (And I'll have to admit, I never did like my beer dyed green).

Week ending Mar. 23, 2008.

Earlier in the week Lise drove up to spend Easter with us. Great to see her again. We had some walks, played some games, but also gave her a lot of quiet time as she studied and did research. Her masters program in education is nearing completion and she's putting a great deal of effort into her final project and report. I trust Simon Fraser University well be impressed.

We also had an opportunity to talk over the preparations for our trip to Norway for Erik's wedding. The flight is less than a month away; we're almost in count-down mode. As Lise commented, the discussions made us feel and realize that it was imminent, and real. Time to get excited.

The wind was cold when we hiked down to the lookout at Boyle Point. In fact, its been quite cold all of March. Spring seems to be a bit late this year. This afternoon a real squall of blowing rain arrived but to my surprise the sun is shining again with blue skies this evening. Lise left in the rain, but should have decent weather for the rest of her journey home (unless the ferry is rolling too hard in rough seas).

This weekend both ferries are in operation to help cope with the Easter traffic. Both ferries leave the opposite docks simultaneously and pass each other in the middle of Baynes Sound. I notice they swing well away from each other during the crossing. It would be really embarrassing if they managed to collide in that wide expanse.

Out in the garden Marit noticed that the flowering current bushes were soon going to blossom. That means its time to get the hummingbird feeder ready. In fact I'm late this year. But so is spring. I'll try to notice when the hummer first arrives. Its feeder is now ready and waiting.

In other news, Islands Trust, as expected, officially turned down the rezoning request for the expansion of the Island Scallops aquaculture lease. And also as expected, they tentatively approved the rezoning for co-op housing and moved the matter forward to further readings. Both were/are controversial and I'm glad I didn't have to make the decision. I can understand and sympathize with both sides of each issue. There are no clear "rights and wrongs".

Last week I mentioned an elderly neighbour that had experienced a minor stroke. She's managing reasonably well now. Home care personnel visit twice a day to make sure she has meals. She's still frail, but coping adequately.
And to my other neighbour next door; I did apologize. I've corrected the compost pile so that its decomposing correctly without the "eau de rotting cabbage" effect.

Wow. Marit just rushed out rescue the lawn chairs and small table that went blowing off the deck in a new wind storm that just erupted. I'm looking forward to walking the beach tomorrow to see what new has washed up on the shore.

Week ending Mar. 30, 2008.

We always seem to get one final snowfall late in the season. Friday morning it came as expected. Nothing epic; about 2 cm. of wet white stuff. And it was gone by nightfall. Just enough to dampen any thoughts of early gardening. Some of the spring blossoms, like the grape Hyacinths, just seemed to shrug off the snow. But the crocuses didn't recover from the soggy load.

This reminded me of long, long ago before I ever drank coffee or used a shaver:  My mother used to wake me every 1st of April by exclaiming "Its snowing outside!". It wasn't always April Fool, occasionally it really was snowing.

The temperature has remained chilly;" -2 degrees centigrade at dawn. Spring seems to be a little slow in arriving this year. Our hummingbird, a male rufous hummingbird, just arrived hours ago. He showed up a few minutes before noon (just in time for lunch).  He's about a week later than usual but he's not the only late arrival. Tree swallows are usually seen by now flying around the marshes (where insects are more plentiful). Unless they came on the same flight as the hummingbird, they haven't yet shown up. I'll look carefully for them next Tuesday, on our last swan count of the season.

I've been reading the gardening books of Steve Solomon and have been very impressed with his knowledge of "west coast" gardening. (Its very different from gardening east of the rockies). I'm going to try his technique for potatoes, which involves double-digging and working organic fertilizer into the loosened sub soil. I'm even "chitting" the seed potatoes on my workbench in the garage. (That means leaving the potatoes in the warm sunlight to develop green sprouts before planting). Despite the day of snow I've managed to prepare the potato bed for planting and I'll report the results later in the season

Hey, I heard that, I'm not finally "listening to advise". I'm choosing to try this technique. So there!

We're having some problems with our ferry system. Rates are going up again in April and the fare is becoming quite expensive. The Ferry Corporation keeps raising fares to try and make the operation profitable. But for some reason, people use the ferry less often as the rates increase and the ferry revenue doesn't climb. Surprise, surprise! Last Thursday residents of Denman and Hornby Island staged a protest at the terminal in Buckley Bay. After demonstrating for an hour we all marched onto the ferry back to Denman without paying. (It probably would have felt more satisfying if I wasn't a senior and traveled free anyway). But we had media coverage, and had our complaints registered.

Hornby residents are particularly incensed. Their costs are double ours since they require two ferries. Just think: if a family of four, 2 adults and 2 kids, in nearby Courtenay wanted to travel to Hornby one weekend to see the sights and enjoy the beaches for a day, it would cost $82 for the trip. Unless of course the kids were both over 12; then it would cost $99. Down in the Vancouver area, travel across bridges is free. And at Langley where there's no bridge across the river, the ferries cost nothing.

So, our stable and responsible citizens merged with our local anarchists and expressed our combined displeasure. I was personally disappointed that the local police detachment couldn't bother sending even a single officer to keep our unruly mob in control.

Earlier in the week there were ferry problems of a different nature. On the other side of Denman, the ferry wharf was damaged and the Hornby ferry couldn't dock. So for a day and a half the Hornby ferry traveled all around the the island and landed at this dock on the west side. Hornby traffic got off, did a quick U-turn, then got back on the next ferry to continue the trip off the island. Apparently the Hornby ferry couldn't do the logical thing and travel directly to Buckley Bay. The ferry couldn't fit the new dock build a couple years ago. It rides too high.

Week ending April 6, 2008.

Despite the late spring and the continuing cool temperatures, I planted a row of peas. Not only that; I put in a bed of onions. And unless sanity prevails, next week I plan to put the potatoes in their already prepared rows. I know I should wait; its cold and the weeds haven't even started growing yet. But I feel compelled to dig. I may have to join Gardeners Anonymous and admit "I have sown".

At least the rhubarb (in the foreground) is growing well. The edges of their leaves are looking rather stressed but I'm hoping they'll improve with better weather. (Rhubarb must have a good calendar and a poor thermometer).

On Saturday morning the community was offered another presentation sponsored by the Denman Conservancy. Peter Karsten hosted a session on Mason Bees. Currently there are at least half a dozen of us raising these bees on Denman and it appears that number will greatly multiply. All those attending the session were offered a bee "condominium"; a block of wood with rows of appropriately sized holes. Shortly before the session, Peter managed to photograph his first bee to emerge this year and brought an enlarged picture to the class. It was an impressive photograph; a Mason bee covered with pollen mites.

I brought along two magnificent luxury bee "condos" for "show and tell". The housing was constructed with considerable craftsmanship and was meticulously painted with a preservative oil. Inside were removable shelves of bored nest holes, each fitted with a paper sleeve for easy extraction. Those in attendance were almost as impressed as I was when I received the gift.

Imagine my surprise when I received these two structures in the mail. I had been contacted by an individual that 10 years ago had been with me on the same original workshop that launched this explosive interest. In the intervening years this gentleman, who I know only as PG, has done considerable development and was willing to show and share. I'm both appreciative and awed. Thanks PG.

After coming home on Saturday I checked my bees and found indeed that the first individual had emerged; a male sitting around waiting for the girls to come out. Silly fellow, he's probably dead now in this cold weather. The ladies are waiting for spring.

But there are other promising indications. The clematis armandii that thrives so vigorously above our back deck, is slowly coming into bloom. And for the next few weeks that area will be bathed in its perfume. (That vine is also extremely attractive to House finches, a close relative to the Canary. They roost in it every night, and often shelter there in the day. Unfortunately the presence of roosting finches is not pleasant. Canaries need some newspaper lining the cage under their roost. My deck could use something similar). And this afternoon the Rufous hummingbird began to perform his courtship flights. He's established his territory and is now trying to attract a female. Good luck, fellow.

Well, only two weeks until we fly off too. Hope I recover quickly from the jet lag. After all, I have a very prestigious position to fill as Father of the Groom. Getting nervous yet Erik?

Week ending April 13, 2008.

Yesterday afternoon the temperature grudgingly climbed to 17.9 degrees. Oh, let's say 18; close enough. And we of course acted appropriately. Marit quickly had a load of coats and jackets washed and hanging on the outdoor clothes line. I painted a coat of primer on the bare wood of the chicken coop.

Several flowering current bushes have been sulking on the property. Yesterday I'm sure I saw them look upwards and smile. Those blossoms have been as late as the hummingbirds in arriving. And speaking of arrivals, the swallows finally appeared. I first noticed them Friday. But they were flying too high; I wasn't able to distinguish whether they were tree swallows or violet-greens.

Marit tried laying in the sun to "get some colour" before the trip to Norway. But she was disappointed to discover how incredibly boring it now is to power suntan. She used to enjoy sauteing herself for hours. Instead she potted a collection of plants to contribute to the Garden Club's plant sale on April 26.

I too went a little crazy playing in the dirt. I planted all my potatoes; one and a half rows of Bintje potatoes, and two and a half rows of Red Pontiacs. Since parsnips have a long growing season I put those seeds in now too. 750 potential parsnips are now laying in a long compost covered bed. Just wait to see how this barren looking patch of soil appears in a couple months.

Carrots! Last year I had a slight problem. The soil was slightly rocky and many (most) developed forked roots as a result. I called them Carrots with an Attitude. But this year I completely dug out a bed and sifted it through a quarter mesh screen, (that's about 6 mm.) And the first planting of several varieties were sown in that bed yesterday, along with compost and organic fertilizer. They should be totally laid back with no attitude problems this year. And finally, I seeded some lettuce and some arugula in hopes that salad material will be available when Marit returns later in May. Now that I think of it, I forgot radishes. That'll be remedied tomorrow.

With warmer temperatures, the mason bees began a mass emergence on Saturday. After being cocooned in a small hole for the past 6 months they were a bit stiff and clumsy. Many fell onto the ground, or were knocked there in a frantic amorous encounter. Much to my dismay I discovered that the local birds were aware of this event and flocked to the buffet. The carnage and predation was severe. I was shocked. These were my friends that I treated all winter; the golden-crowned, the white crowned, and the song sparrows. Now I had to stand guard for hours and chase away the little S.O.B.'s.

Incidentally, these shown are all new nests. The deluxe houses from PG are mounted at the far end. The emerging bees are on the back (north side) of the panel.

While I was working in the garden Marit called from the back of the house. Two boats, unusually decorated with flags, were parading south down Baynes sound. From the mixture of Canadian and Chinese flags Marit quickly deduced that these boats were participating in a protest involving the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The issue of course has become involved with the pending Olympic Games and the current torch ceremony. If there was media coverage, or an explanation of this small flotilla, I haven't seen it.

One more boat item: The Brico has been demolished. It's been a landmark across the water in Fanny Bay for as long as I can remember. The Brico had been beached and served as a "floating" restaurant for years. Marit and I ate there once but I'm afraid our review of the food wasn't too favourable. Maybe too many people felt the same way; the restaurant has been closed for many years. Its now been scrapped and the remnants were burned earlier this week.

Given time, everything changes.

Week ending April 19, 2008.

Another surge of arctic air has pushed southward. Fortunately, at this time of the year even arctic air is not as cold as in earlier months. We had some snow this morning, (the flakes are visible in the picture on the left), but melted quickly after hitting the ground. However, driving up the hill to the recycling centre, I found the trees and roadside shrubs coated in white.

The brunt of the snowstorm passes to the south of us. Nanaimo was hit with 24cm. Apparently this is the latest date that a significant snowfall has ever occurred in this area. Yes, I know, global warming; all those ice floes that have broken off must be floating nearby and cooling everything down.

But it must be spring. The fawn Lillies, Erythronium oregonum, are in full bloom. Every year these magnificent wildflowers put on a great display in the clearings along the shore line. I have a similar plant (shown bellow) with yellow flowers blooming in the garden. I believe its Erythronium grandiflorum, another provincial wild flower. (But I want everyone to know this was bought at a nursery).

This report is being posted a day early. We'll be leaving tomorrow for Vancouver. And on Monday we'll be flying to Oslo Norway to attend our son's wedding. (Good choice of wedding dates Erik; since its one day before your birthday, you're not likely to forget your anniversary). I probably won't update this site until my return in early May. But if possible, I will try updating occassisonaly from Norway.

Meanwhile there's lots of activity on Denman Island. More information meetings on our Official Community Plan; (I thought the vision statement presented in the last session was excellent. My congratulations to the committee.) And don't forget the Garden Club plant sale next Saturday. And the Fireman's Auction. And the Conservancy walks and the amphibian pond workshop, and ...why was I leaving again? Oh yes, the wedding.

Finally, I'd like to thank the International Lottery Commission for notifying me of my winning draw in the third category of the Spanish "Once El-Combo Combote" sweepstake. With my poor memory I didn't even remember buying a ticket. How much in Canadian dollars is 625,810 Euros? Sure, I'll gladly supply my bank account number and agree to pay 10% commission upon receipt. Maybe after my trip.

Week(s) ending May 7, 2008.

Fortunately the jet-lag prevented any sleep beyond 1:30 AM today, providing time to review the images of the trip. My camera took 647 pictures. And I have pictures and video from three other avid photographers. This may be the most recorded two weeks of my life, and I'll be including some of the images in the coming weeks.

The main purpose of the trip was to attend the wedding of my son and his fiancee, Hilde. Our first few days were spent at their new home in Nittedal, a "municipality" directly northeast of Oslo. In our terminology, it would be considered a suburb of Oslo. The picture above is taken in the backyard of their townhouse. Hilde is barbecuing while her father photographs. Her mother is talking to Marit. Our niece Joanne, who is standing by Erik the door, accompanied us. And the fellow holding the Heineken is a Lenny, a good friend of Erik who flew from Vancouver a few days earlier.

Just before the wedding we vacated their home and went to our home village of Berger, in Svelvik. Our cousin, Grete, was extremely kind and generous giving us the use of her house for the duration. Berger is a beautiful area located on the the shore of the Oslo Fjord. Its quite small, having about the same population as Denman Island. We felt very much at home.

Grete also took us on two trips; one to her cabin at Blindvanna,a nearby lake, and one to surrounding areas. I fell in love with the cabin and the area, and agreed to come back and rent the cabin in September. However, we never specified which year.

On the day of the wedding a chartered bus drove the relatives from this area, all 18 of us, to the ceremony. (I still can't comprehend how that huge bus negotiated the narrow winding roads and traffic circles). The ceremony was interesting. Unfortunately my Norwegian comprehension is quite poor and I couldn't understand most of it. But the vows were spoken in English for our benefit. At the reception and dinner afterwards I had the same difficulty, but I could see the sincerity and the happiness in the proceeding; the talks by the master of ceremonies, the speeches that were given, the songs and poems, and the toasts that were made. And by the laughter that accompanied, it was evident that every moment was enjoyed. Some of us spoke in English; Lise spoke at the reception and gave a native Indian poem of blessing at the ceremony, and I spoke as father of the groom. Everything was well received, and everyone agreed the wedding couldn't have been better.

At midnight Erik was seated in the middle of the hall; then everyone circled and sang happy birthday , first in Norwegian and then in English. It was his birthday on the next day. Soon after, Erik and Hilde left for their honeymoon. They spent the week immersed in the culture and metropolitan lifestyle of Paris, France; before returning to "quiet, little" Nittedal.

Incidentally, there are other accounts of our trip on the blogs of two of our cousins, Grete's Moserabben and Eva's Blog. 

After the wedding, we went with Randi and Odd, Marit's sister and brother-in-law, to their ski cabin in the mountains north of Kongsberg. I hate to call it a cabin because in reality its a well constructed house with all amenities. I'll use the Norwegian word of "Hytte"). There was still up to 2 meters of snow on the roadsides, but it was melting fast. In the three days we were there, the snow level dropped at least 30 cms. The rivers were raging and nearing flood levels as we left. And the snow conditions were too poor to attempt cross country skiing. In normal winter conditions this is a paradise for ski touring. The Telemark district is just over the west ridge; the north extent of the Hardanger fjord area in to the south-west; and the largest mountain, Blejfjell, forms the south-east ridge. (At least, that's if I got my directions correctly).

The final highlight of our trip was attendance at the Confirmation of our niece, Jenny Birkeland. (Jenny is the exact centre of the first row in the image to the left).

"Confirmation" is a formal rite in the Norwegian Lutheran church. It culminates a lengthy study of the Lutheran religion and is usually undertaken in the early teens. It appears to be a "rite of passage" into early early adulthood (although I might be later corrected if I have a misunderstanding). In any event, its a major event in a young person's life and warrants gift and celebration. And I congratulate Ruth and Erik (Jenny's parents, and another sister and brother-in-law of Marit) for hosting a first class event on this occasion.

Erik and his new wife, Hilde, also returned to attend the confirmation. And we  had a photo opportunity at the event to take a new family snapshot. The Birkelands; Harold, Marit, Lise, Erik, and Hilde.

Marit is staying for another two weeks. She plans to attend the fiftieth reunion of her school; see most of her old classmates, and face the stern old teacher once again. She'll remain for the Norwegian Independence Day celebrations on May 17, then return to "quiet, little" Denman. By then I hope to have fully adjusted to this time zone and be able to help as she re-emerges to a new cycle of day and night.

In a couple days I'll fetch the new chicken flock to help welcome her back.

Week ending May 11, 2008.

Gavin had them caged for me on his Swan Road farm Saturday morning. After a five minute ride across in a deluxe sized cardboard box, the hens were released in their new house. They immediately found the food tray and started eating. (Probably a good sign?) I kept the them in their house all day to settle down and get accustomed to the new place.

This morning I opened the hatch to their outside pen. And they were in no hurry to step out. A little coaxing with scratch feed finally brought out the first adventurous one and the rest slowly followed. But they soon went back inside. They've had many short forays outside throughout the day. But they rush back inside at any tiny provocation. Now I understand why people who are easily scared are called "chicken".

However, not all the threats are imaginary. Once this afternoon I noticed this eagle watching from just a stone's throw away. And the hens were all huddled inside. For them it must be a scary world out there. They seem to prefer just hanging out in the house, lounging on their roost, and eating whenever they feel like it. Sort of like today's teenagers.. Which of course is what they are; 10 weeks old and only halfway to egg-laying age. I expect they'll get accustomed to the neighbourhood and spend more time outside, especially when the weather warms a bit.

The weather. Still not fit to warm the heart of a gardener. The forecast is three degrees tonight, and a high of only 11 degrees in the rain next Tuesday. Yes, warm temperatures are promised at the end of the week but forecasts so far out are notoriously unreliable in this part of the country. Its hard to get enthusiastic about seed bed preparation. I still have last year's plants to finish removing. I wonder if the chickens would appreciate an old kale plant for dessert?

Marit, your arugula has gone to seed. But I have a couple rows of replacement already sprouted. Most of the potatoes are now up. And the peas have sprouted, but growth is slow in these cold temperatures and they're being ravaged by the flea beetles. I think Norway's had the weather we should have had this past week.

Marit is still back in Norway for one last week. We talked earlier on Skype and she reported that her school reunion was really great. She had such a good time. And her old school teacher was no longer so scary.