West Coast Creature Feature-The Curious Whiskey Jack

Adult whiskey jack by smallgirl

Juvenile whiskey jack by smallgirl

Also known as the Canada Jay or Gray Jay, the Whiskey Jack is a friendly mountain corvid that I frequently encounter while hiking on the local mountains. There are many subspecies spread across North America; the one pictured here is  the West Coast subspecies, P. c. griseus, found in southwestern BC and Vancouver Island, and parts of Coastal Washington and Oregon and mountains in Californa. They mate for life and usually have an assistant/helper bird while caring for hatchlings.

A friendly whiskey jack consuming seeds

These medium sized gray birds are curious and friendly. They have many nicknames, including camprobber, meat-bird, and lumberjack, due to their tendency to try to take food, or willingly accept food, from humans. They cache their food and retrieve it from memory. Foods include: insects, seeds, carrion, fruit, occasionally small birds/mammals. They also rob nests.

About the feeding photo...I have very strong mixed feelings about feeding wildlife. I am absolutely against feeding wild mammals (safety for the animals and the people), but I have read credible research supporting backyard bird feeders with appropriate seeds. Obviously me feeding seeds to this whiskey jack by hand in a wild space where there is food readily available does not qualify as backyard bird feeding. In this photo, I am continuing to contribute to this bird's habituation to humans (it is at a very well-attended alpine lake). Will this action make the bird forget its evolved instincts? Will this action help the bird cache more food for the winter? I don't know the answers, but I (selfishly?) cherish the moments when I can bond with a wild thing.

West Coast Creature Feature- The Breathtaking Western Tanager

Male Western Tanager by Smallgirl

This flashy bird migrates between Mexico, Costa Rica, and the West Coast. This year, we were lucky enough to have this beauty visit our garden for a few days.

West Coast Creature Feature-The Beautiful Banana Slug

On May 24, I spent about 20 minutes watching urban elementary school students interact with this banana slug. It was amazing, because half an hour before meeting the slug, the students were afraid to leave the path for fear of getting "dirty"
by smallgirl

Yes, banana slugs are beautiful!! These fabulous friends of the forest can be found in West Coast rainforests, and are the largest slug species native to the area. A banana slug is a "decomposer," meaning that it helps break down organic materials on the forest floor. These amazing creatures have no legs, so rely on slime to propel themselves across the forest floor. They actually move quite fast and are very friendly! I love picking up banana slugs and introducing them to children, who are fascinated by their tentacles (used to sense light) and sliminess.

Have a fantastic weekend!

West Coast Creature Feature- The Easter Bunny, or Not so Silly Rabbits!

"Psst...Teddy Forest is the funnest place ever!"

April Fools! And Happy Belated Easter! This West Creature Feature is brought to you by Pikachu and Perriwinkle, the (mostly) friendly rabbits in Teddy Forest. These little fellas were adopted from the local animal shelter, after being dumped in the wet West Coast streets. Now, the frolick around Teddy Forest and have as much food and love as they could possibly want.

Pickachu!!!

Pickachu says: "Did you know that most wild rabbits in North America are escapees or dumped pets gone wild?" 

Perriwinkle!!!

Perriwinkle says: "The most common local native rabbit is actually not a rabbit, but a snowshoe hare."

We hope you enjoyed this special West Coast Creature Feature!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Elegant Northern Pintail

Northern pintail by smallgirl

I've had the fantastic privledge of being able to observe a pair of these beautiful ducks at a pond within walking distance of my home. Alhough it is in an urban area, the entire coast is part of the Pacific Flyway, which migratory birds use to travel up and down the continent.

The Northern Pintail is a very worldly bird- although it often winters on the West Coast, its range extends across North America, northern Europe and Asian, and it nests in Central America and north central Africa.

West Coast Creature Feature- The Sweet Little Northern Saw-whet Owl

Snoopy, the northern saw-whet owl by smallgirl

The northern saw-whet owl is a wee little owl that lives in West Coast forests. This little fella was hit by a car and could not be released back to the wild by the wildlife rehabilitation group that found it, so he is now used to educate people about owls. Litter along roadsides attracts mice and rats, which in turn attracts owls, results in hundreds of owls being hit by car each year, so don't throw stuff out of your car windows folks!

Northern saw-whet owl ATC painted by smallgirl

West Coast Creature Feature- Beautiful Barrow's Goldeneye



Barrow's goldeneye by smallgirl-apologies for the blurriness-it was raining

Walking in the rain by the sea is more fun than it sounds. One of my favourite winter activities is birding along the seashore, mostly to observe these guys.

Barrow's goldeneye overwinter on the West Coast. It brings me such pleasure to go down to the sea and observe them, swimming and hunting in huge rafts. You can identify this threatened species from common goldeneye by looking at the patch on the male's cheek: if it is a crescent (as opposed to a coin) you are looking at Barrow's goldeneye.

A simple thing that people can do to protect Barrow's goldeneye overwintering on the coast is to not run their dogs down the beach, or into the water, as it takes a lot of precious energy for the birds to get up and fly away.

Happy birding!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Funny American Coot

American Coot, by smallgirl-really sad I couldn't get a better view of the funny feet

Here on the West Coast, the American Coot is a year-round resident, although I have noticed an increase in coots in fall and winter, probably as they migrate here from somewhere else. I think these birds are super funny for a couple of reasons. First, they have these enormous green feet that look more like dinosaur feet and don't really resemble typical water bird feet at all. Also, they make this really funny honking sound something between a sneeze and hoot. Finally, they have such ruby red eyes and black feathers, that they look a little mischevious. Anyways, I'm a huge fan of the cute coot, and I hope you will be too!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Ubiquitous but Adorable Raccoon

 

raccoon family, by smallgirl

I love raccoons. I know a lot of people dislike their wiley-sneaking-fruit-and-crop-stealing-garbage-rooting-asking-for-free-hand-outs-cat-eating-hissing-in-the-night ways, but every time I look into a raccoon's eyes, it melts my heart.

raccoons at the pond by smallgirl

Raccoons are highly intelligent, well-adapted forest and urban dwelling mammals. While typically nocturnal unless ill, where I live, healthy raccoons can also be observed in urban areas because they have learned to beg for food from humans. Feeding raccoons is a bad, bad idea folks! They are smart enough to get their own food, yet also smart enough to know that they don't have to when people are around. At the local forest (natural food like banana slugs, fish, clams, frogs, small mammals, berries, and mushrooms are abundant here), young children have been bitten and hissed at where I have observed people feeding raccoons unnatural foods such as chocolate, brussells sprouts, bread, and dog biscuits. Once, when I refused a raccoon food, it started tugging at my pant legs with its paws and tapping my shoes. Negative encounters lead to conflict and possibly deadly concequences for the raccoons.

 

young raccoon, by smallgirl

So, have a fun look-but-don't-feed-the-raccoons weekend!



West Coast Creature Feature- The Friendly White Crowned Sparrow

white crowned sparrow, photographed by smallgirl

The white crowned sparrow is present all over North America in winter, but lives year round on the West Coast. Researchers have documented that white crowned sparrows have a different song on the West Coast than in other parts of North America. These friendly birds are curious ground feeders; I have noticed in my experience that they are less likely to fly away when approached.

What are you up to today?
White crowned sparrow, photographed by smallgirl

Try to spot one of these cuties sometime. Happy birding!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Somewhat Intimidating Sandhill Crane

Sandhill crane family, photographed by smallgirl

This month's West Coast Creature feature is the Sandhill Crane, a bird that I find a bit intimidating. The first time I saw one, it scared me because I rounded the corner on a local nature trail and BAM there it was, with its huge beak and yellow eyes. I wasn't expecting to see one and I'm rather petite, and it came up to at least my chest level. In my area, the resident sandhill cranes are known to be aggressive sometimes, which is understandable if nature nerds like me pop out of nowhere and surprise them. Anyways, the sandhill crane is beautiful, majestic, and can be found in wetlands all over North America, if you are lucky to spot one.

Happy birding!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Terrifying Carnivorous Round-leaved Sundew

It looks as though Teddy Forest is fast evolving into a nature blog, but fear not! The bears still live in Teddy Forest and will be reporting soon. It's just that now that nice weather is finally upon us, I'm spending more time outside exploring than inside making. So, here is an amazing plant I want to share with you...



Round-leaved sundew, by smallgirl

Strictly, the round-leaved sundew is not a West Coast "creature," as it is a plant and a widespread species in Northern Europe, Asia and North America. Here, it lives in the Pacific Northwest and southern Alaska. It is fascinating to observe as it devours mosquitoes and damselflies. Like our friends the bats and birds, this plant is beneficial to humans in its control of insects. In my area, it is considered locally rare as urban development has destroyed much of its wetland habitat. Lately, I have been involved in restoring a bog, one of only two remaining bog habitats in my city, and home to the round-leaved sundew.
PS: I am absolutely loving West Coast bogs and wetlands lately. I've been reading David M. Carrol's Swampwalker Journal, about wetlands in the Eastern States, but we have our share on the West Coast too, so get out there to respect and enjoy them and all that lives there!!

Happy bogging!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Beautiful Barn Swallow

barn swallows in nest, photographed by smallgirl

While not strictly a "west coast" animal, as they are found all over the world, the barn swallow is a beautiful sight here on the West Coast. Although common, its numbers have declined in Washington state and is "blue-listed" (special concern) in British Columbia. These wonderful birds help farmers and the wider population by controlling insects, so thank a barn swallow today!

Fly high and have a lovely day today!

West Coast Creature Feature- The Adorable Douglas Squirrel

Douglas Squirrell by smallgirl

These adorable little fellows inhabit west coast old growth forests from California to Alaska. They feast on the seeds in the cones of Douglas-fir, devour delicious mushrooms that thrive in the damp rainforest, and enjoy salmonberries in the spring and summer. Watching them frolicking in the forest is delightful and amusing.

West Coast Creature Feature-The Fabulous Ensatina

Ensatina by smallgirl

This is one of my most favourite animals, not only in beautiful Teddy Forest, but in the whole wide world! It is the incredible ensatina salamander, sometimes called a red salamander (Ensatina escholtzii). These wonderful creatures are special because they are "lungless" amphibians that breathe throught their skin. Unlike most amphibians, ensatinas spend their whole lives on land, enjoying the woody debris of moist, cool rainforests. If you go into the rainforest and hope to find one, gently move a log or piece of bark to see if there is an ensatina beneath. Since ensatinas love woody debris so much, it's best not to jump on or put your whole weight on logs, bark, and other woody debris on the forest floor.
Have a super-salamander day!

West Coast Creature Feature- The Spectacular Anna's Hummingbird

Here at Teddy Forest, the bears and I are very interested in local ecology, so we have decided to add a West Coast Creature Feature. At least once a month, we will feature a fantastical creature that lives in our wonderful rainforest!

We'll start with the spectacular Anna's Hummingbird.

Photo by smallgirl, April 30 2012

This 4-inch hummingbird lives on the Pacific Coast from California to British Columbia. It emits a high-pitch squeek and can often be seen chirping at the tops of twiggy trees, shining like a tiny green or red jewel. The female is green while the male is green with a red head. This particular Anna's hummingbird is well camouflaged in her tiny nest. I was so excited when I found her that I thought I might faint! This is the first nest I've ever seen, although Anna's hummingbirds are numerous in the rainforest. Do you ever see hummingbirds?