Well, here we are facing stepped-up COVID restrictions again; it’s important to stop the variants in their tracks! But how nice to get outside in these lengthening days and seeing what nature has to offer. Many are out gardening in the fresh air and sunshine and dreaming of fresh vegetables. Here’s a great resource that I get delivered to my email – Foodprint – with articles about growing and eating sustainably: foodprint.org.
Have you been hearing the frog chorus? Heavenly! We’re lucky enough to have a ditch on our street where tree frogs breed (hopefully no one will ever dump something toxic in there) and the tiny creatures sing all night long in the spring. Later in the season these bright green creatures can sometimes be seen hiding in the garden or climbing up the walls (where they earn the name tree frog).
The other residents I wait with bated breath for are the bumblebees – they’ve just begun “bumbling” around the garden recently. These are queens that have overwintered below ground. They love messy places (my yard has plenty!) so we’re usually blessed with bountiful bumblebees (how’s that for alliteration?). When the queens emerge, they are hungry and looking for those early blooms so please don’t spray. They must have both nectar and pollen to build up the reserves necessary to build nests and lay the eggs for this year’s generation. Favourite spots are abandoned rodent holes, leaf litter or even tussocky grass – so leave some messy, untouched areas if you want these bumbly pollinators around. They are normally docile – the only time I’ve been stung by a bumblebee is when I accidentally dug into a nest!
Long-term resident Angela Kroning welcomes new folks moving to Elphinstone, saying, “Let me introduce you to some of the wildlife in the neighbourhood. There are at least three pairs of bald eagles nesting in this regional area. Did you know that all bald eagles, their nests, and the nest trees are protected under Section 34 of B.C.’s Wildlife Act? This time of the year, the bald eagles are likely brooding. Nearby noise can cause them to abandon their eggs; this is not the time to be felling nearby trees, starting construction on buildings or running noisy cement mixers for outdoor projects. That kind of work can begin once the parents and fledglings leave the nest, to fly north to the rivers with the first returns of spawning salmon. This occurs near the end of July. A permit must first be obtained from the province to fell a nest tree even if unoccupied. If you witness someone disturbing eagles, you may want to let them know of the eagles’ presence and the law protecting them. If it is to no avail, call the provincial Report All Polluters & Poachers (RAPP) at 1-877-952-7277 or report online at rapp.bc.ca; take a photo or video with audio if you can.”
Thanks for that, Angela! She also warns people not to put out rat poison, since poisoned carcasses, even if disposed of in the garbage, can be retrieved by the eagles at our landfill. There have been at least two suspected cases of eaglets being poisoned by parents returning with “dinner” from the landfill.
Important reminder of the Elphinstone Community Association AGM on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. by Zoom. Please contact [email protected] for the Zoom code. If you haven’t already, please renew your membership as it assists in running the organization. Because there have not been in-person meetings for more than a year, you can renew ($10) by e-transfer to [email protected]. If you are interested in serving on the board of the ECA, please let them know by emailing the above address.
Got Elphinstone news? Send it to me at: [email protected]
