By Jacqui Birchall

You may not see them now, but the otters are busy and they’ll be back!

THE OTTER REPORT

Falling out of bed between six and seven in the morning and walking the seawall and trails in Stanley Park brings me enormous happiness.

My early morning walks in the park continue to be the highlight of my life. One sees the same folks day after day. I have been amazed that people stop and introduce themselves. Cyclists too give friendly waves as I toil up the hill on Stanley Park Drive. There seems to be a camaraderie amongst those who enjoy the beauty of the early morning.

You may have noticed the otters are missing from Lost Lagoon. SPES does not monitor the otters, but thinks they may have left the lagoon temporarily for denning purposes. Certainly, there is evidence of otters (their poop on the seawall) around the Lions Gate Bridge. Keep your eyes peeled on the beaches around the bridge at low tide for these rascals. Their poop is very specific if you are interested. They poop on the seawall edge at the top of stairs coming from the water.

A seagull enjoying (?) a tasty if hard to swallow meal.

BIRD WATCHING

Did you know seagulls eat sea stars? It takes them a while to swallow them and it looks painful.

Seagulls have a popular gathering place on the rocks below the seawall just east of the Lions Gate Bridge. It’s a daily spectacle as sea stars seem to be a favorite food. There are a lot of small fish running in that area too, so the herons, the gulls, the seals, and the cormorants can be seen fishing together.

The seawall is a favorite spot for eagles these days. They can frequently be seen flying above, between English Bay and the Lions Gate Bridge. Once you recognize their pretty call, you can easily spot them.

The heronry is a very busy place these days. The chicks are almost ready to fly.

The heronry can be heartbreaking at times. With the nests at the top of the trees, they are a veritable smorgasbord for eagles. Early in the day, the herons can frequently be heard screaming as the eagles attack. It is heartbreaking to hear. Some mornings there are dead babies on the grass. An eagle recently broke the neck of a parent heron as it tried to protect its nest. The body hung in the trees for days, too high to be removed.

A heron chcik awaits Wildlife Rescue after escaping an eagle’s clutches. (Tracy Ettinger Photo)

Recently, Tracy Ettinger, an early morning walker saw an eagle drop a heron chick. The chick survived and Ettinger stayed with it until Wildlife Rescue arrived.

You can watch the Stanley Park heron cam here.

Not everyone is a goose fan, but the goslings are so cute. Recently 32 goslings around teenage years approached me at Second Beach, sure that I had food. I only had my phone. Checking to make sure, they gently nibbled on my jeans and shoes before heading off.

Coyotes on the trails — just don’t feed them, folks!

COYOTES & FOLKS

Deborah, another early morning walker, recently discovered two coyote pups who had fallen from the clifftop near the Lion’s Gate Bridge. One was deceased, but the other survived. She stayed with the pups in the pouring rain for two hours until Critter Rescue arrived.

Park rangers have found raw chicken in various parts of the park. This indicates someone is feeding the coyotes. This is very detrimental to the behavior of coyotes. Experts believe humans feeding coyotes is leading to their unusual behavior. If you think you see someone feeding coyotes, report them.

Late in the afternoon on Saturday, June 19, the Park Rangers closed the trails in the northwest of the park between Prospect Point and the Hollow Tree near Third Beach because it was reported a coyote had attacked a dog. It is pupping season. At the time of writing, the Merilees Trail and the Third Beach Trail are closed from Third Beach. I imagine the coyotes are protecting their young.

There is much discussion regarding the coyotes, with some calling for their culling. I am a small woman who walks around 17 kilometers a day on the trails.

The coyotes I see are shy ghosts who disappear into the trees. I have never faced coyote aggression. I don’t walk with a dog. I am always amazed and thrilled to see a coyote.

NOTES & NEWS

ART IN THE PARK: Do you know about the Stanley Park Environmental Art Project? It evolved from the 2006 storm that brought down so many trees. Artists carved beautiful pieces from some of these downed trees.

For more information and a map of the pieces in the park look here.

BEETLE CONTROL: Have you noticed the strange rocket-like things hanging from high in some trees and at the base of others?

They are to monitor the destructive Japanese Beetle. They do not contain pesticides.

ENJOY IT, DON’T MOVE IT! At this time it is prohibited to move earth and plant products from Stanley Park and the West End to other parts of town.

REPORT GRAFFITI: If you ever see graffiti in the park report it to the City at 311 or online.

It will be removed.

POLLINATOR MEADOWS: Vancouver Parks has started a new program called Pollinator Meadows. “The long grassland flowers provide an important food source and habitat for pollinators including butterflies.” You can read more about this program here.

THE LIFEGUARDS ARE BACK! It is nice to see the lifeguards back at the beaches and Second Beach Pool. There has been a lifeguard shortage lately. One day several beaches were without lifeguards, due to the pandemic not allowing National Lifeguard Waterfront Certification courses, and apparently, some lifeguards had found other jobs.

Hopefully, they will soon have all the lifeguards they need. Certainly, it is a great job and the lifeguards at Third Beach particularly have a wonderful situation.

BEAVER LAKE UPDATE: Phase One of the Beaver Lake Enhancement Plan is complete. Those who visit the lake will remember the lengthy construction. A new robust outlet structure has been installed which will help to stabilize the water levels year-round in the lake, ensuring sufficient water in the summer months for all the species that inhabit the lake.

FIRE SEASON: There have been 40 fires in the park so far this year. Not good to hear.

BEACH WATER QUALITY: Did you know the beach water is tested regularly by Vancouver public health? You can check the beach quality reports here.

IT’S YOUR PARK - HAVE FUN! Summer has started. Enjoy!