Category Archives: commentary

Alternative reality

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Alistair

  Nelson City Council now requires the head of every household to own a gun and ammo to “provide for the emergency management of the city” and “provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary | 6 Comments

An idiot

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Alistair

  This morning, I was repeatedly told I was an idiot. The backstory is familiar to the handful of people who read this blog. I am a nature photographer. To take pictures of birds, bears, or bugs, I use a … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary | 14 Comments

Lake length

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Alistair

  It will come as no surprise that there is a tremendous amount of misinformation floating around on the World Wide Web. Many of us might think that most of it has its origins in belief systems and that the … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary | 8 Comments

Thunk!

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Alistair

  A Varied Thrush just died on impact with a window in my home—not a happy event. It is embarrassing to realize that a couple of birds are killed by my home in this way each year. Multiplied by many buildings, this … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary, mammals | 5 Comments

Refugium violations

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Alistair

  These are the days in which the credulous and gullible are casually misinterpreting a Mayan prophecy about calendric cycles. Yet, even if Mayans had actually forecast doom for this December 21st, why would anyone treat such a prediction more seriously than as … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary | 10 Comments

Ogopogo revisits

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Alistair

  The ogopogo of Kootenay Lake has visited my waters again. I last photographed and described our ogopogo in March, 2012. Since that time, I have explored reports from another valley, and yes, both its behaviour and pictures show the … Continue reading →

Posted in commentary, mammals | 7 Comments

Provincial bird

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Alistair

  British Columbia has an remarkably long list of provincial symbols. Its approved symbols include a mammal (a Spirit Bear—merely a cream-coated Black Bear), gemstone (Jade), tartan (BC), tree (Western Red Cedar), flower (Pacific Dogwood), and bird (Steller’s Jay). It … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 10 Comments

Off leash

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Alistair

  I start this story with the information that all of the trails in this section of Kokanee Creek Park are clearly marked with signs that say dogs must be on leash. Furthermore, Park regulations are explicit: Pets/domestic animals must … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary, mammals | 6 Comments

A myth isn’t born

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Alistair

  In March of 2011, I captured a picture of the rarely seen three-legged killdeer. Last Saturday, I captured a picture of the rarely seen three-legged heron—this time in flight. Both pictures are below. Would such observations be sufficient to … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 3 Comments

Seeing the unfamiliar

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Alistair

  While rummaging through a bookstore nearly a half century ago, I discovered an interesting paperback. It was an English edition of the 1937 Dutch book by Marcel Minnaert: Light and Colour in the Open Air. I read it, reread it, and … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, commentary | 4 Comments