River Flowing

Nechako River

If you look straight up the middle of the picture, you will see a white dot.  That dot is a White Pelican.  They are only here temporarily until the lakes are ice free.

 

White Pelican

It was very windy by the water yesterday, and unfortunately, the above photo came out a little blurred.

Riverside Park

We purposely came to this spot near the river yesterday to see if there was any open water yet.  Hundreds of Trumpeter Swans and dozens of Canada Geese were congregating on either side of a long, narrow channel.

 It's like this every year. We can depend on it.

Nechako River

several channels have opened up

View of the Nechako River

The river is still frozen, and it looks quite barren. But, I see that I am  mistaken. Across that expanse of snow and ice there are signs of life, and they are coming from a creek or tributary where large numbers of migrating Trumpeter Swans have gathered to rest and feed.

The Flow of Water

Cottonwood Island Park, Prince George, B.C.
located at the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser Rivers
(photo taken October 19th)

The World Wildlife Fund-Canada organization recently released a report* on the state of ten Canadian rivers in terms of "environmental flows". It sites three factors that are threatening river flows:

• climate change
• growing water demands
• pursuit of low-carbon energy (i.e. new hydropower projects)
  

1. Skeena River, British Columbia - Mines, oil and gas pipelines, coal bed methane fields and hydropower projects all could "significantly affect the Skeena's natural flow and potentially compromise the watershed's incredible biodiversity and ecosystem functions".
2. Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories, Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan - "one of the world's longest free flowing rivers".
3. Fraser River, British Columbia - The Nechako River is one of its principal tributaries. "The Kemano Diversion moves two-thirds of the Nechako average flow from the Fraser watershed to the west coast for industrial hydropower generation."
   
4. Athabasca River, Alberta - "The Peace-Athabasca Delta supports over 30 species of fish and more than a million migratory birds each year."
5. South Saskatchewan River, Saskatchewan, Alberta - Canada's most threatened river.
   
6. Nipigon River, Ontario - ".... flows highly regulated." Efforts are being made to "restore flows to more natural conditions".
7. Grand River, Ontario - another regulated river with more than 100 dams.
8. St. Lawrence River, Quebec - natural flow "drastically altered". It is in a "declining state".
9. Saint John River, New Brunswick, Quebec - longest river in Atlantic Canada.
10. Ottawa River, Ontario, Quebec - "....one of the most regulated river systems in Canada."

* Canada's Rivers at Risk: Environmental Flows and Canada's Freshwater Future

More indepth information can be found at WWF-Canada

Beautiful Sunny Autumn Morning

Sunshine and Blue Sky

Yesterday, while we were in town, we visited the park by the river (Nechako River) to check if there was any open water yet. The spring thaw is well under way.

A small pond has formed on the other side of the river, bordered by the ice and the opposite shore.

Another zoomed in photo of the same pond, swans feeding, geese resting.

I almost missed these two trumpeter swans.

My World - Riverside Park

I would like to show you Riverside Park today. It is located at the north end of the small town we live near, about a 15 minute drive for us.

(click on photos to enlarge)

This is the viewing tower overlooking the Nechako River. The name "Nechako" comes from the Carrier word "Incha-Khoh" meaning "big river". The Carrier are a First Nation people of the central interior of British Columbia.

It was sunny but windy and cold by the river on the day we were here. The ducks were a complete surprise as we didn't expect to see any waterfowl this late in the season.

Fresh snow and lovely patterns.

There is a circular track in this area of the park, and this photo was taken on the far side looking across the field in the center towards the children's playground and picnic shelter. Beyond is the river and a house on the far bank.

The municipality does its best to keep the walkway cleared all winter. It is very popular with both walkers and joggers.

Adjoining this particular part of the park is a campground as well as trails along the river. The park wasn't here when we arrived thirty-two years ago, and the town has done a marvelous job of utilizing the land and natural surroundings. It's a great place, and we come here as often as we can.

That's My World

Gulls

At the river on Monday

(please click on images for better viewing)

The gulls were taking advantage of the river's low water level and resting or searching for food along the gravelly ridges.

I'm not sure, but the larger bird with the salmon might be an adult Herring Gull and the other one a Ring-billed Gull. Look at how the smaller gull stealthily eyes that excellent fish. Does she dare go closer.

Just a little morsel, please.

I did some research and found out that the red spot on the Herring Gull's lower mandible "serves as a target for the young". The chicks peck at this spot and "the parent instinctively feeds it by regurgitation". Source: Bird Guide

More wonderful pictures can be found at Camera-Critters.

Riverside Park

No work for us today; the weather is just too pleasant. It's looking very much like fall only with summertime temperatures. Jump in the car, 15 minutes to town, and then we're at the park. The river is so low right now that we are able to walk along the shore quite easily (I won't bore you with the controversial details).

My husband is walking ahead.

The seagulls are sitting on sandbars.

We go under the bridge and then onto a trail that runs parallel to the river. Tomorrow I'll post some pictures from the trail.

Placid River Scenes

Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!
Earth has not anything to show more fair.
~ William Wordsworth
Composed on Westminster Bridge, Sept. 3 - 1802

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
English Poet

My river is not the Thames in London, England, yet the feelings expressed in this beautiful poem are universal and timeless and could very well depict what I saw on a recent still morning (except, of course, for the city scene). "A sight so touching in its majesty"

River Trail

The trail begins at the park, proceeds

along the river bank, under the bridge
and past the boat launch.

An abundance of willow grow in this area,

and it has become a dense thicket. I heard
bird song the entire time I was on the trail
although the birds were well hidden.

Everywhere willow fuzz drifted

with some of it caught on branches.

There were several Crows here flying

back and forth. They must like it for the
protection afforded by the trees
and thick bushes, as well as the closeness
to the water.

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On the return trip, I saw a nest high up in a tree

near the edge of the trail, and not too far away
perched a Crow. I took this photo, and I wanted to
take one of the Crow, too, but the Crow was obscured
by some branches.

Have you ever been harassed by Crows? I guess if they
will swoop down on the Bald Eagle, they will probably
do the same to a human. As I continued walking, I
noticed that two crows seemed to be following me. They
flew over my head and from tree to tree. I thought of
Alfred Hitchcock's movie, The Birds, momentarily
before hurrying out of there as fast as I could.
That will teach me to linger where they are nesting!

I'd been trying to locate the owner of

the beautiful song I kept hearing
the whole time I was on the trail.
I was finally rewarded back at the bridge
when I saw what I believe to be a
Western Tanager.

Spring Melt

Rivers and Lakes are high
at this time of year.

Nechako River

Another view of the Nechako

A small lake near our home

has become very muddy looking.
It has spilled over and caused
some flooding in low lying areas.

Riverside Park

A strong arctic wind was blowing today, and the cold was numbing as I stood near the river taking pictures. It was hard to hold the camera steady in the windy gusts.

I wanted to see how the river was doing in the spring thaw. It was very swift, and the few ducks I saw simply moved with the fast flow. It was funny to see them zipping past. The islands and the river bank are still encrusted with snow and ice. There were flocks of geese flying overhead, but none of them landed on the river or the islands. There was also one lonely sandpiper at the water's edge and several gulls.

Nechako River

290 km (180 miles) in length,
drains into the Fraser River at Prince George.
Supports 20 fish species, including sockeye, chinook, coho,
rainbow trout, bull trout, lake trout, burbot,
mountain white fish and white sturgeon.


Two very brave ducks

Another view of the river

A feather in the withered grass

(please click to enlarge)

Came across this sign as we walked on one of the trails along the river bank. It reads:

The white sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in North America.

The Nechako white sturgeon is unique from all other sturgeon in British Columbia.

A large Nechako sturgeon can reach 3 metres in length and live to almost 100 years old!

There are now less than 600 white sturgeon remaining in the Nechako watershed.
White sturgeon do not begin spawning until they are 15 to 30 years old. The lack of young sturgeon in the Nechako means that an entire generation is already missing.

There is more about the Nechako White Sturgeon recovery initiative at their website.

Spring is in the Air

It's turning out to be a glorious day with the temperature at +7C (45F). I needed only a sweater when I went outside this morning to check on the birds. I think they are enjoying the spring-like conditions as much as I am. We're into the second day of this welcome warm spell, and the forecast calls for more of the same tomorrow. It certainly brings people out to bask in the sunshine.

I took these pictures at the local nature park where there is a viewing tower overlooking the river and the islands. This is a favourite spot for huge numbers of Canada Geese when they return in the spring.



A snapshot of the river. We have to wait till spring to see it come alive again with ducks and geese.



I'm in the viewing tower here. Everything is dripping, and the snow is slowly sliding off the roof.



This was taken a little farther along the path and shows some of the river's islands and the ghostly looking trees in the distance.