Latest Posts …. Welcome
Short essays about amazing wildlife and natural habitats in rural British Columbia’s outdoors. Fireside recollections of rainforest, river, wetland & coastal ecosystems. I hope you enjoy the articles and my wife Christine’s photographs in the links below. The last “ten” stories are posted below. Please check out the Archives to view additional stories.
Safe Travels
Gordon & Christine Patterson
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Journal – Exploring Nature One Story at a Time
- Protected: The Company of a Ruffed Grouse
This content is password protected. - Protected: The Wonder and Beauty of a Forest Waterfall
This content is password protected. - The Deep Silence of Devils Bath
On arrival each step up to the viewing platform deepened the sense of connection to the land, the vista is a salute to the wild beauty and hidden stories of Vancouver Island, the Marble Maria, the Eternal Fountain. Viewing the Devils Bath is like sharing in a secret protected by the forest, a moment of amazement that lingers long after you’ve left, reminding you that even in the most familiar places, nature holds surprises that rekindle curiosity and gratitude. - A Birds Eye View
The wonder of a bird’s eye is more than just a metaphor; it’s a gateway to understanding Mother Nature’s ingenuity. The vision of each of our feathered friends is a result of millennia of evolutionary adaptations responding to ecological demands to eat or avoid being eaten. For instance, a birds flight environment in and of itself requires a precise spatial awareness, rapid processing of visual information, and the ability to spot food or danger from afar. - The Eternal Fountain
A karst feature worth visiting. Hidden to the north of the Nimpkish Valley, deep within the Pacific coastal rainforest, the Eternal Fountain lies surrounded by maturing western hemlock trees whose branches form a dense canopy overhead. The remarkable site is situated in the northern heart of Vancouver Island, along the Alice Lake Loop, a rugged 100 km active logging road, a circuit connecting Port McNeill and Port Alice. - The Northern Hawk Owl
There is great satisfaction writing about outdoor adventures. It allows me to revisit the feelings of special moments deepening my appreciation for natural wonders. We were fortunate to happen upon this magnificent owl in a place where our thoughts are easily held captive by elusive boreal inhabitants. As I write I again experience renewed amazement for order and comfort sitting in nature’s backyard; the symmetry of a bare leafless branch, an infinite cloudless sky, and owl perched with confidence creates an overwhelming sense of freedom. I can relive rare and beautiful sightings time and time again - An Omineca Story
A moose encounter in a nearby wood grove drew me back to a trail barely visible; subtle hoof impressions meandered aimlessly through a forest floor lit by shards of morning sunshine. Walking forward bush pressed against my wool jacket, leaving traces of white frost. I was hoping to capture the spirit of an Omineca moose in a photo - Patience in a Blind
As September arrives in Northern British Columbia, sitting in a blind in a woodland area has brought many joys and sense of pause to my family. Moss and lichen covers the ground, old logs weathered and bleached blend into the earth, and new growth of poplar and pine appear alongside, a sign of Mother Nature’s tenacity to renew. - Rainforest Moss
Moss is an ancient lower plant form, dating back 450 million years, yet has survived higher plant orders and thrived through a range of drastic climate changes and ice ages. World wide they comprise of 15,000 to 25,000 species, and occur on every continent and in every ecosyste habitable by plants that use sunlight for energy - The Black Bellied Plover
As winter’s steel-blue sky loosens and sunlight begins to warm, avian life emerges along the shores of Vancouver Island’s Hardy Bay. In a gentle and magical transformation coastal ecosystems are awakening in a riot of shorebird activity. As Salmon and Thimble berries blossom and spawning herring flood shoals and bays, large flocks of opportunistic seals, gulls, resident and migratory birds, accompany an ocean scent that revitalizes and teases each breath.
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