Vancouver Island Nature Tours

Clutesi Haven Marina Originally uploaded by TheRainbird Early fall at the Clutesi Haven Marina. The annual Port Alberni Salmon Festival will be on again this Labour Day weekend. A $10,000 prize for the biggest fish caught. The Alberni Inlet is a frenzy of sport fishing boats vying for position and hoping luck will com their [...]

Bear on the Somass River Originally uploaded by TheRainbird For most of the year bears are not seen on the far bank of the Somass River. But from mid-August to late October this is the best place to see Black Bears on Vancouver Island. They are commonly seen on low tides at the mouth of [...]

Freshwater Mussel in the Stamp River Originally uploaded by TheRainbird On a recent excursion along the Stamp River Long Trail, or Anglers Trail. I noticed a freshwater mussel in the water near me as I was having lunch. I took this lousy picture. Not knowing much about them, I read up on these guys. This [...]

Common Witch’s Hair (Alectoria sarmentosa) Originally uploaded by TheRainbird This lichen is very common on the trees on the way up the saddle on Mount Arrowsmith. When I’m guiding I’m often asked if this plant is a fungus. The answer is no. Lichens are a symbiotic combination of a fungus and algae. As Jim Pojar [...]

Looking for Crayfish Originally uploaded by TheRainbird We’ve had some record breaking hot temperatures in the Alberni Valley lately. Yesterday it hit 34 C (93F). We’re often the hottest place on Vancouver Island in the summer. And so it’s not surprising that there are lots of places around to beat the heat! Here’s a quick [...]

The Alberni Valley is an exceptional place to hike. I’ve said that before. However most of the routes and trails are known only to a few local people. Here’s your chance to join some locals on one of their hikes. The club has only three rules. This is the third one, “Non-members are welcome to [...]

The Significance of Culturally Modified Trees Originally uploaded by TheRainbird A Culturally Modified Tree is government jargon for trees that have been altered by aboriginal people as part of their traditional use of the forest. Archaeologists survey areas proposed for logging to see if any CMT’s as they are called are present. CMTs which date [...]

Boggy ground at Pacific Rim Originally uploaded by TheRainbird One aspect of being in the Pacific temperate rainforest is the boggy ground. Wherever there is flat subdued terrain, there is poor drainage. The vast amount of water that falls on the land can’t be absorbed into the ground fast enough. Added to this is the [...]

Lyall’s Anemone, Anenome lyallii Originally uploaded by TheRainbird Wild flowers in people’s gardens have become much more popular in recent years. Most of us, coming from another continent, mostly Europe, are used to seeing European plants in the garden. Early immigrants often brought their own seeds. And people also seek out exotic plants from the [...]

Welcome Figures by the Somass River Originally uploaded by TheRainbird If you would love to see a black bear in the wild in a very safe location, this is about the best and most convenient place to do it on Vancouver Island. Across the river is a wild natural area that is frequented by bears [...]