I made it to the Granville Street Bridge this morning to check in on a number of Glaucous-Winged Gull nests I’m monitoring. Not only did I spot three new nests, but…

The first chicks of the season have hatched!

In Vancouver the start of summer marks the beginning of nesting season for our resident Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens). While many nest in colonies on rocky islands and beaches, some have taken to nesting on rooftops around the city.

I recently revisited four locations where I spotted nests last year while helping out with a census of gull nests in the city.

Here is another contribution of photography to the Why Evolution Is True website of birds photographed in and around Vancouver, BC. You can find the original post here.

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Place three paper clips in your hand. That is the average weight of an Anna’s Hummingbird (4 grams). This male was keeping watch over his territory at a local park. Check out those little feet! I recommend Jon Dunn’s ‘The Glitter in the Green’ if you’d like to be utterly amazed by these impossible birds.

Here is another contribution of photography to the Why Evolution Is True website of birds photographed in and around Vancouver, BC. You can find the original post here.

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

These tiny owls (with the larger females generally no more than 8” in length) are also one of the most common owls in North America. Despite this, there are still many gaps in our knowledge about them as they are secretive, nocturnal, and have irregular movement patterns.