Rare Bird Found in Camosun Bog

There is a rush of birders to the bog to see a rare chestnut-sided warbler. This is a common species in eastern North America but is very seldom seen west of Saskatchewan. It was observed by Christine Atkins on June 25 and is still around (June 27). It is singing from the tops of pine trees near the 19th Ave entrance and is very hard to see.
This warbler was last seen in the Lower Mainland in June 2004 and interestingly it was also found in Camosun Bog. This really is a great place to find birds

this photo was taken at Camosun Bog  by a photographer identifying himself as West Coast Birder, observed and photographed on July 1, 2011, published here in BirdWatchingDaily.com. caption updated by Susan

Bog Buddy pics

Prince of Wales Secondary partnered with Charles Dickens Annex, Queen Elizabeth Elementary and Carnarvon Elementary.  The Bog buddy program started when our very own Laura Super was in grade 11 and proposed bringing her biology class to Camosun bog for a field trip.  Laura is now in grad school, Botany, in Hawaii.

I will update with a scan of a sample of the marvelous stories created by the biology 11 classes.  some of these stories were borrowed by the community for bog interpretation.  Last year, Metro Vancouver Parks used "The King and His Bog", 2010).  This year, "Spanky the Sphagnum Moss", 2011  was selected to be used by the Beaty Museum during Wetlands month.

Congratulations biology classes for a job well done and many thanks to our elementary school partners.  Teacher Ms. Cultum arranged for her class to respond to the activity with poems.  Photos are courtesy of Marian De Gier Design. Marian was there as a volunteer photographer.

How deep is the bog?  

Salamanders, tadpoles, and a little shrew

The attached picture is the cluster of eggs Heather found while pulling Juncus out of the bog on Sat. morning. They are not frogs eggs so we surmise they may be salamanders. If you look closely you can see the external gills.  There are also "tons" of tadpoles in the pond! All that croaking in early spring by the adults has produced a bumper crop. Frogs may be disappearing in other locations around the world but lets hope our Tree Frogs have found a permanent home in the bog.

    Gerry

Ode to the bog

I miss everyone. Sending my love from abroad to all the crazy boggers and the bog.