A Walk on the Wild Side

Red Eared Slider Turtle
 A non native turtle introduced to BC by pet stores in the 1960s

One of my favourite local places to spend a few hours is the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington BC.  At the centre, injured or orphaned animals and birds are cared for and rehabilitated before being returned to the wild when possible.  Those that cannot be released are provided life long care in spacious, enriched habitats.  In addition, the centre epitomizes the tranquility and diversity of nature, with wooded nature paths, and ponds surrounded with wildflowers, and even a Magical Field of Stones.

Patrick, a permanent resident Peregrine Falcon
who is subject to seizures. 

Wildflowers along the bank of a pond

Education is also paramount - through wonderfully informative boards that tell you not only about the animals in their care (including why each permanent resident cannot be released) but many other helpful tidbits, like what to do if you find a specific species of baby animals or birds.  Did you know that deer may leave their fawn for as long as 24 hours, or that baby birds often take several days to learn to fly after they have fledged from the nest?  Special events and dedicated educational buildings have also contributed to my understanding of wildlife considerably.

Casey, a young bald eagle.
He fell or was kicked out of the nest and suffered a seriously dislocated wing
which could not be mended.  He is now a permanent resident at NIWRA.

But mostly I go there to relax among nature - both flora and fauna - in a safe environment.  There are lots of places to sit, the paths are level, the volunteers helpful.  When I need an afternoon in nature, but have no one to hike with, that's often where I go. The residents have become old friends now - from Wobbles the Barred Owl, to Casey the young eagle, to Dougal the blind raven, to Knut and Rae the black bears.  I never tire of saying hello, watching them play, reading their stories.

Wobbles, a Barred Owl
He's always the first I visit, and also does public education in summer time, going on
walk-abouts with a volunteer.

Some of the least wild or dangerous animals are among my favourites - the Indian Runner ducks in the Quack Shack habitat, the turkeys, the ducks and geese and turtles at the big open turtle pond.

Indian Runner Duck.
They walk upright like penguins, and the don't waddle, they run!
They are hilarious to watch chasing each other around their large enclosure.

Wild Turkey
Who can resist such a handsome puffed-up male turkey?

Mallard duck

Duck and Canada Goose

Red-eared slider enjoying the sun

Turtle Logjam

Young Western Painted Turtle
showing a lovely carapice (upper shell) and beautiful red spots on legs and trunk.
The lack of a red slash behind the eye easily differentiates this variety from the Red-eared Slider.
This one was only about the size of my palm - the others were at least triple that size. 

More turtles, on a board in the pond, catching some rays.

The small fenced Wildlife Garden, so full of varieties of native plants, also houses a small pond of water plants, on which I saw a small lizard this trip.  He was too fast to photograph, but these beautiful lilies were worth capturing:

After visiting the animals and birds, walking the Nature Path,  and watching the ducks and turtles on the big pond, I spent some time around two ponds that are either new or that I hadn't noticed before - small fountains keeping the water moving, surrounded by banks covered with wildflowers, and nice little sitting areas from which to enjoy it. 

The staff and volunteers have been busy during the Covid shutdown, building new enclosures, improving the grounds, maintaining the habitats, and of course caring for the animals.  It's an organization worth its weight in gold, and one well worth supporting by visiting, buying a membership, and/or donating. 

A puffed-up bird in a smaller bird (that is, not birds of prey) habitat,
keeping an eye on me!