Spring ahead
Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday, March 9 and ends on Sunday, Nov. 2
NEWS: Oak Bay library up for renewal /A3 DRIVEWAY: Drop-top cars keep thoughts warm /A11 HOMEFINDER: Condo market can yield gold /A20
OAK BAYNEWS Friday, March 7, 2014
www.vicnews.com
Bill Dancer, centre, looks for birds with members of the Tuesday Morning Birding group on Willows Beach. The group meets weekly, moving to different spots in Victoria counting species of birds before calling it a day and having lunch. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Birds of a feather walk together Christopher Sun News staff
A Tuesday birdwatching group that has been meeting in Oak Bay for more than 60 years, proves it wasn’t a bird brained idea to start with. Considering some bird species, such as the bar-tailed Godwit, travel 11,000 kilometres as part of their annual migration, they must have some intelligence. “People say crows have brains, but all birds have brains,” says Bill Dancer, who
Last year, the group spotted 240 bird leads the weekly birdwatching group. “They are not dumb and they have a social species. The record was 242. “Victoria is a very good place to see side, which is nice to see too.” birds,” Dancer says. “We are The Tuesday Morning Birding Group has met at “(Victoria is) on on the migratory path for of them.” the foot of Bowker Place and the migratory path many The group walks to various Esplanade at 9 a.m., rain or for many of them.” locations to birdwatch and shine, since the mid-1950s. they also organize trips to The group ranges from 28 - Bill Dancer other areas such as Esquimalt on a nice, warm day to four Lagoon and Providence Farm in Duncan. during a snowstorm. The average age of The walks end at noon. attendees is a little older and includes Dancer became interested in birds as a many retired folks, but younger people in child living in England. their 20s are known to join as well.
During the Second World War, he was sent to live with his grandparents on a country estate where there were frequent pheasant hunts and he became fascinated watching the birds. Daniel Donnecke has been attending the Tuesday birdwatching group for about three years. He became curious about the creatures five years ago. He bought a pair of binoculars, a bird guidebook and out he went. PLEASE SEE: Chatty eccentrics welcome, Page A16
Tsunami 101 - With The Experts
March 11th, 2014 | 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm | Windsor Park Pavilion, 2451 Windsor This public education forum will provide you with detailed information on THE SCIENCE OF TSUNAMI - Alison Bird, Seimologist - Natural Resources Canada TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS - Teron Moore, Seismic Specialist with Emergency Management BC (EMBC) TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION TOOLS - Ann McCarthy, Weather Services Specialist, Environment Canada PERSONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - Oak Bay Emergency Program THE WORKSHOP IS FREE; HOWEVER, WE ASK YOU TO PRE-REGISTER TO GUARANTEE YOUR SEAT. TO REGISTER CALL 250.592.9121 OR EMAIL egrant@oakbay.ca OAK BAY EMERGENCY PROGRAM (OBEP) “Neighbours Helping Neighbours Build a Disaster Resilient Community!”