We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am.
Last week we hiked from near Second Lake up along the gas line right of way and then round past the Reactor Station on the road that runs down towards Thompson Road. Lunch proved to be quite an exciting time as a rather upset male grouse took exception to having so many uninvited guests on his personal property. He bravely tried hard to drive me away, no doubt realising that I was the leader of the group, and attacked anyone who tried to make friends with him. More than once he even flew up to bite the offered hand!
We all felt he was a very handsome bird when seen close up, and we all had a chance to get a good look at him as he maneuvered into a close enough position to launch a surprise attack. Only the males
have that jaunty bright orange eyebrow. The Blue Grouse is not a native of Texada
having been introduced to the island in the early forties since when it seems to have done well, without
becoming a problem for the environment.
I always think one of the nicest bird sounds one hears in the forest in
summer is the deep booming sound of the male grouse as they compete to
attract females to their territory.
JD.
The handsome male Blue Grouse that did it's best to disrupt our lunch break.
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