Next hike.

The next hike will be on Saturday, 4th June.

We meet at the Ball Park in Gillies Bay at 10:00am

Here is a request for volunteers to help with an outdoor activity event planned for late August on Texada. Monica Garvin monicagarvin@yahoo.com asked me to post this note:—

"Texada Island is holding it's very first Marathon / 1/2 Marathon on Sunday, August 28th. An event like this is a fantastic way to get people to come and visit our amazing Island! As with all amazing events it needs the help of volunteers to make it a success. Be a part of "Run the Rock Marathon and 1/2 Marathon" without even breaking a sweat!

Please email me back if you are interested. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you think may like to help us out!"

On a recent hike we visited the beach along the section north from Sandbanks and, just as I had planned it, we were entertained by some Harbour Porpoises. Quite a few of these very small marine mammals have been spending most of the summer months along this part of our coastline for the last three years or so. There are two photos this week. The one of a tug boat with the back and dorsal fin of a porpoise in the foreground is my photo taken on that recent hike. The other was taken by someone at the Vancouver Aquarium and shows a young Harbour Porpoise that was rescued last month near Victoria. It proved to be very sick and did not survive, but the picture shows the small size of this species. I believe it's the smallest of the marine mammals and they are now listed as a "species at risk" and have been granted some degree of legal protection.

JD.

Harbour Porpoise at Cox Lagoon, Texada Island.

Rescued juvenile Harbour Popoise at Vancouver Aquarium in May, 2011.