Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

Disoriented duck makes first-ever visit to B.C

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Nov, 2020 07:10 PM
  • Disoriented duck makes first-ever visit to B.C

An unusual duck is fluttering the hearts of birdwatchers on southern Vancouver Island after flying far off course during its migration between Europe or Asia and the waterways of Southeast Asia or Japan.

Ann Nightingale, director of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, says the duck, known as a common pochard, was likely pushed by bad weather and ended up at the Summit Park reservoir in Victoria last week.

She says the pochard is anything but common in Canada and may have been spotted once in Quebec in 2008, but the sighting was never officially confirmed because that duck could have been an escaped exotic pet.

Nightingale says birdwatcher Jody Wells snapped the first photo of the large red-headed, silver-backed duck in the Victoria reservoir, thinking it was another infrequent visitor known as a redhead, but the splash of blue on the pochard's swooping black bill gave it away.

She says the reservoir is similar to the duck's intended destination and she expects it will remain in the area for the winter before trying to find its flock next spring.

In the meantime, Nightingale says local birdwatchers are enjoying the show while bird lovers from across North America are cursing COVID-19 travel restrictions that keep them from taking in the rare sight.

"This bird is definitely one that is causing a lot of people south of the border a lot of angst because they can't come to see it," Nightingale says in an interview.

"They'll be keeping their fingers crossed for it to survive, too, until the restrictions are lifted."

MORE Interesting ARTICLES

Tomatoes, turnips rule in big year for veggie gardening

Tomatoes, turnips rule in big year for veggie gardening
Obviously, tomatoes aren't the only veggies that gardeners grow from seed. Cucumbers, peppers and beans also are near the top of consumer retail sales.

Tomatoes, turnips rule in big year for veggie gardening

'Speak up!' - 'Sesame Street' tackles racism in TV special

'Speak up!'  -  'Sesame Street' tackles racism in TV special
Sesame Workshop — the non-profit, educational organization behind “Sesame Street” — will later this month air the half-hour anti-racist special "The Power of We” and hopes families will watch together.

'Speak up!' - 'Sesame Street' tackles racism in TV special

Surrey Council greenlights Cloverdale production set for new Superman TV series

Surrey Council greenlights Cloverdale production set for new Superman TV series
The Cloverdale Fairgrounds will be transformed into Smallville, the hometown of Clark Kent (aka Superman). The set of the Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) will consist of paved roads with storefront facades.

Surrey Council greenlights Cloverdale production set for new Superman TV series

How to turn your home into a Mario Kart racetrack

How to turn your home into a Mario Kart racetrack
The product includes the physical kart, featuring either Mario or his brother Luigi, four gates and a USB charging cable.

How to turn your home into a Mario Kart racetrack

Best time to plant a tree? Probably now

Best time to plant a tree? Probably now
Experts used to recommend planting trees in spring. But that's changed for most species.

Best time to plant a tree? Probably now

The Bitter Truth About Racism

The Bitter Truth About Racism
“Races do not exist; they are an incorrect construct. Racism, however, does persist. It persists when people try to devalue other people.”

The Bitter Truth About Racism