4/28 Kettling, reptile demise, Stanley Park seawall, First Nations logging revenue, polluter pay in BC, cold bees, cement, Fidalgo Is

Kettling raptors [Creative Commons]

 

A kettle o' birds
A kettle is a group of birds wheeling and circling in the air. The kettle may be composed of several different species at the same time. Nature photographer M. Timothy O'Keefe theorizes that the word derives from the appearance of birds circling tightly in a thermal updraft "like something boiling in a cauldron." Ornithologist Donald Heintzelman has done more than anyone to popularize the term kettle, using the term at least as early as 1970 in his book Hawks of New Jersey to describe raptor flight, followed by uses in print over four decades. The related terms "cauldron" and "boil" are also heard to describe the same sorts of raptor behavior. Osprey-watcher David Gessner, however, claims a Pennsylvania lowland called the Kettle ("der Kessel" in Pennsylvania Dutch), near Hawk Mountain, is the source of the term. (Wikipedia)

One-fifth of reptiles worldwide face risk of extinction
A comprehensive new assessment of thousands of reptiles species has found that 21% are considered endangered, critically endangered or vulnerable to extinction. Christina Larson reports. (Associated Press)

Stanley Park seawall reopens to public after completion of winter storm damage repairs
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation announced the reopening of the final section of the Stanley Park seawall on Wednesday. A 3.5 kilometres stretch of the popular Vancouver attraction between Third Beach and the Lions Gate Bridge had been closed to the public since Jan. 7, when extreme winds and large amounts of debris tossed ashore by a king tide that day damaged the century old public amenity. (CBC)

B.C. First Nations receive $63M boost in forestry revenue sharing
B.C. First Nations are getting a bigger cut of forestry profits after the province announced an increase to existing revenue sharing agreements. Katrine Conroy, minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development, said the interim deals will boost First Nations' portion of stumpage fees and timber sales by at least $63 million this year. Of 204 B.C. First Nation communities, 126 have existing forestry revenue sharing agreements and another 58 are eligible. If all eligible First Nations participate, the total could reach $131 million, more than double the $59 million they received in the previous year. (CBC)

How Should We Make Polluters Pay for Cleanup in BC?
The Government of BC is asking the public for input on how it should ensure industrial property owners, rather than taxpayers, pay for the cost of cleaning up abandoned properties. The public is invited to read the government’s discussion paper and submit its feedback until May 28 at 4 p.m. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Bees grounded by Victoria's chilly weather
Thirteen degrees — that’s the “magic number” for honeybees to fly and begin their precious work as pollinators and honey producers, says beekeeper Dana LeCompte. But this spring, 13 C has been a tough temperature to hit and maintain on the Island and Lower Mainland as chilly weather persists and keeps the prolific pollinators in their hives and honey production at bay by several weeks. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Well Traveled Cement
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist writes: "When I walk through a downtown such as Seattle’s, I like to think that I am traveling a geologic timeline as I walk by buildings with rocks ranging in age from thousands to millions to billions of years old. Downtowns also offer a diversity of rock equal to any assembled by plate tectonics; Indiana limestone butts against Index granite, Chuckanut sandstone rests alongside Carrara marble; Italian travertine edges Minnesota gneiss..."

Fidalgo Island: Not just a gateway to the San Juans, but a destination
The four San Juan islands reached by ferry have their own personalities. Fidalgo Island has its own scenic charms and the port city of Anacortes. M.L. Like writes. (Washington Post)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  250 AM PDT Thu Apr 28 2022   
TODAY  NW wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W  swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of showers in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after  midnight. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of showers in the  evening.

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