"HAVE SOME OF US LOST OUR CONNECTION TO NATURE?"

(Wildlife Wednesday - May 6, 2020)

Three conversations came to mind for today's Wildlife Wednesday. Although amusing on the surface, they are somewhat disturbing as they demonstrate how some of us have lost our connection to Nature & wildlife. And yes, not everyone is an expert (I'm definitely not) and perhaps, doesn't have the incentive to read up what we see "out there". 

The first two are separate conversations I had with two friend photographers within the past month or so. These are the conversations they had had and relayed to me. I would add that the three of us are not confrontational in our replies to other people and are generally happy to just nod & smile.

FIRST CONVERSATION - Puffins (Sorry don't have a photo of any puffins so substituted pelican as it came up in the conversation). Photo taken September 2019.

Third Party - "Saw a group of puffins yesterday on the Bow River (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)"

Photographer Friend - "Oh you mean "pelicans".

Third Party - "No - Puffins. I know what a pelican looks like!"

Photographer Friend relayed to me that he was tempted to ask "Were they Atlantic or Pacific Puffins? but refrained from the retort. I told him he could add "Prairie Puffins" to that mix (LOL). What did they see, we asked ourselves!

Oh dear, we may have been on to what might have been one of the rarest sightings ever. (We do not have puffins in Alberta, as we are a landlocked province, with mountains and prairies surrounding us.)

SECOND CONVERSATION - Ospreys. Photo taken May 2020

Third Party - "That's odd." - commenting on a newly constructed osprey nest deep in a tree next to a river.

Photographer Friend  - "Ospreys do migrate here in the Spring to have their offspring."

Third Party - "No, not that. What an odd place for a nest - a tree? They build on road signs & constructed platforms."

Oh dear, unfortunately for the poor osprey, with more of their habitat and good natural nesting areas being cut down or removed, they have improvised in order to lay their eggs and raise their offspring. 

THIRD CONVERSATION  (and my personal favourite) - Grizzly Bears. Photo taken June 2017.

I  had this conversation with a friendly & helpful Conservation Officer in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada in September 2018, late one Saturday afternoon at an Information Centre.

He told me that he had been approached by some overseas visitors earlier in the summer, inquiring as to when was the best time of the day to see wildlife and in particular Grizzly Bears. This I can understand - sighting a bear (hopefully from the safety of a vehicle) is always a highlight. 

He advised that most likely early morning or early evening (and probably also gave them the chat about "Bear Safety"). 

Wait for it - "No," they said. "WHAT TIME IN THE DAY DO YOU OPEN THE BEAR ENCLOSURES TO LET THEM OUT?"

Oh, dear. The job of a Conservation Officer is not an easy one, even at the best of times.