Encounters with "Wild" Life

Yesterday I watched a gull doing the equivalent of dumpster diving.  I was intrigued at the strength and ferocity of the bird, pulling out chunks of garbage and tossing them onto the ground beside the can. As the photo shows, a crow was hanging about, waiting for edible bits that the gull rejected.

Beak-first into this garbage can at Beacon Hill Park, only the gull's back end is visible.

The gulls in Victoria are mostly Glaucous-winged gulls, which is the only native species of gull known to nest in the area. Up until about seven years ago, they nested on Great Chain Island off Oak Bay, in Haro Strait. This island is one of a number that comprise Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve. Closed to the public and managed by BC Parks, the ecological reserve is aimed at protecting vulnerable nesting seabirds, rare early spring wildflowers and shallow-water marine habitats. 

Source: Times Colonist, August 7, 2013

The gulls moved closer to downtown when a number of eagle pairs began to predate upon them, according to a 2013 article in the Times Colonist. https://www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/seagulls-moving-downtown-to-avoid-eagles-generating-guano-and-grief-1.572656

They are certainly prevalent in the James Bay area, landing on the roofs of taller buildings such as apartments. They are wonderful fliers and take full advantage of the ocean wind that frequently blows. And the gulls enjoy hanging about Beacon Hill Park, where these omnivorous birds find easy foraging. 

According to the Christmas Bird Counts conducted by the Victoria Natural History Society over the years, observed numbers of gulls have actually declined, despite the appearances. 

There is other wildlife I have seen in Beacon Hill Park and surrounding areas that has adapted to the easy lifestyle here.

The Park is home to a big population of Mallards and American Wigeons. These are so populous, in fact, that they have denuded significant patches of grass.

Over-foraged grass at Beacon Hill Park

Ducks, geese and peacocks feed on the grass

Is there an over-population of birds like ducks and geese at Beacon Hill Park? Some might say, "yes", based on indicators like the viability of lawn grass. A parks employee told me that the numbers of ducks diminishes when geese numbers increase; he did not know where the ducks went. 

Urban geese are attracted to nitrogen rich lawn grass, especially when it is immediately adjacent to a water body - such as the lakes at Beacon Hill Park. The City, Regional District, and other agencies are developing a goose management strategy, due to concerns about feces, and damage to crops. Planting ferns to block geese sight-lines to the water is one of the techniques being tried, as well as addling (shaking) eggs during nesting season, and "herding" geese with a professional dog handler and dog.

Culling has been attempted in the past in the Regional District, but was controversial, as well as costly for the number of geese captured.

Reducing the areas of lawn grass adjacent to water bodies might be an option, but I have not seen it mentioned on the city's goose management web page. If geese cannot see or access a water body, they are less likely to browse on grass. It is a trade-off; park visitors enjoy the grassy areas - for picnics, games such as throwing Frisbees, and just lazing on the grass in the sun. Yet those grassy spaces invite geese and ducks - and their feces.

Much of Beacon Hill Park is cultivated and manicured; the taming of the wild in gardening favours a taming of the wild in animals, and leads to this apparent "domestication" of wildlife.

Peacocks show no fear of humans, have adapted to the Park, and are spreading to surrounding neighbourhoods where they have been observed with nesting behaviour. Their raucous caterwauling pervades the Park.

There are a number of deer resident in Beacon Hill Park - and throughout Victoria! Deer fencing is common where people have gardens. In neighbouring Oak Bay, where deer have been problematic, a study is currently underway to assess the viability of a birth control inoculation. (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/urban-deer-get-birth-control-to-curb-numbers-1.5297042)

So true!

Deer fencing around the Fairfield Community Garden

This is the only sign I have discovered in Beacon Hill Park asking people not to feed wildlife. It is attached to a park bench and is easy to miss.

I have observed many people feeding the waterfowl, and the peacocks. I wonder if for some people it is their closest encounter with wildlife. In this image children are interacting with the ducks and geese - but I have often seen adults do the same.

Another species which has expanded its range is the Eastern Grey squirrel. All squirrels in the Park are Eastern Grey, according to the website Beacon Park History (https://beaconhillparkhistory.org/articles/108_squirrels.htm). These are an introduced, invasive species. Although I have observed people feeding them from bags of grain or nuts, A BC Ministry of Environment bulletin points out the damage they can cause both to homes and gardens, and to native species (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/van-island/wildweb/pdf/Squirrel_FAQ_10_July_09.pdf).

This Eastern Grey squirrel used acrobatics and relentless tenacity to remove seed from the bird feeder; this garden is located near Beacon Hill Park.

This brief overview has only focussed on a few species which inhabit the city space near me. I have yet to encounter raccoons (although I hear much about them), rats, or numbers of other animals which might be counted as "dependent on human environments". Nor have I talked about bears (there have been several sightings in more forested areas of Greater Victoria) or cougars.

By creating environments where wildlife have easy access to human sources of food, we have invited them into our urban spaces. Then, when we do not like that they eat our gardens, or leave feces or mess, we have to "manage" them. It strikes me as ironic; ultimately, we humans are perhaps being managed by the wildlife we think we are managing.

In contrast to the wildlife I observe in urban parks and on city streets are those species which do not depend on humans to survive. I was pleasantly surprised to see the signage that BC Parks has installed in Goldstream Park to protect wildlife from people. This is a reverse of the usual perspective, that people need protection from wildlife.

This is a sign from Goldstream Provincial Park. I like the message that wildlife need people-free areas. It is easier said than done however, as we are drawn to watch animals in the wild.  

Goldstream Park signage. The "Stop" sign may be more effective at keeping people out than the previous sign which relies on text only. 

On my visit to Goldstream, I didn't observe any wildlife... which shows that they are keeping to the quiet areas reserved for them. Just as it should be... and may they keep their wildness!