DARE TO BIRD

The CBC documentary I was part of and featured in, that we filmed in Sept 2019 with other local Vancouver birders (including a few of my young birders Bridget, Rebecca, Toby, Sasha (plus Liron behind the camera)) is airing Oct 3, 2020 at 8 pm. It is called "Rare Bird Alert" and will be featuring birders from across Canada and in the USA. Look for it on TV on CBC Network. You can read more about this documentary HERE I’m very honoured CBC asked me to be part of this project. The crew and host Paul Riss were a real delight to work with. Here is the trailer for it: Also here is a featurette on talented young Tofino birder Toby Theriault! She is a natural on camera! 

September is traditionally known for rare birds in Vancouver and the province and this year was no exception. First off John Reynolds photographed a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Boundary Bay on August 28th and then 11 days later on Sept 8th, John Gordon found a juvenile (perhaps the same bird?) at Reifel. Luckily this bird stuck around and I was lucky to see it the first day John found it. This was my second Curlew Sandpiper for BC and the first juvenile I had seen, as the other bird was an adult . This was bird #250 for my Metro Vancouver year list too! A great bird to get 250 with! Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Reifel - Photos: Melissa Hafting A few days before this on Sept 5th a Bell’s Vireo was found by Aziza Cooper in Saanich. This was the first record for BC. It was bright yellow on the flanks and of the Eastern Susbpecies. The place was very birdy and it was nice to see so many friendly faces including young birders like Liam Singh who is now much taller than me!....

Great news! On Sept 8, 2020, The City of Port Moody has banned the use of rodenticides on all city property and lands. This is a major victory and the whole council voted unanimously in favour of the ban. I was inspired by the delivery of Councillor Meghan Lahti who was so passionate about the topic and had all her facts straight. Thank you to all the councillors who voted in favour of this motion as well. Thank you to Councillor Lahti who listened to me and responded to my letter a few months ago so promptly with this motion. Hopefully as cities around BC continue to ban the use of rodenticides that the province will ban the use province-wide as well and ensure that general members of the public can't use this stuff. Thank you again to everyone who wrote in letters of support to council and for everyone who signed the BCSPCA's province wide petition asking for a rodenticide ban.   If you have not yet signed the petition please do so now by clicking the link to the left....

I got away from Vancouver's hustle and bustle last month to do some hiking and go into a remote coastal area to shoot some Black Bears. I was in awe watching 6 bears at once successfully hunt salmon. Watching their individual personalities was special. They sat in cute poses and all deferred to the alpha male.  They are such a misunderstood animal that so many have an irrational fear of. They really want nothing to do with us if people give them a healthy dose of respect. The BC Conservation Officer Service has killed 70 bears across BC in July 2020 alone. Truly heartbreaking. Humans need to learn to coexist. One of the bears I photographed had an injured foot but was still able to successfully hunt and catch salmon.This shows the resilience of these amazing animals. Being alone in their presence was a privilege I will always treasure. Black Bears in BC's coastal rainforest - Photos: Melissa Haf...

A beautiful Black woman birder has made the cover of The American Birding Association's  (ABA) "Birding" Magazine. This was so incredible to see. I was truly moved to see this! I cant wait to get my October 2020 issue in the mail. I definitely will be saving this one! Never thought I would see a female that looks like me on the cover. This beautiful painting was done by artist Alissa Lee Bocarsly. Congrats to Corina Newsome for being featured and thank you to the ABA for finally featuring a Black woman birder on the cover and helping to improve the lack of diversity and representation in this field. Times are changing! Painting by Alissa Lee Bocarsly of Corina Newsome on the Oct issue of ABA's Birding Magazine