#142 Mar 2017 Murals and Raptors

Mid March we headed “up island”.

North of Victoria is a notorious stretch of highway called The Malahat. The highway goes into the mountainous interior of Vancouver Island where the weather can be cold and snowy in the winter. We were fortunate to experience a beautiful, mostly sunny day.

From the Malahat Viewpoint we could see across the Saanich Inlet to the Saanich Peninsula where we had just spent two months.

We could see Saanichton and almost identify Oceanside RV Resort where we had parked.

The Victoria Airport was clearly visible.

We setup in Chemainus for a few days. Once again we could see that the birds knew it was spring. Several whistling swans were feeding in the fields and along the shoreline preparing for their trek north for nesting season.

 

Chemainus was established in the 1850s when the logging industry was served by a small sawmill.

In the 1980s a smaller, more efficient sawmill replaced the original one. That left the town without a major economic focus. Something had to be done.

The town was rejuvenated when artists began to record the history of the community with over 40  murals adorning buildings throughout Chemainus.

This portrays the arrival of HMS Reindeer at Chemainus in 1860.

Logging with oxen.

 Celebrations amid historic buildings.

The first public school.

Emily Carr painted in Chemainus in 1924.

This Arbutus Trees mural was inspired by Emily Carr's "Chemainus Bay". Look for a face in the clouds and leaves.

The Sacred Cedar mural was inspired by Emily Carr's "Blunden Harbour".

Chemainus is no longer only known as "Canada's Largest Outdoor Art Gallery". The community has grown into a first-class music, art and performing arts destination. The reputation of the Chemainus Theatre has grown dramatically as some of the best stage actors and stories are brought to life in the theatre. 

The Pacific Northwest Raptors facility provides up close and personal glimpses of majestic birds of prey. The birds are free of restraints and participate in daily demonstrations of their natural feeding habits.

A bald eagle waits for his cue.

A Harris Hawk patiently waits while his trainer explains the bird's habits and capabilities.

I don't usually think of owls as birds of prey but look at this Great Horned Owl's talons and hooked beak.

A Gyrfalcon aggressively waits for his cue to catch his snack.

The daily flying demonstrations feature local birds of prey. There are also birds on display from other parts of the world such as the Kookaburra from Australia.