The ThunderBlogs

The Wild Bird Trust at Maplewood Flat provides an important wildlife refuge. The 40 hectares of trees, fields, ponds and marshes stand in juxtaposition to the concrete and steal which dominate most of the port of Vancouver.

The Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver is the last undeveloped waterfront wetland on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. The land is owned by Port Metro Vancouver but was leased in 1992 for 49 years to the Wild Bird Trust.

Friendly volunteers greet guests at the modest hut that serves as both an office and an information centre. On Saturday Linda Smith manned her post. She walked out wearing a grandmother-like warm smile. Behind her was a large sign warning of bears and cougars. “Oh don’t worry that is up all the time, there hasn’t been a bear here all year,” said Smith.

The sanctuary runs on volunteer effort. There is one employee, Ernie Kennedy, serving as conservation manager. Kennedy has worked for the WBT for 11 years. He oversees the dozens of volunteers and works closely with the Board to ensure the sanctuary’s maintenance.

Kennedy strolled up the path looking like a park ranger. He wore khaki everything on Saturday afternoon accompanied by well-worn boots and a sturdy handshake. He confirmed Smith’s assurance about bears with a slight qualifier. “Well none have been sighted yet, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t roaming around.”

But even in the absence of bears and cougars there is still a lot of wildlife running around. Kennedy has seen deer, river otter and coyotes at the sanctuary, and every year more arrive. This year there were six new fawns, three baby river otters and a handful of coyote pups. With all the wildlife running around the amateur naturist could be forgiven for forgetting to look up, but the keen bird watchers at the sanctuary enjoy hunting for a glimpse of some of the 280 different species found at the sanctuary.

The list of birds spotted hangs on a large board on the wall of the info centre. The highlights according to Kennedy are the purple martins, which likely migrate from Brazil’s Amazon, and the Osprey that return every year from the Central America.

The sanctuary was quiet Saturday afternoon. Sandy Girardot came for a quiet walk in the late afternoon sun. Girardot is an amateur birdwatcher but a regular at the WBT. “Don’t tell too many people about this place,” said Girardot with a rye smile. “It is perfectly quiet, it would be a shame if word got out.

She strolled slowly, her binoculars draped around her neck. She stared in the trees above hunting for a glimpse of something rare. She hadn’t found anything more than a few chickadees, but was hopeful her persistence would pay off.