Peculiar Island weather in 2021
By klahanie_
17 comments
We live on Vancouver Island which is considered to be a Banana Belt of Canada, with temperatures moderated by Pacific ocean. Summers not very warm and winters not very cold.
This year we had few weeks in summer over 40 deg Celsius (same as Arizona) and if I look out the window right now this is what I see….you could think that we live in Siberia.
There was more happenings in this area recently…. floods(distribution problems) and we even had a earthquake not too far away just few days ago. At 4AM we were woken up to a thunder sound and the house shook. First we thought that a tree fell on the house but there was no wind and no snow. OH went out to investigate (with a flashlight) and did not see anything obvious. Only few days later we learned from news that it was an earth quake.
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This weekend temperatures dipped to -7 Celsius which feels much colder in our humid conditions. We put propane heaters in the greenhouse so everything is cozy there, including our little Winter Wrens who overwinter there every year.
But…..poor hummingbirds. They are not protected and honestly, I do not know how can they survive here in these temperatures. They are so small (smaller than my little finger) and weight no more than a nickle (5 cent coin) and they look so fragile and vulnerable in the freezing snow. There is not much for them to eat , especially when everything is under the snow.
Our feeders freeze solid in couple of hrs in these temperatures and it takes an effort to keep them all liquid. We have quite a production going here and OH makes sure that they have fresh warm juice out at the dawn as they start to arrive.
You can see in this photo that food is starting to freeze on the top.
Most of them seem to stay overnight in this weeping maple which is only few feet away from the feeding central.
We had to do some rescue operations such as this:
A huge piece of ice attached to a little girl’s tail.
They freeze to surfaces. Where the water is coming from we have no idea. We know that their body temperature is very high so maybe melting some snow and it refreezes right away. But it is only a speculation
In time like these I wish they would fly south , down to California.
Anna’s pair
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December 26th of 2021 was the anniversary of our 3 huge trees coming down in a freezing snow event.
I am so glad that this year is over!
Happy New Year to all.
29 Dec, 2021
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Comments
I found your blog such an interesting read, Klahanie. You've definitely had such extreme weather this year..from Arizona hot as you say, to current Siberian style snow and bitter cold temperatures!
Those little hummingbirds...I'm with you..why didn't they fly south! However, I guess there's a constant food source for them. Poor little girl with her tail all iced up!!! It's certainly a great thing to see, you both helping her out and removing her horrid obstruction! You do love those beautiful birds!
I do hope the year ahead will be a much better year all round for your island and your wildlife too. x
29 Dec, 2021
Such an interesting blog,thank you,K...weather variants are many across the globe this year...heard today about the heavy fall of snow in Japan,an area which never sees it.
My son is very envious of your resident hummingbirds..2 years ago he visited Arizona and had great excitement at seeing many of them.
29 Dec, 2021
Thank you SBG, Kate and Meadowland, for reading my blog and your nice comments.
29 Dec, 2021
I put " like" Khalanie as it was an interesting blog, although it must have been quite scary with the earthquake near you!
We don't realise here in Britain how lucky we are and can't imagine how you cope with the cold!
Those poor little birds, especially the one you had to take the ice off.
It's down to you that they survive!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
30 Dec, 2021
I loved reading your blog and seeing your wonderful photo's,Klahanie,and how our World has changed so much ,in what seems such a short space of time.
I really hope those little Hummingbirds get the chance to adapt at some point, and can still survive in colder temperatures. Thank you for doing your bit ,to try and help them,and I wish you and yours, a very Happy and healthy New Year..x
30 Dec, 2021
Poor birds, cold weather is no good, I hope it eases soon for you.
Happy new year, and hope it's better than the last few :)
30 Dec, 2021
Thank you Rose, Bloomer and Hywel for your compliments and good wishes.
We are hitting here all sorts of records (weather wise)
and not in the positive way. More snow today. Much more.....we might be snowed in. Although, it does look very pretty .Hopefully it will not create a problem like last year.
At least our days are getting longer now. :-)
30 Dec, 2021
So sorry the weather has been so extreme for you Klahanie, quite a worry for your hummingbirds too … I do hope you will have milder temperatures soon.
It is suddenly milder here - 15 degrees - and our poor Aussie family have 37 degrees! Mike has never before wished he was back in England 🙂.
30 Dec, 2021
An interesting blog, Klahanie. I can see how concerned you are for your little birds and you are certainly doing your best for them. I hope the cold snap is a short one. I have noticed our robin has paired up. As has been said, it's unnaturally mild here.
Anyway, on a happier note, let's hope this New Year we can get back to normal behaviour.
30 Dec, 2021
Sheila, I've noticed your warm temperatures and I do envy your pleasant weather these days. You will have your bulbs blooming in no time :-)
Anget, It certainly was an unusual year in many ways and I am glad it is over and hope for a better 2022. Time will tell.
All the best to both of you. Time for New Year's Resolutions.
30 Dec, 2021
😃Wishing you all a Happy New Year & lots more gardening joy! 😃
30 Dec, 2021
Your photos show a magical scene at Christmas time but the truth behind them is a different story.
You are working so hard to keep the dear little humming birds going. It is so sad but they are lucky to have you taking care of them.
Please let us know when it gets warmer and things get easier.
30 Dec, 2021
Thank you Balcony, same to you.
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You are right Wildrose the scenery is so pristine and quiet.
It is just that the local fauna and flora are not used to such extremes. Hummingbirds staying here over the winter is only resent phenomena, 10-15 years and only these Anna's. We have others during summer but they fly down to California and Arizona to overwinter and come back in spring to breed.
I hope it will warm up soon for their sake.
Have a wonderful New Years and all the best in the next year, especially good health.
31 Dec, 2021
Oh Klahanie, it looks so cold..and monochrome.. That sounds very frightening to have an earthquake not far away and when it's winter too. I do hope the weather levels soon for you and those tiny hummingbirds. You and your hubby are doing such sterling work to keep them fed under such conditions. Yes please, like Wildrose has asked, let us know how you are doing and coping..
31 Dec, 2021
From my point of view, the many aspects of the environment are now changing so unexpectedly rapidly and in some cases, suddenly, that I feel unsteady as if I were standing on a ball.
1 Jan, 2022
Thank you for your compliment Janey.
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You are right Loosestrife2....things are changing rapidly and we just have to adjust and sometimes it is not so easy.
1 Jan, 2022
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wow that is such a variation in temp. Poor little birds and well done for de-icing the bird.
yes 2022 needs to be much better. Happy new year to you too.
29 Dec, 2021