Flora and Fauna
A few of the plants common to the island include the trees Douglas-fir, Western redcedar, arbutus, Garry oak, bigleaf maple, and red alder; the shrubs Oregon-grape, and red-flowering currant; the perennial herb small camas (common camas); the semi-aquatic or terrestrial herb Western skunk cabbage (swamp lantern), and the evergreen perennial Western sword fern.
Sea creatures near Gabriola include orcas (killer whales), sea lions, seals, otters, oysters, mussels, clams, wolf eels, octopuses, and salmon. Deer and raccoons are among the island's more common land animals.
In the winter months, the coast of Gabriola is visited by many species of waterfowl such as the Scoter, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, and Harlequin Duck. Shorebirds such as the Black Turnstone and Ruddy Turnstone frequent the island as do garden birds such as the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Thrushes, Warblers, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Flickers. The Bald Eagle, European Starling, and Turkey Vulture are common year round. More than 250 bird species live in or migrate through the Nanaimo–Gabriola area.
Read more about this topic: Gabriola Island
Famous quotes containing the words flora and/or fauna:
“A man’s interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The whole fauna of human fantasies, their marine vegetation, drifts and luxuriates in the dimly lit zones of human activity, as though plaiting thick tresses of darkness. Here, too, appear the lighthouses of the mind, with their outward resemblance to less pure symbols. The gateway to mystery swings open at the touch of human weakness and we have entered the realms of darkness. One false step, one slurred syllable together reveal a man’s thoughts.”
—Louis Aragon (1897–1982)