4 - Sunday, September 27, 1987 - North Shore News Bob Hunter ® strictly personal ® IT WON’T be long before British Columbia has an of- ficial provincial bird. Too bad the loon has jusi been used on the new $1 coin. Would have been perfect. Among the birds being consid- ered, there are some magnificent selections as well as a few that do not make sense at all, such as the American Dipper. An amazing bird, I'm told, but gimme a break. J will not live in a pro- vince whose official bird is called the American Dipper. The Rufous Hummingbird might seem like a good technical choice on the basis of the fact that so many of us have those oddly shaped plastic feeders, and so we are familiar with them. But I’ve seen the hummingbird used as a symbol in both the Caribbe- an and Asia. The Trumpeter Swan speaks for itself, of course. A powerful and imperious bird. But still just a fancy goose, if you ask me. I} am glad to see the Peregrine Falcon on the short fist. It is a very classy flyer, and not just one of the fastest birds in the world but one of the must expensive, A Peregrine Falcon fetches up to $10,000. The illegal capture and smuggling of these birds has become a multi-million-dollar racket, nearly as lucrative, ac- cording to police, as drug-runn- ing. There is another Canadian bird of prey that is considered even more valuable, incidentally. A female White Gyrfalcon is worth $160,000 on the black market. This BNiW of birds, unfortu- nately, doesn't live in B.C. The ubiquitous gull has been suggested, Yawn. It is too bad political humor is the last thing the stuffed shirts want. Otherwise, we might pick a species like the starling. Original- \y imported from Japan, thou- sands of them were released at a world’s fair in New York. Today they have replaced the carrier pigeon as the most numerous birds in’ North America's skies. Something like four million of them share the Lower Mainland with us. The political joke would be that we are almost all im- migrants, eh? Too contentious? How about the crow, then, as a symbolic bird? There are about seven thousand of them in this same area. At first glance, they are a bit like the motorcycle gang of birds. They have been accused of in- timidating picnickers, stealing beer caps, raiding garbage cans, digging up golf courses, and — my God! — tearing canvas tops on boats. The fiends! But this is just an image pro- blem. It might be fixable. The point is that crows have a place in West Coast mythology, which is more than can be said of any other bird { can think of. The Indians of course regarded the raven with awe, as a spirit. Many loggers in the old days, I'm told, had a superstition that if they died in the woods, they'd come back as a crow. But this may be too occult for everybody's tastes. is 100 Serious a matter to be treated with frivolity. Is sorry. J should be ashamed. Any bird lucky enough to be chosen automatically gains a lot of political protection. What province wants to go down in history as the one that let its of- ficial bird go extinct? As fate would have it, the bird most in need of this estra measure of protection has been brought dramatically to our at- tention by the discovery of massive and complete destruction of a certain bird's eges in their nests near a pulp mill at Crofton, on Vancouver Island. Biologists counted 57 nests and found to their horror that not a single egg had hatched this year. They were all contaminated by dioxins from the mill. The bird in question is the Great Blue Heron. Even if it wasn't in serious trouble, | would urge its adop- tion as our symbol anyway. It is not only the biggest bird in our skies, it is a timeless, patient fisherman, lt stalks the tide flats with amazing grace, and when it takes off, if you happen to be lucky enough to be near, you can feel the terrific power in those great wings. When it comes in for a landing, it virtually parachutes down. As a symbol, the Great Blue Heron would have real meaning. Since it feeds in cstuacies which are frequently adjacent’ wood processing industries, its survival would be a good measure of just how successful we are at cleaning up our chemical messes. H 922-1204 Because if we don’t, there will Besides, 1 realize the designa- : be no Great Blue Heron. Period. tion of an official provincial bird Bal!sen-a-grams launched for United Way The balloons, each purchased by Environment Canada employees, will be released en masse between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Money from the balloon pur- chase will go to the United Way. EMPLOYEES AT the North Shore’s Kapilano 100 Environment Canada office will be launching over 100 balloon-a-grams Tuesday to help kick off the United Way’s annual fund-raising campaign. Environment Canada spokeeman Marianne Pengel- ly said Friday the special telegrams announcing the United Way's campaign will be attached to each balloon released. The person who finds the balloon and retrieves the telegram that has travelled the far- thest will win a prize. Running from Sept. 23 to Nov. 25, this year’s Lower Mainland United Way campaign is hoping to raise $11.6 million for the 101 Lower Mainland charitable organizations it helps fund. The organiza- tion raised $10.9 million fast year. Be Your Chile S Worst Habit. Does your child really know how to study? If the answer is no, then the Sylvan Study Skills Program will be of help. The Sylvan Study Skills Program teaches your child how to study. We work with your child on specific study skills. ° Listening © Outlining and note taking e Study and reading strategies » Test-laking strategies e Improved memory strategies Our program is designed for students of all ages. Call today for more information. could be rx Sylvan one of the best habils your child Learning eee | Centre . picks up. Becate o ucces: te) sah the tae 201-1217 Lonsdale Ave. North Van. Hon at wy Hagar ite ‘Canada Trust Realtor presents A CAREER NIGHT Are you interested in a Career in Real Estate Sales? Come and find out about our Canada Trust Real Estate “Career Development Program”. Tuesday, September 29, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in the Endeavour Room LONSDALE QUAY HOTEL I! GARY BAILEY, Manager or call PAT MUNROE, Manager. } FRI. CMR, RI(B.C ) FRI. CMR. RIB.C.) G WEST VANCOUVER BRANCH NORTH VANCOUVER BRANCH 988-6131 , THERE ARE TIMES When you simply can't wear Tilley Pants. in some countnes st 1s NOT ACCEPTABLE fur women to wear pants -— especially pants ais attractive as hitey pants. Thats just one teason why the Tilley Wrap Skirts a favounte uf so many women This skirt is made tor adventure! It has a security pocket. a five year guarantee and a good “over-lap” It dries quickly, tlays neat-looking, and, (1m told), 1s very comfortable Ye have it made m Canada. Dear Atce McGinn McClymont, =e it warms the heart to hear from fends from Seen earn ine mete Sudbury -- especially atter (gasp) turty years! Gush Shirt (S65) Alex Alex Tiley Drop in, Phone or Write New Hours: Mon-Sat. 10-5; Open Fri. til 7 Barbara Tilley 1559 Pemberton Ave., North Vancouver 980-2631 Dead Battery Problem? Did you forget your Headlights Again? {f a Drained Battery is your protlern because you forgot to turn your headlights off — DON’T DESPAIR! Our COMPLETE HEADLIGHT WARNING SYSTEM can help! In just a few minutes, WITHOUT TOOLS you can install this sanily-saving gadget on your own car and you'll never forget to turn your lights off again. HEADLIGHT WARNING SYSTEM will even tell you when to turn your lights “on” too! Just set the automatic photosensor and whenever light goes below a preselected level, your HEADLIGHT WARNING SYSTEM will ‘“buzz"’ lo Jet you know your lights should be on. You will drive safer because the other driver will be able to see you coming. Studies prove it helps you even sooner if you drive with “lights on™ during daylight hours as well. AND WITH COMPLETE HEADLIGHT WARNING SYSTEM YOU WON'T FORGET TO TURN THEM OFF WHEN YOU LEAVE THE CAR. Make Driving Safer and reduce the risk of draining your battery by forgetting to turn your headlights off. ORDER TODAY ONLY $29.95+ 6% tax plus $4.00 postage and handling. Send cheque or money order to: Gemini International Marketing Company Dept. ED3 Box 453-1755 Robson St., Vancouver, B.C. V6G 2B7 Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery, Money back guarantee. 985-6811 f Where can I get Full Colour copies on the North Shore4ug Only at Concorde CONCORDE COPY CER wT “TRE ‘s LTD. I North Shore's Copy Specialists. 1350 Pemberton Avenuy North Vancouver / Ph: 985-5115 Mon.-Fri: 9:00 AM - 3-30 PM Atter hours by appointinent.