Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Highlights from Recent Walks and Updates on Swallows and Ospreys

    Immediately parental duties are dispensed with Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) begin their pre-basic moult, which is complete, in preparation for their long migration south. This individual shows evidence of moult.

   
       
     I suspect that the blue-grey bill of this species is a seldom noted feature, and many birders might be hard-pressed to correctly identify it, having besotted themselves with the black and orange splendour of this much-loved bird.





     The picture above shows the bill in excellent detail - from New World Blackbirds, Jaramillo and Burke (1999) - ".........with the lower mandible, and the cutting edge of the upper mandible, entirely blue-grey."
     Thanks, Miriam, for capturing this feature so well.
     A Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is a bird that invites anthropomorphism. The males seem to sing for the sheer pleasure of doing so!


     Birds are not the only creatures to capture our attention. I think I first saw this foal when it was mere days old and the passage of time has only added to its allure.


     It never strays far from mama, who furnishes security and food in one reliable package.



     There is another horse and foal in the same paddock, and both foals have the white badge on the forehead, perhaps indicating common fatherhood.
     American Robins (Turdus migratorius), both adult and young are seemingly everywhere!




     This Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) remained high in the trees, perhaps a little more secure there from birds anxious to make lunch of it.



     Better beware, however, an Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) was perched uncharacteristically in the uppermost foliage, and would make short work of a juicy butterfly given the chance.



     We have settled on Hillside Park, with an entry from Forwell Park, as our default after-dinner walk, providing a round-trip of about four kilometres, with a host of wildlife to occupy our curious minds.



     There appears to be a robust population of Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) with several nests. They have provided us with a good deal of pleasure. The eastern race is yellow-shafted, as the picture below illustrates, with the wing looking like a saucer or a piece of wood cut from a branch!



     The individual below is in a more conventional pose.



     Until recently we had not seen Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) this year. Our most reliable spot to find this species is The Mill Race Trail, which has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. You will understand our delight when we located three together in Hillside Park.




     A female Brown-headed Cowbird probably poses little threat to potential host species by late July, most of which have completed egg laying for the year.



     As humans, as you all know, we can at times display an incredible degree of stupidity. We deliberately introduced the Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) to defoliate our deciduous forests and woodlands, to follow up in short order with the Japanese Beetle (Papila japonica) to decimate leaf tissue and ripening fruit. 





     Don't hold your breath that we have finished with such folly.
     The Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) at SpruceHaven are into second broods, and seem to be thriving in the hot weather that causes so many of us to wilt.





     The pioneering pair of American Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) in the meantime are busily adding to their nest. 




     It will be with a sense of triumph if I am able to report soon that nest construction has been completed and the female is incubating eggs. My fingers and toes are crossed I hope yours are too!
     The Western Ospreys (Pandion haliaeetus) at River Song continue to delight us, and we check on them several times a week. Parental dedication is the hallmark of this pair.






     We also a monitor another active osprey nest in Waterloo but it is both farther away and higher, so we are not given the intimate views we have with the River Song pair, but the degree of dedication to the welfare of the young seems less admirable. I have never, for example, seen the Waterloo pair shield the nestlings from the hot summer sun. Perhaps this is a young pair breeding for the first time, with much to learn.
     Covid-19 has impacted all of us in different ways, but perhaps for the person whose life is woven around the ever-changing, ever-fascinating, ever-satisfying world of nature, the effects have often been barely noticeable. 
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

77 comments:

  1. The foal has the scent of life that begins the road with small steps. It will definitely be a beautiful horse!

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  2. Thank you for another enjoyable selection of photos of the wildlife and not-so-wild-life of your area. There was a time at the beginning of lockdown when all was peaceful with very little traffic on the roads and I much preferred things that way. I must admit though, much as I like walking, cycling and nature, I'm one of those people who occasionally needs some kind of contrasting activity in my life.

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  3. Hello, wonderful post and beautiful photos. The foal is adorable. I love the Flicker, the Orioles and the Swallows. Great captures of the Osprey on the nest. I am sure we have the Japanese Beetles here too, I just have not noticed them. Great report. Happy birding. Enjoy your day!

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  4. So many fabulous birds! Great shots David!
    The foal is so cute! Love the Western Ospreys couple,so sweet images!
    Thank you for sharing this beauty of the wildlife in your area!
    Dimi...

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  5. Hi David, beautiful photos and observations again. Miriam did really well catching all the details. You have a wide variety of birds and other nature in your immediate environment. The photos of the fol are wonderful. And yes, humans can be stupid. Remember what Einstein said? 'The difference between Genius and stupidity is that genius is limited. The photos of the ospreys are wonderful. Have a great day, hugs to you and M, Valerie

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    1. And the Osprey pictures are mine! I am basking and blushing in your praise!

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  6. The foal is a beauty. Magnificent bird photos, thanks for sharing these treasures with us.

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  7. The foals are so beautiful, David! In Norwegian we say føll. Almost the same word :)
    Tyrannus tyrannus is a awful name for a little bird!

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    1. I agree, Marit, but they are pugnacious little birds and they belong in the family Tyrannidae. I really enjoy them. I saw one recently capture a large bumblebee and smack it around mercilessly until it was subdued, then the bee was promptly swallowed. Sure hated to see the loss of a pollinator, however!

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  8. We used to have flycatchers in the nesting boxes in our back yard in NC David. They were a delight to watch and came back for years before we left. I would love to see your Ospreys, wonderful to see their dedication. The young colt looks like it is growing well - funny how leggy they are and yet grow into such beautiful creatures.

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    1. Great Crested Flycatchers, I would surmise, Jo. Wonderful bird. The Ospreys are easy to see. You don't even need to get out of your car.

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    2. Yes, somewhere we have a picture of one sitting on top of the nesting box with a bug of some kind in its beak intended for the "children".

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  9. I love the photos of the swallows, though all your captures are splendid.

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  10. HOW I would love to walk with you and Miriam. It would be a slow walk, made slower as I oohed and ahhed and gazed in wonder.
    Thank you so much for sharing the beauty. And the joy.

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    1. You would fit right in, Sue. We generally are stopping as much as moving so that we can take everything in. It takes time when everything you see captures your interest.

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  11. Security and food in one reliable package … we should all be so lucky. Foals are one of the creatures that make me happiest to see in an open field. They romp and roam and have a certain future, unlike some calves and farm animals that we know are fated for dinner tables.

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  12. I always enjoy your bird photos, but that foal is a sweet one.

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  13. The two Osprey nests in the area where we walk are busy places this time of year with the young now big enough to appear above the top of the nest.

    Great photos! So many birds here I’ve never seen.

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  14. Good evening, i'm here! what a beautiful tour. It is a place with so much charm that nobody remembers the Covid there.
    What beauty, what beautiful landscapes, a few hours with this tranquility and one leaves renewed. The horses are simply majestic, their composure, their body, their way of running ... prevail. Cute images! i want to have a horse, i adore them too 😍😍😍🐴🐴🐎


    Beautiful summary, David! greetings and good night from Buenos Aires hasta Canada

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  15. You have marvellous adventures!

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  16. I see more birds than people these days. A robin tried to stare me down recently. It was such a strange interaction.

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  17. What a fabulous collection of photos! I recently saw my first Northern Flicker right here on my front lawn. Exciting!

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  18. Maravilloso reportaje como siempre con una excelente explicación querido amigo y profesor David. Las fotos como siempre geniales, mis felicitaciones a Miriam por su merecido esfuerzo en mostrarnos los rasgos más peculiares siempre de todas las especies.
    Un fuerte abrazo querido amigo y compadre David.

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  19. Hi David.

    You will see many beautiful birds.
    Beautiful the Yellow.
    The Ospreys are superb.
    Beautiful pictures.

    Greetings from Patricia.

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  20. Won't be too long and the little birds will be in their nest, hopefully photos in the future.
    Lovely collection of photos..
    Take care.

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  21. You're right. For the nature lover, the Covid-19's effects are not noticeable. However, I believe the virus is there, omnipresent, an integral part of nature, and if necessary - ready to strike.

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  22. Encore de belles observations. En ce momemnt je vois aussi beaucoup de poulains.
    Le nid de l'hirondelle a bien avancé!
    Les balbuzards ont bien grandi.
    Bonne journée

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  23. I would never have guessed that was the wing of the Northern Flicker unless you had mentioned it. However, I looked at your enlarged photo and it is quite extraordinary in the way that either you or Miriam has caught it.

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  24. I thought at first that the Northern Flicker was feeding on a piece of fruit, which surprised me. I was even more surprised to read your text, and finally see what actually was happening. There's always a surprise in nature!

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  25. You and Miriam are so fortunate, David, to be able to enjoy walking not only in a lovely area, but one that abounds in wildlife of all sorts, winged and otherwise. You are right in your comments about the so destructive gypsy moths and Japanese beetles. They have been less than helpful since their introduction. When we lived in VA, these beetles would decimate a neighbor's flower gardens with voracious appetites. Kudoes to you for those osprey photos, which were outstanding.
    Also, you comment on my follow-up birthday posts was well taken. Plasticware and paper are indeed things to be avoided, both for pollution and injury/destruction of wildlife, but sadly we see these discards everywhere. Now, the pollution is discarded face masks and rubber gloves.

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    1. But surely, the thing is, not to contribute to it yourself. The Sierra Club has a whole anti-plastic campaign underway right now, and there are many, many simple things you can do to make improvements and influence others.

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    2. Just read your reply, David, and just wanted you know we were not at our granddaughter’s birthday party.

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  26. Moulting for fall already. The cycle keeps on going and going.

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  27. Que felicidad querido amigo de ver tan bonitos pájaros. Abrazos.

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  28. Beautiful photos of the birds and other wildlife. The Ospreys are very magnificent birds. I myself saw them only once and from very far.

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  29. Beautiful pics David, great variety in your shots!

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  30. I was not aware of Great Crested Flycatcher, David - what beautiful birds!

    Delighted to see that the American Cliff Swallows have continued to be busy with their nest-building. Their efforts have resulted in a rather stylish-looking home with it's three-tone décor! It almost looks as if it has been knitted.

    The Osprey images make me feel quite nostalgic as this is now my second year in succession without my annual Osprey fix - thanks to the dreaded virus this year. They're talking about a glimmer of hope, however, that there may be a vaccine available before the end of the year.

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    1. I hope that by next year you will be able to get back to the Ospreys, Richard.

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  31. We have Barn Swallows nesting under our front porch. It isn't the best spot, but the babies were already hatched when we came home from our isolation location in the United States. They are used to us now so we can share the shade under the porch for sitting and eating. When I was in high school(many, many years ago) I had a horse that had a colt. We lived in the city but there were still some stables along the Los Angeles River in California. It was an important part of my life. - Margy

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    1. Seems hard to imagine stables in Los Angeles, but I am sure that when you were a child it was idyllic there, and your memories are no doubt precious.

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  32. Hello David, I noticed that your blog is much better to read with the bigger letters. I saw it a view blog earlier but now I will tell you that this is a great improvement. Like you, no recent pictures and of me but also not of my daughter. I do not like to display, like you, me or other people on the Internet. So I will stay a frog! The birds you show here to us are again amazing and so good to see the American Cliff Swallow is building a nest. I can understand you are so excited about this. Fingers crossed it will be succesful. Lots of birds have stopped singing and are now molding like the one you show. Not long now and it will be so quiet again. I dread it. The Ospreys are again so wonderful. I am truly jalous that you can vissit them so often.
    Regards,
    Roos

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    1. Thanks for letting me know about the larger letters, Roos. I am glad that it improved things for you.

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  33. hello David
    very interesting to see how the ospreys developed, beautiful birds
    Regards Frank

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  34. Japanese beetle. That's what was hanging out o n my up-north clothes line and also what accounts for the chewing of the hydrangea leaves. Now that I know what a flicker is, they are one of my favorite birds. What I've learned today!

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    1. It is hard not to be enchanted by a flicker, Jeanie.

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  35. Thank you for sharing a lovely variety of photographs ...

    All the best Jan

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  36. It's always a joy to scroll through your photos with the variety that you choose to share. And the commentary is enjoyable and educational, too!

    It's great to see you at 'My Corner of the World' this week! A link back would be great!

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  37. David - yes, the circle of life continues on, despite the pandemic's impact on humans. At once scary and reassuring. Fabulous shots of the young osprey "cuddling" under the parent!

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  38. Bird watching is definitely a healthy hobby. Covid 19 did not impede your bird watching activities, I am happy to see...

    Beautiful pictures indeed.

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  39. Hi David wow what beautiful pics of nature at its best ,you photos are amazing I love seeing these birds as I have seen any of these before,Thankyou for sharing them for us,hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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  40. Love the fabulous shots! That foal is ADORABLE!

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  41. I just finished reading this article, and thought you'd be interested if you haven't already come across it.

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    1. I had not seen it, Linda, and it looks very interesting. I will get to it later. Thanks for thinking of me.

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    2. Fascinating article, Linda. Thanks very much for sending me the link.

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  42. Great photos as always. I love a bird that sings for pure pleasure. The peacocks in our neighborhood are molting, leaving us six tail feathers almost 6 feet in length!

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  43. Hi Both,
    Another very interesting post with a great variety in species, some really excellent images so well done Miriam. Find the Flicker wing fascinating, and the Foul with Mum very special.
    Good to see your Osprey, I have been lucky to be able to follow a nest and have been so lucky in doing so, so many volunteers are still without seeing any Osprey so far this season and its nearly over.
    You both stay safe.
    John

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  44. Nice capture of the blue-gray oriole bill. I never noticed that detail before. Such a busy time of year for your birds. Ours are mostly done nesting, the little beggars are done begging for food, territorial singing has subsided into much quieter mornings. Traffic is still high at the feeders though.

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  45. Fabulous Shots of wildlife!

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  46. Hi David,
    It is good to read that you can find a lot of distraction in the nature around you, Covid-19 or not. When there are so many beautiful birds to pay attention to, you don't get a chance to feel bored. To be able to follow the life of the ospreys nearby must feel like a continuous joy. Magnificent birds!
    Greetings, Kees

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  47. Hello David,

    Another great outing and report. The birds and photos are lovely. The Mama horse and foal are one of my favorites.. The foal is adorable. It is great to get outside and enjoy nature! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day,wishing you a happy weekend! PS, thank you for the visit and comment.

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  48. I was trying to figure out what was next to the Flicker! It's his wing...what a neat photo! Love seeing the horses and variety you've included today. And I just saw the photo of you and your daughter in the post below this one! She is beautiful and you look pretty handsome too! I like your quote at the end of this post. Hiking and photography has made all the difference for me these past few months. And blogging of course! Enjoy your weekend!

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  49. LOVE the colts. Horses are a favorite of mine. I am one of those distracted by the beauty of the oriole. I never noticed the color of the beak. Enjoyed your post!

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  50. Great photos. I'm wondering if the phoebes I've noted here are actually flycatchers, some of them. Must look at my photos carefully. I've followed the Cornell Lab cam for the Hellgate ospreys for a few years...ups and downs with that nest with this year being a down year,sadly. They have amazing wings. I think hiking and bird watching a wonderful combination!

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  51. Hi David!!.. lovely pictures of the horses and beautiful birds... Have a nice weekend

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  52. Muchas gracias por tu amable visita.
    Un placer llegar hasta aquí. Tu reportaje es excelente y las fotografías son bellísimas.
    Un abrazo.

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  53. Hello. Fantastic birds and great photos. I like most photos of Northern flicker. It is so beautiful looking bird.

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  54. What a sweet little foal. Lovely bird shots, and the Ospreys are fabulous!

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  55. Beautiful pictures David and Miriam! Enjoyed seeing that swallow in the nest and hope soon there will be one litter !!
    The pictures no. 4,5 and six caught my eye very beautifully!

    Hope that all is good with you and it is nice to see your blog with fantastic pictures from your environment

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  56. Hi David,
    Lovely serie of images of stunning birds. Great shots of the Ospreys and the Swallows, superb!
    Give my regards to Miriam
    Happy weekend, and stay safe.
    Maria

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  57. the image of the Northern Flicker is quite cool. Interesting to see it!
    Nice veriety of birds and insects.

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  58. Oh! what great photos. The foal is cute, I watch it with great pleasure. Thank you very much for seeing many beautiful birds again!
    Hugs and greetings.

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  59. Hello David,
    what a beautiful bird this The Baltimore Oriole is. Beautiful in color but also difficult to identify I read from you. The beak then gives a solution.
    The sparrow is also a beautiful bird and the horse with foal are super nice. I always see beautiful birds with you :-)))))
    The woodpecker is just enviable and the beautiful osprey is truly green with envy !!!!!!
    Also beautiful colored beetles but terrible that they eat everything !!! Your series of swallows is great to watch.
    A sweet greeting and a big hug from your girlfriend from the Netherlands,
    Helma

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  60. Nice report on the natural wonders near your house, I liked as I mentioned before the osprey, the American robin and the Northern flicker, which is beautiful and as I think I have already mentioned belongs to the group of my favorite birds.
    Regards

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  61. Hi David - lovely set of photos and descriptions of shown birds ... including the oriole with its little slate blue beak. We aren't helping ourselves with the various introduced species ... and that's a lovely evening walk - take care - Hilary

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We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

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