From: David Tinker <dtinker@blunile.guild.org>
  To  : Granville Times <dtinker@blunile.guild.org>
  Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 09:30:33 -0400 (AST)

Granville News, Aleutian Ecosystem

Hello All:

It's been a while since I sent out a mailing to the Granville Times list,
and this is not a big one.  But I thought I'd give some indication we are
still functioning down here.  Right now we are in the midst of a three day
Nor'Easter that will probably mark the transition from autumn to early
winter, blowing the last leaves off the trees.  But it has been a beautiful
autumn here.  I was able to get a last little tour in the MG this week, and
the colours were still gorgeous.  One vignette remains in my memory: I
stopped to eat a sandwich at West La Have.  The air was warm, the wide river
was deepest azure, and across it the line of little fishing villages, each
with a white church spire, stood out crystal clear against hills clothed in
colours of gold and flaming scarlet.  In the light breeze, a green gaff
rigged sloop with tan coloured sails was beating up the river.  About two
cars drove by in the 20 minutes I was there, and except for waves burbling
on the wharf, and the calls of seabirds, all was peaceful silence.  Times
like that are incredibly precious, and fortunately, easy to find down here.

It's a quiet time generally, now that the tourists and other fall migrants
have gone.  The birding scene is quiet for now - on my trip I stopped at
Crescent Beach, to see a group of black ducks, a few pintails and a largeish
group of Canada Geese feeding in the shallow barachois, as well as five
Great Blue Herons.  But shore bird were noteably absent.  Yesterday morning
however, Sheila and I were walking on the dyke on a quiet foggy morning just
before the storm moved in, and I spotted a group of eight Knots feeding on
the mud flats - no doubt a late group of stragglers.  Spent the rest of the
wild day indoors, with a pleasant fire in the Library, a foretaste of winter
days to come.

I recommend that everyone check out the following link:

    <http://www.latimes.com/news/state/updates/lat_aleut001028.htm>

which is a front page story from the L.A. Times about the work Tim is
involved with in the Aleutian Islands.  It is an extremely well written
piece, presenting the facts accurately without simplifying or
sensationalising them,  but for those concerned about the world's
environment it is a rather scary story.  Still, it's nice that one's
children's activities make the front page of a major newspaper!

Regards to all, and keep in touch.

David
--

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 David O. Tinker                    |   E-Mail address:
 4311 Granville Road, Box 2030A,    |         dtinker@tartannet.ns.ca
 RR 2, Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia |   Alternate E-Mail address:
 B0S 1K0                            |         dtinker@blunile.guild.org
                                    |   Voice: (902) 532-2916
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