Today’s adventure was all about embracing the rain — and wow, did it ever rain. Finnegan and I headed up island under a canopy of fog, determined to walk through the forest, search for mushrooms, and soak in the quiet magic that only a rainy fall day can bring. Our first stop was a forest that looked like a watercolor painting come to life. The trees were ablaze with reds, oranges, and yellows — fall in full, glorious bloom. The air smelled rich and earthy, and every step squ

This morning, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in my second round of the European Green Crab Trapping Project at Esquimalt Lagoon, part of the Royal Roads University shoreline. The program is run by the Esquimalt Lagoon Stewardship Initiative on behalf of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and it plays a crucial role in removing invasive species from a vital migratory bird sanctuary. These invasive crabs can disrupt delicate ecosystems, so removing

Lately, my mind has felt like a tangled ball of yarn. Grief still lingers in the background, ever-present, and work stressors have been buzzing around like persistent flies. Life is good — truly — and I’m so grateful to have Finnegan by my side. But inside my head? It’s chaos. Do this. No, do that. Wait—do I even want to do any of it? When my thoughts start to spiral like this, I’ve learned where to go. I turn to nature. More specifically, I turn to birds. Birding has become