Sometimes in the winter, the extra high tides peak just when extreme winds blow the waves towards the beach and up over the edge of the road. Sand churned up in the shallow water of the beach is deposited on the pavement as the waves retreat. At its most furious, the storm makes the road impassable due to waves carrying logs and sand, crashing on the pavement.
Something had to be done. Why not use the logs that keep washing up on the shore to build a breakwater?
The only drawback was that access was limited for people wanting to spend time on the beach. Only a few pass-throughs allow access, but this is a small price to pay for keeping the beach material off the road. On the left foreground of the photo below, you can see the root system of a tree used in making the breakwater.
It makes a great perch for this crow to survey the beach and assess the possibility of nabbing a bite to eat.
Closer to the bluffs where the spit begins, people are enjoying the sunshine in spite of the cold brisk breeze.
Apparently they have brought some picnic food, and our crow is on the alert. See him in the foreground (below), keeping an eye on the people?
Those pebbles can twist a crow’s ankle. He hops up onto a better stand while he talks to us.
My name is Corby, I’m a crow,
A useful bird, I’ll have you know.
I clean up beaches, parks, and schools,
‘Cause people are such messy fools.
“A scavenger,” they say and sneer,
But really I’m an engineer.
A sanitation engineer,
Patrolling beaches without fear.
I’m much despised for baby theft
Of eggs and fledglings, moms bereft,
But on the beach and in the park,
With my intentions not so dark,
I use my observation perch
And beady eyes to scan and search
For chip bags, Ding Dongs, peanut shells.
I simply follow kiddies’ yells
For fast food wrappers, greasy hits
Of french fries, ketchup, burger bits.
I hop-skip over, spear a fry,
And poke some Cheezies with a sigh.
I fly up high, and watch, and call,
My cawing soon assembles all.
The local corbies cruising by,
Spy the garbage as they fly.
They’ve come to lend a helping hand
To clean the litter off the land.
They caw, “We are the cleanup crew,
Don’t look at us with eyes askew.
Don’t throw those rocks to chase us off,
You need us still, you silly toff.
As long as you mess up the land,
Be thankful for the crows at hand.”
Aw…what a great poem, Anneli! I loved your photographs, too.
I had to work hard at that one because I really don’t like crows. I get so mad when I see them fly off with baby birds.
I understand…I’m not a big fan of crows either…still, good job!
Thanks!
First class ode to the useful crow and an amazing shot of the crow on its perch, Anneli!!!
Thank you, Peter. He wasn’t shy at all.
There is a purpose for all things under heaven 🙂
I’ll keep that in mind next time I see a crow.
🙂
Spectacular. Full stop. Makes me home sick.
I keep telling you, it’s time for a visit.
The photos begin the story, the poem rounds it out! ❤️ A genius idea to use the driftwood. Do locals do the work, or the authorities? 🤔
I thought it was a good idea to use the driftwood since it was already there. This would have been done by the Regional District, most likely. I’m not aware of it being a volunteer project. Not sure they would allow it anyway, as it’s designated as a park.
I see, thanks! I appreciate the info Anneli. You live in a very beautiful place. 😎🇨🇦🇺🇸💪🏻
Thanks, John. We like it here.
Lovely poem! Making a breakwater with that driftwood is a great use and one I’ve not seen before. Interesting how the shore is quite rocky in these pics.
Yes, the rocks are on the upper side of the beach but when you walk into the water a way, it’s quite sandy. Glad you liked the poem. Thank you.
Excellent poems.
Thanks, Darlene. The muse visited me today.
An excellent ode to crows and what they do.
Thanks, Jennie. I suppose they do some good. It makes up for part of all the bad they do.
It does! You’re welcome, Anneli.
Wonderful 🙂
Thank you.
Hans.
Thanks for visiting, Hans. Nice to see you here.
Just started on your book The Wind Weeps.
Thank you, Arlene. Don’t forget to follow up with the sequel Reckoning Tide. I appreciate you reading my novels.
Love the poem… and the crow!
I hope you don’t really like the crow, but knowing your love of nature, you probably make allowances for it. I was trying hard to be positive in my poem. Glad you liked it.
I love crows!!
Really? Even when you see them fly away with baby birds and kill them?
In real life, I think I live very far from you. It was so nice to meet a crow who I probably would never have met. Thanks for bringing him into my life. He’s a cutie.
I normally wouldn’t do a post about a crow, as they are not my favourite animals, but I tried to think of something good about crows and so … there you are.
Interesting post, nice photos and poem Anneli!
Thanks, Belinda.
I love your photo -logue and especially the poem. 🙂
Thanks, Lynette. I have a lot of fun making up these poems.
Nice photos and love the poem. Is that the road you use to get off and onto the island?
Guess what? I woke up this morning and got confused. I thought it was Christmas. It’s snowing!! In April!! It usually doesn’t stick this late in the year, but we already have an inch or two. Ugh.
Oh no! I’m so sorry for you. Actually, it wasn’t much better here a couple of days ago when the rain turned to sleet. I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go. The road in the picture is on a spit – a finger of land that fizzles out. There’s a small “army” (Dept. of Nat. Defense) base at the end of it, mostly used for training cadets in the summer. There is no road to the island. We would have to take a ferry (2-hour ride) to Vancouver if we wanted to go to the mainland side. It’s quite expensive so we don’t go very often. But Vancouver Island is pretty big so we don’t usually need to go anywhere else.
Don’t go shoveling that snow. It will melt soon.
Yeah, the snow is already melting, but that’s because it’s now turned into a light rain. Blechy day.
Thanks for explaining about the geography there. At least Vancouver island is big enough to where you have all that you need there.
Great poem, Anneli. The breakwater using the natural driftwood is such a great idea. Beautiful photos of the water, bluffs, and beaches. 🙂
Thanks, Diana. I agree, the driftwood works nicely. Much better than a row of concrete blocks.
That is one philosophical crow – very good points too!
Ha ha. I had no idea either, that they were such deep thinkers. 😉
Beautiful post. You wrote the crow poem? It was amazing. I love crows … such clever birds.
Thanks, Rebekah. Yes, I wrote the poem. I love making up silly little rhymes. It’s fun.
The use of driftwood logs to hold back erosion and keep the beach area is a great idea. This has so much within your post. The crow poem taught me a few things I didn’t know! 🌞
Crows are pretty smart birds. I really don’t like them, to be honest, because it breaks my heart when I see them flying off with baby birds out of the nests, but I was trying to be fair to them and show them in a better light.
I don’t like all of nature but do feel many have purpose. You did a great job of making it seem like crows were ok with you!
Other living things give us beauty and lift our hearts, spirits up. 💕
There’s something good about every creature.
Yes, I think you often point out good qualities of animals and birds which may not appeal to everyone.