Have you ever heard the sounds of Africa at her most natural - when the hyena barks, the lion roars and the hippopotamus snorts? M and I love the bush. Whenever we visit family in South Africa, we try to slip in a few days away with his parents to the Kruger National Park.This weekend, we experienced a touch of BC urban bush. Perhaps harbour seals, hawks and deer don't compare with hyena, lion and hippo but they are still a delight to behold. And did you know that we have wild dogs in Canada too?
Friday early evening saw us enjoying our staid ritual of a Macca's (Ozzie word) muffin and tea sitting in the car at the Foreshore like two old fogeys (folks). It's a bit like a roadhouse with a view. The patrons bring their takeout dinner or coffee, like us, and sit snugly in their cars to watch the dog walkers and the activity in the inlet.
We had just arrived at the Foreshore when M commented on a black medium sized dog that was standing on the bow of a small boat. "That dog better be careful, he's going to fall in," he warned. I looked down to tuck into my muffin and heard, "There he goes. He jumped in!" He did indeed. He was swimming in the frigid water to a group of harbour seals. As he approached, the seals ducked into the water and disappeared. Not snubbed in the least, the dog switched direction and headed for another group of seals. This group was further off and entailed a longer swim. I looked at the occupants of the boat. They seemed oblivious as their boat drifted and they talked. Did they even know where their dog was?
The dog got close up and personal with the next group of seals. So close that he appeared to get nose to nose with a seal. There was a big splash and then the seal and its mates disappeared. "Wow, do you think the seal snapped at the dog?" I asked. "They don't usually make a splash when they go under the water." Snapped at or not, the wild and wet dog headed off for the next group of seals. How long could this dog swim? Were we going to see him do a seal imitation and duck under the water too, only to not reappear? Thankfully, the owners decided that he had had enough sport and headed off to haul him in. I take it that this is a common activity for the sole wild dog of the Burrard Inlet.
On Saturday a hawk circled just outside our livingroom window with seven squawking attendants. He flew seemingly oblivious to the crows dive-bombing him. I couldn't understand what the crows' problem was. They're not North Vancouverites. I don't believe that they roost on the North Shore so there would be no young to protect. If they were seagulls I'd understand having once seen an eagle swoop by our apartment with what looked like a young seagull in his talons and three seagulls in hot, squawking pursuit.
Sunday afternoon M and I mellowed out at the bird sanctuary on the North Shore. We were in the area and stopped in for a walk, a time of quiet to enjoy the sun, and hopefully spy a few birds. I spotted the deer along the path. It was a young one. Now happily resident in the bird sanctuary it allowed us to get relatively close. Deer are peaceful and serene. Their presence alone is one of stillness.
We gleaned life lessons from the wild antics of a dog and his seal mates, an unfettered hawk and the serenity of a deer. The wild dog was the epitome of having fun, reaching out to others and doing what you love. The hawk modelled staying focused, remaining calm under pressure and ignoring the cacophony of crows in your life. And, appropriately, on the Sabbath, the deer instilled the value of taking time to rest, to find quiet places in your life and to live at peace with God, yourself and those around you.
The wild life of British Columbia may be tame in comparison with Africa yet we do have bears that walk our North Shore streets and rummage our backyards, eagles and coyotes that make off with our cats and other wildlife that impart lessons to eager observers.
