Birds play a huge role in the Bowker Creek ecosystem. From ducks and crows to hawks and owls, birds are prey, predators, and scavengers. But there's one thing all birds have in common - their wings. So what are some of the adaptations found in bird wings?

The addition of salmon would have a large impact on the ecosystem. Although adult salmon don't eat while breeding, the babies would eat insects, plankton, and invertebrates. Animals like raccoons, herons, hawks, and eagles would eat the dead adult salmon. The salmon would create a more stable and diverse community in the creek.

Barred Owls are malevolent predators and majestic fliers, thriving in many different environments. Bowker Creek hosts a family of three Barred Owls; a mated pair their offspring. These birds of prey flourish in the Bowker Creek ecosystem, providing enough food for themselves and their family. So what allows them to prosper?

Mallard Ducks are very abundant in Bowker Creek. They are well adapted to life there, using their webbed feet to swim through (and sometimes under) the water. Females and chicks have brown-black camouflage in order to blend in with their surroundings. The mallard's bill is flattened out and well suited for filter feeding in creeks and lakes.

For salmon to be able to swim through the tunnel under Fireman's Park, a fish ladder would have to be installed. The fish ladder that would be put in Bowker Creek would not be as complicated as the one in the video below, as this is just a short tunnel, not a dam. 

Salmon return to their birthplace to breed. The breeding pairs lay their eggs and die soon afterwards. Once the young salmon are old enough, they swim out to sea. After a few years they return to their first home and repeat the cycle. Here is a diagram of the salmon life cycle.

Bowker creek runs from south Oak Bay, to Uptown, Saanich, and back. Bowker Creek is approximately 2500 years old and originally home to lots of Salmon, but sadly not anymore. Above you will see a map. The thinner blue line is Bowker Creek, the thick blue line is its Watershed boundaries.

Before Bowker was subject to urbanization, it supported Chum and Coho salmon. The salmon were a very important part of First Nations' culture, not only for food, but also for roles in their stories. It's a shame that most of the history of the creek has been lost and isn't known  anymore. The salmon could bring back the connection to the past.