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.

Barred Owls are well adapted to hunting in the trees. Their large wingspan cushioned by softened feathers allows for easy flight with little noise. Barred owls also possess the unusual ability of walking (or hopping) by coordinating the movements of their wings and feet. Exceptional sight and hearing helps the owls find their prey easily at night.

Great Horned owls are native to BC and its forests. They're nocturnal predators, using serrated wing edges and softened feathers to silently ambush their prey. Their raised ears can rotate to pin down the exact location of their quarry. Though only weighing 3 pounds, their powerful legs and sharp talons let them grab prey that weights up to 10lbs!