The Kingfisher

In 2025, the belted kingfisher has captured my affections and admiration. I love this bird's sassiness and ability to adapt to urban environments, utilizing rivers, lakes, creeks, and even artificial structures for perching and hunting fish, and they are often seen in cities. This male uses an old stick fence as its fishing perch in a marshy area of Royal Roads University grounds in Victoria BC. A vast, historic 260-hectare parkland features varied landscapes, including formal Italian, Japanese, and Rose Gardens, along with expansive old-growth forests, Garry Oak meadows, and coastal trails, ideal for hiking, exploring, and observing wildlife.