Subject: junco eruption
Date: Apr 8 01:23:51 1999
From: Roger Craik - rcraik at home.com


Hi All

I am Michael Price's train buddy referred to by Jack Bowling in response
to a query from Gail S.

I am a Conductor for CP Rail on the Coquitlam to North Bend BC run and
consequently I get paid to bird in some of the best territory in North
America, albeit at speeds of up to 60 mph.

The incident that Jack refers to happened 3 or 4 years ago and occurred
on our stretch of track between Hope and Spuzzum (as in where the heck
is).

It consisted of our train coming upon several large loose flocks of
birds which would fly up as we approached. Not before nor to this day
have I seen such large numbers. This year I could barely tell that they
were moving through the Fraser Canyon.

As I do not go up the canyon every day there might have been a wave with
larger numbers but I think not.

I hope that I have shed some light on something that may have developed
mythical proportions.

Just as an aside, the main wave of Band Tailed Pigeons had not started
to move through as of Sunday last. Their numbers are increasing every
year.

Roger Craik

Maple Ridge BC