The North gives back in many ways. Although many living in the North take the many different types of animals for granted, being able to see these majestic creatures on a regular basis is a gift that most living in the cities will never experience. Christina and Scott, by choosing to make their life among the animals in the area, have a great appreciation for nature and the natural wonders of the area. Although you don't think of an industrial setting like a gold mine as a wilderness preserve, you just have to open your eyes to see how integrated the wildlife is into daily life.
Take these swallows, for example. They're happily sitting on one of the lines running from through camp. These have been coming back for many years now, but if not for the Christina and Scott and the mine, probably some wouldn't have survived.
Scott rescued these young swallows after they had fallen from their nests and nursed them back to health. Most think of swallows as being a bit of nuisance because of the mess their droppings create, but they live on mosquitoes and other insects - giving people a break from their relentless search for human blood!
Now the swallows are fat and happy - and feeling pretty much at home!
There are many other birds in the area. Many migrate, like this duck, because of the long, cold winters. Some will fly thousands of miles to reach their winter homes in the south, returning to the Cassiar mountains for the short summer season.
Other scavengers, like this crow, stay for the entire year, feeding on those animals unfortunate enough not to have survived the challenges of the North.
Of course, a big part of any remote ecosystem are the predators. Eagles abound in this area, and are frequently seen. These bald eagles also live here throughout the year. As meat-eaters, they don't have the need to migrate like the plant and insect eaters. There are also other raptors such as hawks and owls, but they're a little harder to find and photograph.
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