‘Cast of Thousands’ offers unique take on the Old Testament PAGE 17
THURSDAY January 9, 2014 • www.langleytimes.com NEWS A Bad Call
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BUSINESS Failing at Fitness?
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In Elite Company
Accused killer’s bail hearing delayed
Rare birds spotted during annual Christmas count
MONIQUE TA MMING A Time s Re po rte r
ANNUAL COUNT WAS ‘A SATISFYING, SUCCESSFUL DAY’ FOR LANGLEY CLUB M O N I Q U E TA M M I N G A Tim e s Re po r t e r
The misty weather conditions may have played a role in the reduced numbers at the annual Christmas bird count this year in Langley. According to Langley Field Naturalists Kathy Masse and Sheila Puls, the volunteers found 67 species, which is one more than was seen last year. However, the overall count of birds was down from 8,000 last year to 6,061 this Christmas. The count took place on Sunday, Dec. 29. Members of the Langley Field Naturalists divided into five teams and set out from their meeting spot at ABC Country Restaurant armed with their clipboards and binoculars, to spend the day counting every bird they saw, both numbers and species, in the assigned count area. It was part of the annual North America Christmas Bird Count and the Fields Naturalists covered a pie
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shaped area — a segment of the larger circle of the White Rock/ Surrey count area. The day was drizzly and cool but happily the rain stopped after an hour, said Masse. At 4 p.m., the groups met again, to warm up with a hot chocolate and to tally final numbers. Stories of rare bird sightings and adventures of the day were shared and enjoyed by all, Puls and Masse said. They found American robin counts are up this year. A highlight was the cinnamon teal which is rare in Langley in the Christmas bird count. Some saw large flocks of pine siskin, and American goldfinch. A peregrine falcon and three American kestrels rounded out other unusual sightings. “The 2013 Christmas bird count, as it is each year, was a satisfying, successful day for the Langley Field Naturalists,” said Masse.
J OHN GOR D ON s u bmitte d pho to
One of the species noted on the Langley Christmas Bird count was this pileated woodpecker. The bird was photographed in Rotary Park. More photos at thecanadianwarbler.blogspot.ca.
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The man accused of killing a pastor’s son in an attempted grow rip in Langley last year was supposed to be in Surrey Provincial Court on Tuesday morning. But Jesse Hill’s court appearance for a bail hearing in a jammed and standing-room only courtroom 103 was put off until Jan. 29. He remains behind bars and has been in jail since his arrest in October. Hill, 23, of Surrey faces a second degree murder charge in the death of Taylor Johnson. He also faces charges of break and enter with intent, disguise with intent and discharge of a firearm with intent. Johnson, 21, was found shot to death on Feb. 26, 2013 in a 200 Street home, which contained a grow-op. Johnson was the caretaker of the grow-op. He was the son of a pastor in Delta and had no prior record. During a press conference, his dad, Paul, said his son had made some new friends of questionable nature. Taylor Johnson also leaves behind his stepmother and five siblings.
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