The first of a projected series of atmospheric rivers hit Kitimat on the afternoon of September 21. To my surprise there was lively and heavy bird activity in my backyard, including more than a dozen dark-eyed juncos, five of the steller’s jays that live in the trees by my house, a couple of northern flickers, a female purple finch and a song sparrow.

A female purple finch lands on my back deck during an atmos