Author Archives: Gary Hunt

Marsh Keeper Needed

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

The MarshKeepers Program is run by Ducks Unlimited Canada. We are looking for a volunteer to monitor Lac du Bois, one of the marshes in this program. This involves going to Lac du Bois once a month, weather permitting. You will observe and record what you see, such as the bird species, other animals, presence of invasive weeds, and things that change over time. There are training sessions available to help you learn bird and plant identification. Your observations are recorded on two apps. 

Complete information is in the manual below. If you are interested or have questions, contact Margaret Graham, marggraham@shaw.ca

MK-Training-Manual-240724

Ralph Ritcey Big Bird Day 2024 Results

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

On Sunday, May 26, 16 birders for Team North and 14 for Team South participated in the annual Ralph Ritcey Big Bird Day. This is a fun and friendly competition beginning at midnight and ending at 4:00 pm. Home birders are welcome to record bird species at their feeders.  At 5:00 we gathered at the home of Anne and Bruce Ritcey for a bring-your-own dinner and to talley the results. There are no prizes, only the bragging rights going to the winning team. The boundaries are a 50 km radius … Continue reading →

Time to Watch for Lightning Mushrooms

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

When the arrowleaf balsamroot is blooming, it is time for lightning mushrooms.  When you are out walking in the grasslands and sagebrush areas around Kamloops this spring, be on the lookout for circles of a large, white mushroom. These are lightning mushrooms, one of the few large mushrooms that occur in spring around Kamloops. It’s gone by various genera, including Calocybe, Lepista, and Tricholoma, but the genes have been sequenced and it is now known as Leucocalocybe mongolica in the family Lyophyllaceae. Originally described from East Asia, it is well … Continue reading →

Vancouver Avian Research Centre Bird ID Course

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

The Vancouver Avian Research Centre (VARC), which is a member of BC Nature (like KNC!), offers lots of programs, walks, courses, etc., throughout the year. They are offering a 5-week, online Bird Identification Course starting next Thursday, April 4. All sessions will be recorded so if you miss any, you can watch them later. The cost is $250 but a benefit to the club is that $125 of that will come back to our club. You can find details about the course and register here: https://donorbox.org/birdid2024 For more information about … Continue reading →