Author Archives: Gary Hunt

Birder’s Guide To McGowan Park

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Contributed by Tristan Semeniuk. Tristan is a member of the Next Generation Naturalists  program. Many of us enjoy the songs that migrating birds sing in the spring, and there is a large diversity of birds that call Gamble’s Pond at Albert McGowan Park their home. In March, male Red-winged Blackbirds are the first spring birds to appear at the park, along with American Robins who magically pull worms out of the ground. Song sparrows arrive quite early as well, and you can see and hear them calling from the reeds … Continue reading →

Birding in May and Hot Spots to Visit

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From the June 2020 Newsletter and contributed by Isaac Nelson. Isaac is a member of our Next Generation Naturalists program. Spring has sprung in Kamloops as far as birds are concerned. Many species are already beginning to nest, while others are still migrating through on their way to breeding grounds further North. Yellow-rumped Warblers have arrived en masse, as have Western Tanagers, Chipping Sparrows, House Wrens, and several species of flycatchers. Keep an eye out for both Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds, and one might be lucky enough to witness their … Continue reading →

Joan Best Talks About Growing Up in Tranquille

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From the June 2020 Newsletter Long-time club member Joan Best was inspired to post a brief article on the infoline after reading about the loon seen on Kamloops Lake. Knowing how important Tranquille is to club members, I have included it in the newsletter for those who aren’t on the infoline. Margaret Graham Some of you have heard all this before but the post about seeing a loon on Kamloops lake and walking the tracks between the two tunnels brought on an attack of history! My father worked for the … Continue reading →

Big Bird Day 2020: Battle of the Birders

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Big Birding Day 2020 Contributed by Heather Stalberg Midnight! Ready, set, go! Six hours later I was out the door. This was the Kamloops Naturalist Club’s Big Birding Day, a much-anticipated annual spring event starting on a Saturday at midnight and ending at 4:00 pm the following Sunday. Birders spread out over a geographic area bounded by a 50 km radius extending from the tower on Mount Dufferin. Teams are divided into South and North using the South Thompson and Thompson Rivers as a dividing line. There are three simple … Continue reading →

Bird Nests Found By Ken Lipinski

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Ken Lipinski discovered two nests of ground-dwelling birds on recent hikes. The nest containing three eggs belongs to a killdeer. They were found on the shore of a small lake on Wheeler Mountain. The nest with four eggs belongs to a spotted towhee. Towhee are also ground nesters but rely on dense foliage to obscure their nest site. This nest is about 20 metres away from the road along Tranquille Creek. Bird nests are not that difficult to find if you are patient and observe bird behaviour. I found my … Continue reading →

Kamloops Naturalist Club Signs On To Natural Infrastructure Letter

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Forty two groups came together to encourage Prime Minister Trudeau and key federal ministers to invest in natural infrastructure as a part of Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan. In an open letter submitted on Thursday May 21st, the groups provide detailed recommendations for investment in natural infrastructure as an integral part of Canada’s economic recovery from the COVID crisis and its long-term resilience against the impending climate emergency. The letter focuses on three key recommendations: Get money moving by expediting funding to projects that are “shovel-ready” and “shovel-worthy,”; Keep money moving … Continue reading →