Author Archives: Gary Hunt

Owls Are Perishing In Record Numbers Due To Rat Poisoning

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Owl Watch BC is reporting that owls are perishing across the Province and the Nation due to secondary poisoning from highly toxic Second-Generation Anticoagulants (SGAR’s). Rat poison moves through the food chain after a rodent ingests it and is then consumed as prey. The BC Nature Board will discuss how to best support a change to use of these poisons. One owl can eat up to 1000 rats a year. Owls keep the rodent population in balance naturally and are FREE of charge. PRESS RELEASE SAANICH. June 29, 2020 Rat … Continue reading →

Valuing All Voices: Adaptation Conference 2020

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From the May 2020 newsletter, this contribution is from Olivia Corke. Olivia is a member of our Next Generation Naturalists program and she has a powerful message for youth who want get involved in environmental issues.   In February, I had the extraordinary opportunity to attend the biggest climate change conference in the country: Adaptation Canada 2020, held in downtown Vancouver, BC. As one of the only youths in attendance, I felt incredibly honoured to have been offered this opportunity through my Next Generation Naturalists group that I’ve been a … Continue reading →

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 →