Category Archives: Fauna

Ants, Caterpillars, and Lupines

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

  This photo shows ants on a silky lupine flower. See the whitish grub-looking thing? That’s a caterpillar! It might grow up to be a beautiful butterfly one day. In particular, it’s a caterpillar in the family Lycaenidae. Watch how jazzed these ants are about this lycaenid caterpillar:     Why are these ants hanging around with caterpillars? Well, the caterpillar honeydew is full of sugar and amino acids. The prevailing idea has been that ants benefit from eating the honeydew, and in turn offer protection to the butterfly larvae. … Continue reading →

Are We in the Next Mass Extinction? Sure Looks Like It

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

The last extinction occurred 65 million years ago when it is believed that a six mile wide asteroid hit the earth killing off the dinosaurs. Many scientists agree that the next mass extinction might happen sooner rather than later– as in, it’s already underway. Scientists believe that one-third of freshwater mollusks, sharks and coral reefs are well on their way to vanishing from our waters. Moreover, a quarter of our mammals, a fifth of our reptiles and a sixth of our birds are on their way out too. And every … Continue reading →

Kamloops Christmas Bird Count

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

The Kamloops CBC was held on Dec. 15, 2018. We tallied 75 species and 15,185 individuals. Highlights included Snow Goose, Sandhill Crane, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a bumper crop of Robins. A Belted Kingfisher was seen during the count period. The order below follows the 7th edition of the AOU checklist plus recent supplements to 2017. Snow Goose – 1 Canada Goose – 2817 Trumpeter Swan – 63 Northern Shoveler – 43 Gadwall – 10 American Wigeon – 3 Mallard – 1684 Green-winged Teal – 26 Ring-necked Duck – 4 Greater … Continue reading →

Rough-legged Hawk

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

The Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) is a visitor to the Kamloops area and does not breed here. It can be seen as a migrant from its northern breeding grounds around mid-September. Some birds continue on southwards while others will spend the winter in the open country around Kamloops. Northbound migrants peak during April with some stragglers seen as late as mid-May or so. This buteo is highly variable in its plumage, ranging from very light individuals through very dark with many variations in between. The variations across its range are … Continue reading →

What’s the History Behind Those Ord Road Birds?

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

This article appeared in the last issue of Sage Whispers. You can find the complete issue here. The article originally appeared in the Kamloops Daily News on June 14, 2011.  YOU ASKED: I’m curious to know more about these pretty, partridge-like birds that roam around Ord Road. People call them chukars and say they are not indigenous to the area. Where did they come from? – Ollie Weisbeck OUR ANSWER: When it comes to birds, there is only one person we ever need to call upon – Kamloops bird expert … Continue reading →