Category Archives: Naturalist Posts

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 →

Winter Buteos

Kamloops Naturalist Club Posted on by

Buteos are the large hawks that we often see perched atop powerpoles, trees  or on fences, especially in open country but some prefer the forests as well. The 3 common buteos that we see around Kamloops are the Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk and Rough-legged Hawk. The Ferruginous Hawk has been seen periodically but rarely. One other buteo that has been seen recently during the fall migration is the Broad-winged Hawk which may become more frequent.  The Swainson’s Hawk only occurs here during the summer and will not be a focus … Continue reading →