B.C. Columbines and their Pollinators
In B.C., we have three native columbines – yellow columbine, blue columbine, and red columbine.
Continue reading →Category Archives: Naturalist Posts
First Cape May Warbler Ever Seen In the Lower Mainland
Instead of spending time in Turks and Caicos or Barbados, this tiny yellow Cape May warbler has somehow ended up in Abbotsford, B.C. Bird photographer Nick Balachanoff says, to his understanding, it’s the first identified Cape May warbler in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley. See the full story
Continue reading →Kamloops Christmas Bird Count
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
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 →
Christmas Bird Count for Kids
If anyone is involved in organizing a Christmas bird count for kids, here is information from Bird Studies Canada.
Continue reading →What’s the History Behind Those Ord Road Birds?
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 →