Posted by Gary Hunt A group of 17 enthusiastic naturalists gathered at Gamble Pond to check out the beautiful birds. They started at Gamble Pond where about 25 bird species were recorded. Then on to Separation Lake to look for cranes. The main goal of the trip was to have a good look at the Sandhill Cranes and a group of 40 made a welcome appearance. These photos were taken by Lynne Borle.
Continue reading →This is a re-post of my article from about one year ago. Look around on road sides or bare disturbed ground and you are likely to see the small yellow flowers of Bur Buttercup (Ranunculus testiculatus). It is also known as Hornseed Buttercup or Horned-Head Buttercup. It is native to southeastern Europe (Balkan Peninsula). It was first recorded in North America from Utah in 1932. The first record for British Columbia, in southern regions, was in 1966 and it has spread widely since then. It is an annual that flowers … Continue reading →
Restoration efforts in Ontario, Canada, have helped a once-vanquished population to flourish. And they have been sighted in new habitats in the United States, too. There are more than 1,000 trumpeters in Ontario that headed north last month, many to raise their next brood. Restoration projects have also been successful in the United States, in the upper Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio and Michigan, returning swans to at least some of the areas they inhabited before Europeans arrived in North America. The natural population in Alaska, which became … Continue reading →
Enjoy this guest article by Mae Frank, undergrad student in Biology at Thompson Rivers University and maker of fun art projects! Have you ever wandered the streets, meadows, or forests and spotted a woodland caribou? I bet you would remember if you did. You could brag to your friends and colleagues about how time stood still as you watched this creature of elegance and grace pass through your line of sight. Everyone would ‘oooh’ and ‘awe’ as you retold your tale. But what about if you saw a Blue-grey Taildropper … Continue reading →
Many of you will be aware that we have had 2 immature Snow Geese consorting with Canada Geese at Riverside Park this past winter. Like their larger, darker compatriots, the Snowies like to graze on grasses which have been available until recent snow bouts have covered up much of the potential grazing habitat. Today (Feb. 25, 2019) I was at the rail crossing at 2nd and Lansdowne streets in Kamloops when these young Snow Geese came wandering up from the park in search of something to snack on. They seemed … Continue reading →
The River Otter (Lontra canadensis) is perhaps best known as the most playful member of the weasel family. If you have not had the good fortune of seeing otters in the wild, I am sure that many of you have enjoyed them in zoos or have seen videos of otters sliding down icy chutes in the winter or laying around on their backs pawing with their legs in the air or engaging in other appealing antics. I was fortunate to be able to photograph one of these fascinating mustelids at … Continue reading →