John Tschopp reports a busy bird feeder for Mother's Day on the weekened To see two kinds of Grosbeaks side by side, one has to come to Pemberton. The picture shows one Black headed Grosbeak, male, three Evening Grosbeaks, one male two females and a male Purple Finch. So much colour ! Tschopp admits to … Continue reading Mother’s Day bird visitations – grosbeaks, purple finch, pigeons, cowbirds
We were surrounded by hawks and I was reading a book called H is for Hawk. I marvelled at the wildness around me while the narrator recoiled at the wildness she discovered within. Our day was fraught with coincidence it seemed. We had stopped at the end of Goose Lake road to get cell service … Continue reading Connie Sobchak goes hunting for cranes. And gets a story instead
Here in Pemberton Valley, spring migration is in full swing, reports John Tschopp. The Yellow rumped Warblers move in waves. Purple Finches and White-crowned Sparrows sing all day long. The Swallows scout for a nest hole. Today a rare visitor was with the Robins in our yard. A Townsend's Solitaire spent the afternoon with us. … Continue reading Spring migration and the Townsend’s Solitaire: Bird watch with John Tschopp
While sitting in a ditch off Highway 99 just outside of Lillooet I got to musing on the qualities of the meadow lark song. I was in the ditch because we had an hour or two to wait before the road reopened and we had decided to use the wait time to take some photos. … Continue reading Can you call your sorrows “a bounty of sadness” and feel richer for them, instead of burdened? Connie Sobchak explores the power of words and lark song
As the sun filtered through the blustery snowfall the other day, we pressed ourselves to get out of the house for a walk with the dog. "Winter has lasted too long," we lamented, "It’s time for spring." Our wish was granted. Over by Arn Canal, piileated woodpeckers drilled hole after hole in the cottonwoods and … Continue reading The Birds Know
I sat down with John Tschopp earlier this year - he and his neighbour had had a close encounter with a hawk that got entangled in the wire of a chicken coop on New Year's Day, and we figured that my column needed a bit more bloodshed and drama. I've been gleefully receiving John's birding … Continue reading Chicken Coops are the avian version of the Tiny House movement – trending in a big way, according to John Tschopp’s latest update
If a cold and hungry hawk is going to get itself entangled in the netting of your chicken coop, attempting to source itself a nice New Year’s Day dinner, the best possible scenario is to be John Tschopp’s neighbour. The 40-year Pemberton resident unwittingly designated himself as my go-to guy for any bird-related questions, when … Continue reading Counting Birds, Wrestling Hawks: All in a day’s work for John Tschopp
Boxing Day we travelled to Lillooet to participate in the Christmas Bird Count. The travel checklist was varied: Bird books, binoculars, Christmas cookies for the social, pain killers in case the dog’s arthritis flared up, camera gear, hiking poles, laptops, a cheese tray (also for the social) and several layers of warm clothing. Snow swirled … Continue reading Bird Brain
This morning, Pemberton birders gathered to count birds. It was cold. Cold, but beautiful, says Count organizer, John Tschopp, offering this as definitive proof of the claim:
Meet the Northern Saw-whet Owl who has recently taken up residence in a chicken coop at mid valley. John Tschopp reports that "The hens don't seem to mind its presence." And none seem too camera-shy, either. Happily for us.
The Wellness Almanac 