John Tschopp reports this week that it sounded like spring in his yard. The dominant song came from Varied Thrushes. There were also: Red-winged Blackbirds, Evening Grosbeaks, Steller's Jays, Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Flickers, a Downy Woodpecker, a Hairy Woodpecker and a Robin. Plus, he spent some time admiring, and wondering … Continue reading BirdWatch: Rough-legged Hawk
A fresh dispatch from John Tschopp: Pemberton Wildlife Association member Trevor Ross placed his trail camera into the cliffs of Mt. Pauline. These are some of the outstanding pictures of the Mountain Goats, that spend the winter in these vertical bluffs I turned to wikipedia to learn a little more and discovered: they're not … Continue reading Seasonal Observations: Mountain Goats
I've got to tell you, it's pretty hard for me to look at a photo of the long-toed salamander and resist breaking out in a "Crikey, would you look at that little fella" spiel... Which is why I'm so glad that Stewardship Pemberton's Veronica Woodruff has agreed to take on a regular Species Watch column … Continue reading Seasonal Observations: Long toed Salamander
A local birder, Ray Mason, sent our Birding Guru, John Tschopp, two outstanding pictures of Ptarmigans taken at Hope Creek a few days ago. They appear to be White-tailed Ptarmigans. Thanks guys! The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura), aka the Snow Quail, is the smallest type of grouse, and changes its speckled gray brown plumage in winter to dress whites. … Continue reading Birdwatch: Ptarmigans
AMA sqit nsneknukwa7. Good day, friends and relatives. I welcomed the New Year in an awesome way, by spending time by the rivers. We continued our coho salmon enumeration program through the holidays. The Ryan River covered over with ice and snow created wonderful deep pools underneath which the coho love. Poole Creek had a … Continue reading Riverwatch with Maxine Bruce – January
I am often asked "What do you farmers do all winter?" - as if the blanket of snow has by some magic made all of our work disappear. (It does do a good job of covering up certain jobs but they are still there... under the snow.) When potato harvest is done in October, we … Continue reading January Sweet January
Slippery or snow-covered roads, reduced visibility and bitter cold: these are all conditions that can make driving difficult and even dangerous during cold weather months. Winter also brings an increased risk of getting stuck in your car, so always dress warmly before heading out. Follow these tips to learn about winter driving risks and prepare … Continue reading Preparing an Emergency Kit for Your Car
John Tschopp reported the results from Pemberton's Christmas Bird Count earlier this month. Here's a little montage to our feathered friends who were spotted out on and about on one cloudy, clear day by 16 local ornithologists. No partridges in pear trees, despite the seasonal timeliness of such visitations. (Montage created with photos from Blake … Continue reading Seasonal Observations: Birds
When the mercury keeps dropping, its not only the bears that are hibernating! For many parts of Canada, winter can mean bitter cold and winter storms that bring high winds, icy rain, or heavy snowfall. While it’s true that many of us spend more time indoors in the winter, there are also those who embrace the outdoors, … Continue reading Holiday Survival Guide: Tip #6 – Winter Safety Indoors and Out
Spotted this week, in the neighbourhood of Collins Road, a Rough-legged Hawk. A bird of the Northern Tundra, the rough-legged hawk comes South in wintertime, making this sighting rare. A big bird, the name "rough-legged" refers to the feathers which cover the legs to the base of the toes. One of the hawk's most recognizable traits … Continue reading Bird Watch: Rough Legged Hawk Sighting and Bird Count details
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