Today we’re going to take a look at an unmistakable species, easily recognized when seen. In our part of the Okanagan, however, they are not common, usually sighted in either April, May or June when they pass through northwards in migration. Huge flocks migrate together from their wintering...
By Pam Laing American Crow and Common Raven, two familiar Corvids This winter started off unusually mild and snowless. You may have noticed, as I did, that many more crows than usual were lingering here instead of moving further south. Why? As always with birds, it’s all about finding food in...
Fall migration, an overview Flock of Sandhill Cranes migrating south Many birds migrate, as you know. In our valley, spring migration unfolds gradually, somebirds arriving to breed here as early as February, others not until June. And in the fallmigration doesn’t all happen at once either. Birds...
In our last post we looked at two North-American sparrows which turn up every spring tobreed here, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows. This time let’s look at a sparrow you will onlysee here in summer, the Lark Sparrow. Lark Sparrow, distant but easily recognizable This is one of the few places in...
When non-birders think of sparrows they think of the common House Sparrow, the birdthat says, “Cheep, cheep” in our hedges and is abundant in built-up areas. But HouseSparrows are not true sparrows, were introduced here from Europe and are in fact relatedto the North African weaver finches! Two...
Flooding is common in the Okanagan. Our post ‘Flooding in Lake Country’ touches on this, as we noted how flooding occurred nearly every year in the early 1900s. In 1908, the Oyama canal was built, connecting Wood Lake and Kalamalka Lake. This lowered the lakes’ water levels, which one may think...
At this time of year, when so many of our colourful summer breeding birds are winging their way southwards for the colder months, it is a pleasure to turn our attention to birds that stay here year round. This time let’s focus on our three species of nuthatch, White-breasted, Red-breasted, and...