Eastern and Western Kingbird Kingbirds are large flycatchers. In spite of the names, “Eastern” and “Western” both are regular visitors in our valley during the summer months. Westerns, as you might expect, are only found in the western US, our part of BC, as well as the extreme southern...
Birds of a Feather Which Bird might I see today? – SPRING Waxwings, Bohemian and Cedar Spring migration in the northern hemisphere sees a huge movement of birds from south to north as they follow the urge to seek out favourable habitats in which to lay their eggs and raise their young. For some...
Birds of a Feather Which Bird might I see today? – WINTER Doves Even if you don’t feed birds in winter, you are probably familiar with the doves, which are here year-round. I won’t bore you with statistics about the feral Rock Dove or Pigeon, a very common urban species that everyone knows....
Which Bird might I see today? – FALL Grouse Hunters, armed with guns, know that fall is a good time to look for grouse; birders, armed with binoculars, know that you can see them any time of the year! These birds do not migrate. In our part of the Okanagan valley three species of grouse are...
Bernau is one of the many great family names of Lake Country. When Hugh Bernau was young it was expected he would follow in his father’s footsteps, however, he had his own plans in life. In 1929, Hugh made his way to Winfield, BC, after spending two years in Monte Creek. He worked on an orchard...
The Goldie family came to Canada in 1844, brought by their great-grandfather John Goldie, who died in 1886. David Goldie, father of James Goldie, played an important role in establishing the family’s name for David’s achievements were remarkable. In The Goldie Saga, Theresa (Tib) Goldie...
Have you ever wondered where many of the old tools at Lake Country Museum came from? They were derived largely from a prominent builder in the area, Edward (Teddy) Hare. Teddy built many of the first homes in the area. Jim Gleed, a stone mason, partnered with Hare to do the work. Some of the...
Most people know Alec Beasley through his donation of Beasley Park. However, Alec was also a prolific letter-to-the-editor writer. He wrote to many newspapers, sending over 1000 letters. Immersing himself into controversy, no subject was too edgy for him, including nuclear disarmament. On this...
Wood and Elegance: the Era of Organs This piano is classified as a reed organ. Many Canadians purchased them, through the mail order catalogue, from the T. Eaton Company, around year 1900. The manufacturer of this instrument was Bell Piano & Organ Co. LTD., from Guelph, Ontario. These...
Anthony T. (Sigh) Kobayashi was the first born son of Denbei and Hiro Kobayashi. Sigh was born in a cabin, in the area now known as Seaton Park, on April 20, 1915. He was a model student, and he was well-liked by adults and children. Sigh would wait each day for the SS Sicamous to dock at the...
This piano was once used by customers in a restaurant. People could drop a quarter in the front panel, and listen to a one-man-band variation of a player piano song. These instruments were the predecessors of the jukebox, as stated from The Canadian Encyclopedia. The restoration of these...
Which birds might I see today? Osprey Which of us has not thrilled to the sight of an Osprey hovering over the lake, then diving down with feet outstretched to catch a fish and fly off triumphantly with it? I never tire of watching the performance; the search, the plummet, the powerful wingbeats...