Nicola Naturalist Society

Merritt Christmas Bird Count – 14 December 2014

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Alan Burger

The Nicola Naturalists are organizing the Christmas Bird Count in the Merritt, BC count circle. This is the 16th count in this circle (a 24 km diameter area in which we look for birds each year). The count is one of hundreds held across North America organized by the Audubon Society and Bird Studies Canada. For more information on the overall Christmas Bird Count click here: Audubon CBC

Merritt birders using park benches to get a better view while scanning Nicola Lake for waterbirds. Photo © Corey Burger

You don’t have to be an expert birder to participate. We will have 5 or 6 groups covering different parts of the count circle and there will be experienced birders in each group. The main goal is to have fun – get out and see what birds are about, learn more about winter birds in our area, and have some social birding.

If you are interested in joining a group to participate in the Merritt Christmas Bird Count please send an e-mail to nicolanaturalists@gmail.ca or phone 250-378-2468.

We also have a post-count pot-luck supper where we tally up the count numbers and share experiences of our day’s birding. With any luck we will encounter some less common species such as this American Tree Sparrow.

American Tree Sparrow in the Merritt Christmas Bird Count, Dec 2012. Photo: © Corey Burger.

Check out the report from last year’s Merritt CBC here: 2013 Merritt CBC

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Winter Bird Identification Workshop – Saturday 6th Dec 2014

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Alan Burger

Bird Identification Workshop – Saturday 6th December, 1 to 3 PM, at NVIT room L017 (downstairs).

Once again we are running a bird identification workshop covering species likely to be found in winter in the Nicola Valley area. This is a good way to tune up your skills before the Merritt Christmas Bird Count on 14 December. Or just get a better idea of what birds are visiting your feeder each winter. The 2-hour workshop will be an informal look at photos of local species and discussion of identification tips.

This event is free and open to members of the Nicola Naturalist Society. To register for the workshop or get more information send an e-mail to nicolanaturalists@gmail.com

Test your skills – here are some species likely to occur in the Nicola Valley in winter. Scroll down – way down – to see the species identities.

Mystery Species #1 Photo: © Bob Scafe

Mystery species #2 Photo: © Alan Burger

Mystery species #3 Photo: © Alan Burger

Mystery species #4 Photo: © Bob Scafe

Mystery species #5 Photo: © Bob Scafe

Mystery species #6 Photo: © Bob Scafe

Mystery species #7 Photo: © Alan Burger

Scroll down to see the answers

Mystery species #1: Notice the long tail (therefore not a falcon like a Merlin). This and the long thin legs tell you that it is an Accipiter species. But is this Cooper’s Hawk or the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk? In winter the latter is much more common in the Merritt area. The tail is slightly squarish, and the bird is small and slim. It is a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Mystery species #2: We get two species of swans passing through the Nicola Valley on migration and over-wintering (while there is open water on the lakes): Trumpeter Swans (the most common here) and Tundra Swans. Tundra Swans are slightly smaller, have slightly shorter necks and, if you can pick it out, have a small patch of yellow just in front of the eye. The shape of the bill is also slightly different (check a field guide). This is a Tundra Swan.

Mystery species #3: Rounded body, relatively long tail and tiny size make this a Northern Pygmy Owl. The fact that it is active during daylight also separates it from other small owls. Often sit on the tops of trees scanning for prey – small birds.

Mystery species #4: The robust conical beak tells you that it is a seed-eating finch. We get three species of pink/purple finches in BC: Purple, House and Cassin’s. In the BC interior the Purple is very rare and Cassin’s is common but only in spring and summer. The House Finch is here year-round, often at feeders or in town. This is a male House Finch (the female is grey-brownish and very streaky). The brownish crown and strongly curved upper beak also distinguish this species from the other two.

Mystery species #5: Another seedeater but with a much smaller beak. About the same size as a Pine Siskin, the red forehead and pinkish breast tell you that this is a redpoll. There are two species of redpoll, but the Hoary Redpoll (which is much paler than this) is a very rare winter visitor to the southern interior. This is a Common Redpoll – a fairly common winter visitor which migrates south from the northern boreal forests.

Mystery species #6: Two species of doves are now common in Merritt: the native Mourning Dove and the introduced and rapidly increasing Eurasian Collared Dove. The doves in this photo lack the square tails with obvious bands and the dark collars of the latter species. The long pointed tails confirm that these are Mourning Doves.

Mystery species #7: Its a woodpecker, but Downy or Hairy? Both occur in our area year-round. The beak is small relative to the head which makes it a Downy Woodpecker (which is overall much smaller than the Hairy). If you look closely you can see tiny black marks on the white outer tail feathers. Downies have these but Hairies have pure white outer tail feathers.

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“Fur and forests: habitat management in BC interior forests for wildlife and biodiversity” – Dr. Tom Sullivan. Thursday Nov 20th, 7PM at NVIT Theatre

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Alan Burger

Dr. Tom Sullivan is a mammal ecologist and professor at University of British Columbia. He and his students have done many years of research in the southern BC interior on the interactions between small mammals (mice, voles, weasels, marten, etc.) and forestry activities. They have published many research papers on these topics, and given numerous presentations to the public, timber companies and foresters. Tom is an excellent speaker and has loads of fascinating information to share. This presentation will focus on the conservation implications of woody debris and green-tree retention. It will be of interest to anyone who is interested in our local forests and the numerous critters that make their homes in these forests.

A Red Squirrel – a common forest species in the BC interior. Photo: © Alan Burger

Short-tailed Weasel in summer – a voracious predator of mice and voles. The density and distribution of weasels and other small mammals is strongly affected by forestry practices in the BC interior. Photo: © Alan Burger

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“The South Okanagan – Similkameen National Park proposal” with Doreen Olson. Thursday Oct 16, 2014. 7PM, NVIT Theatre

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Alan Burger

Since 2003, South Okanagan Naturalist Club member Doreen Olson has been involved in the South Okanagan – Similkameen National Park Network, a grassroots movement, with a goal to establish a national park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen. This is the most biologically diverse area in Canada, but lacks a national park to fully protect and showcase this diversity. The grasslands and other ecosystems here support more threatened and endangered species (like the badger and tiger salamander shown below) than anywhere else in Canada.

Grasslands are at the heart of the South Okanagan – Similkameen National Park proposal. A park will improve protection for threatened and endangered species such as the badger. Photos: South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Network

Doreen’s presentation will give the rationale for the park and an update on current status of the park feasibility.

The Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) is listed as Endangered in Canada. The only place they live in Canada is the Okanagan grasslands. Photo – courtesy Doreen Olson.

Exploring the proposed national park. Photo courtesy Doreen Olson.

Grasslands of the South Okanagan – Similkameen. Photo courtesy Doreen Olson.

Much of the National Park proposal covers high country. Photo courtesy Doreen Olson

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If you build it they will come …. our new toadlet fence at Kentucky-Alleyne park is working well

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Alan Burger

The Nicola Naturalist Society, in collaboration with BC Parks and professional herpetologists from Biolinx Environmental Research, have successfully built a new ‘toadlet fence’ at Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park near Merritt. Starting in 2012 we’ve been working on a solution to prevent hundreds of tiny Western Toads from being killed on the campsite road in the park. West Pond in the park is one of the traditional breeding sites for Western Toads, a species of ‘Special Concern’ in Canada. In late July tens of thousands of tiny toadlets, freshly metamorphosed from tadpoles, leave the pond to head into the forest where they spend most of their lives. Their migration route takes them across one of the busiest roads in the park and hundreds were being killed by cars every summer.

The Kentucky-Alleyne toadlet tunnel with the 2013 landscape-cloth funnel guiding the toadlets under the road. Photo: Alan Burger

In 2013 BC Parks installed an enviro-culvert to allow the toadlets to cross safely under the road. NNS volunteers, directed by the Biolinx professionals, erected a temporary landscape-cloth fence to guide the toadlets under the culvert/tunnel. For more information on the 2013 project click here: 2013 Kentucky-Alleyne report.

This year we installed a permanent and longer funnel fence. Our new fence is made of wood (2×8 boards with a 1×4 lip and a landscape-cloth skirt along the bottom) and should last many years. BC Parks provided the funding for materials and our club provided the volunteer hours to build the fence, install it and monitor how well it worked. On 10 July 2014 we had a work party at the park and had a great turnout of NNS members – young and old. By 4 PM we had it done.

Nicola Naturalist Society volunteers building the toadlet fence at Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park, 10 July 2014. Photo: Alan Burger

Volunteers, young and younger, building the toadlet fence. Photo: Alan Burger

A toadlet-eye view of the new Kentucky-Alleyne funnel-fence. The tiny toadlets cannot climb this and move along until they reach the tunnel under the road. Photo: Alan Burger

Inspecting the completed funnel-fence at Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park. In total we build 148 metres of fence. Photos: Alan Burger

Inspecting the completed funnel-fence at Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park. In total we built 148 metres of fence. Photos: Alan Burger

But – would it work? By 17 July there were already hundreds of toadlets massing along the shores of West Pond. We had some anxious days when it seemed they were all going to head into the forest on the north side of the pond – the opposite side to where they had traveled in past years and where we had the funnel.

Western Toad toadlets leaving West Pond to start their migration to the forest. Inset shows a tiny toadlet, less than 2 cm in length. Photos: © Alan Burger

But tradition prevailed and the toadlets swarmed along the shore and started heading out of the south side of the pond – towards our new fence. Over the next 20 days we monitored their movements, counting the numbers going through under the tunnel and also those that missed the tunnel and did cross the road. Volunteers camped in the park so they could do early morning and sunset surveys. Many of the thousands of toadlets that left the pond did indeed go through the tunnel to reach the forest beyond.

Toadlets on the move along the wooden funnel-fence. The structure worked well to guide them safely to the tunnel and under the road. Photo: © Kristiina Ovaska

Toadlets moving along the funnel-fence. Photo: © Kristiina Ovaska

BC Highways loaned us a remote camera which we mounted above the tunnel entrance. The camera took a photo every 15 minutes around the clock, so we could know when the peak migration occurred. Its hard to pick out the little toadlets in these remote photos, and we are still working on counting them all. Flicking back and forth between successive photos is the best method to pick out the moving toadlets.

Photo taken by the remote camera at 7:30 PM on the day many toadlets passed under the tunnel. See any toadlets? Check the next photo to see how many there are.

Photo taken by the remote camera at 7:30 PM on 1 August 2014 – the day many toadlets passed under the tunnel. See any toadlets? Check the next photo to see how many there are.

The yellow circles show the toadlets.

The analysis of the 2014 data is still being done. We will post a report here later. Thanks to all the volunteer effort, many hundreds of toadlets avoided being killed on the road. Roadkill is a serious problem for amphibians in many areas around the world. People in other areas where Western Toads and other amphibians are killed on roads are interested in our work and might install similar toadlet tunnels and funnel-fences.

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Spring Camp 2014 – Nicola Naturalists host BC Nature visitors

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Alan Burger

For four hectic days – 29 May through 1 June – Nicola Naturalist Society hosted its first BC Nature event, a Spring Camp. Twenty-four BC Nature members from various clubs around BC attended. Activities were centred on the Nicola Ranch cookhouse where lectures and discussions were held and cooks Pat Westheuser and Fiona Flook served up delicious meals. Volunteers from the Nicola Naturalist Society worked long hours in preparation for this event and to keep things running smoothly.

The weekend’s itinerary focused on the fragile, beautiful and threatened grasslands and wetlands. Activities included birding, frogging, enjoying the many spring wildflowers, hiking and learning about the ecology and management of these ecosytems. Presenters included Dr. Alan Burger (ornithologist), Dr Wendy Gardner (grassland ecologist), Dr. Purnima Govindarajulu (herpetologist), Allison Guichon (holistic rancher), Norm Hansen (forester), Dr. Liis Jeffries (biologist), Andrea Lawrence (biologist), Dr. Kristiina Ovaska (herpetologist), Murphy Shewchuk (historian and author) and Robert Sterling (archaeologist and councilor – Lower Nicola Band).

Here are some photos of the event. For a checklist of the birds, mammals and amphibians click here: Nicola Spring Camp 2014 Species List

Camp participants arrived on Thursday afternoon and the first evening was used to introduce visitors to aspects of the history and nature of the Nicola Valley. Murphy Shewchuk talked about the history and geography of the region, while Alan Burger gave a slide show featuring the local fauna and flora.

Friday 30 May was devoted to wetlands, amphibians and birds – in the beautiful Kane Valley. Visiting amphibian experts Purnima Govindarajulu and Kristiina Ovaska with local biologist Andrea Lawrence showed us many examples of local wetland animals, and discussed the ongoing monitoring being undertaken by the Nicola Naturalists and professional partners Biolinx Environmental Research.

Dr. Purnima Govindarajulu explains amphibian ecology at a small pond near Harrison Lake, Kane Valley. Photo: © Alan Burger

Examining the catch - camp participants crowd around to see what was caught in minnow traps set in a pond near Harrison lake, Kane Valley. Photo: © Alan Burger

Examining the catch – camp participants crowd around to see what was caught in minnow traps set in a pond near Harrison lake, Kane Valley. Tadpoles, water beetles, caddis-fly larvae and other aquatic animals were among the samples. Photo: © Alan Burger

This impressive water bug was caught in one of our nets. Photo: © Kate Hill

A Muskrat chews on water weeds – Harrison Lake, Kane Valley. Photo: © Ian Routley.

Columbia Spotted Frog in a pond, Kane Valley. Photo: © Ian Routley

We also explored the Harmon Interpretive Forest bordering Harmon Lake in Kane Valley and made a short visit to Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park to see the masses of Western Toad tadpoles and the efforts being made to reduce roadkill of the migrating toadlets at this park. For more information on that Nicola Naturalist project click here: Kentucky-Alleyne Toadlet Project

BC Nature camp participants on one of the trails in the Harmon Interpretive Forest, Kane Valley. Photo: © Alan Burger

Focusing in on the beautiful calypso orchids blooming at the Harmon Interpretive Forest. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Mourning Cloak butterfly and a Yellowjacket wasp share a Chokecherry bloom. Photo: © Kate Hill

This enviro-culvert was installed by BC Parks to reduce roadkill of migrating Western Toads at Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park. Photo: © Alan Burger

This enviro-culvert was installed by BC Parks to reduce roadkill of migrating Western Toads at Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park. The Nicola Naturalist Society is a partner in this conservation project. Photo: © Alan Burger

Western Toad tadpoles swarming along the shore at West Pond, Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park. Photo: © Ian Routley.

Western Toad tadpoles swarming along the shore at West Pond, Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park. Photos: © Ian Routley.

On Friday evening we ventured up into the high grasslands of the Douglas Lake Plateau – our goal was to find the elusive and fascinating Great Basin Spadefoots. These small frogs are adapted to dry grasslands and spend most of their lives buried underground. In spring they emerge for a short period of feeding and mating. The loud calls of the males can be heard for almost a kilometer on a calm night. We lucked out – first we heard a chorus of spadefoots calling and then Dr. Kristiina Ovaska skillfully managed to catch one to show us. Along the way we also enjoyed a beautiful sunset and a calm starry night. A Great Horned Owl sat obligingly on a powerline and another was heard calling in the distance.

As the sun set we drove up to the Douglas Lake Plateau, with the beautiful vista of Nicola Lake and the Quilchena Ranch below us. Photo: © Ian Routley.

Silhouetted against the sunset, a photographer takes aim at a Great Horned Owl. Photo: © Alan Burger

Silhouetted against the sunset, a photographer takes aim at a Great Horned Owl on the power pole. Photo: © Alan Burger

A long-distance portrait of a Great Horned Owl. Photo: © Ian Routley.

Searching for spadefoots at a roadside pond on the Douglas Lake Plateau. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Great Basin Spadefoot found at a breeding pond on the Douglas Lake Plateau. Photo: © Ian Routley

Birding was an ongoing activity throughout the camp, with two pre-breakfast outings for the real keeners. Overall, we tallied 108 bird species with highlights being sightings of two displaying Bobolinks at the Guichon Ranch, a male Peregrine Falcon circling around the cliffs at Nicola Lake where there is a pair nesting, Vaux’s Swifts diving into the chimneys at the historic Quilchena Hotel, a Black-chinned Hummingbird, and good views of Lazuli Bunting, Bullock’s Oriole, Gray Catbird, Horned Lark, and many other local specialties.

Birders scan the Ponderosa Pines near Nicola village on a pre-breakfast birding walk. Photo: © Alan Burger

Birders scan the Ponderosa Pines and sagebrush near Nicola village on a pre-breakfast birding walk. Photo: © Alan Burger

Cliff Swallows nesting under the road bridge at Nicola village. Inset shows one in flight. Photos: © Ian Routley

Cliff Swallows nesting under the eaves of a ranch building. Inset shows one in flight. Photos: © Ian Routley

A Wilson's Snipe at a wetland in the Lundbom Common grassland near Merritt. Photo: © Ian Routley.

A Wilson’s Snipe at a grassy wetland in the Lundbom Common near Merritt. Photo: © Ian Routley.

Birding along Quilchena Creek. Photo © Robert Bear

A Bullock’s Oriole male sits on the top of a cottonwood tree. Photo: © Ian Routley

Scanning the Nicola Lake cliffs for Peregrine Falcons. Photo: © Kate Hill

Saturday was devoted to ranching and grasslands. We visited the Guichon Ranch where five generations of the Guichon family have developed holistic ranching. Current co-manager Allison Guichon explained the philosophy and practical aspects of their ranching activities, with maintenance of biodiversity one of their key goals. Then we headed up to Douglas Lake for a pleasant lakeside picnic. Here Dr Wendy Gardner, a grassland ecologist from Thomson Rivers University, Kamloops, and her graduate student Aaron Coelho explained some of their research. They discussed how grassland ecosystems function, problems with invasive weeds and the changing face of grasslands as a result of climate change. A drive through the beautiful Minnie Lake – Pennask Lake Road loop wrapped up this outing, providing excellent birding and good examples of the grassland systems we had heard about.

Allison Guichon explains the holistic ranching practiced by her family for generations at the Guichon Ranch near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

Allison Guichon explains the holistic ranching practiced by many generations of her family at the Guichon Ranch near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

Aaron Coelho, a graduate student at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, describes his research on grassland ponds and lakes. A fitting setting, with Douglas Lake in the background. Photo: © Alan Burger

Lake and rolling hills of grass – the splendours of the Douglas Lake Plateau near Merritt. Photo: © Ian Routley

This Yellow-bellied Marmot lives on and under a road bridge at the Nicola village. Photo: © Kate Hill

A lovely Checkerspot butterfly sunning itself. Photo: © Kate Hill

Sunday, the final day of the camp, was spent at the lakes, grasslands and forests of the Lundbom Common overlooking the Nicola Valley and Merritt. Robert Sterling, an archaeologist and councillor with the Lower Nicola Band, welcomed us to his traditional territory and gave us a fascinating hands-on explanation of the many plants and animals the First Nations people get from the grasslands and forests. Armed with a traditional elk-horn digging stick he showed us how his people harvest “potatoes” – the corms of Western Spring Beauty Claytonia lanceolata. Later Robert and forester Norm Hansen showed us examples of culturally-modified trees – ancient Ponderosa Pines with bark cut away about 150 years ago to mark meeting places along a well-used trade-route. This was followed by a stroll through flower-studded hillsides and excellent birding along forest edges and a marsh. Our camp wrapped up with pie, tarts, tea and coffee, kindly provided by the Nicola Valley Community Round Table at the Laurie Guichon Memorial grasslands interpretation site. Members of the Round Table explained the work done on environmental, social, and health issues affecting the people of the Nicola Valley. Currently, this group is spearheading efforts to curb irresponsible and destructive use of off-road vehicles in the sensitive grasslands, forests and wetlands of the Nicola Valley.

Robert Sterling explains the traditional use of native plants and animals by First Nations people in the Nicola Valley. Photo: Alan Burger.

Exploring the grasslands at Lundbom Common. Photo: © Robert Bear

Robert Sterling digging native “potatoes” (Western Spring Beauty) on the Lundbom Commons grasslands. Photo: © Robert Bear

First Nations archaeologist and councillor Robert Sterling used a tradional elk-horn digging stick to dig out a native 'potato' - Western Spring Beauty. The inset shows the plant with the walnut-sized corm. Photos: © Alan Burger

Robert Sterling used a tradional elk-horn digging stick to dig out a native ‘potato’ – Western Spring Beauty. The inset shows the plant with the walnut-sized corm. Photos: © Alan Burger

Photographing grassland flowers on the Lundbom Common. Photo: Alan Burger

Lunch under the Ponderosa Pines and Tembling Aspens at Lundbom Common. Photo: © Alan Burger

Robert Sterling explains the function of this culturally-modified tree – it marked the site where visitors could camp and trade with local people. The blaze was cut over 150 years ago. Photo: © Ian Routley

Hiking in the Lundbom Common. Photo: © Ian Routley.

Enjoying the grassland flowers at Lundbom Common. Arrow-leaved Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) is in full bloom.

Enjoying the grassland flowers at Lundbom Common. Yellow Arrow-leaved Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) and white Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) are in full bloom. Photo: © Ian Routley

A Columbia Ground-squirrel – a common resident of the grasslands and forest openings in the Nicola Valley. Photo: © Ian Routley.

Osprey nesting at the Lundbom Common near Merritt. Photos: © Robert Bear

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Spring outing to the Douglas Lake Plateau IBA – 21 April 2014

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Alan Burger

The Nicola Naturalist Society, along with the Kamloops Naturalists, is responsible for monitoring the Douglas Lake Plateau IBA (Important Bird Area). We relish the opportunity to visit these grasslands, wetlands and ranch areas, counting birds from the public roads. On 21 April 2014, with good weather, 13 members of NNS spent a very productive day in the IBA area, driving as far as Salmon Lake with some of us returning via Minnie Lake and Pennask Lake Road. The goal was to check on the Sandhill Crane migration (this time last year we encountered over 2,300 cranes). Alas, this year we saw only two cranes. But there were many other species to make this an interesting trip. Highlights were:

Snow Goose – single bird at Chapperon Lake
Sandhill Crane 2 (in marsh 3-5 km west of Chapperon Lake)
American White Pelican: 25 roosting at Nicola Lake and 9 in flight near Chapperon Lake

Many raptors were about – some migrating through the area:

Peregrine Falcon – a pair is back for the third year at Nicola Lake cliffs and was mobbing a passing Bald Eagle
Merlin 2
American Kestrel 50+
Cooper’s Hawk 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Golden Eagle 2
Northern Harrier 15
Great Horned Owl 1

Spring arrivals:

Barn Swallow 1 (first for this spring)
Yellow-headed Blackbirds 5 (first for the spring)
The only warblers seen were Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Overall, we recorded 61 species. For a complete checklist of the day click here: Douglas Plateau birds 21 April 2014

Below are some photos from the day’s outing.

Ring-necked Ducks on a grassland pond near Douglas Lake. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A pair of Cinnamon Teal on a pond – Douglas Lake Plateau. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A pair of Red-tailed Hawks circling over the grasslands. Photo: © Alan Burger

Killdeer breed alongside many of the small watering holes on the Douglas Lake Plateau grasslands. Photo: © Bob Scafe

This Great Horned Owl regularly roosts in the thickets bordering Douglas Lake. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A lone Sandhill Crane in the marsh near Chapperon Lake. Photo: © Alan Burger

This Sharp-shinned Hawk was hunting small birds in the aspen thickets, Pennask Lake Road. Photo: © Alan Burger

This Merlin had just caught a small bird (likely a Vesper Sparrow) and was plucking and eating it on a post – Pennask Lake Road. Photo: © Alan Burger

Tail feathers fly as the Merlin plucks its prey – Pennask Lake Road. Photo: © Alan Burger

American White Pelicans roost on the edge of Nicola Lake, 21 April 2014. Photo: © Alan Burger

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Nicola Naturalist Society – Members’ Photos April 2014

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Alan Burger

A selection of winter and early spring photos from the members of the Nicola Naturalist Society, Merritt, BC.

Scroll down to view.

Northern Pintails in early spring. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Canada Geese and Mallards on a spring pond, Nicola Valley. Photo: © Bob Scafe

American Goldfinch male in late winter. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A Northern Pygmy Owl. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Belted Kingfisher on the shores of Douglas Lake. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A Western Screech Owl photographed in the Okanagan Valley. Photo: © Kenneth Ostraat.

This Cat-faced Orb Weaver spider was found on a Merritt lawn. Photo: © Gloria Brenner

Red-naped Sapsucker male. This species is common in the forests around Merritt, BC. Photo: © Alan Burger

Red-naped Sapsucker male. This species is common in early spring and through the summer in the forests around Merritt, BC. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Yellow Pine Chipmunk - newly emerged from its winter hibernation. Photo: © Alan Burger

Sagebrush Buttercups (Ranunculus glaberrinus) is always the first flower to bloom in early spring in the Nicola Valley area. Photo: © Alan Burger

Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrinus) is always the first flower to bloom in early spring in the Nicola Valley area. Photo: © Alan Burger

A lovely portrait of a Mourning Dove at a feeder in winter. Photo: © Bob Scafe

A male House Finch in winter, Merritt, BC. Photo: © Bob Scafe

This Sharp-shinned Hawk was a regular visitor to backyard feeders in the Merritt area. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Early spring aggregation of Canada Geese, Northern Pintail and Mallards at a shallow pond in the Nicola Valley. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Bohemian Waxwings - common winter visitors to the Merritt area. Photo: © Bruce Grimshire

Spring migrants: female (left) and male (right) Varied Thrushes. Photos: © Anne Pang (L) and Murphy Shewchuk (R)

This Wilson's Snipe was mistakenly searching for food among the rocks of a Merritt garden. Photos: © Bob Scafe

An immature Red-tailed Hawk in winter, Nicola Valley. Photo: © Alan Burger

This Muskrat was diving down below the ice to bring up plants to eat, Harrison Lake, Kane Valley near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

A Muskrat muching on aquatic vegetation that it has brought up to the ice to eat, Harrison Lake, Kane Valley near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

Like an impressionist painting, this cell-phone photo beautifully captures the lifestyle of Mountain Goats. Interior BC. Photo: © David Pitt

A pair pf Barrow's Goldeneyes in spring, Kane Valley near Merritt. Photo: © Alan Burger

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Kentucky Alleyne toadlet mitigation – 2013 report released

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Alan Burger

The Nicola Naturalist Society, working under the guidance of BC Parks and professional herpetologists from Biolinx Environmental Research of Victoria, has been involved for the past two years in an important project at Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park, near Merritt. West Pond in this park is an important breeding site for the Western Toad, a species of conservation concern in Canada. In summer, tens of thousands of tiny young toadlets emerge from the pond to migrate to the forest areas where they will live for the rest of their lives, returning to the water only as adults to breed.

A tiny Western Toad, newly emerged from its birth pond, migrates towards the forest. Photo © Kristiina Ovaska

Unfortunately at Kentucky Alleynne Park the toadlet migration route crosses one of the busiest roads in the park’s popular campsite. In past years thousands of little toadlets were killed by cars on the road. In 2012, with funding from the BC Parks Enhancement Fund (PEF), the Nicola Naturalists and Biolinx did a detailed study mapping where and when the toadlets migrate. That 2012 report is available here: Kentucky-Alleyne Toad Report, FINAL Dec 2012

In 2013 BC Parks installed an enviro-culvert (donated by BC Timber Sales) to provide a safe crossing for the toadlets under the campsite road. BC Parks once again provided PEF funds to help Nicola Naturalists and Biolinx monitor the effectiveness of this new tunnel. Nicola Naturalist volunteers helped install a low fence to channel toadlets under the tunnel, and spent many days monitoring the numbers of toadlets along the fence, at the tunnel and on the road. Our work raised a lot of interest among the campers and visitors at the park and provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the Western Toad situation and the conservation of amphibians in general. A poster sign is being produced to provide a permanent source of this information to park visitors.

Our Biolinx partners have now analysed these monitoring data and produced a report. The data show that large numbers of toadlets were safely diverted under the road through the tunnel. There were still some mortalities on the road and there is still some work to be done in 2014 to improve the system. Click here to download the 2013 report: KA Toad Report, final revised 2013

Map showing the location of the enviro-culvert (tunnel) and the movement of toadlets through the tunnel at Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park. Map courtesy Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd.

Map showing the location of the enviro-culvert (tunnel) and the movement of toadlets through the tunnel at Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park. For more details download our 2013 report – link on this page. Map courtesy Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd.

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Merritt Christmas Bird Count – 15 December 2013

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Alan Burger

Howling winds which persisted all day were the feature of this Christmas Bird Count. This was the 15th annual CBC in the Merritt count circle. We had 25 participants in the field (close to our record of 26) and three feeder-watchers. Because of the wind our species tally of 57 species was slightly below the average (58) and our count of bird numbers (2,851) was well below our average of 3,324 birds. Despite the wind, it was a fun day which wrapped up with an excellent pot-luck dinner – many thanks to the Shewchuks for hosting that!

Shaw TV made a short video of the 2013 Merritt Christmas Bird Count which is now online. To view the video click here: Shaw TV 2013 Bird Count

A pair of Trumpeter Swans with their darker young-of-the year on Nicola Lake, 15 Dec 2013. Photo © Corey Burger

No new species were added on the count day, but Snow Buntings were reported for the count week – this species has never been reported in previous counts.

We had some excitement when a small hawk was initially identified as a Cooper’s Hawk (only seen once before on a Merritt CBC) but luckily Carol Madryga had taken a photo of the bird. Expert birders identified this as a Sharp-shinned Hawk – the head cap and back of neck are the same colour as the back and the bird has a very large eye set forward in the head. Cooper’s hawk is larger, has a paler nape and the eye is more central in the head. These two species are always hard to separate.

This Sharp-shinned Hawk was initially identified as a Cooper’s Hawk, but expert birders confirmed its identity. Photo © Carol Madryga

Highlights:

Golden Eagles – one group had a close encounter with two eagles at a deer carcass.
Pacific (Winter) Wren – 4 seen in two areas; only recorded on one previous count. What most of us knew as a Winter Wren has been split into two species, with the birds west of the Rockies now known as Pacific Wrens.

High counts:

Canada Goose 469 – previous high 296 birds (last year).
Hooded Merganser 6 – matches previous high.
Ruffed Grouse 4 – matches last year’s high.
Rough-legged Hawk 11 – previous high 10 birds.
European Starling 329 – second highest count ever; highest was 563 birds.
Dark-eyed Junco 128 – second highest; last year we had 135 birds.
American Goldfinch 84 – second highest; last year we had 152 birds.

We had four Ruffed Grouse in the Merritt Christmas count, which matches last year’s high count. These two were in the ranchlands near the upper Nicola River. Photos © Carol & Jack Madryga

We had a record count of Rough-legged Hawks, migrants from the Arctic tundra which overwinter here. Bob Scafe nicely captured this bird hunting over the Lundbom Common during the Christmas Bird Count. Photos © Bob Scafe

We had a record count of 11 Rough-legged Hawks, migrants from the Arctic tundra which overwinter here. Bob Scafe nicely captured photos of this bird hunting over the Lundbom Common during the Christmas Bird Count. Photos © Bob Scafe

Missing species and low counts:

Common Loon – none seen; we usually get this species.
Scaup – none seen; we usually get both Greater and Lesser Scaup in small numbers.
American Coot – none seen for the 3rd year in a row; seen on most other counts.
Hairy Woodpecker – none seen for the first time ever; the average count is 5 birds.
Red-breasted Nuthatch – only 2 seen; the average is 12 birds.
White-breasted Nuthatch – none seen; average is 3 birds
Pygmy Nuthatch – 4 seen; average is 18 birds.
Townsend’s Solitaire – none seen; this is the first time the species has not been recorded – the average is 8 birds.

Greater Scaup, American Coot and Hairy Woodpecker were all seen on the day after the count (when the winds had abated) so we have them as Count Week species. Other Count Week species were Western Grebe, Great Horned Owl and Snow Buntings.

American Goldfinch munching on a feeder sunflower seed. We had a near-record count of 84 goldfinches in this year’s count. Photo © Bob Scafe

An adult Bald Eagle seen during the Merritt Christmas Bird Count on 15 December 2013. Photo © Corey Burger

To download the full list of species seen on Merritt Christmas Bird Counts 1995-2013 click here: Merritt Xmas Count data 1995-2013

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Nicola Naturalist Society

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