Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners

Windermere Christmas Bird Count

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:27:00 +0000

American Robin one of the 52 species recorded.
Photo by Larry Halverson

Seventy four people counted 3,927 individual birds during the 34th annual Lake Windermere District Christmas Bird Count. The number of birds is up by 47% from last year. Some of the increase can be attributed to high number Bohemian Waxwings and Common Redpolls. The total of 52 species recorded this year matches the average seen during the last 10 years of the count.

Some of this year’s highlights include a new species for the count. Dean and Bill Nicholson observed 2 Trumpeter Swans in the open water at Athalmer. They also spotted a lone Hooded Merganser which has only been recorded 5 times in the history of the count. Many of the feeder watchers commented on the lack of birds however one hot spot was Ron Speta’s yard. He said “in the 25 years of watching his feeder this has been the best!’ He recorded 16 species. Troy Rad once again ventured into the high country a found a couple of White-tailed Ptarmigan. Elisha and Haley Bowels were delighted to see 8 American Robins in their grandma Luciel Campbell’s yard. Fran Kimpton saw an unusual bird and after some study it turned out to be a partly albino Mountain Chickadee. There is also another ‘mystery’ bird in Linda Taylor’s yard. From the description it may be a Northern Hawk Owl but it needs a little further investigation to confirm. Thanks to Greg Wagner a visiting birder from High River whos keen ears found the only Northern Pygmy Owl near Eline Madson School. A couple of birds that were noticeably missing were the Great Blue Heron and Common Merganser.

For a complete list of birds counted email lkhalverson@gmail.com

Butterfly Weed

CWSP — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:08:58 +0000

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Photo by Larry Halverson

This pretty milkweed is not listed in BC but considered invasive. Unlike other milkweeds it can found in wetlands. This one was found blooming on August 9th by the wetlands near Athalmer.

Showy milkweed is toxic. It possesses moderate concentrations of cardenolides, and can poison or even kill grazing animals. However this weed has saved the lives of many Monarch Butterflies. Monarchs feed on the milkweed and toxins they ingest gives the butterfly its defence. Most predators have learned that the monarch butterfly makes a poisonous snack. So the plant is also called the Butterfly weed.

Columbia Salmon Festival

CWSP — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:23:00 +0000

The first annual Columbia Salmon Festival will be taking place September 28-October 1, 2011 in the Columbia Valley. This inaugural Festival is being hosted by the Shuswap Indian Band and Akisqnuk First Nation and proudly supported by the Canadian Columbia Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commission, Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners and Fairmont Trails Society.

The mission of the festival is to inform people about the history and future of salmon in the upper Columbia, and their cultural significance. The Festival will consist of events and activities in the Invermere to Fairmont Hot Springs areas including Youth Salmon Awareness Field Trips, guest speakers presentations, a Charity Golf Tournament, the Salmon Monument Celebrations and conclude with the Gala Salmon Dinner with Celebrity Chef David Wolfman.

This historic event will involve: First Nations and US Tribe Political Leaders; Federal, Provincial, Municipal and Regional Leaders; Members of the Ktunaxa, Okanagan and Shuswap Nation; Columbia Valley Residents; and members of the General Public.

For more information about the festival and events go to Columbia Salmon Festival and the Columbia Valley Pioneer page 16

For follow up story go to eKNOW East kootenay Online Weekly

Butterfly Weed

CWSP — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:08:00 +0000

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Photo by Larry Halverson

This pretty milkweed is not listed in BC but is considered invasive. Unlike other milkweeds it can found in wetlands. This one was photographed blooming on August 9th by the wetlands near Athalmer.

Fall Migration Has Begun

CWSP — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:51:00 +0000

Greater Yellowlegs feeding on the shore of Lake Windermere,
July 29th , 2011 Photo by Larry Halverson

Greater Yellowlegs are one of the early migrants passing through the Columbia Valley. Leaving their subarctic breeding grounds they’ll feed on small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, small fish, frogs, in wetlands as they move to their winter grounds in southern USA and South America. The autumn movement through our area peaks from mid August till September.

Won’t Be Seeing This Soon

CWSP — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Canada Geese flying over the Columbia Wetlands May 31
Photo by Larry Halverson

Canada geese will soon be molting – an 8-10 week flightless period when they shed their outer wing feathers and grow new ones. Molting occurs between mid June through August. Most birds will resume flight by mid-August and with their new feathers will be in good shape for fall migration.

During this molting period the Canada geese will gather in the wetlands and ponds where they can hide amongst the vegetation, safe from predators.

“Geese without young will sometimes travel hundreds of miles to the security of favored molting areas in the north.These “molt migrations’ account for the disappearance of local goose flocks in early June.” This may also be the reason why rancher Bob Jamieson ( Executive Director of the Columbia Wetland Stewardship Partners) has been seeing a number of flocks, 500-600 Canada Geese flying north over his ranch.

Breeding Bird Atlassing Field Trip

CWSP — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:28:00 +0000

Red-tailed Hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes
Photo by Larry Halverson

Hillary Page from the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Cam Gillies from Eagle-Eye Tours are offering an atlassing walk to the Marion Creek Benchlands above Columbia Lake. This is an area that NCC is on the cusp of purchasing and it has some beautiful habitat. There are marshes, shrubby wet areas, aspen, grassland and forests. The diversity of birds should be spectacular! Flycatchers, warblers, and vireos should be abundant. Hillary will talk about NCC’s project and Cam will review how to atlas.

Everyone is welcome including people that have not atlassed at all. Bring your binos, notebook, pencil and a lunch.

Friday June 3rd,

Meet 8:00 am at the Hoodoos gas station.

Carpooling from there up to the property.

Finish about 1 pm.

For more info on the field trip contact cam.gillies@telus.net and to learn about the BC Breeding Bird Atlas go to http://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/english/index.jsp

British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas

CWSP — Tue, 24 May 2011 04:23:00 +0000

Christopher Di Corrado, Atlas Coordinator recording birds in the

Columbia Wetlands - Photo by Larry Halverson

The British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas (2008-12) is large-scale wildlife monitoring projects that engages over 1000 volunteers to map the distribution and abundance of breeding birds across the province. In 2011, we enter the fourth season of the atlas. So far over 240,000 records have been gathered during more than 30,000 field hours. The large, electronic datasets, freely available from NatureCounts, and maps and summary products available in near real time (www.birdatlas.bc.ca), have made the atlas a powerful tool for immediate conservation application, and for measuring long-term change at local to landscape scales.

To get involved contact the regional coordinators:

Golden - Ellen Zimmerman region28@birdatlas.bc.ca

Invermere - Cam Gillies or Larry Halverson region02@birdatlas.bc.ca

Osprey Fishing

CWSP — Sat, 21 May 2011 19:24:00 +0000

Osprey with Rainbow Trout – Photo by Larry Halverson

This picture was taken one evening while fly fishing. The Osprey dove, caught the fish then flew by the canoe as if to show how easy it is to catch fish.

Osprey talons are specially adapted to allow one of the front toes to rotate backwards so that there are two talons pointing forward and two in reverse on each foot. This helps secure a good grip on the flopping fish. The Osprey is also very quick at adjusting it’s grip on the fish so that the fish’s head is facing forward to maintain an aerodynamic profile.

Wood Duck

CWSP — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:44:00 +0000

The Wood Duck is one of the most colourful waterfowl - Photograph by Pat Morrow May 11, 2011

Pat Morrow didn’t have to go far to see this pair of Wood Ducks on an Osprey platform. In fact he photographed them through a spotting scope from his home in Wilmer.

Most Wood Ducks are already paired when they arrive in the Columbia Valley as early as April 1st. Their strong claws and grip make them one of the few ducks that can perch on branches. They often nest in large poplar trees using old Pileated Woodpecker holes.