april 2020 the central okanagan naturalists' club www ...okanagannature.org/2020 04...
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April 2020
Know Nature and Keep it Worth
Knowing
The Central Okanagan Naturalists' Club www.okanagannature.org
Index
Club Information. March Meeting Minutes. March Presentation update. Notices Birding Report. A message from the President
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Earth Day April 20, 2020
Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club Monthly Meetings, second Tuesday of the month,
7:00 pm., Evangel Church, 3261 Gordon Drive, Kelowna
April Meeting Cancelled: After much discussion with the CONC executive and leaders of the various activities in which CONC members participate, and after guidelines from Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, it is appropriate to cancel CONC's April meeting. Out of an abundance of caution, we will also cancel Executive meetings; Conservation Committee meetings; hikes and snowshoe trips; Monday, Thursday, and Saturday birding trips; and all early-season botany trips until the end of April. Many of CONC's members are over 60 and thus are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 (and of having more serious outcomes). Our regular meeting is of a size that Dr Henry considers problematic and many of our other activities require close contact while carpooling. In the interim, please maintain your health by staying active in other ways.
The CONC meeting on May 12, 2020.
About the presentation: Craig Lewis will provide a glimpse of the Mustang area, a highland area in Nepal similar to the Grand Canyon of Arizona, with towering snow-capped peaks, a very arid landscape with spectacular hoodoos, eroded canyon walls, and an ancient human history. About the speaker: Craig is Past President of our club, and a life-long hiker and outdoorsman, who spent his career as a gardener and golf course superintendent.
Photo: Courtesy of Craig
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Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club. www.okanagannature.org P.O. Box 21128, RPO Orchard Park, Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 9N8
EXECUTIVE FOR 2020-21
President Rick Gee 250-763-0124 [email protected]
Vice-president Douglas Graham [email protected]
Secretary Robbie Bowers [email protected]
Treasurer Margaret Ramsay [email protected]
Past president Craig Lewis 250-765-2511 [email protected]
Directors for 2020-2021
BC Nature Francisca Fisher 778-478-7478 [email protected]
Birding Dave Palsat 778-478-4224 [email protected]
Botany Peter Green 250-765-1737 N/A
Conservation vacant
Hiking Sherrell Davidson 778-478-1956 [email protected]
Membership Karen Pedersen 250-869-4932 [email protected] Programs Ian Walker 250-807-9559 [email protected]
Special Projects Peter Courtney 250-860-9765 [email protected]
Committee Contact Persons
Avocet program Les Gyug 250-769-5907 [email protected]
Ecological Reserves Don Guild 250-768-3334 [email protected]
Hosts Bev Thomas Liz Daley
250-762-7610 250-764-2310
[email protected] [email protected]
Library Jen Matthews [email protected]
Newsletter Teresa Smith 250-860-9133 [email protected]
Ornithology Gwynneth Wilson Howard Braun
250-762-6876 205-768-4339
[email protected] [email protected]
Publicity Rick Dewar 250-769-9494 [email protected]
Website: www.okanagannature.org Rick Gee 250-763-0124 [email protected]
NatureKids Kelowna Kate Kutzner 250-859-9877 [email protected]
MONTHLY MEETINGS: Held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, September to June at 7 p.m. in Evangel Church, 3261 Gordon
Drive, Kelowna. Visitors are welcome. Hosts: Bev Thomas 250-762-7610, Liz Daley 250-801-1286. Please bring your own cup.
MEMBERSHIP: Karen Pedersen, [email protected]. 250-869-4932. Annual dues: single $35, family $47, students $14, includes Newsletter (except January, July & August). There is a $10 for charge for newsletters to be sent by mail. Membership form and waiver form can be found on CONC website www.okanagannature.org. Send your name, address, telephone number, email address, waiver form and dues to: CONC Membership, Box 21128, Orchard Park P.O., Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 9N8. Honorary Life Members: Hugh Westheuser, Pat Westheuser, Eileen Dillabough, Cec Dillabough, Arthur Hughes-Games (deceased), Brenda Thomson (deceased), Muriel Westwood (deceased), and Harry Almond (deceased).
NEWSLETTER: Editor: Teresa Smith. Deadline date for submissions is the fourth Tuesday of each month. Send submissions to Teresa Smith, [email protected], 250-860-9133. Mailing address is, 292 Rio Drive South, Kelowna, B.C. V1V 2B1. Email distribution: Karen Pedersen [email protected]
REGULAR ACTIVITIES: All activities are seasonal. If in doubt, check with the contact person. Or phone any of the executive.
BIRDING: Howard Braun 250-768-4339 and Gwynneth Wilson 250-762-6876. TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE Monday Birding meet at 8:00 a.m. April-June, September and October at the Apple Bowl* Thursday birding meet 8 am (April-Sept.) or 9 am (Oct-March) at St. Charles Garnier Church, 3645 Benvoulin Rd. Saturday Birding: 2nd Saturday of the month 7:30 am (April-Sept). 8:30 am (Oct – March). Meet at the Apple Bowl*
BOTANY: Peter Green 250-765-1737. Friday Botany trips: Meet 9:15 am (departure 9:30 am) at the Apple Bowl* Spring to Fall.
HIKES. (Bring a lunch). General information Sherrell Davidson 778-478-1956 or [email protected]. All Hikers meet at the Apple Bowl* - "Sole Survivors" Wednesday and Saturday Hikes: Times as per schedule, see www.okanangannature.org - Wednesday Ramblers: Contact Merle Auty, 250-861-4500 or [email protected].
*1555 Burtch Road, the Apple Bowl parking lot, corner of Burtch and Bernard
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CONC REGULAR MEETING – MINUTES, March 10, 2020
Call to Order and Determination of Quorum at 7:14 Adoption of previous minutes (December 10, 2019)
o moved by Harvey Abraham o seconded by Stu Weir o Motion Carried
Unusual sightings o Sagebrush Buttercups at Bertram Creek Park o Western Bluebirds o Say’s Phoebes picking insects off chimney in Gallagher’s Canyon o Fresh Otter tracks at Hydraulic Lake o Dead raccoon at Munson Pond o Red Crossbill (female) carrying nesting material in Douglas’s backyard.
Membership (Karen Pedersen) o New Members - Lynda Fillion, Natalie and Scott Marleau, Carmen Vadillo, Marilyn Foster, Donna Nelson o Guests - Mervyn Scott and Danny Addis o Membership totals -263 o Rick noted that when membership reaches 300, two members will be entitled to attend BC Nature meetings
as Club Representatives. All members may attend on their own. Business Arising:
o Robert Lake platform - Rick confirmed RDCO is still committed to installing the platform but water levels are too high (cause unknown). They may also consider raising the road by one metre.
o BC Nature AGM 2022
− Francisca is exploring possible venues.
− Will need a theme, a program, and an organizing committee. It was noted that 2022 is also the 60th anniversary of CONC. Volunteers for the organizing committee are asked to contact Rick.
New Business o BC Nature FGM 2020 cancelled as there was no location volunteered. o Okanagan Highlands Trail agreement signed. Rick confirmed the agreement has been signed (length of term
to be confirmed). o June Picnic – June 12 (Friday), Sarsons Beach
− Sherrell confirmed details for June 12th picnic including a cycle/short hike to precede the 4:30 potluck picnic.
o Meadowlark Festival – need volunteer
− Sherrell confirmed a leader with geology background is needed for Scenic Canyon hike on May long weekend - please contact Sherrell if interested (Later: No volunteers so Sherrell contacted the organizers to cancel the hike.)
o Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society AGM will be held on March 20, 2020 in Summerland. Michael Healey will present ‘A Holistic Approach to Ecosystem Management’
o Rick described a book published in 1920 ‘How to Know Butterflies’ (a historical perspective) Directors’ Reports
o BC Nature – Francisca Fisher - no report o Birding - Dave Palsat
THE BIRDING REPORT: Welcome to Spring Migration. We say good-by to some winter visitors (Northern Shrike, Swans, Rough-Legged Hawks, Bohemian Waxwings) and welcome early migrants (Killdeer, Say’s Phoebes, Red-winged Blackbirds, Violet-green Swallow and Bluebirds) with warblers, flycatchers, shorebirds and waterfowl arriving over the next several weeks. Thursday and Second Saturday Sorties continue with renewed vigour and Monday Spring Migration Saunters start March 30. Details are on the CONC website and in the March Newsletter.
Sagebrush Buttercups at Bertram Creek Park, March 12. Photo: ©Pam Laing
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All members, experienced, novices and newcomers, are welcome to join any of the activities. The best way to learn is from an experienced CONC birder. Notices are emailed a few days prior to each outing and a report on observations follows a few days after. If you are not receiving these emails from Gwynneth Wilson, please advise Dave at [email protected] to get on the distribution list. Expect a notice on the Monday Spring Migration Saunter season in a week or two. We are also considering organizing a weekend birding trip to the Lower Mainland on April 17, 18 and 19. Please advise Dave at [email protected] if you are interested in participating. Rick provided an update on the CONC Bluebird Trail. On Monday Mike, Jen, and Rick looked over the bluebird boxes at the upstream end of our trail in Gallagher’s Canyon. They cleaned out all the boxes (none had winter residents), soaped the inside of all the boxes, and moved half the boxes to what they believe are better locations (further away from trees) in an attempt to discourage House Wrens. While doing this, they saw three Western Bluebirds in the neighbourhood. Maybe they will like our houses this year. Still to be done are the eight houses further downstream but Rick’s information is that the trails used to access them are still icy so they’ll hold off for a while. Lastly, the annual Spring workshop for bluebird monitors, presented by Margaret MacKenzie, bluebird trails coordinator for the North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club, will be on March 31 2:00-4:00 pm at the Okanagan Public Library, 2800 30th Avenue, Vernon. Free admission.
o Botany report ▪ Peter Green - wildflowers are coming! More information at next meeting
o Conservation Committee ▪ Rick - meetings are now bi-monthly, report will be presented at next meeting
o Finance – Jag Goel/Margaret Ramsay ▪ Jag reported our balance is $54,430.00 (after paying $3,688.00 for BC Nature membership)
o Hiking/Bicycling/Snowshoeing ▪ Sole Survivors - Sherrell reported snowshoeing is week to week depending on snow conditions. Hiking is
now coordinated by Elisabeth Dahnert and is scheduled to begin on April 1. Biking will begin in April. ▪ Ramblers have stopped snowshoeing, hiking schedule to be confirmed.
Next Meeting: April 14 - Craig Lewis will share his trip to Nepal Adjournment - Kirsti Jarrett
Presentation: The role of the public in cats and wildlife welfare, by Anna Skurikhina - ‘The Happy Cat’ An informative and enthusiastic presentation outlining the impact that cats (pets and feral) can have on native wildlife (birds, bats, small reptiles) because of their powerful hunting instincts. Options to address this issue were presented and discussed.
Presentation Update: Anna has provided the following links relating to her work with cats and birds.
Stewardship Centre for BC: Our Web: http://stewardshipcentrebc.ca/cats-and-birds/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StewardshipCentreforBC/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StewardshipBC
3 billion birds gone: Web: https://www.3billionbirds.org/ ABC page: https://abcbirds.org/3-billion-birds/
Say’s Phoebe, Wikipedia
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Bird feeding: https://stewardshipcentrebc.ca/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-bird-feeding-am-i-doing-it-right/
7 Actions to help birds: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/seven-simple-actions-to-help-birds/
Cats and Birds: Info: https://catsandbirds.ca/ Catios DIY: https://spca.bc.ca/ways-to-help/take-action/animals-in-the-home/catio-building
Volunteer for local conservation and animal welfare groups:
Okanagan Similkameen stewardship: https://www.osstewardship.ca/ Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory: https://vlbo.wordpress.com/about/ Raptor Rehab Centre (Burrowing owls): https://www.sorco.org/ Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance: https://osca.org/ Animal Sanctuary: https://critteraid.org/
Rick Gee suggests you may also want to visit https://gizmodo.com/we-have-to-do-something-about-outdoor-cats-1834252423 and https://gizmodo.com/scientists-put-trackers-on-cats-to-reveal-the-extent-of-1842263941
Ramblers snowshoeing is finished for the season. We had an excellent season with lots of outings, great snow and good participation. Rest up for the hiking season to begin in a few weeks when weather and trail conditions permit.
All who enjoyed the snowshoeing over the winter season send a big thanks to Robert; we were introduced to areas we would not find on our own.
Merle Auty
A new Exhibition at the Heritage Museum, 470 Queensway Avenue, Kelowna.
BATS: Out of the Darkness March 16, 2020 – May 30, 2020.
At the present time the museum is closed because of
the COVID-19 virus. Bats are often misunderstood, but they are fascinating creatures. Did you know that a single Little Brown Bat can eat over 600 mosquitos in an hour? Or that BC is home to 15 of Canada’s 18 species of bats? Or that bats account for nearly 20% of all mammal species worldwide?! Yes, a fifth of the mammals on the planet are bats! Bats are also the only mammals that can truly fly. The project includes a 12-panel display, a suite of bat education activities and bat edukits (box of support materials for education). Details at https://www.kelownamuseums.ca/exhibits/bats/
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The Birding Report by Margaret Bryan On February 13, the weather was just above freezing. We started with our annual visit to Dillaboughs to enjoy the Wood Ducks at their feeder. A little sunshine emphasized the wonderful colours of these birds. We then checked out the park at the end of Belmont Court where birds seen included White-crowned Sparrow, California Quail, Song Sparrow and a Bald Eagle. A rundown Bluebird Road added Common Goldeneye and a Herring Gull. At Sarsons Beach an adult Bald Eagle watched us from a treetop. We checked out Kamloops Road to see a Red-tailed Hawk building a nest at the junction with Swamp Road. An American Kestrel was eating a mouse on a light standard at Casorso Bridge. On February 20, Elke led a group of nine cars. The first stop was the city cemetery where a Pygmy Nuthatch was seen on a brief walk. Redlick Pond was host to many Mallard and one Great Blue Heron. We returned along the lakeshore to see Trumpeter Swan, Horned Grebe and Gadwall at Rotary Marsh. A milfoil harvester 1 was being followed by American Wigeon, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye. A Bald Eagle was seen at Hobson Road and Sarsons Beach added Common Loon and Common Merganser. The group then headed to the Old Spaghetti Factory to celebrate a double 90th birthday gathering for Stu and Cec. On February 27, we had a good turnout. We headed to Belgo Pond. The pond was still frozen but we found a Northern Shrike and a Western Bluebird. Garner Pond was also frozen with a few Mallards huddled in a small open spot. On the road to Specialty Bakery we added American Robin, Townsend’s Solitaire and numerous Red-tailed Hawk. March 5 was sunny for the 21 birders who came out to check out East Kelowna. First, we had a quick look at KLO Bridge for a few ducks. We checked out Heimlich Road where the Ashmans invited us in for a clear look at a flock of Killdeer. We headed uphill to the Jaud Road area to see Red-winged Blackbird and a Steller’s Jay. A visit to Janice Casling’s farm gave us good looks at a Say’s Phoebe as well as Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco and a singing Song Sparrow. We watched a Red-tailed Hawk catch and eat a mouse. We then stopped at the Capital News Center to get good looks at a reported Eurasian Wigeon. CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIRDS: If you want evidence of climate change certain bird ranges are of in retreat. The Bewick's Wren has established in our area after some individuals arrived about ten years ago on the winds of a severe storm at the coast. Lesser Goldfinch are now being seen in the south end of the valley. The number of reports of Anna's Hummingbirds is increasing. Winter sightings of species thought of as Summer birds are increasing. Tropical Kingbirds are being seen in Washington and Oregon.
1 As an invasive species, Eurasian watermilfoil does not create ‘natural’ habitat. The dense growth and occupied surface area can deplete dissolved oxygen levels in shallow areas when the plants decay in fall. Dense canopies also limit light penetration and decrease water flow. Eurasian watermilfoil has less food value for waterfowl than native vegetation. There may also be a lower abundance and diversity of invertebrates in the foliage when Eurasian watermilfoil grows in high densities. Eurasian watermilfoil has an impact on nutrient levels in Okanagan lakes. Phosphorus and nitrogen releases from Eurasian watermilfoil tissue sloughing during the growing season are significant. For more information about milfoil harvesting, check out the Okanagan Basin Water Board website. https://www.obwb.ca/milfoil/
Celebrating Stu and Cec’s 90th
birthdays .
Stephanie and Stu
Pam and Cec
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A Message from the President Rick Gee
I hope everyone is staying well. I know we have several members who were out of the country at the wrong time; I hope they are able to get home safely. While you are at home, you may be interested in the following ideas: Want to start birding? Many of the birding guides can be intimidating, but there is a way to create a bird guide for your area for a specific week. You may be able to see these birds from your front window! Birds Canada (the new name for Bird Studies Canada) has this webpage, https://www.birdscanada.org/en/a-new-way-to-discover-birds-in-your-region/, which describes the project; https://www.birdscanada.org/apps/checklist/index.jsp lets you create the customized guide. Do you want to think about getting outdoors? The Banff Mountain Film Festival has some free films for you. https://www.banffcentre.ca/film-fest-at-home. Of course, the CONC website contains a number on interesting resources on our Links page, http://okanagannature.org/information-pages/links/. Several new birding links were added yesterday. I understand that the maximum meeting size is now 50, so the AGM in Princeton will be cancelled. A rescheduled meeting may be arranged, with discussions on this happening on Saturday (March 28) afternoon. Of course, there are always income tax and tasks around the home to occupy your time. Jag Goel sends this message to CONC members. "I know this is a very difficult time for all of us; if any of you are having difficulty getting essentials, Income tax filing or need any other help, please let me know." Jag's contact information is: [email protected] or 250-717-1034. Jag was previously the treasurer and is temporarily acting treasurer.
Keep safe everyone. Rick
Bitterroot. Photo courtesy of Harvey Abraham, 2019.
Yellow-headed Blackbird seen at Robert Lake, 27
March 2020. Photo: ©Pam Laing.
American Wigeon (male)
American Wigeon (female)
Common Goldeneye (male)
Common Goldeneye (female)
Barrow’s Goldeneye (male)
Barrow’s Goldeneye (female)
photos: Wikipedia