The osprey   Newsletter of the West kootenay naturalists’ association   1054 bridgeview cr, castlegar bc v1n 4l1 vol32, no 2                         June – October, 2005	Other Links of Interest Friends of Parks and Trails Newsletter Summer trips 2005 Castlegar BC

Slocan Lake from Wee Sandy viewpoint Photo by Margo Saunders

GENERAL MEETINGS

Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month, 7:30 pm, except as noted. Changes may be mentioned at meetings, and/or in your local newspaper. Trail venue is Anglican Church basement, alley entrance. Castlegar venue is Library, east entrance. 2006, February Annual Banquet will be at a Castlegar venue, to be announced at the January meeting. 2006, April potluck and AGM will be at a Castlegar venue to be announced at the March meeting. June annual picnic venue will be announced at the May meeting. Newsletters are distributed at the September, January, and May meetings. Please attend to pick yours up. Saving postage keeps costs and dues stable. Check your newsletter for each month’s meeting venue. No meetings in July, August, or December. October potluck is always in Robson Hall, 6 pm – BYO dishes, cutlery, etc.

ELECTED:

PRESIDENT                                 Ed Beynon                                  365-7806

Hazeledb@uniserve.com

VICE-PRESIDENT                          Joan Snyder                                226-0012

Snowdance@telus.net

SECRETARY                                 Hazel Kirkwood                            365-7806

TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP               Sharon Lelliott                             365-1161

Lelliott@telus.net

AREA REPRESENTATIVES:

          CASTLEGAR                       Marg Webster                              365-2572

                                                Laima Allis                                   365-5542

          TRAIL                               Lois Pazurik                                 364-2140

                                                Pamella Wik                                 368-3333

          NELSON & AREA                 Bill & Marj Bennetts                      352-9834

          SALMO                             Dorothy Hearn                             357-2265

APPOINTED:

PAST PRESIDENT                         Pat Thomson

PROGRAM DIRECTORS                   Webb Webster                             365-2572

                                                Pamella Wik                                 368-3333

FBCN REPORTING DIR                   Joan Snyder                                226-0012

NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER               Margo Saunders                           693-2229

Penandpaddle@lycos.com

ARCHIVIST                                  Tom Allis                                    365-5542

BIRD COUNT COORDINATOR           Dorothy Beetstra (Trail area)          368-9716

                                                Gary Lelliott (Castlegar area)          365-1161

ENERGY WATCHDOG                     Ed Beynon                                  365-7806

CONSERVATION CHAIR                  Ed Beynon                                  365-7806

WATER USE PLAN REP                   Webb Webster                             365-2572

INJURED BIRDS/ANIMALS               Carol Pettigrew (birds)                  365-3701

Beaks@kics.bc.ca

                                                Helen Jameson, Blewett (animals)    352-2356

                                                Dr Kelly Fraser (vet)                     365-2344

                                                Cathy Morgenthaller (referrals)       367-9906

CHECK OUT OUR CLUB WEBSITE!

www.columbiariver.ca/wkna

Saturday, January 8, 2005:

Pat West led three other Nats on a ski trip north from Ymir, on the Burlington Northern rail trail. The snow continued to fall and until we were sheltered from the wind, it was a bit of an endurance test. The scenic and happy-sounding Salmo River, and its tributaries and oxbows, made us overlook the adverse weather. By the time we stopped for hot drinks and lunch, the clouds had lifted and the wind had abated. There and back, we enjoyed looking at the animal tracks, the ‘dressed’ hemlocks (my favourite tree in the winter), and an amazing swan, floating in the river! I have picture proof! We met only one other person, with her very well-furred dog, also skiing the rail trail. This is a very easy trip, and there is something different to remind us why we return each year.

Margo Saunders

Saturday, January 22, 2005:

It was a mild, damp day for our ski into the Grizzly Cabin. A snowmobile had gone in most of the way the day before, so the six Nats had an enjoyable ski on slightly packed snow. The small creeks in the area (5500’ elev) were running, so we had to find snow bridges to get to the cabin. After leaving the cabin, three of us went to George Robinson’s cabin to check on its condition. On the way there we observed a Northern Hawk owl perched on top of a snag. We also saw coyote and rabbit tracks and some very fresh, clear lynx tracks. Mountain chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets were heard nearby in the woods.

Hazel Kirkwood & Ed Beynon

Saturday, February 5, 2005:

Five Nats and one guest started a snowshoe trip up the College Creek Road, west of Castlegar. After a short time we cached the snowshoes and hiked on the heavily crusted snow. It was a pleasant hike with tremendous views, but there was very little sign of wildlife or birds.

Webb Webster

Saturday,February 12, 2005:

Eight hardy Nats and two visitors turned out for the hike around Waldie Island. Although the morning was very crisp, it was a good walk. Very few birds were sighted, chickadees were heard, and we did see one blue heron. There were lots of ducks on the river, mainly mallards, some scaup, buffleheads and of course Canada Geese. We did observe that the blackberry bushes are becoming very invasive along the trail.

Christine Coyle

Saturday, February 19, 2005:

Nine Nats and two guests snowshoed around Nancy Greene Lake, to the junction with the Nordic Ski Club trails. Three of the group had other commitments and just went around the lake and left a trail for the rest to follow. The weather was very pleasant, the snow was crisp until the warm sunshine softened it in the early afternoon. A few birds were heard chirping among the evergreens, and we observed stories in the animal tracks in the snow. Coyote and mouse tracks were the most interesting, as we followed their trails and speculated on the meanings of their ramblings.

Margo Saunders

Wednesday, February 23, 2005:

The annual moonlight ski on Nancy Greene Lake was blessed with beautiful weather and brilliant moonlight. Five Nats and four guests made the trip around on the lake. Afterward, we all gathered in the cabin for snack and refreshments. A more congenial group would be hard to find. No wildlife was seen or heard, but we saw lots of tracks – some of which appeared to be cougar. Also, Margo pointed out the constellations of the Winter sky.

Webb Webster

Saturday, March 19, 2005:

Six Nats took part in the first official hike of the season on the Yellow Pine Trail. There was a cold raw wind off Lower Arrow Lake, but once into the trees it was very pleasant. There were numerous birds seen and heard. Tracks of an elk crossing the trail were also noticed.

Webb Webster

Saturday, April 2, 2005:

It was a good morning for eight Nats to be looking for birds – cool, but no rain, and some sun. Highlights were two male harlequin ducks on the river, a canvasback on the lagoons, two red-tailed hawks circling overhead, and a blue jay calling from the island. Other birds were red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, violet-green swallows, robins, black-capped chickadees, a Townsend’s solitaire, wood ducks, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, Barrow’s and common goldeneyes, mallards, common mergansers, lesser scaup, Canada geese and herring gulls.

Hazel Kirkwood

Saturday, April 9, 2005:

The day was bright and sunny with some cloud and a cool wind. Six Nats met at the Castleaird Plaza and carpooled to the foot of Mt Sentinel. We climbed part way up the Sentinel Slog Trail, which goes quite steeply up the mountain. It was a birding and flora hike. The high point was seeing a pair of Canyon Wrens at close range and hearing one sing. We also saw five turkey vultures and two red-tailed hawks not far above us. The main flowers were glacier lilies, large bunches of spring beauties, desert parsley and blue eyed mary’s. The blue camas and shooting stars were close to blooming.

Hazel Kirkwood & Ed Beynon

--by Todd Nichols and Dean Bunney,

second year Recreation, Fish and Wildlife students at

Selkirk College in Castlegar --

Bird watching, or birding, has become one of the most popular hobbies in North America and throughout the world. It hold appeal for anyone with an appreciation for nature, and can be done anywhere from your kitchen window to the top of a mountain.

To begin the art of bird watching, there are a few things that are necessary. You will need a good pair of binoculars which can be purchased for under $30 and a field identification book. There are many field guides out there, all with something different to offer. Mainly you want one with pictures or photos, some written identification features, and range maps. Two good guidebooks are: Golden Field Guides: Birds of North America and Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Birds. However, these tools are not all you need to identify birds. You will need a keen eye and good observational skills.

Here are some hints to help with your observational skills:

q       Take note of the body size, comparing it to other birds that you already know

q       Notice the colour, paying particular attention to the face, throat, belly, back and tail feathers

q       Note the size and shape of the bill; it will reflect what the bird eats and can help determine the general family

q       Legs and feet often determine the bird’s habitat

q       Where did you see it?

If you identify a bird that is only found in Florida it probably isn’t that bird.

You won’t be able to positively identify all the birds you see; even the most experienced birders can’t identify them all at a glance. But by taking good notes of identification features, when it was seen, and the behaviour, as you gain experience you may be able to look back at your notes and positively identify the species.

In the West Kootenays there are some 200 different species of birds that frequent the area. Some of the more common species often seen in backyards are the Stellar Jay, Northern Flicker, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers, Black Capped Chickadee, House Finch, Robins and the very beautiful Cedar Waxwing. To encourage birds into your own yard, you can start by hanging bird feeders of different sizes and styles to attract a variety of birds. Different feeds will attract different birds.

Generally, the best kind of feed to use is sunflower seed (no salt). Another feed beneficial for all birds is egg shells. This is an especially good source of calcium and can be prepared by washing your egg shells and then baking at 350^oF until the edges are golden brown and then crushing them. Another popular and nutritious feed is suet, a fat derived from cows or pigs. Suet can be combined with nuts and seeds to make a wholesome and healthy bird food. It can be bought at most stores where seed is sold or made at home on a stovetop. Avoid using store bought seed mixes as this may not be suitable for the birds in your area; many are largely milo and other seeds that are not suitable for the birds in the Kootenays.

Other things you can do to attract birds to your back yard is to add a bird bath. A lot of birds are attracted to the water for drinking or bathing. The next step is to be patient as it might take from a couple of days to two weeks for birds to find your feeders. Remember that the best time to see birds is early in the morning.

The basics for bird watching and feeding are easy to learn and getting started with this great hobby is inexpensive. So get on out there and learn about all the wonderful birds in your area.

--reprinted from Mar 22/05 edition of the Castlegar Citizen, with authors’ permission

To whet your interest in some upcoming hikes in this summer’s schedule, and to provide information that we couldn’t possibly fit into the confines of the Program, Gary Davidson, Martin Carver, and Michael McMann have kindly sent along the following:

July 23, Nakusp birding with Gary Davidson, arriving in Nakusp at 9 am. Gary is the author of the West Kootenay Bird Checklist and contributor to many well-known landmark ornithological publications, including The Birds of BC by Campbell et al. He will be just back from a research contract and showing us some of the birding hot spots in the Nakusp area.

September 24, 9 – noon, Bird Creek Marsh, South Slocan, with Martin Carver, PhD. Martin has a PhD in water and earth sciences. He focuses on wetlands and riparian areas in his teaching and conservation work in land management. His partner, K Linda Kivi, is a naturalist and writer, and is currently working on a Purcell Anthology and a natural history of the Columbia Mountains.

On the trip, they will provide an overview of the ecological setting and history of the Bird Creek wetlands. We will tour the area including shoreline, forest, and islands. Sighting in the area have included raptors, shorebirds, ducks, forest birds, marsh birds and others. Mammals include river otter and beaver.

1.      Common courtesy and common sense dictates that you call the contact person or, of course, your local representative to confirm your attendance at an event on the program. Lead time for the newsletter is as much as nine months between planning and execution. Nothing is written in stone and changes may have to be made from time to time, due to weather conditions or personal reasons. We would not want you to miss out on a singe chance to enjoy our environment! Don’t wait until the last minute to phone if you are interested in any of our events…..they may have already left, especially if camping or long distances are involved.

2.      New members – especially those from Nelson and area: do you have any suggestions for new areas to visit? Would you be willing to lead a hike? Please contact a Program Director with your great ideas. Thank you to all the contacts/leaders in all seasons. We learn so much from each of you.

3.      The leader of an outing is responsible for:

ü        Finding a replacement contact/leader if you cannot be available for your planned outing. This replacement may be for the same outing or they may suggest another

ü        Getting the waiver form signed by every person attending, and forwarding this form to Webb Webster immediately. Waiver forms are included in your newsletter, one for each hike you are leading

ü        Arranging to have the trip report forwarded to the Publisher. It is not necessary to write it – you may delegate this, of course, but please advise the Publisher from whom to expect it. In a perfect world, we would have a different participant write each report, so we could have many different viewpoints. The writer also has the obligation to get the report submitted in time!

ü         

Deadline for submissions for the next newsletter is August 18, 2005

Material accepted by the Publisher any time up to this date