NEWSPACKET January-February 2022 Journal of the North Okanagan Naturalists' Club - North Okanagan ...
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NEWSPACKET
January-February 2022 Journal of the
North Okanagan
Naturalists’
Club
Northern Shrike
photographed by
Suzanne Pask
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 1 vol. 50, no. 1
NO NC
North Okanagan Naturalists' Club (NONC) Botany Margaret Mackenzie
P.O. Box 473 250-542-2712
Vernon, B.C. V1T 6M4 Christmas Bird Chris Siddle
Email info@nonc.ca Count 250-542-1034
Website www.nonc.ca Conservation Harold Sellers
250-307-3543
EXECUTIVE Cools Pond Rod Drennan
250-545-4999
President vacant Hummingbird Gail Loughridge
Banding 250-545-7455
Vice-President vacant Invasive Plants Rod Drennan &
Marnie Williamson
Secretary Rod Drennan NatureKids vacant
250-545-4999 Nature Walks Judy Stockdale
Treasurer Marnie Williamson 236-426-3405
250-545-4743 Newsletter Harold Sellers
Directors Susan Ghattas 250-307-3543
250-550-7063 O.C.C.P.^ Harold Sellers
Pam Jenkins 250-307-3543
250-545-0490 Speakers Bruce Tattersall
Norbert Maertens 778-874-4614
250-503-8790 Swan Lake Bill Image
Harold Sellers 778-692-7909
250-307-3543 Swan & Eagle Norbert Maertens
Judy Stockdale Count 250-503-8790
236-426-3405 Rod Drennan
Kenn Whyte 250-545-4999
250-550-0983 Trips Ruth Drennan
250-545-4999
PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES Website & Harold Sellers
Contact the following if you have questions. Social Media 250-307-3543
^ Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program
BC Nature Pam Jenkins
250-545-0490 LIFE MEMBERS
Birding Events vacant Ray Arlt
Kay Bartholomew*
Bishop Wild Bird Aaron Deans Joan Heriot*
Sanctuary 250-542-5122 Phil Jones*
Bluebird Trails Margaret Mackenzie Malcolm Martin*
250-542-2712 Frank* & Mary* Paul * deceased
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 2 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NO NC
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Vernon where crossbills and siskins appeared in
small numbers or not at all.
72nd Annual Christmas Bird Count
Results
19 December 2021
by Chris Siddle, 2021 Compiler
FIFTY-FIVE NONC members and friends traversed
the North Okanagan country side from O’Keefe
Ranch in the north to Kekuli Bay Provincial Park in
the south, and from Coldstream Ranch in the east to
Westside Road in the west in an annual effort to
count every wild bird within a circle 22 km in
diameter centred on Vernon. This year the count fell
on Dec. 19. Under cloudy skies with occasional
sunny breaks and in average winter temperatures of
– 2 to – 4 Celsius, participants drove or broke trail
through 6 – 15 cm of fresh snow cover. 18,499 birds above — White-throated Sparrow - The 2021 bird
of 90 species were found on count day with an count set a new high count for the White-throated
additional 5 species recorded during count week Sparrow - 24. This species, familiar to anyone who
(“c.w.”), the three days before and the three days has lived in central and eastern Canada, has been
after the count. extending its breeding range into central B.C. since
the 1940s and migrant and winter numbers have
Ninety species is about normal for a North Okanagan gradually grown over the years in the North
count; however, the number of individual birds was Okanagan and other parts of the southern interior.
much lower than usual, in part because ponds and
smaller lakes had frozen over a couple of weeks A third factor in the depression of bird numbers
earlier, sending several species of waterfowl like involved wild fruit. Although shrubs like wild
Green-winged Teals, Northern Shovelers, and cherries, hawthorns and Saskatoon bushes produced
American Wigeons farther south to milder wintering plenty of fruit in the spring, the infamous heat dome
areas. of late June, and the higher than average summer
temperatures that followed, shrivelled much of the
Another factor important to finch numbers in wild fruit crop, leaving little food for birds like
particular is the annual production of conifer cones. American Robins and Varied Thrushes. Even the
In regions where pine, spruce, and fir trees produced flocks of Bohemian Waxwings which normally
an abundance of cones, Pine Siskins, Red Crossbills, enliven Vernon backyards, feeding especially on
and White-winged Crossbills can be spectacularly Mountain Ash berries, were smaller than usual this
abundant. This was not the case this year around December.
continued on page 4
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 3 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NO NC
Christmas Bird Count continued 12. Common Goldeneye –4
13. Barrow’s Goldeneye – 1
Other factors that have contributed to the reduction 14. Hooded Merganser –28
in North American bird populations include habitat 15. Common Merganser – 238
loss, domestic cat predation, pesticide poisoning, and 16. Red-breasted Merganser – 1, MacKay
fatal collisions with windows. Reservoir
17. California Quail - 960
Count participants were fewer than usual. This 18. Ring-necked Pheasant - 57
meant that two areas, Becker Highlands and the main 19. Wild Turkey - 11
hill in Kalamalka Lake Park, as well
as Bear Valley next door, couldn’t
be surveyed. Although this cost the
count a few species, these two areas
can be time consuming to survey
and sparsely populated with birds.
Thank you to Rick Bonar, Claire
Christensen, Marnie Williamson,
Margaret Mackenzie, Pat
McAllister, Scott Thomson and
other local birders and NONC
members who encouraged me as a
first time compiler of the Vernon
count.
Here are the results of Dec. 19
2021’s count:
above — Cackling Goose - The small body size,
1. Snow Goose - 2 juveniles. Okanagan short neck, domed head, and small bill as well as its
Landing. high pitched honk identify this goose which is an
2. Canada Goose – 3145 (2020- 2812) uncommon though regular visitor in small numbers
3. Trumpeter Swan – 11 (2020 – 65) to the North Okanagan. Formerly considered to be
4. Cackling Goose – 2 the same species as the Canada Goose, the Cackler
5. Gadwall – 2 (2020-1) has been recognized as its own species by North
6. American Wigeon – 3 (2020-12) American authorities. This individual was one of two
7. Mallard – 3950 Cacklers among a flock of 500 Canada Geese at
8. Ring-necked Duck – 40 Okanagan Landing early on count morning.
9. Redhead – 49
10. Greater Scaup – 20
continued on page 5
11. Bufflehead – 18
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 4 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NO NC
Christmas Bird Count continued along the fence line north of the new Swan L.
viewing tower.
20. Pied-billed Grebe - 8 42. Red-tailed Hawk – 70 down from 130 in
21. Horned Grebe - 16 2020 and a recent high count of 189 in 2019.
22. Red-necked Grebe - 16 Odd result for 2021.
23. Western Grebe - 4 43. Rough-legged Hawk – 13.
24. Rock Pigeon - 398 44. Great Horned Owl - 2
25. Eurasian Collared Dove – 143 (lower than 45. Northern Pygmy Owl - 1
usual) 46. Barred Owl - 1
26. Mourning Dove - 192 47. Short-eared Owl - 1
27. Anna's Hummingbird – 2 feeder dependent 48. Belted Kingfisher - 4
birds attempting to over-winter.
49. Downy Woodpecker – 13
28. American Coot - 608 50. Hairy Woodpecker - 1
51. Northern Flicker - 182
29. Wilson's Snipe – 1- always a good find. This 52. Pileated Woodpecker - 7
one was in Swan L.N.R.Park
53. American Kestrel - 5
30. Short-billed Gull (formerly Mew Gull, 54. Merlin - 4
officially renamed in 2021) 55. Peregrine Falcon – 1. An immature was
31. Ring-billed Gull - 17 discovered and photographed by Harold and
32. Herring Gull - 99 Linda Sellers on Turtle Mountain.
33. Iceland (Thayer's) Gull - 1
34. Glaucous-winged Gull – 4 56. Northern Shrike - 7
35. Common Loon - 6 57. Steller's Jay - 30
58. Black-billed Magpie - 259
36. Great Blue Heron – 4 59. American Crow - 173
60. Common Raven - 169
37. Golden Eagle - 2 ads; 2 imms.
38. Northern Harrier - 6 61. Black-capped Chickadee - 295
39. Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 62. Mountain Chickadee - 8
40. Cooper's Hawk - 5
41. Bald Eagle – 89. Scott Thomson found a 63. Red-breasted Nuthatch - 63
“feeding frenzy” of 25 Balds, adults and 64. White-breasted Nuthatch - 4
immatures, competing to feed on an 65. Pygmy Nuthatch - 27
unidentified dead creature, probably a deer,
continued on page 6
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 5 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
Christmas Bird Count continued 89. Brewer's Blackbird - 300
66. Brown Creeper - 4 90. Common Yellowthroat – 1. Scott found a
female-type along the creek in Swan Lake
67. Marsh Wren - 2 N.R.Park. This warbler has been detected on
the count only once before, in 1981 by
68. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Kamloops guest and outstanding naturalist,
Rick Howie.
69. Western Bluebird - 20
70. Townsend's Solitaire - 21 Count Week birds (not included in the day’s count):
71. American Robin - 99 California Gull
72. Varied Thrush - 2 Pacific Wren
American Dipper
73. European Starling - 3245 Cedar Waxwing
Snow Bunting
74. Bohemian Waxwing – 1398 Glaucous-winged
Gull (in part) -
75. House Sparrow - 162 These gulls
began to appear
76. Evening Grosbeak - 30 in the Okanagan
77. House Finch – 294 Valley regularly
78. Cassin’s Finch - 5 in the 1980s and
79. Red Crossbill - 21 have breed on
80. Pine Siskin - 15 Grant Island.
81. American Goldfinch - 285 Unfortunately for
the species-purist
82. Spotted Towhee - 12 birder, not only
83. American Tree Sparrow - 21 do Glaucous-
84. Song Sparrow - 142 winged Gulls
85. White-throated Sparrow – frequently breed
24, a record high count. A breeding range with Western Gulls along the Pacific Northwest
expansion from Alberta into central and Coast and follow salmon into the interior, but locally
northern BC, beginning in the 1940s appears resident gulls have bred with Okanagan Lake's
to be producing bumper numbers of migrant Herring Gulls. The chicks of hybrid origin will show,
and wintering White-throats in the North as in this bird chilling near Kin Park, a combination
Okanagan especially since 2020 (21 birds). of their parents' fieldmarks, like the little darkish eye
86. White-crowned Sparrow - 27 showing in the big head, the very large bill, and
87. Dark-eyed Junco - 540 smudgy brown "fingerprinting on head and neck of a
Glaucous-winged Gull, as well as the blackish
88. Red-winged Blackbird - 148 primaries of a Western or a Herring gull. ❖
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 6 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
SPECIAL INSERT IN Commonage, Predator Ridge. Ellison Provincial
Park, Lavington, the northern part of Westside Road,
THIS ISSUE Swan Lake, Goose Lake, Silver Star Mountain, Echo
2021 Bird Observations in the Lake Provincial Park, Rawlings Lake, Enderby
Cliffs, Sugar Lake and the south end of Mable Lake.
North Okanagan
by Harold Sellers The table shows which months each species was
reported, with a total of the number of months the
eBIRD is the world’s largest biodiversity-related species was reported over the year.
citizen science project, with more than 100 million
bird sightings contributed each year by eBirders The total number of species observed each month is
around the world. A collaborative enterprise with also shown. May was the month with the highest
hundreds of partner organizations, thousands of number of observations, at 244, while September
regional experts, and hundreds of thousands of users, was second at 230.
eBird is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The intent for this list is that you can remove it from
In this issue of Newspacket the centre 8 pages are a Newspacket and keep it handy for reference
compilation of bird species observed in the North throughout the year. Perhaps you’ll find a bird
Okanagan through 2021. species that wasn’t seen in 2021! ❖
For this report we began with “Birds
of the North Okanagan”, a checklist
first compiled by Chris Siddle in
2009. A few updates to species were
made and then the eBird database was
searched by species, filtered by
“North Okanagan”.
In 2021 a total of 290 species of birds
were reported to eBird by observers
in the North Okanagan.
The North Okanagan area in eBird is
almost identical to the political
boundaries of the regional district.
Included are Vernon, Coldstream,
Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby and
Electoral Areas B and C. This includes such popular
Photo above - Virginia Rail, by Kenn Whyte
birding spots as Otter Lake, Kalamalka Lake
Provincial Park, Okanagan Landing, the
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 7 vol. 50, no. 1North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
Battle Over the Junipers! uncommon here in the Okanagan and we see them
all year in Kalamalka Provincial Park and anywhere
by Margaret Mackenzie
in our higher forested hills and mountains around us.
THIS past October and November, we were seeing
I found my information on the computer site of the
Townsend’s Solitaires along the Grey Canal Trail
Cornell Lab of Ornithology”s “Birds of the World”.
between DeRoo, Briggs, and Hartnell Road. Each
Townsend’s Solitaires are members of the Thrush
time we went out, we would either
hear their whistled flute-like
“whee” calls or see them in the
tops of trees singing. Sometimes
we watched them lower down in
the berry-producing shrubs,
feeding and “playing". Their
displays, calls, and melodic
singing increased over November,
which finally prompted me to
investigate their behaviours as we
were now often watching 2 and 3
birds interacting with one another.
What were they doing I
wondered?
The Townsend’s family and thus related to
Solitaire, smaller than a Bluebirds, as well as American
Robin but resembling Robins, Hermit Thrush and Varied
them somewhat in Thrush. Their summer diet in
shape, is grey-coloured breeding time is mainly insects
overall with a very and spiders which they also feed
visible white eye-ring, to their young. They build their
buffy-coloured nests on the forest floor under any
markings on the wings, natural overhanging rock, or log,
and white outer tail or under bank overhangs, and are
feathers. Females and easy targets for predators.
males sing both However, because they they only
summer and winter and make altitudinal migrations from
many descriptions have higher mountain areas to lower
been written describing valleys, they can begin nesting
their lovely and early and make extra nesting
elaborate musical song. attempts later in the season.
They are not continued on page 9
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 8 vol. 50, no. 1Birds Observed in the North Okanagan in 2021
Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Avocet, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Bittern, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Blackbird, Brewer’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Blackbird, Red-winged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Blackbird, Rusty ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Blackbird, Yellow-headed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 11
Bluebird, Mountain ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Bluebird, Western ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Bobolink ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Brambling ⬛ ⬛ 2
Brant ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Bufflehead ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Bunting, Lazuli ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Bunting, Snow ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Canvasback ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Catbird, Gray ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Chat, Yellow-breasted ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Chickadee, Black-capped ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Chickadee, Boreal ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Chickadee, Chestnut- ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
backed
Chickadee, Mountain ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Coot, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Cormorant, Double-crested ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Cowbird, Brown-headed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Crane, Sandhill ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Creeper, Brown ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Crossbill, Red ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Crossbill, White-winged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Crow, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Curlew, Long-billed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Dipper, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Dove, Eurasian Collared ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Dove, Mourning ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Dowitcher, Long-billed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Dowitcher, Short-billed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
1Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Duck, Harlequin ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Duck, Long-tailed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Duck, Ring-necked ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Duck, Ruddy ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Duck, Tufted ⬛ 1
Duck, Wood ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Dunlin ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
Eagle, Bald ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Eagle, Golden ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Egret, Great ⬛ ⬛ 2
Egret, Snowy ⬛ 1
Falcon, Peregrine ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Falcon, Prairie ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Finch, Cassin’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Finch, House ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Finch, Purple ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Flicker, Northern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Flycatcher, Dusky ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Flycatcher, Hammond’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Flycatcher, Least ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Flycatcher, Olive-sided ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Flycatcher, Pacific-slope ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Flycatcher, Willow ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Gadwall ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Godwit, Hudsonian ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Goldeneye, Barrow’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Goldeneye, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Goldfinch, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Goose, Cackling ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Goose, Canada ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Goose, Greater White- ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
fronted
Goose, Ross’s ⬛ ⬛ 2
Goose, Snow ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Goshawk, Northern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 11
Grebe, Clark’s 0
Grebe, Eared ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 11
Grebe, Horned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
2Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Grebe, Pied-billed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Grebe, Red-necked ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Grebe, Western ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Grosbeak, Black-headed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Grosbeak, Evening ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Grosbeak, Pine ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted ⬛ 1
Grouse, Ruffed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Grouse, Spruce ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Grouse. Dusky ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Gull, Bonaparte’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Gull, California ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Gull, Franklin’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Gull, Glaucous ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Gull, Glaucous-winged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Gull, Herring ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Gull, Iceland ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Gull, Lesser Black-backed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Gull, Ring-billed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Gull, Sabine’s ⬛ 1
Gull, Short-billed (Mew Gull) ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 11
Gull, Slaty-backed ⬛ 1
Gyrfalcon ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Harrier, Northern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Hawk, Broad-winged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Hawk, Cooper’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Hawk, Red-tailed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Hawk, Rough-legged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Hawk, Sharp-shinned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Hawk, Swainson’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Heron, Black-crowned Night ⬛ 1
Heron, Great Blue ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Hummingbird, Anna’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 11
Hummingbird, Black- ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
chinned
Hummingbird, Calliope ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Hummingbird, Rufous ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Ibis, White-faced ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
3Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Jaeger, Parasitic ⬛ ⬛ 2
Jay, Blue ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Jay, Canada (Gray Jay) ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Jay, Steller’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Junco, Dark-eyed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Kestrel, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Killdeer ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 11
Kingbird, Eastern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Kingbird, Western ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Kingfisher, Belted ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Kinglet, Golden-crowned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Lark, Horned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Longspur, Lapland ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Loon, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Loon, Pacific ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Loon, Red-throated ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Loon, Yellow-billed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Magpie, Black-billed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Mallard ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Meadowlark, Western ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Merganser, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Merganser, Hooded ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Merganser, Red-breasted ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Merlin ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Mockingbird, Northern ⬛ 1
Nighthawk, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Nutcracker, Clark’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Nuthatch, Pygmy ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Nuthatch, Red-breasted ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Nuthatch, White-breasted ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Oriole, Bullock’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Osprey ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Ovenbird ⬛ 1
Owl, Barn ⬛ ⬛ 2
Owl, Barred ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Owl, Boreal ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
4Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Owl, Great Grey ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Owl, Great Horned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Owl, Long-eared ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Owl, Northern Hawk ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Owl, Northern Pygmy ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Owl, Northern Saw-whet ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Owl, Short-eared ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Owl, Snowy ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Owl, Western Screech ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Partridge, Grey ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
Parula, Northern ⬛ 1
Pelican, American White ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Phalarope, Red-necked ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Phalarope, Wilson’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Pheasant, Ring-necked ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Phoebe, Eastern ⬛ 1
Phoebe, Say’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 11
Pigeon, Band-tailed ⬛ 1
Pigeon, Rock ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Pintail, Northern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Pipit, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Plover, American Golden ⬛ ⬛ 2
Plover, Black-bellied ⬛ ⬛ 2
Plover, Pacific Golden ⬛ ⬛ 2
Plover, Semipalmated ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Poorwill, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Ptarmigan, White-tailed ⬛ ⬛ 2
Quail, California ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Rail, Virginia ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Raven, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Redhead ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Redpoll, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Redpoll, Hoary ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Redstart, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Robin, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Rosy-finch, Grey-crowned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Ruff ⬛ 1
5Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Sanderling ⬛ ⬛ 2
Sandpiper, Baird’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Sandpiper, Buff-breasted ⬛ 1
Sandpiper, Least ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Sandpiper, Pectoral ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Sandpiper, Semipalmated ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Sandpiper, Solitary ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Sandpiper, Spotted ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Sandpiper, Stilt ⬛ 1
Sandpiper, Upland ⬛ 1
Sandpiper, Western ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Sapsucker, Red-naped ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Scaup, Greater ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Scaup, Lesser ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Scoter, Black ⬛ ⬛ 2
Scoter, Surf ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Scoter, White-winged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Shoveler, Northern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Shrike, Loggerhead ⬛ ⬛ 2
Shrike, Northern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Siskin, Pine ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Snipe, Wilson’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Solitaire, Townsend’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Sora ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Sparrow, American Tree ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Sparrow, Brewer’s ⬛ ⬛ 2
Sparrow, Chipping ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
Sparrow, Clay-coloured ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Sparrow, Fox ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
Sparrow, Golden-crowned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Sparrow, Grasshopper ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Sparrow, Harris’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Sparrow, House ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Sparrow, Lark ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Sparrow, Lincoln’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Sparrow, Sagebrush ⬛ 1
Sparrow, Savannah ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
6Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Sparrow, Song ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Sparrow, Swamp ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Sparrow, Vesper ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Sparrow, White-crowned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Sparrow, White-throated ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
Starling, European ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Stilt, Black-necked ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Swallow, Bank ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Swallow, Barn ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Swallow, Cliff ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Swallow, Northern Rough- ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
winged
Swallow, Tree ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Swallow, Violet-green ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Swan, Trumpeter ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Swan, Tundra ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Swift, Black ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Swift, Vaux’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 6
Swift, White-throated ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Tanager, Western ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Teal, Blue-winged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Teal, Cinnamon ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Teal, Green-winged ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Tern, Arctic ⬛ 1
Tern, Black ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Tern, Caspian ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Tern, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Tern, Forster’s ⬛ ⬛ 2
Thrush, Hermit ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Thrush, Swainson’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Thrush, Varied ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Towhee, Spotted ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Turkey, Wild ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Veery ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 4
Vireo, Cassin’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Vireo, Red-eyed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Vireo, Warbling ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Vulture, Turkey ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
7Species Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Months
Recorded
Warbler, Blackpoll ⬛ 1
Warbler, MacGillivray’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Warbler, Magnolia ⬛ ⬛ 2
Warbler, Nashville ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Warbler, Orange-crowned ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Warbler, Palm ⬛ ⬛ 2
Warbler, Tennessee ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Warbler, Townsend’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Warbler, Wilson’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Warbler, Yellow ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Warbler, Yellow-rumped ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Waterthrush, Northern ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Waxwing, Bohemian ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Waxwing, Cedar ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Whimbrel ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Wigeon, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Wigeon, Eurasian ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Wood-pewee, Western ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Woodpecker, American ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Three-toed
Woodpecker, Black-backed ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Woodpecker, Downy ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Woodpecker, Hairy ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Woodpecker, Lewis’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 5
Woodpecker, Pileated ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Wren, Bewick’s ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 3
Wren, Canyon ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 10
Wren, House ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Wren, Marsh ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Wren, Pacific ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 12
Wren, Rock ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Yellowlegs, Greater ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 8
Yellowlegs, Lesser ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 7
Yellowthroat, Common ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ 9
Species observed per month 141 139 158 209 244 212 208 223 230 196 175 156
8North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club NONC Battle Over the Junipers continued Now I’m going to take a moment and write about Juniper trees and you will see why later in this article. Junipers are evergreen shrubs or trees found in the Cypress family. We see two species along the Grey Canal trails that we have been walking. There is the small shrub called Common Juniper, with short prickly needle-like leaves and a white channel on the upper surfaces (Juniperus communis), and also, the Rocky Mountain Juniper, a taller tree with soft scale like leaves (Juniperus scopulorum). Both have berries - although not berries in the normal sense. They are berry-like cones, initially green and take 18 months or more to ripen into the blue colour we see. Both green and blue berries can be found on branches at the same time. Each fleshy berry has a blue waxy coating containing one very hard seed. The seeds are dispersed by the birds but the rest of the berry, which is quite juicy and bitter-sweet, is digested for nutrients and energy. Now, where is this information of Solitaires and Junipers all leading? Well, the Townsend’s Solitaires’ territories favourite food is the containing Juniper berry. In fact, in Junipers. some areas of the USA Perching where Junipers are dense, conspicuously they feed almost on the tops of exclusively on them. The tall trees and winter diet of the calling or Townsend’s Solitaire is singing loudly, predominately berries, and allows them to since juniper berries are high in nutrients, both continued on female and male Solitaires page 10 will strongly defend Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 9 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
Battle Over the Junipers continued the offspring, are excluded, and have to leave to find
their own territory, generally smaller with less
advertise their ownership and to scan for intruders. berries. Defending their winter grounds for food
As well as defending the Junipers, they are sources is serious business.
defending all the berry bushes
that are prevalent on these
sections of Grey Canal that we
had been walking on, including
Choke Cherry, Saskatoon,
Hawthorne, Elderberry, Rose,
and Snowberry. The playing,
diving, and chasing behaviours
we had witnessed were really
territorial battles over the
Junipers, apparently sometimes
quite violent! My question,
What were they doing? was
answered. The strong survive
because they defend larger and
higher quality berry patches;
the weak, which are generally
(Other birds are
competing for berries
during the winter too.
Robins subsist mainly on
berries in the winter and
also feed on Juniper
berries, as do Waxwings,
Grosbeaks and a number
of other winter birds.
Every time our berry
shrubs are destroyed for
whatever reason, we are
endangering the lives of
our winter birds. Yet
another good reason to
plant native berry shrubs
and trees.) ❖
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 10 vol. 50, no. 1North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club NONC Judy Stockdale contributes these two articles and the following links. Winter is the time to think about creating bee habitats for the coming year. https:// wildsight.ca/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2020/06/ Resource- sheet-patterns- and-bees.pdf https:// xerces.org/ blog/5-ways- to-increase- nesting-habitat- for-bees Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 11 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club NONC additional resources http:// kootenaynati veplants.ca/ wp/wp- content/ uploads/ 2019/07/ ProtectingNa tivePollinato rsInCB_Post er.pdf https:// thebeeconser vancy.org/? gclid=EAIaI QobChMIs- W0zdmJ9QI VRRB9Ch3z MAClEAAY AyAAEgI2I PD_BwE https:// eya.ca/wp- content/ uploads/ 2017/07/ common- pollinaotrs- of-bc- v40-2.pdf Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 12 vol. 50, no. 1
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
The Name Game meaning: who did it, on what occasions and why? In
point of fact the figure of 300,000 potential common
by the late Malcolm Martin
names has to be a parsimonious minimum in as
First published in Menziesia newsletter, Fall 2011
much as a majority of species comprising floras
enjoy a whole host of regional names, and as many
THE year was 1753 – Species Plantarum by
again in each other country to which distribution
Linnaeus first saw the light of day bringing in the
extends.
dawn of modern botanical nomenclature.
It is not too far-fetched to imagine Neolithic
If the question were to be asked “What is the oldest
known scientific plant name in current use?” it has to cultivators as finding a need to specify particular
greenery for gathering or planting and from that
be one, or all, of the entries from the first volume of
need, fashioning demonstrative names as working
this work, one of the every-day species that the
references. We can be sure a term like ‘oak’(in
author would have seen in field and garden, familiar
English) for a useful hardwood tree must have arisen
plants like Common Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris),
before Saxon invaders brought the term to British
Perennial Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis), English
shores 1,700 years ago, leaving ‘eiche’ (in present
Daisy (Bellis perennis), Yarrow (Acillea millefolium)
German) for use over their original homeland.
or Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa perennis).
Similar terse names may be indicative of similarly
early derivation for plants of everyday utility and
True, most familiar plants had had scientific epithets
necessity – oat, flax, wheat, bean, elm – but these,
well before that date but these were not given on a
ancient as they may be, are suggestive of antiquity
consistent or reliable basis, in fact many were
rather than revealing their actual first use.
descriptive phrases rather than the concise binomials
championed by Linnaeus. But his literary output
Modern common names are still being allocated
was the provenance of professor and student, not part
today, though usually by a government employee or
of the every day conversation of countryman and
contractor, often in order to standardize name
herbalist. If the question then was to become “What
references in reports and publications rather than
is the oldest known common name still in use
their being inventions of the general public
today?” we arrive at a very different result.
exercising its creative bent. Take a look into
Illustrated Flora of British Columbia. Page 84 of
Seldom do we stop to think where common names
Volume 3 presents Least Bladdery Milk-vetch, a
come from, names in their thousands, indeed, in their
translation of Astragalus microcystis that only a
tens and hundreds of thousands, all used somewhere
bureaucrat’s mother could love, to fill a gap where
for a first time in the secretive past. With named
presumably no previous common name was found.
botanical species now nearing 300,000 in the world
Similarly, Ochroleucous Bladderwort is given for
at large, what invention and linguistic gymnastics
Utricularia ochroleucha on page 300 in the same
there must have been in providing them with
volume. These are not names that roll off the tongue
common names, stories now lost in the shades of
or reflect linguistic ingenuity but are clearly purpose-
time. In all cases there must have been a very first
made fabrications.
occasion when a name was bequeathed either with
continued on page 14
intent or by happenstance, jokingly or with serious
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 13 vol. 50, no. 1North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
The Name Game continued (check), Spring Beauty (check), Yellow Bells
(check), Blue-eyed Mary (check and exclamation).
Although these cases are not what we are looking
for, one remarkable example of appropriate One can imagine the conversation at that point each
fabrication in naming species occurred a few years year, something to the effect of ‘forget Blue-eyed
ago which should not pass unnoticed. Although Mary, you should worry more about poor Pink-eyed
lichens, strictly speaking, fall outside the scope of Twink’, a name that then became transferred by them
this article, such a tour de force as providing to the small pink phlox flowering at this early
common names to over one thousand taxa boggles season. Time passed. One of the three plant fanciers
the mind. On the argument that popularizing lichens having scientific accomplishments was known to
and their study needs convenient popular names to people of consequence in Victoria and Vancouver
attract the general public, the primary author of The and must have passed along to them this anecdote
Lichens of British Columbia, Trevor Goward, from where it turns up in shortened form on the page
undertook this monumental task for all the 52 in question. Although having first-hand
unchristened genera and species known in the authenticity, doubt must be expressed on whether
province at that time. Not only were they assigned such a localized random event can have staying
an everyday name but each proved remarkably apt in power in the name game. It would seem unlikely in
descriptive context, the result of considerable the larger scheme of things but does offer possible
thought. insight into the stochastic nature of common names,
though getting us no closer to providing a candidate
But these are examples of intentional fabrication and for ‘oldest common name still in use’.
not the early tags we seek. By chance there is one
true and recent story that points to the idiosyncratic For that, in the absence of other contenders, we must
nature of common names and their derivation. consult the ancient Greeks who so often provide
answers. In this case it is Theophrastus, a student of
A look at page 52 of volume 4, Illustrated Flora of both Plato and Aristotle, who is our man. In setting
British Columbia, shows Phlox gracilis as being down the result of studies into plant parts and their
known in this province as Pink Twink or Pink purposes, and in building up his body of work on the
Microsteris, microsteris being its exclusive genus cultivation and use of plants, he spent much time
when it lived a solitary life in the Polemonium or speaking with farmers and herbalists, learning from
Phlox Family. In the Okanagan Valley not too long them the accumulated practical lore of the
ago three matrons of unquestioned respectability countryman.
enjoyed socializing over a glass of sherry, or two,
discussing whatever happened to pique their fancy. Somewhere in his writings Theophrastus relates the
Whether the one known as Twink was bothered by frustrations of country folk who carefully clear and
sore eyes or was particularly fond of the sherry is not prepare ground in autumn for a seeding of winter
entirely clear. Come spring, they would dutifully barley or wheat, expecting to be rewarded by a
don sturdy boots and venture out to recite spring bountiful crop in early summer after winter’s
flowers along their way – Sagebrush Buttercup
continued on page 15
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 14 vol. 50, no. 1North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
The Name Game continued its habits, and if not absolutely the species B.
tectorum, then most likely it was one of the other
rainfall. Instead, with shattered expectations, they annual brome grasses in Section Genea. If, on the
find their cereal seeds have mysteriously changed other hand, it was the same annoying weed, then the
form and instead of wheat or barley have produced a name – Cheat Grass – could well have a history of
small, useless grass, cheating them of their time, over two thousand years.
labour and sustenance. Referring to it as Cheat
Grass was probably repeating the least objectionable Can such a record be exceeded? Could there be
epithet the useless crop received, but whether it was something from Sanskrit or Sumerian writings
the same as our own Cheat Grass or Downy Brome perhaps? Records are made to be broken. The field
(Bromus tectorum) still has to bear a question mark. is open. ✣
Certainly it sounds very reminiscent of our weed and
Northern Pygmy-owl photos by Margaret MacKenzie
and Harold Sellers. In lower right photo, note the false
eyes on the back of the head.
Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 15 vol. 50, no. 1North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club
NONC
Newspacket is published ve times per year,
in January-February, March-April, May-June, MONTHLY MEETINGS
September-October and November-
December.
On the first Wednesday of the month
Thank you to Wayside Press of Vernon which (September through May), we hold a
prints our hard copies of Newspacket.
meeting for members and visitors at
Copy for publication should be sent to Harold
Sellers, Editor, by e-mail hikerharold@gmail.com.
the Schubert Centre. Start time, 7:00
pm. Guest speakers, club news,
North Okanagan refreshments.
NONC MEMBERSHIP
Clip or copy this form to begin or renew a membership with the North Okanagan Naturalists’
Club. The form is also available on our website. Annual dues are $35 for an individual, $20 for
a student and $50 for a couple or family. Every member should also complete a Waiver form,
available at our website membership page.
Name(s): _____________________________________________________________________
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Jan.-Feb. 2022 Page 16 vol. 50, no. 1
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