birds

Correctional officers came across a pigeon with a mini backpack on Feb. 27 at Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford. (Stock photo by Couleur from Pixabay)

Backpack-wearing pigeon caught ‘in training’ at Abbotsford prison

Officers’ union president says no drugs found, unlike previous incident in December

 

A pair of bald eagles spotted by Alexander Pascal in Enderby. (Alexander Pascal photo)

PHOTOS: Eagles, swans spotted in Enderby area

Alexander Pascal captured pictures of the birds

 

The black-capped chickadee sees the world in detail and colours that we can only imagine. (John G Woods photo)

Column: Seeing eye-to-eye with a chickadee on Salmon Arm’s Foreshore Trail

Nature Watch by John G. Woods

  • Feb 18, 2023

 

This dark-eyed junco will flash its outer bright white tail-feathers when it flies, making it easy to identify as it flits from bush to bush. (John G. Woods photo)

Column: These snowbirds live year-round in the Shuswap

Nature Watch by John G. Woods

This dark-eyed junco will flash its outer bright white tail-feathers when it flies, making it easy to identify as it flits from bush to bush. (John G. Woods photo)
Nathanael Gaynor looks through a spotting-scope at a colour of a bald eagle’s eyes as his sister, Joy, waits for her turn. (Contributed)

Eagle-eyed youth conduct rewarding bird count along Salmon Arm Foreshore Trail

Kids spot 17 species during outing hosted by NatureKids Salmon Arm

  • Jan 11, 2023
Nathanael Gaynor looks through a spotting-scope at a colour of a bald eagle’s eyes as his sister, Joy, waits for her turn. (Contributed)
A trio of winter swans forage through the old corn maze at O'Keefe Ranch Jan. 5, 2023. (John Gallant Photography)

Swans captured wintering in North Okanagan

Photographers get birds on camera and video

A trio of winter swans forage through the old corn maze at O'Keefe Ranch Jan. 5, 2023. (John Gallant Photography)
This is the map of the protected zone set up by CFIA after avian flu was found in Summerland. (CFIA)

Avian influenza detected in Summerland

Canadian Food Inspection Agency has established a “primary control zone”

This is the map of the protected zone set up by CFIA after avian flu was found in Summerland. (CFIA)
Matt Pistell holds the owl that flew into his windshield when he heading home to 100 Mile House from hockey in Lac la Hache. (Photo credit Murray Zelt)

‘Lucky’ the owl may be partially blind after colliding with vehicle in northern B.C.

Great Horned Owl recovering at Lower Mainland rehab centre

Matt Pistell holds the owl that flew into his windshield when he heading home to 100 Mile House from hockey in Lac la Hache. (Photo credit Murray Zelt)
This wintering Varied Thrush in a Mountain Ash is easily identified by its black chest-band and bright orange stripe above the eye. (John G. Woods photo)

Column: Winter unfolding as banner year in Shuswap for elusive species of bird

Nature Watch by John G. Woods

  • Dec 30, 2022
This wintering Varied Thrush in a Mountain Ash is easily identified by its black chest-band and bright orange stripe above the eye. (John G. Woods photo)
The B.C. SPCA continues to ask the public to temporarily take down seed and suet bird feeders to help discourage the unnecessary gatherings of wild birds that may facilitate spread of ‘bird flu’. (Photo credit: Stephanie Watson)

B.C. SPCA asks people to put away bird feeders to reduce spread of avian flu

Society noted confirmed cases in all regions of the province

The B.C. SPCA continues to ask the public to temporarily take down seed and suet bird feeders to help discourage the unnecessary gatherings of wild birds that may facilitate spread of ‘bird flu’. (Photo credit: Stephanie Watson)
A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting

B.C. rescue group captures wrong-way warbler that should be wintering far south

Endangered bird rarely in B.C. and should be in South America the Gulf of Mexico right now

A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting
This male Mallard takes flight in a spectacular show of form and colour along Salmon Arm’s Foreshore Trail. (John G. Woods photo)

Column: Shuswap birder struggles with question, ‘what’s your favourite bird?’

Nature Watch by John G. Woods

  • Nov 26, 2022
This male Mallard takes flight in a spectacular show of form and colour along Salmon Arm’s Foreshore Trail. (John G. Woods photo)
B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. Farmers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are facing “intense disease pressure,” with an avian flu outbreak in commercial farms that the agriculture minister says is concerning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. ‘doing everything’ it can to stop bird flu, minister says, as infections spread

Lana Popham says normally avian flu aligns with bird migration seasons, but not this year

B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. Farmers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are facing “intense disease pressure,” with an avian flu outbreak in commercial farms that the agriculture minister says is concerning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A chicken looks in the barn at Honey Brook Farm in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., on Monday, April 18, 2022. Experts say outbreaks of H5N1 represent an unprecedented threat to Canada, infecting about 200 flocks with about 3.5 million birds nationwide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Republican-Herald, Lindsey Shuey

Bird flu fighters in B.C. face unprecedented challenge, as H5N1 spreads across Canada

H5N1 has infected about 200 flocks with more than 3.5 million birds Canada-wide this year

A chicken looks in the barn at Honey Brook Farm in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., on Monday, April 18, 2022. Experts say outbreaks of H5N1 represent an unprecedented threat to Canada, infecting about 200 flocks with about 3.5 million birds nationwide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Republican-Herald, Lindsey Shuey
Dr. Chris Shepherd, right, with his daughters Raven, left, and Robyn, at the Scout Island Nature Centre on Oct. 20, 2022. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C.-based researcher working to address global illegal wildlife trade

Dr. Chris Shepherd is based in Big Lake after decades in Malaysia and Indonesia

Dr. Chris Shepherd, right, with his daughters Raven, left, and Robyn, at the Scout Island Nature Centre on Oct. 20, 2022. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)

Wild B.C. population of critically endangered spotted owl jumps from 1 to 4

Conservation made possible due to partnership between Spuzzum First Nation and provincial government

Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)
An outbreak of avian flu was confirmed at Spallumcheen’s O’Keefe Ranch on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (Historic O’Keefe Ranch/Facebook)

Avian flu outbreak hits North Okanagan’s O’Keefe Ranch

Several birds have died and a section of the ranch has been quarantined

An outbreak of avian flu was confirmed at Spallumcheen’s O’Keefe Ranch on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (Historic O’Keefe Ranch/Facebook)
There were no birds on display at the IPE this year due to concerns about the avian flu. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Avian flu found in North Okanagan birds

Small, non-poultry, flock identified by Canadian Food Inspection Agency

There were no birds on display at the IPE this year due to concerns about the avian flu. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
This hatching-year Least Sandpiper at Christmas Island is in constant motion as it searches for food. (John G. Woods photo)

Column: Salmon Arm Bay provides a bonanza for migrating shorebirds

Nature Watch by John G. Woods

  • Sep 17, 2022
This hatching-year Least Sandpiper at Christmas Island is in constant motion as it searches for food. (John G. Woods photo)
FILE - Luke DeGroote holds a Tennessee warbler for a closeup after getting caught in a long net at the Powdermill Avian Research center on May 8, 2018, near Rector, Pa. A new online atlas of bird migration, published on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, draws from an unprecedented number of scientific and community data sources to illustrate the routes of about 450 bird species in the Americas. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File)

New atlas of bird migration shows extraordinary journeys

Online collection illustrates the routes of about 450 bird species in the Americas

FILE - Luke DeGroote holds a Tennessee warbler for a closeup after getting caught in a long net at the Powdermill Avian Research center on May 8, 2018, near Rector, Pa. A new online atlas of bird migration, published on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, draws from an unprecedented number of scientific and community data sources to illustrate the routes of about 450 bird species in the Americas. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File)