March 27, 2013 Volume 9 • Number 13 50¢ Newsstand Price
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Snowbirds come in for a landing Snowbirds are pretty smart birds. You don’t need a birdwatching manual to identify some of these creatures. Hundreds of Kamloops' snowbirds wing their way south in the autumn months to bask in the more temperate zones of the southern shores. During spring migration, they leave their wintering grounds, heading back to their northern homes and arriving in Kamloops in numbers from late March to early April for the upcoming warm season. Of course, there are Snowbirds and then there are Snowbirds. Spring welcomes these travellers back to our area, both human and avian. The peak of spring migration offers an opportunity to see the wide variety of Kamloops area birds and, much to the enjoyment of many enthusiasts, this includes the return of a species of gregarious giants, the American White Pelicans. The earliest can be spotted in our area in March but most pelicans arrive in mid-April. They are one of two pelican species from the family Pelecanidae
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that occurs in British Columbia. “These impressive birds are different from the Brown pelicans we typically associate with the coast. They don’t plunge to catch prey but rather float along the water and scoop up fish with their bill,” says Dr. Matt Reudink, Assistant Professor at Thompson R i v e r s University. Photo: Kamloops Naturalist Club
D r. Reudink’s research interest lies in studying migratory birds and his post doctorate work was focused on tracking continental movement in the American white pelican. These large web-footed water birds can be distinguished by their white plumage, black wing tips and long orange bill with a
pouch. During the breeding season, an upright horny plate grows on the top portion of their bill. The birds exhibit a very strong fidelity to breeding sites, and return annually to the same nesting territory at Stum Lake, located within White Pelican Provincial Park. With a wing span of eight to ten feet, these pelicans from the Stum Lake colony are highly
mobile and efficient flyers, flying up to 50 km/hr even in the heaviest gale winds. They forage both singly and in co-operative groups, known as pods, scoops or squadrons, at more than 40 different lakes over the broad area of the Fraser Plateau. As always, the waterfront is the best place to pick up chicks and
pelican courtship begins shortly after birds arrive. Nest building begins within days and the incubation period is 29 to 36 days. These tasks are done by both sexes. One to four eggs are hatched by late June. The young are fed a liquefied diet of regurgitated fish matter and are fledged by late July to early August. Down-listed from Threatened, The American White Pelican is still on the provincial Red List. They require undisturbed land for nesting and isolated lakes with good fish supplies. Disturbances can result in the loss of all young or abandonment of the nests. Sensitive to this being the only nesting colony in British Columbia, canoeing, boating, hunting and trapping are prohibited on Stum Lake from March 1 to August 31 every year. The birds are regularly seen cruising and touching down on the 24-hour, fly-through, all-you-can-eat sushi bar of Kamloops Lake. These big birds are certainly impressive and the Tranquille wetlands are easily accessed via the road to the Kamloops Aiport. Don't forget your camera! Jody Tippett
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Early Bird Workshop fri april 12 & sat april 13
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