Ne-wsletter of the British Columbia Field Ornithologists

ISSN 1206-1611 Volume 13 Number 3 I September 2003

Presidenfs Report...... 3

Editor's Notes and Notions ...... 5

Upcoming Meetings and Events ...... 6

BC Birding News Briefs ...... 6

Minutes of 13th Annual AGM, Radium ...... ?

BCFO Statement of Revenues and Expenditures ...... 1 0

AGM Field Trip Reports...... 11

AGM Bird List ...... 14

BCFO 13th Annual General Conference, Thank You and Acknowledgment of Volunteers ...... 15 Radium Hot Springs, June 20-22, 2003 AGM Extension Trip Report...... 16 The numerous submissions describing the various fieldtrips and events AGM Extension Bird List ...... 17 associated with the annual general meeting in Radium Hot Springs suggest that it was a great success. Field trips began Friday evening with a fe w hardy Birding, Hiking and Touring BC ...... 18

participants seeking owls and sacrificing sleep so they wo uldn't miss the BC Bird Sightings, early field trips Saturday morning. Saturday's outings included marshes, June-July, 2003 ...... 22 lakes, riparian fo rest and shrubs, grassland, and hoodoos. Sunday's trips also boasted a great variety of habitats including a rewarding stop at the Invermere BCFO New Members ...... 23 sewage lagoons. After the conference 27 people stayed on fo r the extension Internet Sources ...... 23 trip which took them beyond the Radium area and provided many rewards. Authors in this issue ...... 24 A good portion of this issue fe atures accounts of the field trips,with Canada-Taiwan Bird Fair ...... 24 interesting observations and perspectives from astute participants and group leaders. BCFO Officers and Directors

PRESIDENT Ian Robertson 1525 - 200"' Street,Langley, BC V2Z IWS BC Birding, ISSN 1206-1611, is published four times a year by British 604-530-1080 [email protected] Columbia Field Ornithologists (BCFO), P.O. Box 8059 Victoria, B.C.

VICE PRESIDENT V8W3R7 Sandra Kinsey 9860 Alpine Drive,Prince George, BC V2N SW7 A subscription to this quarterly is a benefit of membership in the 250-963-8381 (phone/fax) society. Members will also receive copy of the annual journal, British [email protected] a Columbia Birds. Membership in BCFO is open to anyone interested in TREASURER Glen Moores the study and enjoyment of wild birds in British Columbia. P.O. Box 277,Brentwood Bay,BC V8M I R3 250-812-ISSO(h) /250-652-7072(w) BCFO objectives include fostering cooperation between amateur and [email protected] professionalorn ithologists, promoting cooperative bird surveys and SECRETARY research projects, and supporting conservation organizations in their Dannie Carsen 3332 Doncaster Drive,Victoria, BC V8P 3V8 efforts t:o pr��erve birds and their habitats. 250-595-2773 (phone/fax) [email protected]

BIRD REcoRDS CoMMITTEE:Vacant

MEMBERSHIP Rita Wege Pleasesend membershiprequests, or requests for further 718 Stanley Street,Nelson, BC VIL INS information, to 250-354-1685 [email protected] Membership DIRECTORS Briti�h Columbia Field Ornithologists Richard J, Cannings SII,C96,RRI.Naramata,BC VOH INO P.O. Box 8059, Victoria� BC V8W 3R7 250-496-4019/250-496-4049 (fax) [email protected] Membership Dues:

Krista De Groot Individual memberships $25.00 2701-193 Aquarius Mews, Vancouver,BC V6Z 2Z2 604-435-0979 Library subscriptions $25.00 [email protected] Junior memberships {age under 18) $18.00 Tony Greenfield p.s. and foreign memberships (US) $25.00 P. O.Box 319,Sechelt, BC VON 3AO 604-885-5539 [email protected] Memberships are for the calendar year.

Brian Scott PO Box 798. Fort Langley,BC VIM 2S2 604-888-2260 [email protected]

Andrew Stewart Send material for publication in any format to the editor. 3932 Telegraph Bay Road.,Victoria, BC V8N 4H7 Submissions may include birdfinding information for our "Site 250-477-1328 [email protected] Guide " series and any articles about birding experiences, preferably

NEWSLETTER EDITOR but not necessarily in British Columbia. Phil Henderson Box615,Fort Langley,BC VIM 2R9 Pleasesend news letter submissions to 604-888-1571 [email protected] PhilHenderson (Editor, BC Birding)

}OURNAL EDITORS Box 615,. FortLangley, BC VIM 2R9 Martin McNichol! 604-888-1571 / [email protected] 4735 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC VSG IL3 604-294-2072 Deadline forthe receipt of material for publication is the 15th of the John Sprague 474 Old Scott Road,Salt Spring Island,BC V8K 2L7 month preceding the March, June, September, and December issues. 250-537-0760 [email protected]

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION Sheila Mosher 1605 Newton Heights,Saanichton, BC V8M IT6 Advertising rates are available upon request. 250-652-3502

·------· .. ·� ...-.: 2 BC Birding, September 2003 "'- President's Report Stuart-Smith and Sharon Morgan scheduled a Sunday lunch designed (Kootenay National Park - Dog Lake), primarily to more fo rmerly adjourn The 2003 Annual Conference at Gerry Wilkie (Radium Hot Springs), proceedings, in place of the more Radium, June 20-22, was energetic Randy Hopkins (Columbia Lake), solitary dispersals of members and well attended, and like many of and Peter Davidson (Friday Night returning fr om Sunday field trips our annual conferences introduced owling). What I appreciated for as in years past. Since this Sunday a few improvements to our favorite the firsttime was how important it lunch was well attended, it must have weekend of the year. First, the was fo r each trip to have supporting been a good idea. Bryan Gates used Friday reception was immeasurably observers with spotting scopes this opportunity to coral the Sunday enhanced by a slide presentation training their lenses on interesting fieldtrip recorders and thus produce put on by members of the Taiwan birds. This is particularly important a conference bird list. I think we Canadian Cultural Society, their on fo rest walks, where much of should continue this practice. bird watching wing. Simon Liao what is recorded is audible only Te chnical presentations comprised provided an engaging commentary - not much of an experience for less much of the Saturday afternoon fo r excellent slides of Canadian and experienced members. On the two agenda. We heard interesting Ta iwan birds taken by himself, John trips I accompanied (to Dog Lake and talks by Dr. Kari Stuart-Smith, Wei, Hank Tseng, and Flicker Liu. Wilmer Marsh), Bryan Gates provided Te mbec Industries, Cranbrook This is the firsttime in my memory a helpful model of how this can be ('Songbird Communities and Forest that the conference has provided an accomplished. He also entertained Management', based on her recently entertainment on the Friday night, us with his whistle, apparently on completed PhD), Ta sha Smith, Bird but demanding BCFO members are permanent loan fr om a grandchild, Studies Canada ('Coastal Wa terbird likely to expect nothing less in future, with wh ich he mimicked northern Survey'), and Marlene Machmer, so upcoming conference organizers pygmy-owls and thereby ruined the Pandion Ecological Research, Nelson will have to program the Friday night idyllic morning fo r nearby avifauna. ('Breeding Inventory and Habitat accordingly. Next year, we will try to make the Assessment of Great Blue Herons supporting observer function more Second, I had a chance to reflect on in the Columbia Basin'). Someone fo rmalized with each trip. Can Bryan having our members get more out of has suggested that in fu ture the or anybody else find any more of our fieldtrips, which were ably led by coordinator of technical presenters those whistles? Larry Halverson (Columbia National be a woman, so we can have more Wildlife Area - Wilmer Marsh), Kari Lastly, at this year's conference we male scientists give the technical presentations! The local coordinator fo r this year's conference, Larry Halverson, was an inspirational tour de fo rce. We knew Larry was a fo under and coordinator of the annual Birds over the Rockies Festival, but most of us had not seen him in action. He was hard to keep up with. He gave the banquet speech ('Engaging Communities to benefit Birds and People') which was both a speech as well as a comic performance. Thinking of Bob Hope and the Oscars in the 60s and 70s, can you do this every year, Larry? After the conference, 27 people, led by Bryan Gates took part in a fo ur

• day extension trip centering on ' the Blaeberry Valley, near Golden. � Sincere thanks to Bryan Gates, Jim

....

Volume 13, Number 3 3 Fliczuk, and Jack Bowling who drove of the Newsletter, we welcome our the vans for three days. There were new editor, Phillip Henderson. Best some glitches on the responsibilities wishes, Phil! and expectations of drivers, and there Since the AGM, BCFO has been was a misunderstanding on whether invited by the Ministry of Water, Monday lunch was covered in the trip Land, and Air Protection to cost. The mistakes were ours, and we comment on ''A Review of Options have already taken steps to correct for Managing Falconry in British matters. Columbia". To my knowledge, this Many thanks to the Radium Resort is the first time in recent years (or which provided comfortable ever) that a fo rmal BCFO opinion has accommodation, excellent conference been solicited. If you are interested in facilities, and tasty fo od. contributing to the BCFO response, please contact me and I will fo rward The last but not least conference a review copy. Our deadline to the item is the thanks we owe to those Ministry is October 31. who helped organize and run the conference: Ev Miyasaki (Facilities), As your new President, I have Hank Vanderpol (Conference several objectives fo r the Board of Coordinator), Brian Scott and Nancy Directors to pursue in the coming Krueger (Registration Desk and year. First, I want to continue to Packages), Glen Moores (awards), support the editors of our Journal, Dannie Carsen and Sandra Kinsey British Columbia Birds, in their (Extension), Bryan Gates (Extension efforts to get it back on schedule Leader), Larry Halverson (Field and to attract manuscripts. Dr. Trips), and myself (speakers). Martin McNicholl will continue to be our editor to the completion of At the Annual General Meeting, Volume 12, and Dr. John Sprague reported on elsewhere in this issue is starting his editorial duties with of the Newsletter, our past president, Volume 13. Second, I would like Jo Ann MacKenzie, reported that the Board to continue encouraging she and Hank VanderPol would be our international links, fo rtuitously stepping down fr om the Board. I generated by BCFO ornithologists enjoyed acting as Jo Ann's vice­ who have immigrated to Canada fr om president and watching Hank's Ta iwan. In association with other committed contributions both in local naturalists, they have created coordinating the conferences and the Canada-Taiwan Bird Fair, which advice in our Board deliberations. many BCFO members attended last Thank you fo r keeping our fa ll. In spite of our title, we try not organization strong and vibrant. In to be parochial. Third, I would like their place, we welcome Andy Stewart to continue Jo Ann MacKenzie's (Victoria) and fo rmer president To ny successful efforts at increasing our Greenfield (Sechelt), acclaimed fo r membership. I would look fo rward to two-year terms. In addition, I am fu rther ideas from you, our members. pleased to announce that subsequent to the AGM Sandra Kinsey has agreed Ian Robertson, President to serve as Vice-President. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the end of an era - the Buhler Era. For over ten years, Andy and Marilyn Buhler have edited this Newsletter. We are all indebted to them. With this issue

'�------'"' ,$;if 4 � BC Birding, September 2003 ,�,, Editor's Notes and Notions following description, especially the and ornithologicalperiodicals, last sentence, from Taverner's (1943) newsletters, and texts was not of great When June's issue of BC Birding, the introduction to Birds ofCanada. help, although it did reveal that the post-last issue of Andy and Marilyn Ornithology is one of the problems of nature majority of these publications favour Buhler, arrived in the mail I broke that may be successfullyattacked from so capitalization. Since BC Birding is into a cold sweat. I had agreed to take many points of view and in so many ways a popular publication I don't fe el over the editorship of the publication that there is interesting and valuable work obligated to stick to any definitive afterthe Buhlers' finallythrew in the for all to accomplish according to individual taste or opportunity. Those who incline editorial guidelines established for towel (only to pick it up again and towards systematic work may split their scientific,biological publications. The heroically complete the June issue). definitionsas fine as human powers of Buhlers have capitalized common Martin McNicholl kindly offered my observations permit. The animal psychologist names for birds in this publication, can dev�lop his problems as far as ingenuity name as a potential candidate and Ian and Martin McNicholl uses capitals in Robertson called to plant the seed. can deVIse methods for experimentation. The ordinary nature lover can observe and BCFO's annual scientificpublication, With the publication of the June issue, note as painstakingly as opportunity permits; BC Birds. I have chosen to fo llow the the editorship was suddenly mine; it they may record information of scientific rules for capitalization established was my responsibility to bring together as well as popular interest, take pleasure in fo r BC Birds (McNicholl 2000). So as in a coherent and timely fa shion the observing passing beauties, train his powers of observation, and acquire a knowledge that not to be accused of favouritism, or news of the BCFO, its members, and greatly increased his capacity for appreciating subliminal cohersion (birds, birds, other items of potential significance to nature. Even the unsentimental, practical birds!), I shall use capitals fo r the the birds of BC and of interest to those man, who has little outward sympathy with common names of all organisms. I will abstra� beauty, has his attention attracted by bent on things ornithological. What on occasion include the scientificname the eVIdent economic value of birds. had I committed to? of organisms but as a general rule they This newsletter is fo r you, the The guidance and advice cheerfully will be omitted. membership of the BCFO, and should offered by Andy and Marilyn Buhler There is no Letters to the Editor section therefore encompass all interests. I was reassuring. So was the information in this edition, because I have not shall endeavour to continue to provide I received about the BCFO fr om (yet) provided any fo dder fo r derision something fo r everyone, as the Buhlers members much more ensconced in and attack. I brace myself fo r the next have in past editions, but this provision the group than I. I have been a sideline edition! As editor, I will of course requires that you-with whatever member and must confess that I endeavour to print all letters that are interest you may have whether have not attended an AGM, but that fa vourable, flattering, or which include seemingly trivial, monumental or both will change. I've never considered money sufficientto cover at least a pint -submit your thoughts and ideas fo r myself a "joiner" but I seem to always at the local establishment. publication. be joining something, including Phil Henderson, Editor community groups and the Langley Yo u will recognize elements of Field Naturalists fo r which I am the the Buhler editions such as the McNicholl, M.K. 2000. Guidelines for authors. newsletter editor. "BC Birding" on the front and I've British Columbia Birds 10:2-4. generally followed their order of I suspect that there are as many Ta verner, PA. 1943. Birds of Canada. The Musson material presented. I have kept the Book Company Ltd. Published by special reasons people join the BCFO as Varied Thrush alive and prominent permission of The National Museum of Canada. there are members. I would think the in this issue and hope to continue majority of BCFO members enjoy this fine tradition. (The image is a receiving this quarterly newsletter and reproduction of a line drawing by Russ the more scientific annual publication, Tkachuck). However, I fe el somewhat BC Birds. The opportunity to get guilty fo r abandoning the Steller's Jay, together each year at the AGM, explore our Provincial bird, even if it is a brash new areas, and lose oneself in birds and insolent work of fine coloured with other bird enthusiasts is also, fe athers. So, I have decided to insert a likely, a draw fo r many. Steller's Jay somewhere in each issue. The reasons fo r watching birds and I've spent some time trying to decide the enjoyment that people receive on the capitalization of common from doing so, are probably as diverse names. A review of current wildlife as the people themselves. I like the

5 Volume 13, Number 3 Upcoming Meetings and Events Compiled by MartinK. McNicholl

Sept. 18-21 2003 FE DER ATION OFBRITIS HCO LU MBIA NATUR ALISTS 2003 FA LLMEETING , Kimberley, B.C. Contact: Greg Ross, c/o Rocky Mountain Naturalists, Box 791, Cranbrook, B.C. VIC 4J5; phone (250) 489-1508.

Sept. 24-27 2003 WATERBIRD SOCIET Y 2003 MEETING , Cuiaba, Brazil. Contact information to be announced.

Oct. 16-19 2003 SOCIET Y OFCA NA DIAN ORNIT HOLOG YANNU A L MEETING , Saskatoon, Sask. Contact: Cheri L. Gratto-Trevor, Canadian Wildlife Service, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Sask. S7N OX4; phone (306) 975-6128.

Nov. 5-9 2003 THIRD NORT HAMERIC AN DUCK SYMPOSIUM , Sacramento, Calif. Contact information to be announced.

Aug. 16-24 2004 122ND STATED MEETING OFAMERIC AN ORNIT HOLOGISTS ' UNION & SOCIET Y OF CA NADIAN ORNIT HOLOGISTS ANNUA L MEETING , Quebec, Que. Contact details not yet announced.

Aug. 13-19 2006 24th INTERNATIONA L ORNIT HO LO GICALCO NGRESS , Hamburg, Germany. Contact details not yet announced.

B.C. Birding News Briefs Compiled by MartinK. McNicholl

Ornithological Awards inVancouver- Two of the 2003 crop of Vancouver Natural History Society awards went to naturalists whose contributions are primarily ornithological. John Kalman was given a Garibaldi Award for long service to the lower mainland's rare bird alert and for leading numerous field trips. U.B.C:s Dr. James N. M. Smith was awarded the Kay Beamish Aw ard for Natural Education for his 40-year record of ornithologicalresearch, supervision of research by numerous students, and for the conservation biology and vertebrate zoology courses that he has developed and taught for many years - based on J. McCall. 2003. Vancouver Nat. 5(2):4-5.

Three-toed Woodpeckers -When I started birdwatching, two species that eluded me for some time were Arctic Three-toed and American Three-toed woodpeckers. I eventually saw both, and both underwent name changes. Arctic Three-toed became Black-backed Three-toed, then simply Black-backed Woodpecker, while American Three-toed became Northern Three-toed, then simply Three-toed Woodpecker. The latter is recognized currently as a Holarctic species, but recent DNA evidence (R M. Zink et al. 2002. Condor 104:167-170) now suggests that our North American birds are probably not the same species as the birds inhabiting Eurasia. So, watch future supplements of the American Ornithologists' Union check-list (the next due in 2004) for yet another possible change.

Congratulations to Pipit Namesakes -An e-mail of 29 July/03 fromjournal editor, Dr. John B. Sprague, indicates that he was about to leave Salt Spring Island for the opposite coast (Newfoundland) to a bird colony to start a 50th anniversary trip. Congratulations to John and Lois for pairbonding so successfully!

Davidson Recognized-At the BritishColumbia Federation of Naturalists annual general meeting in Kamloops in May 2003, Gary Davidson of Nakusp was presented with a recognition award for teaching bird courses, monitoring birds in the West Kootenays and various bird publications. Not mentioned in the citation was his important role as the firstChair of B.C.F.O:sBird Records Committee - based on Anonymous. 2003. B.C. Nat. 41(3):15.

AmericanThree-toed Woodpecker Returns -A procedural change by the Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of the American Ornithologists' Union brought the woodpecker split predicted above a year ealier than expected -check-list supplements are now to appear annually instead of biannually. After turning over my news notes to Phil, the July 2003 issue of the Auk arrived with the 441h supplement to the A.O. U. check-list of North American Birds (Auk 120:923-931). Most of the changes are to scientific names (primarily spelling of species names, but also splitting Columba and Otus into two genera each and lumping of Scandiaca into Bubo). A full list of these changes will appear in the December news briefs. The only changes affecting English names of birds that occur in B.C. are the change in the name of Rock Dove (domestic pigeon) to Rock Pigeon and the splitting of Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus into American Three-toed Woodpecker, P. dorsalis and Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, P. tridactylus.

------6 ---���.•,, BC Birding, September 2003 British Columbia Field Ornithologists Minutes of the 13th Annual General Meeting, 21 June 2003 Radium Resort, Radium, BC

I. Call to Or der President Jo Ann MacKenzie called to order the Annual General Meeting of the British Columbia Field Ornithologists (BCFO) at 3:50 p.m., and welcomed those present.

2. Minu tes of th e 2002 Annu al General Mee ting The meeting was held 8 June 2002, in Williams Lake. Secretary Dannie Carsen read out the Minutes, which had been published in the September, 2002 issue of BC Birding.

Motion: To approve the Minutes, by Ian Robertson. CARRIED.

3. Bus iness Arising fro m th e Minu tes None.

4. Tre as urer 's Report Tr easurer Glen Moores presented the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures for the year ended 31 December, 2002. Revenue for the year was $24,897; Expenditures were $20,556, with a surplus for the year of $4,341. The Balance Sheet, at 31 December 2002, shows a balance of $27,758, with Liabilities and Members' Equity To tal of $35,635.

Motion: To accept the Treasurer's Report; by Glen Moores. CARRIED. The question "are we okay for organizations of our size or should we spend money?" was to be discussed by the assembled members. A questionnaire with 6 categories of expenditure was circulated by Glen and Judy Moores and marked by members present. Members suggested journal honorariums, workshops, bird records committee participants' travel and expenses as worthy expenditures. The survey results (first choices only) of the members gathered were: 10 Journal 9 Workshops 6 Records Committee 2 Website 1 Marketing 0 Other

5. Me mbership Repor t Rita Wege presented the report, having taken over membership in May, 2002. Renewal notices were sent in the September 2002 newsletter and a March 2003 renewal notice was also sent. To date, membership stands at 234 (greater than 203 of last year). Members were contacted by email (or telephone if necessary) and encouraged to renew. Email was considered the effectiveway to communicate with BCFO members. Please let Rita know if your email address (or mailing address) has changed, preferably by email at [email protected]. A Membership List for the year 2002 was distributed with the September 2002 newsletter. A "Welcome" list of new members was published in the June 2002 newsletter.

7 Volume 13, Number 3 Our website, is used by more people every year. We are indebted to Kevin Slagboom of KS Design for providing this site, at no cost to BCFO.

6. Ne ws le tter Repor t

BC BIRDING co-editor Marilyn Buhler presented the editors' report. Thanks to Rita Wege for always getting the labels out in a timely fashion and to Sheila Mosher for getting everything bundled up and mailed. Thanks also to the many authors who contributed to making the newsletter a success including regular columnists Jo Ann for the president's message, the directors for their reports, Martin for the news briefs and events, Ken for the Bird Lister's Corner, CBC organizers, and Don Cecile and Dick Cannings for the new BC bird sightings summary. As we begin a new chapter in the Okanagan Valley,we would like to thank Phil Henderson for taking on the editorship. We wish him every success and look forward to the upcoming issues.

7. Jou rnal Repor t

British Columbia Birds editor Martin McNicholl presented the journal report. With the assistance of the Buhlers, Volume 9 was published and Volume 10 is being proofed. Volumes 11 (2001) and 12 (2002) are well underway and we await a few submissions to complete them. The futureof the journal still rests in the hands of the members. More of you need to submit material. Special thanks are due to editorial board members Ken Morgan and Dr. Mary Ta itt for serving on our editorial board as our internal reviewers, and to Andy and Marilyn Buhler for layout. Members and non-members were thanked for submitting material, suggesting the journal to other potential authors, agreeing to undertake reviews of books, and submitting photographs. Please keep John Sprague's mailbox busy so we can return to schedule by the next AGM.

8. Presi de nt's Repor t Jo Ann MacKenzie outlined the achievements of the past year and a few still to be attained. The Board is still committed to re-establishment of a BC Bird Records Committee- a small technically competent group that processes records in a timely manner. Director Brian Scott continues to work on this. We continue to work on access to some BC bird record data with the FBCN taking the lead. Directors agreed to co-sponsor with Bird Studies Canada an annual workshop on volunteer-based birding programs to inform volunteers about the uses of the data and discuss project planning. BCFO will also be one of the co-sponsers of the 2003 Canada Taiwan Bird Fair in Vancouver in November. Dannie Carsen is now our Field Tr ip Coordinator and would appreciate trip suggestions. One of the more important activities of the year is the Annual Conference and extension trip. Our members have an opportunity to explore and learn about the birdlife of an area we many not have visited. The presentation of technical papers foster cooperation between amateur and professional ornithologists and inform us about the work being done by students and ornithologists in the region. For arranging this year's conference and extension we owe our thanks to Directors Hank VanderPol, Dannie Carsen, Sandra Kinsey, Ian Robertson and former director Ev Miyasaki. Further, we thank Larry Halverson of Parks Canada who has been the local member of the team. Special thanks are due to Past President Bryan Gates for his willingness once again to lead the extension. Hank VanderPol and I are leaving the Board of Directors. Hank has served for six years, the maximum allowed by our Bylaws and I have served for four years, three of them as Secretary and the last year as President. I want to express my appreciation to the directors who served with me on the board this year: Vice-President Ian Robertson, Tr easurer Glen Moores, Secretary Dannie Carsen; also Dick Cannings, Krista de Groot, Sandra Kinsey, and Brian Scott. We strived for a balance of professional ornithologists and amateur birders on the board. This has been a good Board of Directors. Our membership chair, Rita Wege, who just took over the task a year ago, has done an excellent job with updating the membership list and solving the inevitable computer problems. Thanks are also due to Sheila Mosher, another important member of our team, who is responsible for getting the newsletter in the mail to you. Thanks to Dick Cannings and Dannie Carsen who contributed their time in revising the membership brochure, to Kevin Slagboom for continuing to maintain our BCFO web site, and especially to Hank VanderPol who spent many months compiling a Policy and Reference Manual.

8 BC Birding, September 2003 Our members are privileged to have Bryan Gates organize our annual pelagic trip. Pelagic 2003, again out of Port McNeill on September 13, 2003, had 33 members committed almost immediately and there is an extensive waiting list! Our Archivist, Hue MacKenzie, maintains complete sets of newsletters, journals, minutes, profiles of officers,and other documents that chronicle the activities of the society. Occasionally, he has been know to assist the current President! Thank you, Hue. Our Board meetings are held in directors' homes. The families of Ian Robertson, Dick Cannings, and Brian Scott must be recognized for hosting meetings this year. Additionally, I thank you, the members for your support and ask that you continue to contribute. How? By writing articles for the newsletter, submitting papers for the journal, and providing your expertise when the board needs your help. The BCFO is healthy and growing. As I step down from this Board, and welcome the new one, I know that the society is in good hands.

9. Election of Directors Jo Ann MacKenzie presented the slate of nominees for 2003-2004. Andy Stewart (Victoria), not present at this meeting, and To ny Greenfield (Sechelt), were nominated for a two-year term. Standing for re-election for a 2-year term were Ian Robertson (Langley) and Glen Moores (Victoria). Appointed in 2002 and standing for election for a one-year term were Richard Cannings (Naramata) and Krista de Groot (Vancouver). There were no other nominations.

These candidates were declared elected by acclamation. Completing the second year of a two-year term and not standing for re-election were Dannie Carsen (Victoria), Sandra Kinsey ( Prince George), and Brian Scott (Langley).

10. Other Business (a) Motions: None

(b) Annual Conference 2004: Preliminary plans indicate a West Coast venue, probably To finoor Uduelet, in the late summer or fall. (c) Other: None.

11. Adjourn me nt

Motion to adjourn by Marilyn Buhler. CARRIED. Jo Ann MacKenzie adjourned the meeting at 5:15p.m.

Dannie Carsen, Secretary

13, 3 9 Volume Number British Columbia Field Ornithologists

Statement of Revenues and Expenditures For the year ended December 31, 2002 {Unaudited) 2002 2001 Revenue Membership $5,679 $6,120 Conference extension 9,445 11,988 Conference fees 3,315 3,450 Donations 5,221 1,039 Field Trips 208 4,200 Advertising 225 75 Interest 781 560 Miscellaneous income 23 $24,897 $27,432 Expenditures Conferences extension 7,209 7,011 Conference facilities 2,996 1,344 Printing 1,475 1,536 Postage 1,247 1,322 Donations 1,800 926 Travel 3,923 1,544 Field trips 3,668 Stationery 40 118 Miscellaneous 246 135 Future Printing of Journal 1,500 2,200 Bank charges 118 $20,556 $ 19,806 Surplus {deficit) for the year $4,341 $7,626

Balance Sheet: December 31, 2002 2002 2001 Assets Current assets Cash in banks $35,047 $ 27,883 Receivables 587 956 Total Assets 35,635 28,839

Liabilities and Members' Equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $ $405 Deferred revenue 1,776 417 Future payable 61100 41600 7,876 5,422 Members' Equity Balance, beginning of the year 23,417 15,791 Net earnings for the year 41341 71626 Balance, end of the year 27,758 23,417

Liabilities and Members' Equity Total $35,635 $28,839

Glen Moores, Director

" w ..• � �!4··�-=-- 10 BC Birding, September 2003 Field Trip Reports: BCFO Annual Dog Lake Bird species identified: American General Meeting, Radium Hot Our trip to Dog Lake inside Kootenay Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Townsend's Springs, June 20-22, 2003 National Park began with bear Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, sightings on the highway. Just past Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Red-breasted Nuthatch, June 20, Friday Evening the tunnel, well before arriving in the park, we stopped to check out Northern Flicker, Yellow-romped Late Friday evening, fourteen souls went Mountain Ladyslipper's extraordinary Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Pine owling under the leadership of expert white flowers. Siskin, Mountain Chickadee, Lincoln local birder Peter Davidson. At two Sparrow, Canada Goose, Belted favoured locations, we enjoyed satisfying The trip continued to be a big Kingfisher, Red Crossbill, Common calls and swoops of half-a-dozen mammal, botany tour with several Raven, Orange-crownedWarbler, nighthawks, and occasional fine drizzle deer seen in the parkway and our first Western Ta nager, Tree Swallow, : Those with keen ears heard Hammond s stop on Wolf Island redolent with the PileatedWood pecker, MarshWren, and Least flycatchers which apparently scent ofWolfWillow. Wolf Island, Common Ye llowthroat, Northern call all night. The only thing lacking was connected to the park by suspension Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, bridges over the Kootenay River, also an owl sound. We called it quits early to � Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Violet­ allow four solid hours of sleep before the provided a showing of orchids. T e green Swallow, Ring-necked Duck, morningexpedition s. birds, reluctant to come show the1r Willow Flycatcher, Macgillivray's true colors, played hide and seek Warbler,Warbling Vireo,Wi lson's John Sprague with us; many were identified by Snipe, Spruce Grouse, and Spotted song. The island did offer warbler Sandpiper. June 21, Saturday Morning sightings and the river showed us Mike 6- Doreen Dyson Wilmer Marsh the ubiquitous Canada Goose. A two kilometer trek through the Some 20 people spent Saturday forest showed us many more native morning around the Willner Marsh Dog Lake plants. We braved the floodedpath Unit of the Columbia National Wildlife and hiked into the lake for the more The fieldtrip to Dog Lake in Kootenay Area, led by Larry Halverson of Parks interesting part of the birding. A National Park on Saturday, 21st June Canada. Sharon Morgan, another park loon pair were fishing to feed their took us through mid-elevation forests naturalist in Ko otenay National Park, youngster. Four swallow species of Douglas-fir, western redcedar and has musical talents and provided wo rd­ cruised about, keeping the insects spruce, and yielded a variety of species jingles to remember the bird calls (Vesper in check. The Red Crossbills did a such as Hammond's Flycatcher, Gray Sparrow: "here ... here ... over there ... fly-by. Common Ye llowthroats and Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Brown everybody down the hill"). Glen Moores other warblers frequented the reeds. Creeper, both kinglets, Swainson's and Marion Porter also found us a lot The return trip took us alongside Thrush and To wnsend'sWarbler. The of species. In the Horse Creek drainage, the stream then met up with the highlight of the trip for many was the we had a riparian walkthrough wo ods, fire trail. Near the crossroads the family of Three-toedWood peckers then brush, to grassy wet fields. This was photo buffs took the opportunity to that we discovered by following some accompanied by a constant racket of immortalize the Yellow Ladyslippers. tell-tale tapping to its source. Cassin's andWarbling VIreos,some shy We searched for the woodpeckers; we Dog Lake is a shallow forested pond redstarts, baby mountain chickadees, and could hear their drumming but they with emergent vegetation that hosted threeWi lson's Snipes in view at once. eluded our sight. Close to the end a yodelling Common Loon, Common Other notables were a Columbia Spotted of the firetrail we spotted a spruce Ye llowthroat and a singing Lincoln's Frog and unidentified mosquitoes, same grouse with six chicks. On the return Sparrow. Whilst we scanned the lake a size as the chickadees but not fierce. A trip we saw mountain sheep grazing Sharp-shinned Hawk with prey in its second windy but pleasant hike took and more bear foraging along the talons flew past with a flock of Pine us over hills of sparse grassland, juniper roadside. Altogether we counted 35 Siskins in pursuit mobbing it- they and rabbitbrush to the ponds along bird species.Walking the trail with obviously protesting the demise of one the Columbia River, where a good park naturalist Sharon Morgan made of their number. assemblage of grebes, ducks, and raptors the trip informative and heightened greeted us. The trip logged 32 species. our appreciation of our natural John Sprague surroundings. Tony Greenfield

-�.._ ------=����------� 0 13, 3 1 1 Volume Number Dutch Creek Hoodoos and the Columbia Lake Headlands On this trip south from Radium we enjoyed the experience of extremes in elevation from being at the summit of the hoodoos looking down over the valley to descending down to the marsh areas of the lowlands giving us a great variety of scenery, floraand fauna. On the way our leader, Randy Hopkins, had several treats for us. Almost immediately after our 6:10 departure, we turned into a cattle property owned by Mrs. Kempton, who is a bird lover atWi ndemere. Immediately, Randy spotted a calling Long-billed Curlew.We all got great looks. Soon, we spotted another curlew. One stood on an irrigation pipe and "sang" for a bit. They flewup together and showed their fieldmarks Hoodoo formations, Brian Scott near an airport in Riverside near several times. heard the swifts and sure enough four Fairmont, looking for a Lewis's In the same range, we saw and heard a swooped in. In the end there may have Woodpecker. It landed in a dead tree Western Meadowlark singing. A Ve sper been up to 15. Eve ntually they came and out popped its mate from a cavity. Sparrow landed on a post carrying very close and below us so that we Not everyone saw them unfortunately. food a couple of times. Not far away could see their markings perfectly. The rain then became very heavy and an Osprey was sitting on its nest. After We then explored the bottom of The we started back. a couple of days, we realized that the Hoodoos and saw and heard several Fifteen people in four vehicles took Columbia headwaters are the world's more species such as an American part. The group species total was 61 Osprey capital and we became blase Redstart and a Red-eyed Vireo singing species. about Ospreys. its heart out. Sandra Eadie Afterthis brilliant start, we proceeded Finally we reached the Columbia south to the top of the Hoodoos at headlands where it was raining some Dutch Creek for a chance to see White­ (so much for the dry interior!). A throated Swifts.We saw Mule Deer on highlight was a Moose that hid quite the way up. Just as we parked we spied expertly behind the reeds much of the a 2 or 3-year-old black bear. On the time. walk to the top we had good looks at Four kinds of swallows were seen, and heard a Dusky Flycatcher and a including Northern Rough-winged Western Tanager. Swallows. Some of us observed at close At the top, theWh ite-throated Swifts range two CedarWaxwings sitting on a that are supposed to nest there weren't branch together. For about four cycles making themselves visible so we they sidled up to each other, bumped enjoyed a Great-blue Heron heronry then moved apart. Finally one jumped in the distance, a perched Bald Eagle, the other and they copulated. Dannie many Violet-green Swallows and the Carsen took a photo of the deed. magnificent scenery and plant life. We then started our way home and Just as we were leaving the magical dropped into a new housing estate

------=------"" .� t m 3 _,.,«:�,, 12 BC Birding, Sep e ber 200 June 22, Sunday Morning Wilmer Marsh Wilmer Marsh Unit is 5 kmnorth views of a Black-throated Columbia Lake of Invermere on the west side of the Hummingbird which stayed still for This trip on Sunday, 22nd June, Columbia. The river is slow here and us for an extended period. Just at the exploredvarious habitats south of forms a variety of ponds, marshes and end of this walk an Orange-crowned Radium on both the east and west sides levees. A dry Douglas firforest looks Warbler sang in plain view for us. of the Columbia wetlands. The first down on the area. The valley is an We then proceeded to Ritchie's Point stop was at a long grass meadow beside important flywayfor migratory birds where we climbed along the high cliff/ the highway near Invermere where we and many stay to breed. The views promontory/bench overlooking the admired a pair of the ever spectacular from the high benches (about 30% of wetlands. The views over the marsh Long-billed Cu rlewsflying and calling. the area) are breathtaking. in the valley and the high hills on Other grassland species noted here were Sixteen people went on the trip. We either side were just lovely. We saw a Mountain Bluebird, Clay-coloured had an excellent start as we spotted Goldeneye and a Red-necked Grebes and Vesper sparrows and Western a Long-billed Curlew in a field as we with young. A sub-adult Herring Gull Meadowlark. drove towards Invermere. was loafing on a rock. Black Terns flew Further south along the highway at over the marsh. We first had a woodlands walk to Fairmont Hot Springs in open, grassy the marsh. Bryan Gates's played the 0 f course 0 spreys were " everyw h ere ". riparian habitat we observed Lewis' Northern Pygmy Owl call on his toy The Valley must be the Osprey capital Woodpeckers (that also perched on saxophone and brought out many of the world. Ducks included Wood houses), and watched Black Te rnsover Red-breasted Nuthatches shouting Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Goldeneye, the wetlands. at us. It was just amazing to see them Common Merganser. Driving along the highway we noted come in at the call. A special goodbye treat as we walked the proliferation of Osprey nests on the Along the way we came across a Red­ back was a male first year sing hydro poles, a signific�t feature of the eyed Vireo nest with an egg in it. Later Bullock's Oriole in its bright yellow birdlife of the Rocky Mountain Tr ench. we saw a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers plumage. Western Meadowlarks were A visit to both the top and the foot of the going in and out of their nest. We also singing as well. very impressive hoodoos at Dutch Creek saw Mountain Chickadees visiting failed to locate the White-throated Swifts Sandra Eadie their nest. that occur here. June Ryder, an expert in Pleistocene geology interpreted the Many beautifulflowers delighted us formation of the hoodoos for us. including Twinflower (Linnaea borealis

We returned to Radium along the - named afterthe famous founder of west side of the Columbia wetlands taxonomy, Linneaus) and the Round­ and added numerous waterbirds leaved Orchis (orchid). and passerines at a small pond. The At the end of the walk we came to a Invermere sewage lagoons produced lovely marsh where Yellow-headed many duck species to boost our trip list Blackbirds were plentiful. Three Black to 70 species. Swifts,a year bird for many, flewover. Tony Greenfield On the way back we stopped at a meadow where we had spectacular

Volume 13, Number 3 13 Bird List, BCFO Annual Conference, Radium Hot Springs. (Birds seen or heard during the 13th BC Field Ornithologists' annual general conference, Radium Hot Springs, BC) Submitted by LarryHalverson

Common Loon Vaux's Swift Cassin's Vireo Pied-billed Grebe White-throated Swift Warbling Vireo Red-necked Grebe Black-chinned Red-eyed Vireo American Bittern Hummingbird Orange-crowned Warbler Leading Great Blue Heron Calliope Hummingbird Yellow Warbler Mute Swan Belted Kingfisher Magnolia Warbler I was very pleased to take out two field Canada Goose Lewis' Woodpecker Yellow-rumped Warbler trips for BCFO Sat June 21 and Sunday Wood Duck Red-naped Sapsucker Townsend's Warbler June 22. On both days we escaped the American Wigeon Downy Woodpecker American Redstart heavy showers that pounded down in Mallard Hairy Woodpecker Northern Waterthrush the afternoons and evenings.Weather Blue-winged Teal Three-toed Woodpecker MacGillivray's Warbler was generally cool with low and heavy Cinnamon Teal Northern Flicker Common Yellowthroat cloud cover. Northern Shoveler Pileated Woodpecker Wilson's Warbler We concentrated on two areas, Canvasback Western Wood-Pewee Western Tanager both within minutes of the Radium Redhead Willow Flycatcher Lazuli Bunting Lodge. The firstarea is, despite its Ring-necked Duck Least Flycatcher Chipping Sparrow proximity to the Radium lumber mill, Lesser Scaup Hammond's Flycatcher Clay-colored Sparrow a remarkably productive wetland Common Goldeneye Dusky Flycatcher Vesper Sparrow pond of about 5 ha bordered by the Barrow's Goldeneye Pacific-slope Flycatcher Savannah Sparrow Columbia River and riparian habitat Bufflehead Eastern Kingbird Song Sparrow featureing willow, cottonwood, and Hooded Merganser Gray Jay Lincoln's Sparrow spruce. Common Merganser Black-billed Magpie Dark-eyed Junco Ruddy Duck American Crow Red-winged Blackbird We then moved on to a stroll along Turkey Vulture Common Raven Western Meadowlark a quiet old road winding through Osprey Tree Swallow Yellow-headed Blackbird the Dry Interior Douglas-fir forest Bald Eagle Violet-green Swallow Brewer's Blackbird dropping off to the wetlands and the Northern Harrier Northern Rough-winged Brown-headed Cowbird meandering channels of the Columbia Sharp-shinned Hawk Swallow Bullock's Oriole River. Red-tailed Hawk Bank Swallow Purple Finch Both days we saw 50+ species. American Kestrel Cliff Swallow Cassin's Finch Representative birds: Ve sper and Clay- Merlin Barn Swallow House Finch coloured sparrows, CedarWa xwings, Spruce Grouse Black-capped Chickadee Red Crossbill PileatedWoo dpecker, Red-naped Wild Turkey Mountain Chickadee Pine Siskin Sapsucker, Lazuli Bunting, Ve ery, Sora Red-breasted Nuthatch Evening Grosbeak Catbird, Ye llow-headed Blackbird, American Coot Brown Creeper House Sparrow Wood Duck, Red-necked Grebe, and Killdeer Winter Wren Total number of species Spotted Sandpiper Marsh Wren Common loon. seen or heard: 125 Long-billed Curlew Golden-crowned Kinglet Gerry Wilkie Common Snipe Ruby-crowned Kinglet Ring-billed Gull Mountain Bluebird Herring Gull Veery Black Tern Swainson's Thrush Rock Dove American Robin Mourning Dove Gray Catbird Common Nighthawk European Starling Black Swift Cedar Waxwing

2003 14 BC Birding, September ....J...... 1 be successfulwith the involvement of many acknowledge those who assisted so ably in making IaJCo:nteren,ce,with over 80 people attending, such a

>n�thE�.::st,ot organizer, deserves top honours for all the work in organizing the conference. He was the banquet m� fielld trips, and led one of them; he arranged media \htJrtOllS donations; and he did many of the little things muchfun.

f[opki[ns,Gerry Wilkie, Peter Davidson and Sharon

tei;l.¢�.ia,•:hrter a nd Kari Stewart -Smith fo r their informative presentations.

ri ���Crar1rigle, reporters with The ValleyEcho newspaper, for Cont��re11ce to the attention of the local population. ;ornp�tnyoflnvermerefo r not only donating small packages but also forproviding more coffee as door prizes. Kick

rei'Inei�e•for donating several books as door prizes.

site and accommodation, theFriday night social, the

afternoon presentersand the banquet speaker, and

· Larry with organizing the fieldtrips.

nd:�···��l�r,;c former editors, forkeeping us well informed about

the banquet evening, and for assisting in many of ;)h;�tc:ountJ)O much.

>r

�ariiza1tim1s which provided a display of some kind or the rge; SCJ!IDC� ¢<>risistiingof no more than informative pamphlets. }J'uu�ua, The Nature Trustof BC, Bird Studies Canada,

��·,.·�·1-�.• Venture, Friends of the Columbia Wetlands �eslca]:tel�C,.N

·;,-.." 13, 3 1S Volume Number BCFO Extension 2003: The Blaeberry Valley, British Columbia. June 23-25, 2003

Day 1 Day 2 Following a very successful and teetered on a log as it fed close to the Local resident and birder Doug informative Annual Conference at road.We enjoyed about the best look Leighton joined us early on this Radium Resort, 27 of us settled into one could imagine of a Ve ery as it clear, calm morning and drove us a convoy of vehicles on Monday, June gathered nesting material among the to the oldWi llowbank Mountain 23 and headed north in the Rocky wet roots of willows. Hammond's, logging road. This road served the Mountain Trench. Our eventual Alder andWi llow flycatchers,Eastern huge sawmill in the village of Donald destination was the Goldenwood Kingbirds andWestern Wood- Pewees to the north, but has since been Lodge in the Blaeberry River valley. were finding insects, while Purple abandoned. Our target was a pair of The Blaeberry flows southwest out Finches and Mountain Chickadees Broad-winged Hawks that Doug had of the towering Rocky Mountains, were a bit of a surprise in this mixed found here earlier. Except for a Red­ joining the Columbia River north of marsh habitat. We identified 26 tail, all hawks remained hidden, but Golden. As should be the case, it was species here. Nashville, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, our desire to explore yet another part Aftera group lunch in Golden, we Townsend's and Orange-crowned of British Columbia.We were ready to continued north, arriving at scenic warblers, and American Redstarts test the raw beauty of the Rockies and Goldenwood Lodge at 3 PM. Rooms added to our warbler list. Led by their western foothills, and to search were allocated in the lodge itself nuthatches and chickadees, a few out the birds that nest in or migrate or in beautifully appointed wood Cassin's andWar bling vireos were through the Southern Interior cabins. One of our new Taiwanese among the many mobbing passerines Mountains Ecoprovince. The weather? members even chose to sleep in an brought in by the saxophone's pygmy­ Well, it was threatening, but we were authentic teepee. Excellent meals owl notes. Persistence paid off for determined. were served buffet style in the those of us who ventured the 5 km to a clearcut at the end of the road. A Local birder Bob Ferguson met us just spacious dining lodge, all prepared Northern Pygmy-Owl flew in silently as a nasty rainsquall hit the Brisco with Swiss flairby our hosts Barbara to investigate a territorial intruder ... General Store, but by the time he led Friedli and AndreWeilenmann. We which was hiding in a yellow plastic us down to the Columbia wetlands birded the Goldenwood property toy. Scope views! And 24 species for and riparian forests below Brisco, the first,finding Rufous, Calliope and the morning. sun had burst through. Virginia Rails, Black-chinned Hummingbirds and Soras, and an immaculate Common Red-eyed Vireos, among others. Doug took us higher in the afternoon, Ye llowthroat filledour scopes. An evening walk through the lodge to about 1600 m, on the Susan Lake Bobolinks, blackbirds and swallows property (Interior Douglas-fir Road off the Big Bend Highway. A lined the fences and irrigation pipes. Biogeoclimatic Zone) led to Old walk along the road produced the Mixed waterfowl,Wi lson's Phalarope Johnson Road, where a Ruffed Grouse expectedWi lson'sWarblers and andWi lson's Snipe added to the 30 was heard and a MagnoliaWarbler Hermit Thrushes, both summer species we saw here. And our luck seen.We will never know whether residents in this high, semi-open fir­ with the weather held out. Just as we it was our poor vocal imitations of hemlock forest. Fox Sparrows were raced back under the porch of the a Barred Owl 20 minutes earlier, along a wetted fringe andWhite­ Brisco store, the rain returned.We or the realistic imitation of both crowned Sparrows were on territory relaxed with a coffee and stayed dry as Northern Pygmy-Owl andWestern in young second growth. A female we drove north. Screech-Owl emanating from my Blue Grouse with chicks (probably grandson's toy saxophone, but a pair Still led by Bob, and with the sun Richardson's subspecies, Dendragapus of Barred Owls raised our excitement breaking through again, the valley obscurus richardsonii) moved ahead as they suddenly duetted from a of us on the road. The mystery bird of bottom at Spillimacheen was our nearby aspen/spruce/fir stand. Their the day? A soaring raptor that passed next stop. Keen eyes spotted distant sounds were chilling.We had fleeting over us. It still has everyone baffled. Bullock's Orioles and a singing glimpses of them as they approached. Swainson's Thrush. A cooperative A noisy dinner followed. Simon Liao, Most memorable! NorthernWaterthrush sang and president of the National Bird Society

2003 16 BC Birding, September Taiwan, and his colleague, Flicker Liu, Bird List, BCFO 2003 Extension Tour entertained us and invited us to bird Blaeberry Valley, B.C. June 23-25, 2003 with them in Ta iwan. Sounds great! We are convinced that all we have to Compiled by Lloyd Esralson do is sit by that one big tree and every

Ta iwanese bird will eventually land Common Loon Downy Woodpecker Magnolia Warbler in it Pied-billed Grebe Hairy Woodpecker Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-necked Grebe Northern Flicker Townsend's Wa rbler Day 3 Great Blue Heron Pileated Woodpecker Blackpoll Warbler Logging continues in the Blaeberry Canada Goose Western Wood-Pewee American Redstart valley. We set off early with Doug, Wood Duck Alder Flycatcher Northern Waterthrush hoping to beat the logging trucks Mallard Willow Flycatcher MacGillivray's Warbler and find a Blackpoll Wa rbler, Gray Blue-winged Teal Least Flycatcher Common Yellowthroat Jay and Golden Eagle. We fo und all Cinnamon Teal Hammond's Flycatcher Wilson's Warbler three, along with 28 other species, American Wigeon Dusky Flycatcher Western Tanager at various stops in this spectacularly Redhead Say's Phoebe Black-headed Grosbeak scenic valley. Red-naped Sapsucker, Ring-necked Duck Eastern Kingbird Chipping Sparrow MacGillivray's Warbler, Varied Thrush Lesser Scaup Tree Swallow Savannah Sparrow and Hairy Wo odpecker were among Common Goldeneye Violet-green Swallow Fox Sparrow the birds at our first stop. The target Barrow's Goldeneye N. Rough-winged Swallow Song Sparrow site fo r Blackpoll Wa rbler paid off, Bufflehead CliffSwallow Lincoln's Sparrow although some of us could not hear Hooded Merganser Barn Swallow White-crowned Sparrow the male's high frequency song. At Common Merganser Gray Jay Dark-eyed Junco one point, a Blackpoll just about took Ruddy Duck Steller's Jay Bobolink our heads offas it responded to a call. Osprey Black-billed Magpie Red-winged Blackbird A bonus here was a family of Boreal Bald Eagle American Crow Western Meadowlark Northern Goshawk Common Raven Yellow-headed Blackbird Chickadees, sitting still long enough Red-tailed Hawk Black-capped Chickadee Brewer's Blackbird for good looks. Snowshoe Hares, elk Golden Eagle Mountain Chickadee Brown-headed Cowbird and a Blue Grouse with chicks were American Kestrel Boreal Chickadee Northern Oriole on the road as we drove toward the Blue Grouse Red-breasted Nuthatch Purple Finch head of the valley. Here we fo und Ruffed Grouse Brown Creeper Red Crossbill Black Swifts, Steller's Jays, a Spotted Virginia Rail Winter Wren Pine Siskin Sandpiper and a high-flyingNorthern Sora Marsh Wren Evening Grosbeak Goshawk. (Was that the Susan Lake American Coot Golden-crowned Kinglet House Sparrow mystery bird?) Killdeer Ruby-crowned Kinglet It's a challenge to get ornithologists Spotted Sandpiper Mountain Bluebird Total Species Seen - 121 to look at rocks, but June Ryder, Wilson's Snipe Veery a professional geologist familiar Wilson's Phalarope Swainson's Thrush with most of the province, had no Black Tern Hermit Thrush trouble getting us all to look in the Rock Dove American Robin right directions fo r a few minutes. Northern Pygmy-Owl Varied Thrush She described the tectonic fo rces Barred Owl Gray Catbird that have created one of the most Black Swift Cedar Wa xwing spectacular mountain ranges in the Vaux's Swift European Starling world. We were in the heart of the Black-chinned Cassin's Vireo Rockies. Within view of the retreating Hummingbird Warbling Vireo Mummery Glacier, June showed us Calliope Hummingbird Red-eyed Vireo just how tectonic plate movement, Rufous Hummingbird Orange-crowned Wa rbler subduction and the heat generated Belted Kingfisher Nashville Warbler by subduction have fo lded, tilted and Red-naped Sapsucker Yellow Warbler overturned the sedimentary layers

�· . "·�------:--:-:------�� .4,-. Vo lume 13, Number 3 17 that make up much of the Rockies. BIRDING, HIKING AND TOURING BRITISH COLUMBIA We learned how the glaciers of the big ice age ( -15,000 years ago) and 16 MAY- 11 JUNE 2002 the litde ice age (the 17th and 18th centuries) carved the Stewart-CassiarHig hway. 27·29 May pair of Semipalma ted Plovers, and in the U -shaped valleys around us. She fa st-moving water at the river mouth, were a The 156 kilometres to Meziadin Junction pointed out debris flows, avalanche few Harlequin Ducks. Offshore in Portland traverses a part of the Nass River watershed, tracks, exfoliation and stream Canal was a pair of Arctic Te rns, our first composed of an interior wet belt fo rest of erosion. The relendess fo rce of gravity fo r the trip. This is their most southerly hybrid Sitka and White Spruce, We stern continues to reshape the peaks and breeding site in British Columbia. Common Hemlock and We stern Redcedar. This region valleys. An inspiring view, as June's passerines included, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, has high commercial value and logging specimen landforms and rocks Swainson's, Hermit, and Va ried Thrushes, was evident along most of this stretch of framed our outdoor classroom. Orange-crowned, Ye llow, To wnsend's, highway. Disturbed sites, of course, had the MacGillivray's, and Wilson's Warblers, Time prevented us fr om visiting usual Black Cottonwo od stands. Along this Common Yellowthroat, and Lincoln' s a Vaux's Swift nesting site in the road, we surprised an impressive Grizzly as Sparrow. Returning through Stewart, we Blaeberry, but there they were as we we rounded a bend and watched it bound off fo und this town offers good accomodations arrived back at the lodge - 3 Va ux's into the thick brush. and fo od (we recommend the Bitter Creek Swifts... and Barn Swallows, to round At the junction we elected to take the side Cafe). Beyond is the border crossing into out our bird list of 121 species. trip to Stewart, B.C. and Hyder Alaska. Alaska. Hyder is soon reached, an advertised Our mammal list was equally Highway 37 A reaches Stewart in 67 ghost town. To us it seemed to live up to it's impressive: shrew sp., bat sp., kilometres, en route passing a grandstand name. Three miles beyond town is a popular Snowshoe Hare, Muskrat, Beaver, view of Bear Glacier. This is indeed a bear-viewing area in the To ngass National Columbian Ground Squirrel, Yellow beautiful route. Along themilky glacial Forest. Along the Salmon River here is Pine Chipmunk, Red Squirrel, Coyote, stream we fo und American Dipper. an elevated and fenced boardwalk which Marten, Black Bear, Moose, Elk, Mule Descending down the Bear River, numerous provides "safe" viewing. July and August are Deer and White-tailed Deer. avalanche chutes choked with alder and reportedly best with both Black and Grizzly Our sincere thanks go to Dannie willow are obviously good bear habitat. Bears present. Our most exciting wildlife Carsen and Sandra Kinsey fo r We passed at least three Black Bears and view from the boardwalk was an American arranging accommodations, one Grizzly. Approaching Stewart, tall Dipper. The clouds swirling about the gorge, transportation and local guides fo r cottonwoods line the river interspersed occasionally parting to reveal the dramatic the extension; to Bob Ferguson and by wooded swamps with abundant beaver Coast Mountains scenery, makes the area Doug Leighton fo r guiding us; to van evidence. There were lots of birds in this seem well-named, as we were on the edge of drivers Jim Fliczuk and Jack Bowling; habitat including flycatchers, vireos, and huge Misty Fjords National Monument. sparrows. Noteable was a singing Cassin's and to Barbara and Andre fo r being Back on the main Stewart-Cassiar Highway Vireo and Northern Waterthrush. Red­ such gracious hosts. Our extensions at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park, a breasted Sapsuckers seemed everywhere. We just keep getting better. combination of habitats (spruce forests, counted at least fo ur along this stretch. In alder and willow thickets and lake) make this Bryan Gates, Extension Leader Stewart, we fo und a good birding site at the area attractive to Merlin. We observed an public boat launch. To reach it, make a left agitated bird atop a spruce (nest unseen, but on FifthAv enue where highway 37 A makes a right turn into Stewart's town centre. In one block, turn right to pass the airstrip, then follow the Bear River levee road to the boat launch at the head of Portland Canal (2 kilometres). The gravel flats along the Bear River had numerous loafing Common Mergansers, Bald Eagles ,and gulls.We noted Bonaparte's (5), Mew (several hundred), Herring (2), and Glaucous­ winged (5). On the mudflat there were a /�,e� ------1 B -C --i -d -in-,-S-e-- __2 _------� - B B r g ptember 003 probably in that tree) while it's mate called Seven kilometres north of Boya Lake on highway edge. fromafar. It was a very dark bird of the Highway 37, we chanced upon displaying From Haines Junction, we went south on suckleyi race. Spruce Grouse. With their fanned chestnut­ the Haines Highway. The initial stretch, fringedblack tails and brilliant scarlet Ab out another 100 kilometers north, in the Yukon, was characterized by dry combs, these were striking birds, indeed. afterpassing through much seemingly spruce and aspen fo rest, interspersed with Driving Highway 37 (still -15% gravel and uninhabited and primeval-appearing occasional wet meadows. We stayed at a with other pretty rough sections) had been country of spruce and willow, we came upon small but adequate, Kathleen Lake Lodge a long haul and watching these grouse, in "Bell n:' an upscale resort catering to well­ (with restaurant and gas station) near addition to experiencing this vast wilderness, to-do heli skiers. Apparendy, this is a new Kilometre 26. The turn offto Kathleen Lake was compensation for our efforts. The Swiss-built lodge, where for $7,000/week Campground is another 0.5 kilometres habitat here was an open Lodgepole Pine (CDN), one can be whisked up to virgin south on the highway. Beyond, in 25.5 forest with a groundcover of Kinnikinnick. powder slopes on surrounding and distant kilometres, we stopped to view wind­ A walk into this forest type near the Yukon (as far north as the Spatsizi Wilderness Park) whipped Dezadeash Lake. At shallows by border yielded few birds; Ruby-crowned all day long. We didn't dally long here, but the roadside here we enjoyed watching Kinglet and "Myrde" Wa rbler were the did learn we were in really wild country. The several gracefulArctic Te rns trying to fish in conspicuous species. receptionist had spied on a Wo lverine at the stiffwinds. We passed a large and inviting lodge some days before. Chilkat Pass. 29-31 May. marshy area in another 16.1 kilometres, but British Columbia beckoned! Inanother 31 Between Kilometer 315 to about 330 was an The Haines Road in extreme northwestern kilometres, we reached the B.C. border and old burn (30 - 50 years ago?); flickers (both B.C. provides access to an extensive area of entrance to Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Red and Yellow-shafted), and one each of alpine terrain. Besides spectacular scenery, Park. This huge wilderness park protects Hairy and Black-backed Wo odpecker were the highway passes through many kilometers much of this remote corner of British seen. of subalpine terrain with spruce and willow/ Columbia. The park is well-known for its Northwards, we took a steep side road east birch thickets, and higher, both wet and dry world-class raftingon the Tatshenshini and up towards the alpine north of 40 Mile Flat alpine We found the specific directional Alsek Rivers. (at about Kilometre Post 420).We drove information in "The Birder's Guide British From the border, we kept south on the about four kilometres until the track was Columbia" (Taylor) somewhat confusing , Haines Highway, passing access to a highway blocked by snow. The high country was not so we will offer you a road log of our trip maintenance complex in 0.3 kilometres. It fa r off, but the country looked like it could down the Haines Highway based on three was comforting to know emergency help hide a lot of bears, so we turned around. days of exploring this area. Our visit was could be obtained in this vast wilderness. The south fa cing slopes were thickly grown timed during early spring. Balsam Poplar In another 1.1 kilometres, we stopped at a to Trembling Aspen, with an understory and Trembling Aspen were in leaf, but the spruce-lined lake which had a few waterfowl of thick brush. Here were "Yellow-shafted" shrub willows and birches were still in their such as Lesser Scaup and Barrows's Flickers and "Myrde" Wa rblers. Signs of the budding stage. Many lakes were stillwholly Goldeneye. The melodic display calls of east were appearing! or partially frozen. Lesser Ye llowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper, North of Dease Lake, still more than half We began in Haines Junction in the both probably breeding here, were frozen on account of the cold spring, we southwestern Yukon (158 kilometres west conspicuous. The surrounding spruce forest camped at Boya Lake Provincial Park. This of Whitehorse). We found all services at is dense and tall. Though we did not bird intensely turquoise lake has a fine trail this junction on the Alaska Highway. A this habitat, it appeared suitable for species north fromthe campground along the visit to the Kluane National Park Visitor that favour mature spruce forest such as lake edge. Numbers ( 4+) of Yellow-bellied Centre was useful for orientation to the Three-toed Wo odpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Sapsuckers in the open aspen woodlands area's geological and other natural features and White-Winged Crossbill. From here in the campground and along the trail was and fo r bird checklists (albeit only of the south, the fo rest becomes dwarfed and more yet another sign of an eastern component Yukon side of the border). Because the open in character. in the avifauna. More "Myrde"Wa rblers border crossing into Alaska does not open After passing over a culvert for Stanley and a pair of Purple Finches, the male until 8 am, there was no trafficon the road Creek in another 7.2 kilometres, we noted singing his lively tune, were yet more. Pairs in the early morning. Hence, we found the end of the fo rest. Beyond were willow of Semipalmated Plover and Arctic Te rns, viewing opportunities to be excellent just and birch thickets, shallow ponds and gravel both northerly species, were also present. after dawn, which comes very early in June! flats.This was the beginning of the unique Common Loons, yodeling during the In particular, we enjoyed the antics of many (accessible) habitats, fo r British Columbia, evening, topped offour experience here. displaying Willow Ptarmigan right fromthe

Vo lume 13, Number 3 19 which make this area so special to the and Herring Gulls. However, ice still covered We decided wet tundra is no fun. Our next naturalist. In 5.6 kilometres, at Tw in Lakes much of the lake, so it was clear our visit hike on "Project Ptarmigan" was reached we watched a pair of nesting Tr umpeter was too early for the height of activity. Red­ by driving south from Chilkat Pass 9.6 Swans, one bird apparently incubating throated and Common Loon reportedly kilometres to the sign fo r Three Guardsmen on it's beaver lodge-sized nest mound. breed here as well as a variety of other Lake, then another 3. 2 kilometres to a gravel Wa terfowl here such as Northern Pintail, waterfowl. pullout on the right. Although trailless, this Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, ridge turned out to be a marvelous hike on Continuing south on the highway 10 Lesser Scaup, and Barrow's Goldeneye, were dry alpine tundra , ascending up the slopes kilometres, our next stop was Nadahini present. Shorebirds we noted here included to the west of the highway 300 meters to Creek, a braided stream, characterized by Lesser Ye llowlegs, Short -billed Dowitcher, habitat I judged suitable fo r both Rock and barren cobbles and gravel. Asthis is one and Common Snipe. We briefly checked a White-tailed Ptarmigan (higher slopes). of their southernmost breeding outposts, number of other wetlands along the way En route, we enjoyed a nice cross section we searched for Wandering Ta ttler on two south of here where Northern Harrier and of alpine plant communities, which we occasions, without findingone. Luck was Short-eared Owl coursed ab out. imagined would have a colorful wildflower with us though, as an unscheduled stop a display later in summer. We reached a South from Twin Lakes 11.1 kilometres we few kilometers south of the creek crossing vantage beyond which the snow had not fo und (finally) the unmarked turnoff on the yielded our target bird, a Wa ndering Ta ttler melted. From this shoulder we enjoyed a left that is access to Kelsall Lake. This rough in full breeding dress. It was teetering and dramatic alpine scene of high glaciated peaks track was in pretty good shape fo r the first piping loudly along the water's edge and all around us. A squall downvalley looked stretch, but the way was blocked by lingering snow by a tiny braided, marshy stream. threatening, but soon passed up another snow banks and mud after 2 kilometres. We We passed but chose not to explore drainage. While Ellen snoozed in the warm parked and walked the remaining distance to Mosquito Flats because the area appeared and calm, I began a serious Ptarmigan the lake (about 2 kilometres). This appeared similar to that around Kelsall Lake. We then search by examining every snow-free patch to be optimum bear habitat, so we exercised reached the summit of Chilkat Pass ( 6.7 of tundra, especially those rimmed with great caution. We fo und singing Gray­ kilometres). talus or boulders. Of course, Ptarmigan cheeked Thrush in the area of tallest willows were nowhere to be seen. Most surprising (the first ravine) and Orange-crowned and One of the special draws fo r the birder is was a Semi-palmated Plover perched on a Wilson's Wa rblers. We walked the road the presence of all three ptarmigan in the rock high above treeline, seemingly far from during the height of sparrow singing, noting Chilkat Pass area. The Willow is a "gimme". suitable habitat. Horned Lark and American American Tr ee, Savannah, Fox, Golden­ At the pass, on an impulse, we set out in Pipit were again common. In hiking uphill crowned and White-crowned. At this season, search of the other two species, the Rock we fo und a Horned Lark nest with two eggs this area is a sparrow aficionado'sparadise. and White-tailed. Ours was an off-trail tucked in the grass. We searched open terrain in this habitat fo r hike above the pass, crossing extensive Smith's Longspur which are rare, but regular, snowbanks, very wet tundra, and willow Back at the car, we descended to the Alaska breeders here. We tripped on male Willow thickets. After several kilometers we finally Border, dropping steeply in 17.4 kilometres Ptarmigan frequently along this road. We reached dry tundra and easier going and had into dense coastal fo rest. Ta ll hemlocks chanced upon only one fe male. It appeared a pleasant final ascent into what appeared to (both We stern and Mountain), Sitka Spruce, we had disturbed a pair "doing it". In the be good Rock Ptarmigan habitat. Of course, and impressive cottonwoods proved we shallow ponds were Semi-palmated Plover we saw no Rock Ptarmigan. During the hike had entered a much wetter and milder and Lesser Ye llowlegs displaying, and Arctic up, we did find more Willow Ptarmigan, climate zone. The birds suggested this, too. I Te rns. This is apparently also the only area and, of course, various sparrows were noted. Here were Hammond's Flycatcher, Winter where Hudsonian Godwit has bred in British Above the willow thicket zone were Horned Wren,Varied Thrush and Townsend's Columbia, but is rare and we missed it. But Lark and American Pipit. Near the top Wa rblers; species rare on the other side of we did see a lone Whimbrel flying about, was a lovely cross phase Red Fox. From a the pass. Though the fa med Chilkat River calling wildly (a presumed tardy migrant). distance it appeared to be munching on the Bald Eagle preserve was within an hour's From the look of the habitat here, it was vegetation. Examining that patch of ground drive, we chose not to cross the border. clear a visit later in July and August would some moments later, we could only find After leaving the Haines Highway, we be great for many migrating shorebirds last years berries (crowberry and various detoured fo r a short time to Kluane National (including Baird's Sandpiper). The track cranberries) as a possible fo od source. Our Park Visitor Centre at Sheep Mountain. ended near the lake's outlet. From here, intended short jaunt turned out to be a slog. Here, we had nice scope views of Dall we scoped the lake and fo und a number of We arrived back at the car some 5 1/2 hours Sheep, ewes and lambs, high on the barren­ Barrow's Goldeneye, Bald Eagle and Mew later, wet from the knees down. appearing ridges. We inquired about a

·�------· .. ·rE _...t. 20 BC Birding, September 2003 hike and were told Sheep Creek nearby targets included both Rock and White-tailed Ellen spied on a mostly white grouse, male provided a nice jaunt, with stunning views Ptarmigans. Rock Ptarmigans! This time, there was no of the Kaskawulsh Glacier and a peek at the doubt. Moments later, we fo und another On reaching the upper limit of the Icefields Ranges. We were told this wasn't male bird and shortly the two commenced shrub willow zone, the landscape opens a particularly bad area fo r bears, but to be displaying by rocketing horizontally across considerably. There we struck offthe road "Bear Aware:' We gathered our nerves and the bouldery slopes, shrieking. We kept and up a dry slope grown to dwarfish set out, initially along a bush-lined gravel on past the microwave, descending gently alpines. Nearing the crest, we had close views road. On arriving at a fork in the trail about over alpine terrain, hearing once again of three American Golden-Plovers. Two 1 kilometre along, we noticed a small plaque American Golden-Plover and having nice appeared to be males, the third a female. commerorating the death of a young (22 views south across a chasm to a shelf where No display flights were observed or any years, I believe) wo man, resulting from an Stone Sheep rested. We viewed an adult behaviour to indicate they were going to encounter with a Grizzly Bear, on a nearby ewe, accompanied by a yearling, leading breed in this area. On reaching the crest route in 1996. Knowing that it is improbable me to speculate this species bears young about one kilometre east of the microwave that lightning will strike the same person every other year. A stone's throw away sat an tower, Ellen spied a pair of ptarmigan. At twice, but that I might just be that unlucky, impressive male. We sat in the sun, admiring the time we tentatively labelled them Rock we turned back, thoroughly humbled and the splendid scene here, amongst the rugged Ptarmigan, as their tails appeared dark. shaken. I wondered how many hikers, northern Rocky Mountain peaks. Though However, the male was pied in coloration, seeing that plaque, turn back? On the short the region had been thoroughly glaciated, which didn't seem right (for the time of hike back to the car, we noted quite perfect existing glaciers were nowhere in view. From year). We eventually got reasonable looks at Grizzly Bear tracks in the mud along the the saddle east of the tower, we sauntered their tails and noted white sides. Ugh, how road. over a track on the alpine into a basin, where embarrassing! On reaching the vehicle we we flushed up a Short-eared Owl from the consulted Sibley and noted the centers of Stone Mountain Provincial Park. sedge tussocks. We descended over hill and White-tailed Ptarmigan tails are brown, their 2·3 June. dale, admiring four cow Woodland Caribou outer rectrices are white. So, our plans fo r grazing on the dry tundra . Just 10 metres Stone Mountain Provincial Park in the the next day were set; we would head back south from the main gravel road, I heard the northern Rocky Mountains has one well­ up to again search fo r Rock Ptarmigan. I rattle of a longspur. Excitedly, and assuming known birding site which proved to be suspected the Rock would be whiter, though it could only be a Lapland I called out one the highlights of our B.C. trip. This is had no way to know this for sure. the alpine zone area near the microwave "Ellen, look down the slope, I just flushed tower reached by a 7 kilometre steep gravel While on this firsthike, we heard a fe w a Lapland Longspur:' She was otherwise road heading south from the east end of Horned Larks and American Pipits. occupied with photographing the three Summit Lake Campground. The road is Sparrows seemed far less numerous in this male Rock Ptarmigan, which we had again now closed to vehicles, apparently due to willow habitat than in the Haines Road area. bumped into, so it was a few minutes before many off-road vehicles tearing up the fragile Was this a functionof time of day, or are we began looking fo r them. When it popped terrain. So, we hiked this road. On arriving they scarcer? This would be another item to into view, I was surprised to be looking at in the afternoon, we took the hike up check the next day. a male Smith'sLongspur in fullbreeding towards the microwave, ascending through The following morning dawned beautiful,so dress! Shortly, a fe male popped into view, the upper spruce fo rests and then through we again climbed up towards the microwave my firstview ever of this plumage. I looked the willow and birch shrub zone and up tower. From across the valley, on the upper at the dwarf shrub and sedge habitat these into various alpine zone communities. Our forests of Stone Mountain, we heard several birds were fo raging in; it was reminiscent of times a Gray Wo lf wail, not surprising given the terrain I had seen them in the southern all the big ungulate sign we were observing: part of the Dempster Highwway in Yukon's Moose, Stone Sheep, and Wo odland Ogilvie Mountains. Had we fo und a new Caribou. Once again, the density of sparrows breeding site for this species? Momentarily, in the shrub willow and birch zone seemed six longspurs burst into flight, rapidly much lower than along the Haines Road. ascending to a great height and flying off We did detect small numbers of Savannah, to the northwest. I concluded these were a few Fox, one "Taverner's" Brewer's, and migrants. several each of White-crowned and Golden­ Andy Stepniewski crowned Sparrows. (excerptedfr om a longer article, part of which On reaching the upper willow shrub zone, firstapp eared in BC Birding:12(3)21 -24.)

Vo lume 13, Number 3 21 British Columbia Bird Sightings, June-July 2003 June began unsettled with alterations record of Redhead involved a single southbound Surtbirds were 2 at of showers and sunshine but by the bird 17 Jun in Port Alberni (SM, BSl). Cleland I. 8 Jul (AD). The Wandering end of the month, the southern half Tattler, first fo und last winter, at was baking as a strong ridge of high Raptors through Shorebirds Ogden Pt., Victoria, was still present pressure built in. By the middle of 30 Jun (MGS), while the first sign Following a series of sightings this July, the heat wave had enveloped the of a southbound flightwas 14 Jul spring, an ad. White-tailed Kite whole Region and showed no sign (AD) at To fino.Nesting confirmation was again in Pitt Meadows 1 Jun of waning by the end of the period. of Upland Sandpiper fo r the Fort (MPL). It would be difficult fo r such British Columbia contributed to the Nelson area, where they have been a bird to have successfully remained excitement with their first photo­ suspected of nesting fo r many ye ars, hidden fr om birders fo r a month thus documented Whooping Crane and came when a pair with four young increasing the likelihood that this was their second Acorn Wo odpecker. were observed 16 Jul (MAi, DAi). a different individual. An ad. dark A count of 58 Whimbrel in To fino Abbreviations and symbols: +, field morph Swainson's Hawk, Vancouver's was considered high fo r the summer notes submitted; ph., photographed; 8th was in Richmond 4 Jun (RTo ) and months 10 Jul (RC). This spring's ad. vt.,videotaped; P.G. (Prince George), an imm. was in Saanich, Va ncouver I. 1 male Hudsonian Godwit at Reifel PGNC (P.G. Naturalists Club ); P. R.N.P Jun (JG). Soras, once considered casual Refuge remained to 6 Jun (JI, et. al.). (PacificRim National Park); Q.C.I on the west coast ofVancouver I., are Semipalmated Sandpipers were more (Queen Charlotte Islands), R.P.B.O. now known to breed on the lower prevalent than expected on Vancouver (Rocky Point Bird Observatory, Kennedy R. where one was heard 5 Jun I. with 10-14 individuals involved 30 Victoria). (GB). Jun - 29 Jul (fideGLM). Up until now sightings of Whooping Loons through Waterfowl Cranes has been mired by lack of Gulls through Woodpeckers American White Pelicans are rare sufficient documentation. Reports of Ring-billed Gulls head for the coast along the lower mainland where 3 ads. large white cranes are not unheard shortly afterbreeding as was the case were seen over Pitt Meadows 14 Jun of, some or perhaps most of which with Tofino's early arrivals of 6 on (AR, TP) and unusual both for the at least pertain to albino or poorly 29 Jul (AD, GB). Ancient Murrelets, date and number, 55 pelicans soared seen Sandhills. This summer a pair considered casual on the w. coast of above Napier L. near Kamloops 8 Jul of Whooping Cr anes was found in a Vancouver I., were seen regularly off (JS). A single American White Pelican hayfield about 30 km north of Prince Va rgas I. 14 -27 Jul (AD). A Horned was at Eaglet L. 50 km ene. of Prince George. These birds were video-taped Puffin,rare along the outer coast, was George 5 Jul (CA, MA), this number 30 Jun (VB, TB vt.)providing the seen sitting on the water among Tufted increased to 51 birds in late Jul ( CA et. first photo-documentation of this Puffins at Cleland I. 8 Jul (AD, et. al.). al.);18 on 5 Aug and final departure endangered species fo r the province. An Acorn Wo odpecker furnishedthe 12 Aug. A local record count of 75 juv. This same pair was later discovered on first Okanagan and second provincial Great Blue Herons was made at To fino a sandbar near the confluence of the record 16-23 Jun (KH, MH ph. ) when 30 Jul (AD). Once an annual visitor to Salmon and Fraser Rivers, about 8 km it visited a fe eder in Oliver. A White­ the Okanagan, but now very rare, an fr om the original site 6 Jul (TA, HY + ). headed Wo odpecker was discovered 3 ad. Black-crowned Night-Heron was An ad. Pacific Golden-Plover was at Jun (DC) e. of Oliver along the famed along the Okanagan R. near Vaseux L. Columbia Beach, French Creek on Camp McKinney Rd. 10 Jul (AB). The pair of Ross's Geese 31 Jul (GLM). One of few Kamloops at Comox, holdovers fr om spring, nesting locations of American Avocets Flycatchers through Grackles lingered to 8 Jun (GLM et. al.) with was discovered at 1100 m elev. on a some debate regarding their origin. A Alder Flycatchers are casual spring small lake near Knutsford where adults single Brant at Cleland I. 12 Jul (AD) vagrants to the lower mainland, and two large young were observed 4 was an unusual visitor fo r the date. A one such individual lingered at Pitt Jul (RH, RD). An alternate-plumaged flockof 9 Northern Pin tails in To fino 8 Meadows 16-28 Jun (DJ, +) and Willet was on Discovery I. off Oak Jul (AD) had a very early southbound in the Kootenays, this species is Bay, Victoria 5 Jun (MGS) fo r a rare start. Probably Va ncouver I.'s first Jun increasing with singing males: 4 at summer record. The first arriving

22 2003 BC Birding, September Summit L., Nakusp 15 Jun (GSD); 2 CO NTRIBUTORS (subregional BCFO New Members near Edgewood 22 Jun (GSD); and 2 editors in bold-face): David Ainley, since June 2003 at Kootenay L. 28 Jun (GS). A Least Marika Ainley, Tim Angill, Cathy Flycatcher was also at Pitt Meadows Antoniazzi, Maria Antoniazzi, Andy Wayne Erickson 7-11 Jun (PC et. al.) where rare. Rock Bezener, Jack Bowling (Prince George, Barry Gatten Wrens are very rare along the south weather summary), George Brad, Jeremy Gatten coast and breeding has not known Doug Brown, Quentin Brown, Don Lloyd Kiff to occur there since 1970. It is thus Burton, Drew Campbell, Lucille Peter Paulson with some excitement that a singing Campbell, Peter Candido, Ch ris Christina Perkin bird was discovered on Saturna I. 28 Ch arlesworth (Kelowna), Michelle Jun (MGS, CyS). Single Northern Christensen, Dorothy Cooley, Bruce Sly Mockingbirds were discovered: on Ralph Crombie, Gary S. Davidson Doug & Gala Sly Mayne I. near Bennet Bay 2 Jun (PSp, (Kootenays), Roger Dickson, Adrian Judith Te rry BSp ); and just n. of Powell River 26 Dorst (To fino-Ucluelet), Jeremy John We i Jun (NHu). Gatten, Brandy & Debbie Greenwood, Rick Howie, Neil Hughes, Kurt Casual along the coast, a Tennessee Hutterli, Marianne Hutterli, John Warbler was singing 3 Jun in Internet Sources Ireland, Bruce Mactavish, Hylda Vancouver (TP, +).American Redstarts Mayfield, Peter Mayfield, Sandy Alaska Bird Observatory were unusually numerous along the http://www.alaskabird.org/ McRuer, GuyL. Monty (c. Vancouver south coast with firstyear males at I.), Istvan Orosi, Mary Peet-Leslie, BCFO Lois Lake, Powell River 7 Jun (DB); at http://www. birding.bc.ca/bcfo/ Dan Petersen, Mark Phinney (Peace Maplewood Conservation Area 7 Jun Bird Studies Canada Long Point Bird River), Ta mmy Proctor, Phil Ranson I (QB); 2 in Pitt Meadows 15 Jun (RTo); Observatory ( Cariboo ), Al Russell, Cynthia and at Gibson's 4- 11 Jun (JJ) joined by http://www.bsc-eoc.org/bscmain .html Shepard, Michael G. Shepard, Brian a fe male 11 Jun (JJ). Ye llow-breasted Birding In British Columbia Slater, Gail Spitler, Bernie Spitman, Chats continue to maintain a toe-hold General interest information including bulletin Prue Spitman, John Surgenor, Rick board, checklists, rare bird alerts, book in the Georgia Depression with at least To ochin (Vancouver), John Vo oys, reviews , etc. one bird present 14 Jun - 1 Jul (10 http://www.birding.bc.ca/ Holley Yo rston. J et. al.). Lazuli Buntingswere thought BIRDNET to be nesting in Abbotsford when 2 compiled by Site of the Ornithological Council. males were seen chasing a fe male with http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/ l Donald G. Cecile fo od in her beak 12 Jun (JV).Male Patuxent Wildlife Research Center l Rose-breasted Grosbeaks provided rare 7995 Wilson-Jackson Rd. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/birds/ sights: in Port Coquitlum 1 Jun (DBu, Ve rnon, British Columbia V1B 3N5 Point Reyes Bird Observatory +); between Oyama and Ve rnon 19 ( [email protected]) http://www.prbo.org/cms/index.php

Jun (PM, HM); and at Burnaby Mtn. The A.O.U. Check-list of North American Park 1 Jul (DP et. al.). Ve sper Sparrows Birds, Seventh Edition are very local breeders at fe w sites http://www.aou.org/aou/birdlist.html along the coast thus it was a tantalizing The Wilson Bulletin report of a singing male on Saturna I. Online editions from 1899-1999. All articles available as DjVu 's and PDF's. 28 Jun (MGS, CyS). A fe male and two http://elibrary.unm.edu/wilson/ male Smith's Longspurs along with a nest were discovered in the fo othills of upper Craig Cr. on the North Slope 25 Jun ( CE, BM). A rare fe male Brewer's Blackbird was photographed at Nisutlin Bay Marina 14-19 Jun (MG, B&DG). A Common Grackle, rare away fromthe Peace R. area, was at Invermere 3-4 Jun (LC).

Vo lume 13, Number 3 23 Authors in this Issue

Mike and Doreen Dyson Gerry Wilkie Doreen and Mike are beginner birders who have been Gerry's entire working life was spent at the Banff Centre, dabbling since 1994 when we went to Saudi fo r 4 years BanffAlberta. He retired in 1996 and moved to Edgewater (both are nurses). Mike has started with the Digiscoping B.C. about 6 miles north of Radium in the upper photography, but hasn't had too much opportunity to Columbia Va lley. He has a strong interest in Natural practice as yet. They're currently in the middle of a move History and conservation. He is the Chairman of the up to Fort St John where they hope to find some fe llow Regional Council of the East Kootenay Environmental birders and to travel in all directions on days offand Society and a working committee member of Wings Over holidays to check out the different birds. the Rockies Bird Festival based in Invermere B. C.

Sandra Eadie Sandra Eadie lives in Toronto. She's a director of and the webmaster fo r the Ontario Field Ornithologists, as well as a participant in the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. A statistician and analyst by training, she wrote about 2".ct Annual Canada Ta iwan Bird Fair business fo r the Globe and Mail fo r 15 years. In 1975, at Oct. 24-Nov. 1 0, 2003 a rural New Brunswick fe eder after an April snowstorm, she discovered that Canada has beautifulbirds. Later, she Va ncouverPublic Library . worked in Victoria and had many pleasant days along 330 W. Georgia St., Va ncouver. the waterfront. But it wasn't until 1995, when she finally Pro ceeds to Yo ung Naturalists' Cl ub ofBC. bought a telescope, that she changed to a birder fr om a birdwatcher. She loves to travel to bird. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Bryan Gates Opening Ce remonies, bird art, prizes, music, exhibits:

Bryan Gates is a Past-President ofBCFO and of the Nov. 2 1-5 p.m. Association of Professional Biologists of BC. He retired Slidepresentaticms,bird art, prizes, winners of Silent after 32 years in wildlife and environmental management Auction. with the Province of BC, and taught introductory bird Nov. 8: identification and ornithology courses at the local college 1-5 p.m. "Videos of Nature in Ta iwan': On-going; exhibitions level. He has led birding tours in 12 countries and has of wild bird photography, wild bird paper relief birded in 14 countries. He continues to serve as a naturalist sculpture, bird paintings. and lecturer on board cruise ships in Alaska, Baja California and Central America, specializing in birds and mammals.

To ny Greenfield To ny Greenfieldhas been recording birds on the Sunshine Coast since 1971. He was a fo under member ofBCFO and served as President 1996-99. He was re-elected to the executive at Radium in June and looks fo rward to being involved again in the future direction of BCFO.

Andy Stepniewski A recent recruit to BCFO fr om near Yakima Washinton, Andy, a self-professed avid naturalist, was actually born and educated in Canada. After graduationfr om UBC he was the Parks Naturalist for some years at Garibaldi and Mount Robson Parks. BCFO's Past President Jo Ann Mackenzie and Simon Liao, Past President of the Wi ld Bird Federation of Ta iwan, at the BCFO AGM.

24 BC Birding, September 2003