Author Archives: admin

Volunteers sought for Invasive Species pull and Lawsons Brook on Thurs. 1Aug2024

Posted on July 15, 2024 by admin

Received from the Williams Lake Conservation Company this am (Jul 15): Come and help the WLCC and Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) remove invasive plant species along Lawson’s Brook in the Shaw Wilderness Park from 9:30 AM-1:00 PM on August … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Conservation, Shaw Wilderness Park | Comments Off on Volunteers sought for Invasive Species pull and Lawsons Brook on Thurs. 1Aug2024

News from the Backlands Coalition July 2024

Posted on July 15, 2024 by admin

By Martha Leary for the Backlands Coalition July 14, 2024 With leadership from the Williams Lake Conservation Company (WLCC) the Backlands Coalition (BC) has assembled the “Bird Team”. In addition to our annual surveys of all birds in the Backlands, … Continue reading →

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Nighthawks have returned to the Backlands! 5Jul2024

Posted on July 5, 2024 by admin

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham, Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme. Video by Joshua Barss Donham Joshua heard the Nighthawk for the first time this year at Osprey Ridge/Alabaster Way Trailhead on May 23; there have been many … Continue reading →

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Update on Birds in the Backlands – JBD Jun 24, 2024

Posted on June 30, 2024 by admin

On Hairy Woodpecker & Flicker nests, Hermit Thrush and Barred Owl behaviour, Osprey fishing, Eastern Wood Peewee sighting, Common Nighthawk activity, a bird survey and sounds of toads and beavers in the night,  late spring into early  summer of 2024 … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Community, Crown lands, Lakes, Shaw Wilderness Park | Comments Off on Update on Birds in the Backlands – JBD Jun 24, 2024

Common Nighthawk is HRM 2024 Bird of the Year 29Jun2024

Posted on June 29, 2024 by admin

It’s not common, it’s not a hawk, and it doesn’t hunt at night, but the Common Nighthawk IS “HRM 2024 Bird of the Year”! The announcement was made by Jess Lewis on Mainstreet NS in conversation with host Jeff Douglas … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Conservation, Fire Ecology | Comments Off on Common Nighthawk is HRM 2024 Bird of the Year 29Jun2024

Golden Heather now in bloom in the Backands 14Jun2024

Posted on June 14, 2024 by admin

Wrote  Joshua Barss Donham this am, with pics attached: “The Golden Heather is now in bloom transforming patches of unassuming scrubby vegetation into carpets of brilliant yellow. A particular patch that I’ve been keeping an eye on, thirty metres so … Continue reading →

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Ground-nesting birds – let’s talk habitat 9Jun2024

Posted on June 9, 2024 by admin

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham, Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme. Photos by Joshua Barss Donham June 9, 2024 Over the past few months, we’ve been sharing about ground nesting birds that call the Backlands home. So far … Continue reading →

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“Song bird season has truly begun” JBD 27May2024

Posted on May 29, 2024 by admin

Wrote JBD recently (May 27), with photos and videos attached… Click on images for larger versions “It has been such a pleasure to watch the return of warblers to the Backlands! The first warbler I crossed paths with in the … Continue reading →

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Mosquito Season – even the frogs get bitten in the Backlands! 24May2024

Posted on May 24, 2024 by admin

Joshua Barss Donham made an intriguing post on a private FB site where naturalists share & discuss some of their observations. He gave us permission to post it on backlandscalition.ca. Joshua’s post was about the identity of a mosquito he … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation | Comments Off on Mosquito Season – even the frogs get bitten in the Backlands! 24May2024

Have you heard a thin, high-pitched rocking sound like a squeaky wheel in the woods lately? 17May2024

Posted on May 17, 2024 by admin

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham. Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme Have you heard a thin, high-pitched rocking sound like a squeaky wheel in the woods lately? The Black-and-white Warblers are back in town! Another ground nesting bird … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds | Comments Off on Have you heard a thin, high-pitched rocking sound like a squeaky wheel in the woods lately? 17May2024