Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz

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rubl_logo13The International Rusty Blackbird Working Group has asked us to get the word out to birders about their Spring Migration Blitz. The blitz is attempting to better understand the spring migration of Rusty Blackbirds, which, as you know have experienced a catastrophic, continent-wide population decline.

RUBL_BbyLkThe Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz challenges birders to scour the landscape for Rusty Blackbirds during the birds’ northward migration.  38 states, 9 provinces, and 3 territories will participate in this international effort to find Rusty Blackbirds; each region is assigned a set of target dates during which local birders will seek this elusive species.  It’s easy to participate – bird as you normally do during the province’s target dates, and submit data to eBird using the “Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz” observation type.

Interested in learning more about Rusty Blackbirds, or want to learn more about the province’s Blitz efforts?  Use the Migration Blitz website http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/ to find out the target dates for this region, learn more about Rusty Blackbird identification, and get more details about Blitz data collection and submission.

Also, follow the IRBWG on Facebook for the most up-to-date information about the Blitz: https://www.facebook.com/rustyblackbirdspringblitz

BCFO Featured Photographer #5 – Jo Ann MacKenzie

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We are delighted to present Jo Ann MacKenzie as our first Featured Photographer of 2014.

Jo Ann is well known to birders throughout the Lower Mainland, the Province, and across Canada. Like many of us, Jo Ann has found a whole new dimension to her passion for identifying, listing, and watching birds by taking photographs of them too.

Use the drop-down menu above under Features to view Jo Ann’s work.

Pemberton AGM Pre- and Post-Conference Trips

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This year’s BCFO AGM in Pemberton (June 13th – 15th) is going to be a great weekend in its own right, but we’ve also lined up some fantastic optional birding opportunities for members both before and after the conference weekend.

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Gwyneth Lake, Hurley Pass Road

Extension Trip 2014

This year’s three-day Extension Trip, lead by Rick Howie will be focus on the grassland and higher elevation forest birds of Rick’s Kamloops home turf. Leaving Pemberton after lunch on Sunday, June 15th, participants will make their way to Kamloops, with a stop en-route for some Hat Creek birding. The extension will shift into high gear early Monday morning as daily excursions to key habitats start and return to our hotel “base camp” in Kamloops.

Provisional target species for the extension include: Flammulated and Boreal Owls, Boreal Chickadees, Swainson’s Hawks, Long-billed Curlews, Chukar, Lewis’s Woodpeckers, and Horned Larks. Participants will also have reasonable chances to see American White Pelicans, Northern Hawk and Great Gray Owls, Williamson’s Sapsuckers, Rock and Canyon Wrens, and Prairie Falcons.

Transportation will be car-pooling. Full details of the extension, including costs, hotels, and registration forms will be published in the March issue of BC Birding.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Jellicoe

Sharp-tailed Grouse, Lac DuBois grasslands. Although lekking is over by June, a few stragglers may be still be around for the Extension Trip.
Photo: Len Jellicoe

Pre-Conference Two-Day Field Trip

Lillooet will be the destination for members who wish to enjoy some excellent birding before the conference. A two day field trip will be offered for June 12th and 13th as one of our 2014 scheduled Two-Day Field Trips for Members.

BCFO members know from our 2007 AGM that Lillooet is an amazing place to go birding. Many of us who missed that opportunity won’t want to miss out in 2014. Hoped for species include: Dusky Grouse, Western Screech-Owls, Red-naped Sapsuckers, White-throated Swifts, Long-billed Curlews, and Rock Wrens. The trip will wrap-up early afternoon on the 13th, giving everyone plenty of time to drive to Pemberton for the AGM opening Meet and Greet.

Full details and registration forms for the AGM, and both trips will be published in the March issue of BC Birding.

BC Birding – December, 2013 issue

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The December 2013 issue of our BC Birding newsletter is now available in the Members Area for your holiday season enjoyment. You may read the issue online, or download a copy for your reading pleasure.

As you’ve come to expect of our newsletter, this issue is crammed with fascinating articles on birds, birding travel, great photographs, and announcements of upcoming birding events, including confirmation that our 2014 AGM will take place in Pemberton.

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