On the morning of Sunday, February 8, the rain was falling as it had been for the past few days. However, as the morning began to fade and the afternoon steadily approached, the sun decided to grace us with its presence, which I was immensely grateful for as I was to help assist the RMNats in putting up duck boxes around Elizabeth Lake. We lucked out with this experience as the afternoon turned out to be beautiful. The sun was warm and the installation of the boxes allowed us to navigate across and enjoy the conservation area.

In addition to myself, the installation team consisted of Greg, Daryl, Paula, George, Lloyd, Audrey, Ed, and Tom. Eight boxes had been crafted by Tom to install along the shoreline. Based on insight and the research done by Daryl we identified locations for each box. The boxes were placed on a tree approximately 3 to 5 m above ground and with a slight forward slant to prevent the accumulation of rainwater and allow easy escape for the ducklings. They were also located a minimum of 30m apart and were visually isolated from one another to prevent dump nesting and predation. Paula and Greg recorded the GPS coordinates so that we may return to the locations to monitor and maintain the boxes in the future. The boxes were filled with approximately 10cm of wood shavings and a piece of wood placed over the entrance to prevent starlings from becoming established, which will later be removed upon arrival of the cavity nesting ducks.

Six of the eight boxes were placed on the east side of the lake and the remaining two were placed on the west side. To get to the west side we walked across the lake. A few of us were a bit tentative to journey on the ice as the warm weather made us skeptical of its strength. Nonetheless, we came away unscathed and we even managed to pull Audrey across on a wagon.

When we reached the west side we discovered two nest boxes had previously been installed. In one of them we were welcomed by a couple of flying squirrels. In another we uncovered a nest which contained 17 unhatched eggs. It was decided to replace that box with a new one which was the final installation. Initially our crew was unsure as to how many boxes we were going to install; however, as the afternoon progressed we became determined to install them all, which we successfully achieved. With the successful installation of the duck boxes we now patiently await the arrival of the ducks to nest within these fresh, new spaces. 

Article submitted by Myra Juckers, new member of RMN
Photos courtesy of Greg Ross

Following a very successful Fall General Meeting hosted by our club in Cranbrook and area, September 2013, we continues to pursue all things natural with renewed enthusiasm and curiosity.  The spectrum of interesting aspects of nature in the East Kootenay has widened for us because several new members with diverse interests have joined our club. For example, when observing flowering plants, we now notice invasive species and the diversity of POLLINATORS; while snowshoeing, we can distinguish different lichens and decipher structures in the ever changing snowpack; while birding, the size, location and pattern of woodpecker excavations and chips provide subtle clues. Of course, while looking up, it is fascinating to learn the details of rainbows, aurora borealis and the patterns and seasonal changes of the night sky. 

After many years of conscientious work in the vicinity of Elizabeth Lake, WE WERE SO DISAPPOINTED WHEN a plugged culvert at the outlet allowed the lake to rise to a record level. Now that the level has dropped, our low-lying trail sections and bridges require considerable repair. Many of the emergent vegetation islands floated off to new locations which do not necessarily benefit the existing dipping dock, blinds and control weir. The PAINTED TURTLES may have to bushwhack to find our once productive sand egg-laying beds we constructed and fenced for them.

Several of our citizen scientists have responded by regularly measuring and reporting the water level, and investigating the location and integrity of Jim Smith creek, the lake’s outlet, much of which lies beneath the highway and the town. It apparently flows through a concrete culvert which was constructed in the 1930’s. The CITY OF CRANBROOK promises to examine in detail, the issue of this watershed with the benefit of our findings.

At Christmastime, the club organized bird counts for Cranbrook, Kimberly and Fernie, as well as for new locations in the Elk Valley. Even though the birds were not as plentiful as last year, bird counter and feeder watcher numbers were up. Winter finches, such as Pine Siskins, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills were largely absent and have been low in number this summer too. It will be interesting to see if Bohemian Waxwings return in abundance; certainly Cedar Waxwings are plentiful lately. Two local bird festivals were very successful this spring. Wings Over The Rockies, Invermere, offered more events than ever, while the Creston Bird Fest highlighted many of the diverse aspects of nature and agriculture found in the Creston valley. Our ‘Little Big Day’ 12 hour team birding competition, also in May, tallied an amazing species count of 114 species.

Club Camp is always a fun event in spring. Every year, naturalists choose a different part of the upper Kootenay river drainage to go camping and exploring for the weekend. This year, Mount Fernie Provincial Park offered a fine central location and a contrast to the drier Rocky Mountain Trench. Sunshine prevailed in this interior wet belt setting; birds abounded while mosquitoes did not. Sneaky Swainson’s Thrushes challenged us with their 7 different songs and calls, fluffy young American Dipper chicks provided comic relief along the creek, and, in retrospect, we wondered whether 35 noisy Common Grackles we saw should maybe just stay in Fernie’s back alleys.

Field trips have been well attended this year, partly because of our increased membership and partly because of our new webpage and online calendar. Following each trip, wonderful photos and anecdotes are shared and appreciated.

 

Submitted by Daryl Calder

Here is Helga's tally from this weeks Tuesday, early morning birding outing at Elizabeth Lake.  George, Audrey, Helga, Tara and Greg were out.  A couple from Crowsnest joined us for a little while as well.  The Bullock's Oriole near the parking lot being the highlight I would think.
(In this Picture, Audrey is seen crossing her new bridge)

42  Canada Goose (includes 4 goslings)
1    Pied-billed Grebe 
8    Mallard (many more hiding in the cattails, no doubt!)
4    Blue-winged Teal 
14   Cinnamon Teal
1    Northern Shoveler
6    Redhead
33  Lesser Scaup
10  Ruddy Duck
16  Eared Grebe
1   Sora  (only heard but not seen)
38 American Coot (probably way more, but those were what I counted)
4   Killdeer (one pair caught in the act!)
1   Spotted Sandpiper
2   Solitary Sandpiper
1   Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
1   Northern Flicker
12  American Crow
2   Common Raven
10  Tree Swallow
2   Violet-green Swallow
2   Black-capped Chickadee
4   American Robin
2   Common Yellowthroat
4   Yellow Warbler
1   American Redstart
5   Song Sparrow
1   Dark-eyed Junco
12  Red-winged Blackbird
12  Yellow-headed Blackbird
4    Brewer's Blackbird
1    Bullock’s Oriole

RMN and Fish and Wildlife Compensation program hosted the first ever Turtle Day at Elizabeth Lake.  Read about it in the local paper. 
http://www.dailytownsman.com/breaking_news/259533671.html
Read about the turtle here
http://www.bcreptiles.ca/turtles/westernpaint.htm





Here's the combined list from this week's "Early Morning Birding at Elizabeth Lake", 13 May 2014:

1 Barrow’s Goldeneye - one flew into a nest box and then right back out again
1 Horned Grebe
2 Common Yellowthroat
2 Marsh Wren
12 Lesser Scaup
9 Ruddy Duck (6 males, 3 females)
136 American Coot
98 Canada Goose (includes 49 adults and 49 goslings – actual count, so that’s a weird coincidence)
2 Solitary Sandpiper
2 Northern Flicker (1 male, 1 female)
15 Red-winged Blackbird (mostly males – only saw one female)
2 Green-winged Teal (1 male, 1 female)
1 Blue-winged Teal
12 Tree Swallow (estimate) - two separate nest boxes appear to be actively being used
1 Northern Shoveler
1 Osprey
6 Cinnamon Teal (5 males, 1 female)
6 Yellow-headed Blackbird
6 Brewer’s Blackbird (5 males, 1 female)
12 Mallard (one female may have been on nest)
5 Killdeer
1 Common Raven
6 Song Sparrow
7 Redhead (4 males, 1 female)
1 Bald Eagle
5 Eared Grebe (1 male & 1 female in courtship display)
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle male)
2 American Crow
...............................................................

2 unidentified snakes, brownish, about 40 – 50 cm long

HK report and photo