Nature

Shuswap nature photographer Ron Banville pays close attention to the birds that nest in Salmon Arm’s bird sanctuary, and has captured numerous images of ducklings, goslings, grebettes and other newborn birds. (Ron Banville photo)

‘Everybody loves the otters’: Shuswap photographer enjoys sharing ‘what’s really going on’

Ron Banville’s affection for Salmon Arm bird sanctuary finds following on Facebook

 

This photo provided by Daniela C. Roessler in August 2022 shows a jumping spider (E. arcuata) exhibiting leg curling during a REM sleep-like state. A study published on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, suggests that jumping spiders show signs of sleep cycles, similar to humans and some animals. (Daniela C. Roessler via AP)

Do spiders sleep? Study suggests they may snooze like humans

Biologist: ’It was just the most unusual thing I’ve ever seen’

 

Nectaring mosquito pollinating an oxeye daisy. (Contributed)

Okanagan Nature Nut: What good are mosquitos?

Vernon-based outdoor enthusiast reveals the secret lives of these tiny pollinators

 

The Morkin property in Southern Alberta. (Brent Calver/Nature Conservancy of Canada)

Fill your pack with snacks, scientists need to know how neat B.C. nature is

The BioBlitz, through the iNaturalist app, runs from July 28-Aug. 1

The Morkin property in Southern Alberta. (Brent Calver/Nature Conservancy of Canada)
This long exposure image shows the eruption of volcano Sakurajima Sunday night, July 24, 2022, in the view from Tarumizu city, Japan’s southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said a volcano on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu erupted Sunday night, spewing ash and volcanic rocks, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s Sakurajima volcano erupts, triggering evacuation

No immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns

This long exposure image shows the eruption of volcano Sakurajima Sunday night, July 24, 2022, in the view from Tarumizu city, Japan’s southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said a volcano on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu erupted Sunday night, spewing ash and volcanic rocks, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns. (Kyodo News via AP)
Painting at the Revelstoke Wildflower Festival. (Tom Poole photo)

Wildflower Festival to bring a splash of colour to Revelstoke

The festival features art, hiking, music, and of course, flowers

Painting at the Revelstoke Wildflower Festival. (Tom Poole photo)
Courtesy Photo, Public Health - Seattle & King County

Okanagan Nature Nut narrows in on bats

Bat season returns with a purpose

Courtesy Photo, Public Health - Seattle & King County
A bee searches for pollen on a flower during a sunny spring day in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, April 8, 2022. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 says habitat loss from big agriculture and climate change are combining to threaten the world’s insects. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Climate change, big agriculture combine to threaten insects

Scientists have noticed dramatic drop in total bug numbers

A bee searches for pollen on a flower during a sunny spring day in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, April 8, 2022. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 says habitat loss from big agriculture and climate change are combining to threaten the world’s insects. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
The goal to create a protected eagle reserve at the French Creek estuary will become a reality. (Michael Briones photo)

$5M dream to create B.C. eagle sanctuary poised to become reality

Campaign to purchase estuary land reaches fundraising goal

The goal to create a protected eagle reserve at the French Creek estuary will become a reality. (Michael Briones photo)
A bighorn sheep mom and her baby. The Skaha Lake Eastside conservation complex adds important habitat for Bighorn Sheep for foraging, lambing, and escaping predators. (contributed)

Nature Trust of B.C. buys 32 hectares of Bighorn Sheep land in Penticton

Skaha Lake Eastside property adds important habitat for foraging, lambing, and escaping predators.

A bighorn sheep mom and her baby. The Skaha Lake Eastside conservation complex adds important habitat for Bighorn Sheep for foraging, lambing, and escaping predators. (contributed)
The massive bill and long, roughly diamond-shaped tail mark this as a raven as it lifts from the carcass of a dead White-tailed Deer on the ice at Rosemond Lake. ( John G Woods photo)

Column: Ravens signal spring in the Shuswap

Nature Watch by John G. Woods

  • Mar 2, 2022
The massive bill and long, roughly diamond-shaped tail mark this as a raven as it lifts from the carcass of a dead White-tailed Deer on the ice at Rosemond Lake. ( John G Woods photo)
Sherri Mariash teaching the group at Martha Creek Recreational Trail. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)

Wildsight Revelstoke hosts medicinal plant workshop

Sherri Mariash lead a group through the forest near Martha Creek Provincial Park

Sherri Mariash teaching the group at Martha Creek Recreational Trail. (Josh Piercey/Revelstoke Review)
(Lakes District News File Photo/Eddie Huband)

VIDEO: Fraser Valley pilot spots black bear from the air

Agassiz area pilot captures footage of a wandering black bear among the stalks of corn

(Lakes District News File Photo/Eddie Huband)
This year’s Western hemlock "looper" moth outbreak has been seen in the Lower Mainland and the Interior, including communities throughout the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. (Lorraine Maclauchlan photo)

Western Hemlock Looper Moths return for a third feast of B.C. foliage

Outbreaks of the moths occur every 11 to 15 years in Coastal and Interior forests

This year’s Western hemlock "looper" moth outbreak has been seen in the Lower Mainland and the Interior, including communities throughout the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. (Lorraine Maclauchlan photo)
A common wall lizard scrambles across a concrete wall in a Saanich yard. July 15, 2021 (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Invasive lizard population runs, climbs and clings across Vancouver Island

Even record-breaking heat didn’t diminish European wall lizard population

A common wall lizard scrambles across a concrete wall in a Saanich yard. July 15, 2021 (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Wildflowers, rare grasslands and at risk species are part of the rich landscape of the Park Rill Floodplain which is now part of the Nature Trust of B.C. in the South Okanagan. (Graham Osborne photo)

151 acres of biodiverse South Okanagan land donated to Nature Trust of B.C.

The land near Willowbrook is home to rare grasslands and at-risk animals

Wildflowers, rare grasslands and at risk species are part of the rich landscape of the Park Rill Floodplain which is now part of the Nature Trust of B.C. in the South Okanagan. (Graham Osborne photo)
Saturnina Island is situated off the east coast of Gabriola Island. (Google Maps image)

Island near Nanaimo preserved as park after $4M donation from Lululemon founder

Chip Wilson’s family’s foundation supports three land purchases in the Strait of Georgia

Saturnina Island is situated off the east coast of Gabriola Island. (Google Maps image)
Roman snails, or Helix pomatia, are invasive to Canada and edible. Tyler Kathol forages for them near the Illecillewaet River. (Liam Harrap - Revelstoke Review)

1 way to deal with invasive snails in Revelstoke is… to eat them?

Foraging for Roman snails, which are cooked in fancy dishes globally as escargot

Roman snails, or Helix pomatia, are invasive to Canada and edible. Tyler Kathol forages for them near the Illecillewaet River. (Liam Harrap - Revelstoke Review)
Chipping Sparrows, 1909, mixed media on paper, Vernon Public Art Gallery permanent collection. (Allan Brooks)

Okanagan nature centre hosts original Allan Brooks art

First ever exhibit at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre

Chipping Sparrows, 1909, mixed media on paper, Vernon Public Art Gallery permanent collection. (Allan Brooks)
University of Maryland entomologist Paula Shrewsbury, reaches for a cookie topped with a cicada nymph, Monday, May 17, 2021, in Columbia, Md. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Freaked by cicada swarms? You could just stick a fork in ‘em

Full of protein, gluten-free, low-fat and low-carb, cicadas are eaten by humans in many countries.

University of Maryland entomologist Paula Shrewsbury, reaches for a cookie topped with a cicada nymph, Monday, May 17, 2021, in Columbia, Md. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)