Tag: Features

Species Profile — Long-Billed Dowitcher

The long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is a medium-to-large shorebird often seen in British Columbia during its fall migration along the Pacific Flyway. Though less commonly spotted in winter, some individuals remain in southern parts of the province before continuing their journey as far south as Central America during colder months. This species is a classic…
Species Profile — Western Red-Backed Salamander

Camouflaged among dead leaves and humus, the Western Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon vehiculum) is perfectly suited to the shaded, damp environments of British Columbia’s forests. Its rusty dorsal stripe blends seamlessly into the forest floor, making it a challenge to spot unless you’re looking closely. This small terrestrial amphibian ranges from B.C. to southern Oregon and…
Species Profile — Long-tailed Duck

Waterfowl are perhaps the most interesting animals on the planet. From high north to the deep south, and from desert to wetlands, you can find waterfowl almost anywhere. One of our favorites of all, however, is a rather hard-to-find resident of British Columbia’s coast: the Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). As can be seen in the…
Species Profile — Trumpeter Swan

There’s no denying it: wetlands play a critical role in providing habitats for a variety of life. Studies have found that over 900 species require wetlands, with 64% of all endangered and threatened animal species needing access to them during some point in their life. In Canada, approximately 45 of the 95 species classified as…
Species Profile — Six-Spotted Fishing Spider

There are over 43,000 species of spiders across the globe, about 3,400 of which are found in North America, and 729 confirmed to be found in B.C. Spiders are one of the smallest creatures to instil such great amounts of fear in people. The species of nursery web spider that will be the focus of…
Species Profile — Coastal Tailed Frog

The Coastal Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei) is very unique species whose range extends from northern B.C. to California. Tadpoles may grow to about 3 centimeters in length and may be greyish brown, reddish brown, and black in colour. Mature coastal tailed frogs grows to about 3 centimeters in length and may be light brown, greyish…
Species Profile — Round-Leaved Sundew

For those who grew up with a Venus flytrap on the windowsill, the BogBlog’s first-ever plant feature in the Species Profile series may spark a familiar fascination—the insectivorous round-leaved sundew! Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) is found widely across the circumboreal region of the northern hemisphere. Common throughout British Columbia, these voracious little plants can often…
Harrop Wetland — A Family Connection

Having the blood of Ernest Harrop himself flowing through her veins, Jennifer Dehnel has a long-time connection with the Harrop area. Like a storybook romance, Jenn’s husband Kurt grew up on the opposite side of Kootenay Lake, leading to their eventual meeting in their early teens. Being in the area for most of their lives…
Species Profile — Long-Toed Salamander

The long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) is a small but fascinating amphibian found throughout much of British Columbia. Named for the distinctive elongated fourth toe on each hind foot, this species is a common—though often overlooked—resident of wetland habitats across the province. These salamanders are highly adaptable and occupy a variety of moist environments, including forests,…
Species Profile — Steller’s Jay

As the weather warms and the daylight extends, we being to hear an active chorus of springtime birds. Commonly seen foraging for food around campgrounds and parks, Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) are the blue-winged symbol of B.C.’s healthy evergreen forests, as well as, our provincial bird! They’re known for their unmistakably blue feathers, triangle-crested heads, and…