Lovely Pileated Woodpecker working our pine tree this afternoon.!
Richard Cannings
@dickcannings.bsky.social
Biologist, author, birder, mediocre fiddle player, slow cyclist and grandfather. Canadian Member of Parliament for South Okanagan-West Kootenay 2015-2025.
Joan was a fearless warrior and inspirational leader, and we will miss her dearly. The family asks for privacy at this time, and in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the B.C. Cancer Society.
Saddened to hear of Joan Phillip’s passing. She was a passionate and eloquent defender of human rights and the environment and I shall miss her. My deepest condolences to her husband Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, her family, friends and the entire community.
The first rain-barrel filling rain we’ve had since mid-May. Sure feels good!
Red-eyed Vireos just one of the many birds migrating through the south Okanagan today being tallied at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory.
One of our cukes got caught trying to sneak into the strawberry patch
Congratulations to the SFU pipe band—the greatest in the world! www.bbc.com/news/article...
Canadian pipe band crowned 2026 world champions after 'thrilling' contest
Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Canada took the coveted title following the two-day event at Glasgow Green, in which 211 bands competed.
bbc.com
Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory two weeks in to a very smoky season. Yesterday (a rare blue sky day) saw a little push of American Redstarts, a rather uncommonspecies here.
Media alerted to letter by last 5 chairs of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada pointing out that the Discussion Paper on 'major projects' makes a mockery of the Species at Risk Act. Happy to chat www.sfu.ca/~amooers/sci...
sfu.ca
Latest fire imagery from NASA FIRMS of the Bald Range fire. Active front is along the south edge that might become problematic if wind strengthens from north.
This is our climate change reality. BC is at the sharp end of the climate change spear in terms of fire in Canada. Graph below shows annual area burned in BC 1950-2026. Top 6 years have been since 2017 and BC has experienced more area burned during 2017-2026(red) as compared to 1950-2026 (green).
My latest on the #wildfires burning across the Northern Hemisphere: time.com/article/2026... via TIME
What Happens When the World is on Fire
"From America to Algeria, dangerous blazes are occurring around the world, giving us a glimpse into an age ablaze," writes John Valliant.
time.com
Just over the hill from our house. Went from 50 to 1000 hectares in a couple of hours.
Mike Flannigan@mikeflannigan.bsky.social · last mo.Fire K51490 just west of Lake Okanagan is exploding this evening. GOES-West geocolor loop below.
Fire K51490 just west of Lake Okanagan is exploding this evening. GOES-West geocolor loop below.
Just over the hill from our house… We’re ok unless the winds shift to the north (predicted for tomorrow afternoon ) www.castanet.net/news/Summerl...
Evacuations underway after wildfire west of Summerland explodes to 1,000 hectares
Fast-moving wildfire spotted on Princeton-Summerland back road
castanet.net
Week one is done at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory! Here are the totals up to day 6 (we’re over 200 banded!) and the big surprise from this morning —our first Ovenbird for the station.
Moonrise, Thornhill Fields J.E.H. MacDonald 1919
I left before Day 3 was added but here are the banding totals for the first two days of action at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. Drop by for a visit any morning until October 15! 1 km north of Vaseux Lake.
“People located north at Head of the Lake should evacuate immediately north to Kal Tire Place Emergency Support Services Reception Centre in Vernon (3445 43rd Ave).” www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/... - @castanet.net #BCWildfire #BradleyCreekWildfire #OkanaganIndianBand #VernonBC
Entire OKIB reserve under evacuation order due to wildfire
UPDATE 7:55 p.m. The Okanagan Indian Band has ordered the complete evacuation of OKIB IR 1 due to the Bradly Creek FSR wildfire.
castanet.net
West side of Spokane is evacuating. Three fires in that area.
dead domain 🐐🏳️⚧️@domaindead.bsky.social · last mo.The city of Spokane is on fire.
Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory is open for the season starting today! Drop in any morning until October 15 as we monitor bird populations. Located on west side of Hwy 97, 1 km north of Vaseux Lake, 4 km south of Okanagan Falls. Photo: bander-in-charge David Bell with Bewick’s Wren.
I fought the parts of this agreement that go against the interests, the human rights and the clear will of the Ecuadorean people, bringing it to the International Trade Committee for study, meeting with the Ecuadorean ambassador and with Ecuadorean indigenous reps. Canada should be ashamed.
MiningWatch Canada@miningwatch.bsky.social · 2mo ago⚠️ Canadian Organizations Condemn Signing of High-Risk Ecuador Free Trade Agreement" 🔊 | Press release: tinyurl.com/2kha5m58 The #EcuadorCanada Free Trade Agreement, signed today, grants sweeping and undemocratic protections to Canadian investors while deepening Ecuador’s human rights crisis.
Mark Carney is choosing silence and appeasement when Canada should be showing leadership. The NDP is standing up for international law, human rights and the rules-based order. We won’t be silent when these principles are under attack. Read more: www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...
NDP says Ottawa appeasing Trump through its silence on global court sanctions
The federal NDP says the Carney government’s support for international law is ringing hollow as it keeps silent on Washington’s sanctions on a Canadian judge.
ctvnews.ca
It's long past time to create a national wildfire fighting force that could be deployed to regions facing imminent fire danger. thewalrus.ca/canada-wildf...
Canada Is Primed to Burn. Why Aren’t We Ready? | The Walrus
The country still lacks the people and equipment to handle our record-breaking wildfires
thewalrus.ca
