About me
Richard (Dick) Cannings
I am a biologist, birder and author living in the Okanagan Valley of southern British Columbia. I have the good fortune to live in the house I was born and raised in, lulled to sleep by the hoots of Great Horned Owls and woken by meadowlark song. I grew up in a family keenly interested in nature, and it’s nice to see the cycle repeating itself. The yard is a wonderful one-acre sanctuary for all sorts of wildlife–and for my family as well–full of old memories and filling again with new ones.
I spend half my time working for Bird Studies Canada coordinating Canadian Christmas Bird Counts, the Great Backyard Bird Count, the eBird program, the BC Breeding Bird Atlas and the British Columbia Owl Survey. I also work as a consulting biologist, mostly on projects concerning the status of bird populations in Canada and the endangered landscapes of British Columbia. And I spend a lot of time writing about the natural world.
Like all naturalists, I have always been concerned about the plight of species at risk, and spent eight very interesting and fulfilling years as co-chair for birds on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. I was a founding director of the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance and am a member of the national board of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
I have produced regular radio items on natural history themes for CBC and taught continuing education courses on birding and nature. I’ve also led about 50 natural history tours to destinations around the world, particularly in the New World tropics. When I’m not birding, I play fiddle in a local Scottish country dance band.
My writing centres on the natural history of British Columbia and the biology of birds, including guide books, references, essays and anthologies. I also have written the text for photographic collections of colleagues who are much better photographers than I am. I’m also a consulting editor for natural history at Greystone Books, so if you have any book ideas please send them my way!
I’m on Twitter @dickcannings.
You can see a checklist of the birds of my backyard here.
I just saw a Caspian Tern amongst the gulls in City Park, Kelowna on the way to work today (20 July 2011). Are they regular visitors to the Okanagan?
Robert
Robert–Caspian Terns are uncommon summer visitors to the Okanagan.
Heard you on CBC Almanac a few days ago, re barn swallows & other insectivores. Have you looked into electromagnetic radio frequency radiation interference? I know it affects magnetite in bees so they lose their way home, confuses bats who don’t forage around radar, and can’t imagine why it wouldn’t affect birds. Dr. Magda Havas at Trent University is an environmental researcher who has been looking into wireless technologies for many years, see magdahavas.com
BTW, I’m electro-hyper-sensitive myself, so can easily understand how other animals will be affected.
Hi Dick.
Pleasure meeting you and I may even change my opinion about Newfoundlanders as a result of our discussion.
Regards,
Kevin Shackleton
Dick Cannings:
“Wings Over Water” one day birding festival will be held this upcoming year (2012) on March 17 in Blaine Washington. This past year you had prior engagement and were not able to speak at our birding festival. What about 2012? Is your schedule open? Would you be interested? Please contact Debbie Harger (tourism) with the City of Baline at 360-332-8311 (0 for operator). Our Wings group will be listening in to your next q & a on CBC.
Thanks for consideration.
Eloise Nyman (Wings Over Water committee)
Hi Eloise: Thanks for getting in touch and I’m looking forward to seeing you March 17 in Blaine! –Dick
Hi Dick:
Unfortunately, we missed you on CBC today. Have a question about Anna’s hummingbirds. What is the best ratio of water to sugar should we be using? We live in the comox valley.
Hi Kim: The standard solution is 3 or 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. That matches the sugar concentration in natural nectar sources. It might be an idea in winter to use the 3:1 ratio.
Dick, We are very excited to have you as our featured speaker at The 10th Annual Wings Over Water Birding festival in Blaine, Washington! We will keep updating our schedule of events at http://www.blainechamber.com/wow.
Dick:
I wrote to you earlier in regards to the Anna’s hummingbird. We managed to safely get them through the few cold spells we had by bringing in the feeders at night and switching out when they started to freeze up. Now for the last few days have not seen them anywhere. Is the a reason for their sudden disappearance? Thank you
Kim
Hi Kim:
I can’t say for sure, but this is about the time of year Anna’s start to nest, so they might be shifting their home ranges a little bit. Hopefully they’ve made it through the winter with your help! Dick
Might we entice you to give a program and/or field class in the Methow Valley?
Hi Dick,
Mary Kiesau here from the Methow Conservancy. I coordinate our educational outreach among other things, and I’m interested in chatting with you about the possibility of having you come to the Methow Valley this spring or summer (as early as April). I’ve known about you for many years from people who have heard you speak and/or attended field programs. You come highly recommended of course.
I’d love to chat with you, and I can provide more details via email or phone.
Thanks very much for your time,
Mary
*************************************************
Mary Kiesau
Methow Conservancy Program Coordinator
509-996-2870
Hi Dick,
My name is Gagan, and I edit the Squamish Reporter newspaper in Squamish. A local resident here has spotted a Norhtern Mocking bird.
Is it a rare bird for this region ? Has it been spotted in B.C. How often is it spotted in B.C. ? How do you think it end up in Squamish ? Would it be able to find its way back ? Thanks
Is there an email or a number where you can be reached ?
Mine is gaganscribe@gmail.com. Thanks, Gagan.
Hi Gagan: email me at dickcannings@shaw.ca. Sorry, just noticed this comment today.
There are a pair of Great Horned Owls nesting down my driveway. I hear them – or at least one of them – at all hours of the day and night. In the day, when I step out of my house, the owl will give one call and then is generally silent. Why do they call so much? Are they trying to scare up prey at night? And, in the day, is it to give alarm when I show up? Very curious about this.
Thanks.
Great Horned Owls have long-term pair bonds and they call a lot this time of year because it’s nesting season and they want to let each other know where they are and who knows what else. They do not call when they are hunting–that would be decidedly counterproductive–but if the male sees you walking toward the nest he may well call to let the female know (she’s the one on the nest) so she can lie low.
Hi,
I read the article in the Kelowna Daily Courier about the annual survey. You mentioned that only one ring tailed pheasant was spotted. There is a pair of them living on my property in Rutland. In fact, last week the male walked around the corner of my house towards me as I was stepping out my door. He squawked and flew away. I’m not sure which one of us got the bigger scare! I haven’t seen the female since last fall but I hear them both all the time. There’s also a pair of great horned owls around. I hear one of them at night from time-to-time and both of them occasionally. I believe they live on the property below mine and come to hunt in my field.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge of birds, birding experiences and creating easy to use books. I have the Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies and it has been a great reference for birds in my area. I really like that you indicate which months are best for spotting different species and the best places to find them. Thanks Again!
Hello Richard, your book “British Columbia: A Natural History” is a required text for my ecology class at BCIT ! I had recognized your name, your father was good friends with my Grampa Fred Tayler, and I do believe you went to highschool with my father Stephen Palmer. One thing I would like to comment on is the publishing company butchered the book about 15 of my class mates copies have fallen apart within the first opening. I read your site from time to time and it really reminds me of being back in Penticton with my grandparents watching birds. Thanks! also I was looking for a hard copy of your book and there is not a copy to be found do you think anywhere in Penticton might have one? I could get my dad to mail me a copy down to Vancouver. Thanks again.
Hi:
First, I’d suggest sending a letter to Greystone Books (Suite 201, 2323 Quebec Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 4S7) to let them know about your problems with the books. I don’t know if you could get replacements–you should, but unfortunately the book is temporarily out of print. You could search online for hard copies, but I’m not sure if that edition is still available through the new book route–you might have to try online used book searches. I’m glad you like the book!
Hi Dick, is it possible I’ve got a northern waterthrush coming to my suet and birdfeeders? I’m on Gabriola Island.
Actually I now think it’s a female redwing blackbird.
Yes, a blackbird is much more likely–both to visit a feeder and to be on Gabriola (waterthrushes are not generally found on the coast, and don’t really visit feders).
Hi Dick,
I am going to the Manning Park Bird Blitz in a couple of weeks. I was really hoping to head to Vaseaux Lake (if I can get the time off from work) on the Sunday, or Monday in search of Lewis’ woodpeckers. Is this still a good time of year to see one? Or what would you suggest? I would love to check them off my life list!
Kim
Hi Kim–this is a great time to see Lewis’s Woodpeckers in the Okanagan–check the first two kms or so of the McIntyre Creek Road that goes east off Hwy 97 at the north end of the lake.
My mistake, its after the July 20th weekend at Manning…..still a good time? And thanks for the info!
Hello Dick,
This is Douglas Todd. I write about philosophy and diversity at the Vancouver Sun. I’m working on a series on happiness and got your name from my friend, Dr. Eric Watts. I want your thoughts on some birding issues. Can you email at dtodd@vancouversun.com Could you do so today? Thanks
Douglas
The day after attending your talk at the ALECC conference, I photographed a bird in Penticton at around 7pm on a lawn. It is very colourful and about the size of a robin or thrush. I’m from Ontario so have no idea if this is an unusual bird; I have never seen one before. I can email you a photo if you like.
All Buffleheads Day Act
Routine Proceedings
October 17th, 2012 / 3:40 p.m.
Green
Elizabeth May Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
, seconded by the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Superior North, moved for leave to introduce Bill C-454, An Act respecting an All Buffleheads Day.
She said: Mr. Speaker, it appears I am lightening the mood in this corner already with the news that I am presenting a private member’s bill for October 15 to be declared a national All Buffleheads Day. I bring the good news that the most punctual duck in Canada is now back. The Buffleheads travel to far-flung places, but on the 298th day of the solar cycle, like clockwork, our smallest diving duck returns. This duck puts the swallows of Capistrano to shame and is a better weather predictor than the groundhog.
This is a wonderful duck to celebrate. All Buffleheads Day will be put forward to all members to decide whether we should mark it every year on October 15. We can come together for many things. The little Bufflehead duck is found across Canada and it is worth celebrating.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
I appreciate that you are so accessible! I’m writing on behalf of the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society in Chilliwack. I suspect you’ve heard of us because dear Hazel Cannings has been one of our staunchest and most delightful volunteers.
The reason I’m writing is to find out if you would be willing/available to speak at one of our upcoming fundraising Speakers Series Events. You would be a real drawing card! This would be on a weekday evening (at your convenience) at the Rotary Studio Theatre in the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. We would want you to speak for about 30 minutes with an opportunity for the audience to ask questions after the presentation with refreshments to follow.
If you would be willing to support the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society by speaking at one of our upcoming fundraising Speakers Series Events, could you please let me know your availability and any associated costs?
Writing from Los Cerritos,, Baja, Sur, Mexico: Lately, I’ve seen a flock(?) of nightjars flitting about in the dusk. Am familiar with nighthawks, but these are slightly smaller, not diving, and they are silent. About half of them have the white flash on the underside of the wings, the rest have no markings. My “Golden Field Guide to Birds of North America” shows only the Poor-Will extant in Baja, Mexico. My first thought was Common Nighthawk with immatures having migrated here. Have you any ideas?
Sounds like Lesser Nighthawks, Jim. The white bar can be a bit indistinct (especially at dusk) on females. Common Nighthawks winter in South America.
Monday, April 29th. I saw what I figured was a sparrow. Same size. At first I thought it was a golden crowned sparrow, but the throat/chin was also yellow, stopping above breast. Actual yellow was somewhat less brilliant, hint of apricot. Crown was teardrop shape, not a streak. The feathers were more slate coloured than brown, and there was flash on the wings, not epaulets. Could have been white. View was very fleeting. located in small swampy area, about ten feet up on cottonwood branch. I’m 71, long time birder, but never seen this one. Any thoughts?