FALL MIGRATION - 2
Often, the birds you see in southbound fall migration look somewhat different from those flying north at the start of the breeding season. An easy example is the Yellow-Rumped Warbler. In spring, these little birds are dramatically colourful, their plumage a striking mix of an almost navy blue-dark grey, with touches of white and yellow, making the birds easy to identify when they first arrive. Some nest here, often in the upper woods of our plateau lake areas.
Often, the birds you see in southbound fall migration look somewhat different from those flying north at the start of the breeding season. An easy example is the Yellow-Rumped Warbler. In spring, these little birds are dramatically colourful, their plumage a striking mix of an almost navy blue-dark grey, with touches of white and yellow, making the birds easy to identify when they first arrive. Some nest here, often in the upper woods of our plateau lake areas.
...but by the time fall migration rolls around, the birds have lost their breeding plumage. After all, breeding is over. So they moult into less colourful 'duds' for their fall journey south. Below are some examples of their muted colours in fall.
Fish are on the move too. Mid- September is usually the peak of the kokanee spawning run. Two good places to see the fish are Hardy Creek in Peachland and Mission Creek in Kelowna. After the fish have spawned their eggs, the females die. Some viewers worry this is abnormal, but it's not. Their bodies will 'feed' the surrounding forest much the way decomposing salmon do on other rivers. And of course, there are many avian predators who are attracted to the creeks to feed on the dead or dying fish or on their eggs. Below you will see some photos of a recent kokanee run on Mission Creek near Casorso Bridge, as well as some of the birds that feed on the bounty while it lasts. (Click to enlarge.)
