Description of Field Trips
Field Trip – 1 Tour of Conservation Areas at Lac du Bois, Birding and Owling. Friday May 22, 2026 – Evening
Leaders: Ian Barnett and Tom Dickinson
Carpool Meeting Location and Trip Time: Meet at TRU Lot N at 7.30 pm, Back to TRU by 10:00 pm or 12:00 am.
Tom Dickinson and Ian Barnett will meet with the group at 7.30 pm on Friday May 23 and proceed up the Lac du Bois/McQueen Lake Road making stops to discuss conservation initiatives and check out flora and fauna at a number of locations. These include; Grassland Conservation Council and Friends of Lac du Bois (FLDB) initiatives at Red Hill, BC Parks and Kamloops FN and FLDB at Km 9.5, Lac du Bois NCC property at Km 13, McQueen Lake Environmental Education Center and Isobel Lake. Ducks Unlimited has done work at the latter three and others such as MOF have also been active at Isobel Lake.
For those who wish to return earlier (at approximately 10:00), Tom will take them back to TRU. For those wanting to stay later, Ian will take people to locations where it is possible, but not guaranteed, to hear and see a number of owl species including Flammulated, Saw Whet, Northern Pygmy, Long-eared, Short-eared, Great Horned, Great Grey, and Barred owls. Ian will have that group back at TRU before midnight. The degree of difficulty is easy for walking, but some may find the later hours tiring. Please bring clothing suitable for a late May night (sweater, raincoat), outdoor walking shoes, snacks, suitable fluids, and binoculars. The total tour is expected to be 2.5-4.5 hours.
Field Trip 2 – Observing Bats – Friday May 22, 2026 – Evening
Leader: Lilliana Ortega
Carpool Meeting Location and Trip Time: Carpool from TRU Lot N at 8:40 pm, Back to TRU by 10:20 pm.
This is an evening field trip to McArthur Island Park. We will be starting in the butterfly garden and plan to spend two hours at the park observing key bat-habitat features and discussing the lives of bats in BC. There is a high likelihood that we will be able to spot bats hunting in the area and identify their species through acoustic monitoring. The walk will mostly be on paved paths but be sure to bring comfortable footwear and appropriate clothing for the weather; there will be mosquitoes! You can bring water, snacks, a headlamp/handheld lamp, and all of your bat questions!
Field Trip 3 – Restoration and Ecology of the Tranquille River Floodplain – Saturday May 23, 2026
Leader: Jesse Ritcey
Carpool Meeting Location and Trip Time: Meet at TRU Lot N at 7:00 am, Back to TRU by 9:30 am.
This is a morning field trip to Tranquille Pond and Tranquille Creek within the Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area, as well as to a lookout point over Kamloops Lake if time permits. On the tour, we will discuss the ecological importance of the area and highlight some of the restoration and cleanup work the club has been doing there. The trip will involve approximately 45 minutes of walking on uneven, but not steep, ground so wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring sun protection, water, and a light rain jacket. This area is rich in wildlife, so bringing a camera and/or binoculars is a good idea.
Field Trip 4 – Birding Along the River’s Trail – Sunday May 23, 2026
Leader: Ken Lipinski
Carpool Meeting Location and Trip Time: Meet at TRU Lot N at 6:00 am, Back to TRU by 9:00 am.
This is a morning birding walk along the Airport dike section of the Kamloops Rivers Trail, starting at the access point on Ord Road. We will walk on a maintained dirt trail so wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring a camera and/or binoculars, sun protection, water, and a light rain jacket. This area is rich in migratory birds and local wildlife. If time allows on our return to TRU, we can also make a short ½ km drive to Tranquille pond to view waterfowl and perhaps turtles if we’re lucky.
Field Trip 5 – Birds and Turtles of Pineview – Sunday May 24, 2026
Leader: Bill Gilroy
Carpool Meeting Location and Trip Time: Meet at TRU Lot N at 10:10 am, Back to TRU by 12:15 pm
We will be exploring the Pineview Nature Park-Python Lake area, which is an interesting urban-nature interface. We will spend approximately 1.5 hours there, observing a rich and abundant variety of birds and other wildlife. This is a popular birding “hotspot” that offers excellent photographic opportunities. Highlights include observing many wetland/riparian-dwelling species, including various waterfowl, yellow-headed and red-winged blackbirds and both Sora and Virginia rails. Western Painted Turtles are also frequently observed. The level of difficulty is easy. Dress for the weather conditions. Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water, binoculars, and especially your camera!
Field Trip 6 – We Got a Park, Now What? – Sunday May 24, 2026
Leader: Tom Dickinson
Carpool Meeting Location and Trip Time: Meet at TRU Lot N at 12:40 pm, Back to TRU by 3:30 pm
This afternoon trip will be an easy walk along a gravel road through a piece of ground recently purchased by the BC Parks Foundation. Over the course of a couple of hours we will explore some of the geological and ecological features that led to its acquisition. The area is part of a former ranch and contains native grasslands as well as areas dominated by agronomic species and invasives. It contains examples of several kinds of grassland wildflowers that may be blooming when we will be visiting such as arrowleaf balsamroot, Thompson’s paintbrush, and silky lupines. In addition, it is home to many species of grassland songbirds, such as meadowlarks, solitaires, and sparrows. The property boundaries lie within the City of Kamloops and while it contains valuable natural habitats, it faces the challenge of extensive recreational activity.