Winter Birds at the Snk’mip Marsh Sanctuary
By bird expert Gary Davidson
Wondering what’s going on at the marsh at this time of year? Bird activity at Snk’mip marsh is diminished in winter but the presence of open water does attract waterfowl -- and swans seem to generate the most local interest.
Trumpeter Swans (pictured above) have made a huge comeback in recent years after near-extinction a few decades ago. Between 100 and 200 regularly winter on the Slocan River and a few choose to remain at the north end of Slocan Lake and regularly feed in Snk’mip marsh.
The very similar Tundra Swan has not been seen at Snk’mip but there are always a few in the wintering Slocan River flock. Tundra Swans are slightly smaller than Trumpeters and usually have a small yellow patch near the base of the bill. It can be difficult to separate the two without a good close-up view so be sure to bring your binoculars or spotting scope.
Ducks such as Mallards, Bufflehead and Goldeneye have all been observed at the marsh during winter, Canada Geese are also seen in the marsh or on adjacent Slocan Lake.
Other than waterfowl, the marsh will not see many species during winter compared to the bird diversity one sees in summer. One exception might be the Song Sparrow which lives in the marshy grasses and of course the ubiquitous Common Raven which can often be seen gliding over the marsh in search of a tasty meal.
The treed areas of the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology’s Snk’mip nature sanctuary provide food and cover for some resident woodland birds: Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Steller’s Jays and Pacific Wrens are often present.
Bald Eagles, which regularly breed in the sanctuary in the spring, can be seen soaring over the marsh and lake in winter, looking for a nice fish to dine on. American Dippers, which breed up Bonanza Creek, will feed in the sanctuary during winter.
American Kestrel and Marsh Wren, species which are not normally expected anywhere in this region during winter, have been observed overwintering at Snk’mip. And with a bit of searching you may be rewarded with a sighting of a Barred Owl, Ruffed Grouse, or Merlin.
Birding in wintertime is invigorating and rewarding as it reminds us of the adaptability and resilience of these beautiful creatures. If you would like to support our work protecting and enhancing habitat for birds, click here:
Keeping a keen eye out for prey. Bald Eagles, which breed in our Snk'mip Marsh nature sanctuary in spring, can be seen in winter soaring over the marsh and neighbouring Slocan Lake.
Frozen frogs and butt-breathing turtles
Condensed from an article by CBC Science Reporter Darius Mahdavi
Frogs: When winter rolls around, some frogs hide under leaf litter or just a few centimetres underground, where the temperature hovers a few degrees below zero. And then they freeze.
Their hearts stop pumping. Their organs stop working. They don't breathe and have no detectable brain activity. Their body is encased in ice. You'd think they were dead.
But then comes spring and they start to thaw — from the inside out.
Turtles: Turtles aren't freeze-tolerant like a wood frog and they can't regulate their body temperature like birds or mammals. Instead, they need to find a place to spend the winter where temperatures won't drop below freezing so they hunker down at the bottom of frozen ponds and lakes, where the water stays just above zero.
Turtles are ectotherms — cold blooded — so they allow their body temperature to drop to almost zero degrees Celsius while they're sitting in their cozy little mud spot. They absorb oxygen from the water through several surfaces, including the cloaca — a specialized tissue located under their tails. This process is known as cloacal respiration but there's a less scientific way to describe it: essentially, in winter time, they are breathing through their butts!
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