Wildlife in the Kimberley Nature Park
By Laura Duncan Within the City of Kimberley lies an 840-hectare area with over 50km of trails called the Kimberley Nature Park (KNP). Adjacent to the KNP is the 200-hectare Horse Barn Valley. Combined, these areas form a wonderful resource for Kimberley residents and visitors alike. A map of the KNP and Horse Barn Valley shows their location and size. With the priorities of Conservation, Education and Recreation in mind, the Kimberley Nature Park Society manages the Park for
The Sunflower Hill Chronicles, Part 5: A Slow Afternoon on Sunflower Hill
By Birgitta Jansen April 28, 2022 The weather forecast on the radio tells me, “Partly cloudy and partly sunny in the East Kootenays; overcast in the afternoon.” Does this sound familiar? We’ve had quite a few days like it this spring. Nights are cool, often a little below freezing; during the day it’s warm in the sun but when a cloud is on the move, the temperature drops precipitously. I see people securely wrapped in coats and others in shorts and t-shirts. Raingear, windbre
The Sunflower Hill Chronicles, Part 4: Viriditas
By Birgitta Jansen April 8, 2022 Today is a quiet day. The sky is overcast, the temperature is neither warm nor cold, and once in a while I can feel the wind exhale. A raven flies high overhead, calling out but receiving no reply that I can hear. I set out on Campground Trail. It’s a short uphill trek to reach Jimmy Russell Road, where I stop for a moment to ponder the question: do I turn right or left, or go straight? In the past I could only turn left or right, since the li
April Natural History in the Kimberley Nature Park
By Emma Bourassa On Saturday, April 23, a small group headed to walk the Hoodoo View Loop. It was a beautiful, calm, sunny morning as the four of us left the parking lot, and our decisions to wear warm jackets and gloves were correct. Spring flowers and the arrow-shaped leaves of the soopolallie bush were the first signs of the new season. Bright spring green is showing up in some places, and we were greeted with flocks of very vocal birds. While we couldn't identify all of t
