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29 June 2017

Solar Land Grants Map April 2017

A couple of the requests for Crown land 'for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of solar power generation' - aka cover over, fence in, remove from wild nature - were REJECTED, and one was WITHDRAWN. So here is the updated map of these lands in the East Kootenay.

The renewable energy companies still have the use of land equal to about half of what will be flooded by the Site C dam from Skookumchuck to Elko.


I draw your attention to the north end of the map, in particular.  Here is Skookumchuck Prairie Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, important to ungulates, American Badger, Lewis' Woodpecker and Long-billed Curlew.  Almost ALL of the area which underwent restoration work earlier this decade is now available for 'investigating' putting up solar arrays.  See earlier posts.



Lewis' Woodpecker nesting in solar granted lands

Quick Post

UPDATE: went out the other evening and got two more confirmed LEWO nests. We have been driving right by them! Sneaky birds.

= 23 Lewis' Woodpecker nests with young or probable; in an area approx 3 km sq; found in approx 16 hours of surveying.  Extrapolate that to suitable habitat JUST on the Prairie (not the whole IBA) and I figure there could be 90 pairs nesting.

Enhancement and restoration work done a few years ago on the Skookumchuck Prairie Important Bird and Biodiversity Area has been very beneficial to Lewis' Woodpecker.

Unfortunately, this apparently barren and open land in an area purported to be the sunniest region in Canada has also caught the attention of renewable energy companies wishing to build solar arrays.  I hope the grass-roots movement toward small-scale solar power generation takes hold and leaves the grasslands' grass roots to pull carbon deep into the soil. Let the critters keep their home.

I have been able to survey the IBA for Lewis' Woodpecker where there are passable roads.

Here is a map showing:
     the solar land grant in pink
     found (10 confirmed) or probable LEWO nests
     one American Kestrel nest
     telemetry of Long-billed Curlews (see previous post)




Oopsy, I didn't know for sure if you were in there, little buddy!





Long-billed Curlew Happenings on the IBA

(placeholder post until I get some time to write something)

In June, seven Long-billed Curlews nesting on Skookumchuck Prairie Important Bird and Biodiversity Area were tucked out with satellite transmitters on backpacks.

Follow their brood-rearing and migrations here: Telemetry Map (courtesy of Bird Studies Canada)

Also see their and our friends and relatives tagged in the states: Telemetry Map US (courtesy of Intermountain Bird Observatory, Boise State University)


Me releasing "Mildred" aka AA. BSC photo


Antenna and leg flag visible. BSC photo