Welcome to Colleen’s Corner. This is a column meant for fun and some information About myself: I am a Freelance Photographer you often see me on the side of the road or in various places taking photos of different things animals, birds, places, people etc. l have lived in Lumby for over 8 years, you have seen my photos in the newspaper (Lumby Valley Times) and once in awhile in the Vernon Morning Star, and the Lumby Art Gallery. Photography is my passion. Disclaimer: The information on some of my photos that I write about a lot of times come from the Internet or books I research them, hopefully the facts are as close to the truth as I can come.
By Colleen Fielding
While going for a walk the other day at the Monashee Family Park, there was a bird that I haven’t heard in a very long time singing his song. His singing is more like a trill instead of a song. It was the Spotted Towhee, that little bird would visit my yard occasionally, but I haven’t seen him in years. It was so long ago that I had to look him up again. He has beautiful colouring, red breast, red eyes, black body with white spots. Quite a beautiful looking bird. They prefer to eat off the ground instead of at your feeders. The males will be on the top of the trees singing their song most of the day between 70-90% of the time looking for that special mate, when they find her, their singing is cut down between 5-10% so they can help out building the nest and looking after the young.
The oldest Spotted Towhee recorded was in California he had been caught and branded earlier then in 2010 he was caught again and rebranded, he was about 11 years old at the time.
