Photo and description of goldeneye from Nature Companion website and app

Goldeneyes migrate south in winter where they gather in flocks, often diving simultaneously for food www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/goldeye/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of common merganser from Nature Companion website and app

Common Mergansers are excellent divers. Their beaks have serrated edges that help them to hold onto fish www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/commme... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Western Grebe from Nature Companion website and app

Western Grebes dive from the surface, swimming underwater to catch fish, thrusting their neck forward and spearing it with their bill www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/westgr... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of wood duck from Nature Companion website and app

Wood Ducks have strong claws they use to grip bark and perch on branches. Ducklings must jump from high tree cavities to reach water www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/wooddu... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Bufflehead from the Nature Companion website and app

Buffleheads are very active, spending almost a quarter of their time diving for food www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/buffle/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of cattails from Nature Companion website and app

Cattails play a useful role in removing pollutants from bodies of water and provide an important habitat for birds, insects, amphibians, and fish www.naturecompanion.ca/plants/catta... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of blue grama grass from Nature Companion website and app

Blue Grama Grass has a dense, shallow root mass that holds the soil in place and prevents erosion www.naturecompanion.ca/plants/blugg... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of wild licorice from Nature Companion website and app

The hooked bristles on Wild Licorice’s seed pods catch and cling to animal fur and human clothing, distributing the seeds to new areas www.naturecompanion.ca/plants/wildl... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of cow parsnip from Nature Companion website and app

Insects overwinter in Cow Parsnips’ dry hollow stems that can also be used to make toy flutes and whistles www.naturecompanion.ca/plants/cowpar/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of pikas from Nature Companion website and app

Pikas eat grasses, weeds, and tall wildflowers, drying and stacking food for the winter and bringing it into their burrows once winter arrives www.naturecompanion.ca/animals/pika/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of a marten from Nature Companion website and app

Martens are good climbers and often make their nest in a tree where 2-4 young are born in March or April www.naturecompanion.ca/animals/mart... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of mountain goats from Nature Companion website and app

In winter, Mountain Goats move to south/southwest-facing mountain slopes and windswept ridges where it will be easier to find food www.naturecompanion.ca/animals/moun... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Bighorn Sheep from Nature Companion website and app

Bighorn Sheep are social animals living in groups in alpine meadows and on mountain slopes. The males and females only mingle during the fall mating season www.naturecompanion.ca/animals/bigh... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Western Larch from Nature Companion website and app

Western Larches are up to 150-200 ft tall and 4-7 ft in diameter. The first branches are often 50 feet up the tree. The bark can be up to 6 in thick www.naturecompanion.ca/trees/westlar/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Hazelnut from Nature Companion website and app

The fruit of American Hazelnuts has a ruffled wrapping. The fruit of Beaked Hazelnuts is long, tubular, and beak-like (hence its name) www.naturecompanion.ca/trees/hazel/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Garry Oak from Nature Companion website and app

Garry Oaks are the only species of oak native to British Columbia. They grow in a narrow strip along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and on the Gulf Islands www.naturecompanion.ca/trees/garry/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Bur Oak from Nature Companion website and app

Bur Oaks can live a long time. They don’t start producing seeds until they’re 35 and are most productive between 75 and 150 years www.naturecompanion.ca/trees/buroak/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of a herring gull from Nature Companion website/app

Herring Gulls are loud and competitive scavengers. They drop clams and other shellfish on exposed rocks or parking lots in order to break the shells and get at the soft interior www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/herrgu... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of Double-crested Cormorant from Nature Companion website and app

Double-crested Cormorants are often seen sitting on a perch with their wings spread out to dry. They have less preen oil than other birds so their feathers get waterlogged www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/doubco... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of mallards from Nature Companion website and app

Mallards feed by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants (dabbling). They also eat grasses and grains on land. During breeding season, they eat mainly animal matter www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/mallard/ #NatureCompanion

A black-and-white spaniel walking through tall grass and weeds, sunlight filtering through the foliage, evoking a sense of exploration and freedom.

The wanderer.

#DogPhotography #SpanielLove #NatureCompanion #IntoTheWild #PetExplorers
#Grasslands #AnimalAdventure #NaturalTextures #WildernessWalk #CanineJourney

photo and description of Ring-billed Gull from Nature Companion website and app

Ring-billed Gulls are the most common inland gull. Nesting colonies normally include a few two-female couples, both of whom lay a clutch of eggs www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/ringgu... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of the California Gull from Nature Companion website and app

California Gulls have a long yellow bill with a black band and a red spot near the tip. The young birds learn how to catch food by dropping a stick in mid-air and swooping down to catch it www.naturecompanion.ca/birds/calgull/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of painted turtle from Nature Companion website and app

Painted Turtles use horny plates in place of teeth to grasp their food - aquatic plants, insects, small fish or snails, and dead animal matter www.naturecompanion.ca/herps/paintu... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of western toad from Nature Companion website/app

Western Toads walk rather than hop. When threatened, they inflate themselves with air and rise up on their legs www.naturecompanion.ca/herps/westto... #NatureCompanion

Photo and description of Plains Spadefoot Toad from Nature Companion website and app

Plains Spadefoot Toads spend much of their time buried in the sand and are nocturnal, coming out at night to hunt for beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers www.naturecompanion.ca/herps/plains... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of the Canadian Toad from the Nature Companion website and app

Canadian Toads hibernate underground below the frost line in burrows they've dug using the bony lumps on their rear legs www.naturecompanion.ca/herps/cantoad/ #NatureCompanion

photo and description of ladybug from Nature Companion website and app

Ladybugs defend themselves from predators by playing dead and secreting a fluid with a nasty taste and smell from their leg joints www.naturecompanion.ca/insects/lady... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of crickets from Nature Companion website and app

Male Crickets attract females by rubbing one forewing against the other to make chirping sounds www.naturecompanion.ca/insects/cric... #NatureCompanion

photo and description of boxelder bug from Nature Companion website and app

Boxelder Bugs lay 200-300 eggs on tree bark or in leaf litter, so you may spot large groups of bright red nymphs when they hatch www.naturecompanion.ca/insects/boxe... #NatureCompanion