Shannon Ainslie

Some native songbirds use berries during their courtship rituals.

“It’d be cool if the city considered subsidizing the removal of front lawns for things like clover or xeriscaping, especially since every year we’re seeing issues with water shortage."

The birds are a unique and species adored by many in the Okanagan Valley, with their round, chickenlike bodies and comical topknots on their heads.

"I go out and do garden maintenance and collect what’s ready, put it on the table and figure out what's for dinner that night, that’s part of the fun of eating with the seasons."

“People recognize me as Scuba Steve and ask me to find stuff and of course I always do, it’s the fun part of the last years of my diving career.”

"I didn't want to grasp her because I didn't want to risk being a threat and getting stung by accident."

“Finding fosters is our biggest obstacle, I can’t bring more in if there’s nowhere for these kitties to go."

“When you witness it there are no words.”

Lewis's woodpeckers are most commonly found in the Okanagan Valley.

The Thompson River valley was shaped by glaciation and ancient glacial lakes during the last ice age.

"We have beautiful resources to protect."

These rascally fur balls are often up to entertaining antics.

“He was lying there staring at me.”

"It was lovely and vibrantly coloured with visible texture on its wings and body."

Badgers in BC are considered endangered with only 250 to 400 of them province-wide and roughly 30 in the Okanagan.

“There is something special about the smell the feel of books, and the books are so different now because they’re made to look like art so it’s nice to have on your shelf and be able to pull out."

"I feel blessed to have a hummingbird family here, they're so cute, I love it."

"One of the exciting parts of nest box monitoring is you never know what's inside them until you open them. This was a special find."

These tiny, brilliantly coloured birds are masters at hovering and are the only bird species that can fly backwards.

Unusual feather and fur pattens make these animals stand out.

“I know how fortunate I was to spend time with such an uncommon animal.”

“I love to see people smile at the colours and ask if its real. It’s hard to believe these are naturally made.”

"A professor out of Alberta who is an expert in the great grig identified it for me and I've been obsessed with them since."

These toxic plant species can be harmful or deadly to humans and animals.