Bob Handfield

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Wildflowers and sage near the top of Mt Kobau frame a panorama of Osoyoos Lake.

Nature Wise: Cynicism regarding minster’s park announcement

Staunch supporter of proposed South Okanagan-Similkameen national park is skeptical of announcement.

Wildflowers and sage near the top of Mt Kobau frame a panorama of Osoyoos Lake.
Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the club.

Nature Wise: Majority have spoken on South Okanagan national park

Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club.

Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the club.
Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the Club.

Nature Wise: Gifts for Nature-lover in your life

Budding bird watchers, preserving habitat and plenty of books as gift ideas.

Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the Club.
Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Club.

NATURE WISE: Road kill takes a terrible toll on wildlife

Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club

Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Club.
Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Club.

Nature Wise: The person who kaiboshed the national park

I can’t understand why Christy Clark’s government is dragging its feet on the proposed South Okanagan - Similkameen National Park.

Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Club.

NATURE WISE: Celebrate the things that protect our home

There are many times when it seems like trying to save Earth and its species from human indifference and stupidity is a losing battle.

Nature Wise: When do you think spring has arrived?

Nature Wise: When do you think spring has arrived?

Officially spring arrives when the sun crosses the equator on its journey north from its southernmost point.

Nature Wise: When do you think spring has arrived?

HANDFIELD: Don’t prohibit all pipelines

I find it difficult to support the view of prohibiting all pipelines and I want to tell you where my doubts come from.

HANDFIELD: Earthquakes not a big threat to South Okanagan

The nature of earthquakes and what we might expect here in the Okanagan in the way of future earthquakes.

Handfield: Local government conservation funds

Public opinion polls over the past 10 years show a vast majority of South Okanagan residents think nature contributes to quality of life.

NATURE WISE: Liberal promises about the environment

Bob Handfield is president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club and he writes a monthly column for the Penticton Western News.

NATURE WISE: You can fight government and win

Most Canadians probably agree that governments of all levels in Canada should obey the laws of the land.

South Okanagan-Similkameen national park debate reopened

Suspicious of national park intentions

Bob Handfield is a columnist for the Western News and past-president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club.

South Okanagan-Similkameen national park debate reopened
One of the species lost from the Okanagan Valley since the arrival of settlers is the Sharp-tailed Grouse. The photo shows a male performing its mating dance. Parks Canada has indicated that reintroduction of this grouse would be one of the initiatives if a South Okanagan Similkameen National park is established. In the meantime the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society has been having significant success reintroducing the lost Burrowing Owl using artificial nest boxes, albeit at considerable expense and much volunteer work.

NATURE WISE: National park is best option to conserve habitat

Bob Handfield is past-president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club..

One of the species lost from the Okanagan Valley since the arrival of settlers is the Sharp-tailed Grouse. The photo shows a male performing its mating dance. Parks Canada has indicated that reintroduction of this grouse would be one of the initiatives if a South Okanagan Similkameen National park is established. In the meantime the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society has been having significant success reintroducing the lost Burrowing Owl using artificial nest boxes, albeit at considerable expense and much volunteer work.
Nature Wise: Hummingbirds in the Okanagan

Nature Wise: Hummingbirds in the Okanagan

Peak months for hummingbirds in the South Okanagan, here are some good practises for their feeders.

Nature Wise: Hummingbirds in the Okanagan

NATURE WISE: Is democracy dead in the South Okanagan?

Democracy is indeed dead when it comes to Linda Larson representing her constituents.

Bob Handfield is past-president of the South Okanagan Naturalists Club.

NATURE WISE: The debate on culling

One of the big questions is does culling actually work to save the target species?

Bob Handfield is past-president of the South Okanagan Naturalists Club.
Bob Handfield is past-president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the club.

NATURE WISE: Environmental cost of holiday entertaining

Most of us, including myself, give very little thought to the environmental consequences of the different types of food that we serve.

Bob Handfield is past-president of the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club but the views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the club.
The Meadowlark Festival gets underway May 16 to 18 with events around Penticton and the South Okanagan.

NATURE WISE: May is the month for Meadowlark Festival

Iconic Okanagan Valley bird that heralds spring’s arrival.

The Meadowlark Festival gets underway May 16 to 18 with events around Penticton and the South Okanagan.
Behr’s Hairstreak is an endangered butterfly which occurs in Canada only in the South Okanagan. It depends absolutely on the antelope brush ecosystem for its existence as the larva feeds only on antelope brush. This is just one of many species that will be lost if steps aren’t taken to preserve more of this endangered habitat.

NATURE WISE: Many species are unique to the Okanagan Valley

The Okanagan Valley is considered by many to be unique in Canada, and in some ways it is.

Behr’s Hairstreak is an endangered butterfly which occurs in Canada only in the South Okanagan. It depends absolutely on the antelope brush ecosystem for its existence as the larva feeds only on antelope brush. This is just one of many species that will be lost if steps aren’t taken to preserve more of this endangered habitat.