About

A Biologist in the Kootenays

a curious ermine

Why a blog?  A friend commented: “you should share all those photos you have on your computer.”  And I certainly can  have a lot to say!

My blog title identifies me as a biologist – and I have worked hard and long for that distinction. And I do live in the Kootenays – my choices have brought me here and I have stayed here by choice. But I am a product of my history as well as my choices.

I was born in a quiet Ontario back water in an era of political turmoil. I was born a girl in a time of limited choices for women – and in an era when women of my generation would explode into the world as a political and social force. And I was born into a world of natural beauty – in an era when the words “ecology” and “pollution” became household worlds much as “climate change” and “sustainable” have become today. I was born in a time when women often did not finish high school, let alone earn a Ph.D.- but I earned my own way every step of the way and those choices too colour my perspective, my thoughts and my writing.

I have met incredible people, made wonderful lifelong friends and been fortunate to have mentors who gave me a step up – and these people warm my thoughts and flavour my writing. I was born curious into an incredible diversity of plants, animals, stars and questions. Every morning brings a new day and an opportunity to venture out to explore that world.

A friend suggested calling this “Jo’s Blog”. Well, it has indeed turned out to be Jo’s Blog: a place where I share my thoughts, photos and wildlife videos. I share my favourite photos on http://www.sideriusphotos.ca . I hope you enjoy both sites.

Watching from its perch

Kokanee Salmon pair

Osprey building their nest

Fairy Bells Orchid

Rufous Hummingbird

White-tailed Deer bucks in spring

A pair of Harlequin ducks spotted at Kokanee Creek in the spring of 2014.

A Glacier Lily Flower

Spring Compton Tortoiseshell

A male Varied Thrush visiting my feeder

Dawn Swan

A Red-breasted Nuthatch searching for sunflower seeds

Winter Wren

A Coyote Warning

What’s Going on Out There?

Adult Bald Eagle at the nest with 2 young

Cliff Swallows gathering mud. A photo from last year.

I am big, loud and scary! Go Away!

Drying wings in the sun

Rufous Hummingbird: Lookout

At the nest – bonding pair.

the first violet-green that I saw last year

living among the rocks along the Columbian River

Raven calling

Bald Eagle pair

Brown-coloured Black Bear Sow

Curious Ermine

Rufous Hummingbird male

Black Bear

You can see the wax tips on the wings in this photo

Young eagle eating a hare

Bracket Fungus

Snowy Redpoll

Broad-winged Hawk fledgling

A captive grey wolf

closeup of a Great Blue Heron

A Common Redpoll Feeding on Tansy Seeds

Chicken Pirate: Six Mile Black Bear

Curious Otters

All photos, videos and writing on this blog copyright Joanne Siderius 2015.