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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

I. Core – Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education

A Outdoor Survival and Safety

1. Prepare yourself

a) Mentally

b) Physically

c) Medically

d) Safety and first aid

e) Know the region

f) Plan with your hunting companions

2. Prepare your Equipment

a) Clothing

b) Compass and maps

(1) At present, in southern B.C. magnetic north is about 19


degrees east of true north. In northern B.C., the declination is
about 28 degrees east of true north.

(2) To orient with the north start, follow a line from the lip of
the big dipper – a distance of five times the distance between the
two aligning stars of the dipper.

c) Survival kit

(1) Container – waterproof – tape card showing ground to air


signals in the lid

(2) Matches

(3) Flint and steel

(4) Fire starter tablet

(5) Absorbent cotton

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(6) Knife

(7) Fishing equipment

(8) Safety pins

(9) Needle and thread

(10) Nails

(11) Pencil and paper

(12) Snare wire

(13) Oxo cubes

(14) Tea bags

(15) Signal mirror

(16) Tape

(17) Candle

(18) Metal spoon

(19) Foil survival blanket

(20) Plastic whistle

(21) Extra compass

(22) Signal flares – small pencil type

d) First aid kit

(1) First Aid handbook

(2) Band-aids – 6-12

(3) 4 x 4 inch sterile dressing

(4) Butterfly bandages 6-12

(5) Triangular bandages 2

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(6) Roll of gauze bandage 1 inch

(7) Adhesive tape

(8) Petroleum gel

(9) Antiseptic

(10) Razor blade

(11) Small scissors

(12) Tweezers

(13) Small mirror

(14) Crepe bandage

(15) Aspirin

(16) Safety pins

(17) Mole skin

(18) Antibacterial soap

(19) Change for telephone

(20) Firearm and ammunition

(21) Other equipment

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

3. Practice safe behavior

a) Plan your trip

b) Act with caution

c) Know where you are at

d) Hunt with a partner

4. Dealing with Survival Situations

a) Three general categories

b) Being lost or unable to get back to your camp

c) Falling through ice or into water

d) Injuries which require first aid or medical attention

e) So you are lost – in B.C. seldom last longer than 24


hours maximum of 5 days

f) Staying put

(1) Build a fire and shelter

g) Composure and first aid

(1) Eight main factors that affect your survival

(a) Pain

(b) Cold

(c) Fatigue

(d) Fear

(e) Hunger – can go 30 days

(f) Thirst – can go several days

(g) Loneliness

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(h) Boredom

h) Fire building

i) Shelter building

j) Rescue signals

k) Food and water

5. First Aid

a) Objectives are

b) To preserve life

c) To prevent the condition from becoming worse

d) To relieve pain and promote recovery

e) Three basic elements to first aid

f) Protection – from further harm or complications

6. Diagnosis and treatment – some injuries demand immediate


treatment

a) Initial examination procedures

b) Movement – when necessary, with minimum of danger


and discomfort

II. Firearms Safety

A Firearm Characteristics

1. Parts of a firearm

a) Action – mechanism for inserting, ejecting and firing


cartridges

(1) Bolt action

(2) Pump action

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(3) Lever action

(4) Hinge action

(5) Semi-automatic action

b) Barrel – the tube that directs the bullet

c) Bore – the inside surface of the barrel

d) Breech – the closed end of the barrel

e) Butt – the end of the stock held to the shoulder. The fore
end of the stock makes a grip for the barrel

f) Chamber – the part of the breech which contains the


cartridge

g) Magazine – holds the ammunition.

h) Muzzle – open end of the barrel.

i) Receiver – the metal frame which contains the breech,


locking mechanism and reloading mechanism.

j) Safety – mechanical device intended to prevent the


firearm from accidental discharge

(1) Located near the trigger – must be in the off position to fire

2. Sights – fixtures for aiming the firearm

a) Open sights – open rear, bead front sight

(1) Only open sights require physically line up the sights -


Called sight alignment

(2) Scope sight

(3) Aperture sight – called a peep sight

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

b) Stock – the grip for the firearm, usually made of wood


(also plastic or metal)

3. Trigger – the mechanism that is used to fire the firearm

4. Trigger guard – protects the trigger

B Differences between Rifles and Shotguns

1. Grooved vs. Smooth Bore

2. Single vs. Multiple Projectiles

3. Long Range vs. Wide Spread

4. Presence of sights

5. Caliber and Gauge

a) Caliber is a direct measure of the inside diameter of the


rifle barrel. It is expressed in hundreds of an inch, e.g. a .22
caliber rifle has a bore of 22/100 inch in diameter

b) Gauge refers indirectly to the bore diameter of a shotgun.


Calculated ass the number of lead balls of the bore diameter
required to make up one pound. Exception is the .410
gauge shotgun – it refers directly to the actual bore diameter
in thousands of an inch

C Ammunition

1. Rifle ammunition has four main parts, while a shotgun has five
components

a) Bullet or projectile – made of lead, may have a copper


jacket. Shot is the projectile fire from a shotgun (slug or
pellets). On the outside of the shotgun shell a number or
letters give the size of the pellets inside or indicate a rifled
slug

(1) Game or hunting bullets usually have a soft or hollow point

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

b) Case is a container – commonly made of brass, steel,


copper, paper or plastic

c) Powder charge – chemical compound which, when


burned, forms gasses which propel the bullet or shot through
the barrel

d) Primer is a chemical mixture, which explodes when hit.


The flame of the primer ignites the powder charge

e) In the shotgun shell, there is a fifth component called a


wad. Wads separate the powder from the shot, and to hold
the loose shot together as it travels through the barrel

2. Rim fire and Centre-fire

a) Rimfire ammunition, the priming chemical is located


around the inside bottom rim of the cartridge case. Used in
low pressure firearms

b) Centre-fire ammunition, the primer is located in the


centre of the cartridge case bottom

(1) Potential killing power of a bullet is determined by its


energy upon impact. The factors that determine impact are the
bullet weight and the charge of powder, which combine to create
the velocity of the bullet. Can be determined by charts

c) Magnum Ammunition

(1) Increased payload and/or increased projectile velocity


compared to a standard load

(2) Magnum ammunition (shotgun) is labeled on the box and the


sides of the shotgun shell

(3) Make sure the shotgun is chambered for that length and type
of shell

d) Choosing a firearm and ammunition

(1) Hunting laws and regulations

(2) Type of game species

(3) Habitat in which you are hunting

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

e) Ammunition matches firearm

(1) Caliber or gauge will usually be imprinted in the metal of


both the firearm (on the breech end of the barrel) and the flat end
of the casing of most ammunition. Shotgun shells are printed on
the side

(2) .303 British and .303 Savage are not interchangeable

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

D General Rules of Firearm Safety

1. Treat every firearm as though it was loaded

2. Always point the muzzle of the firearm in the safest direction

3. Do not put your finger in the trigger until ready to fire

4. Open the action of a firearm upon picking it up

5. Look into the chamber and magazine to ensure the firearm is


unloaded

6. Be certain the barrel is free from obstruction. This should be


done before loading and periodically during movement in the field

7. Check for the correct ammunition for the firearm you are using

8. Use the safety but don’t rely on it

9. Never climb a tree, or fence, or jump a ditch with a loaded gun

10. Be sure of your target and beyond before you pull the trigger

E Firearms safety at home

1. Must have a FAC

2. When stored must be

a) Unloaded

b) And prevented from working either by fitting it with a


secure locking device like a cable or trigger lock, or by
disabling the action

c) Or kept in a securely locked container, room or


receptacle

3. Ammunition for a firearm must be kept separate, or must be


locked securely with the firearm in a container, room or receptacle

F Safe loading and unloading procedure

1. At all times ensure your firearm is pointed in a safe direction

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

2. Safe loading procedure

a) Release safety

b) Open action

c) Ensure barrel is clear

d) Load correct ammunition in chamber of magazine

e) Close action

f) Engage safety

3. Safe unloading procedure

a) Release safety

b) Open action

c) Clear chamber and magazine

G Before leaving home

1. Join a gun club

2. Sight in your rifle

3. Practice shooting under various light conditions

4. Know the vital target areas of your game

5. Practice using your firearm

H Safety when travelling

1. May load a firearm only in a place where it is lawful to discharge


it. It is unlawful to point it at any person, whether it is loaded or not

2. Carry it in a protective case

3. Illegal to carry it loaded in your car

4. When transporting a hunting firearm in a vehicle

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

a) Firearm must be unloaded

b) And the vehicle may be attended

c) Or if unattended, the firearm must be locked in the trunk.


If no truck, the firearm must be locked inside the vehicle and
must not be visible from outside

I Safety when hunting

1. Load or unload your firearm with the muzzle pointing in the


safest direction

2. Use but don’t depend upon the safety

3. Follow a hunt plan

4. When entering a farm yard or meeting another person, unload


your firearm and leave the action open

5. Always positively identify your target

6. Never use a rifle telescope to observe other hunters, or to


identify an object

7. When stopping to rest, always unload your firearm

8. Be sure your barrel remains free of obstructions

9. Never drink alcohol or use drugs when hunting or handling


firearms

J Carrying positions

1. Two-hand or ready carry is the safest carrying position for


hunting

2. Cradle carry is another safe carry. Don’t use when walking with
someone on the same side as the muzzle is pointing

3. Trail carry is good when you are walking abreast

4. Elbow or side carry is safe in open terrain but should not be


used in the bush. Don’t use when behind someone

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

5. Shoulder carry – is safe when walking side by side or behind


someone

6. Sling carry – don’t use it in dense bush

K Safety in open country

1. Never shoot near a building

2. When crossing a fence or area of unsure footing, unload your


firearm and leave the action open

3. Don’t shoot at game over the rise of a hill since people or


livestock may be in the line of fire over the hill

4. Always be sure of the area around your target and the space
beyond your target.

L Safety in the woods

1. Range of various firearms

a) 30-06 over 6 km

b) .22 over 2 km

c) Shotgun with shot, over 400 m.

M Safe target identification

1. Am I sure of my target?

2. Is it a legal game animal?

3. Is there anything else in my line of fire?

N Target identification

1. Learn the appearance, characteristics and habits of the animals


that you are hunting, as well as those of other animals in the area

a) This will allow you to positively identify the animal that


you are hunting

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

b) Enable you to determine if it is the correct species, legal


age and sex

2. Danger beyond the target

a) Never fire a bullet towards the surface of lakes, rivers or


ponds

b) Never fire over the crest of a hill, into bush or weeds, or


anywhere else where you cannot see what may be hidden
behind a target

c) Never fire toward rocks or other hard surfaces where the


bullet may deflect or ricochet

3. Zones of fire

III. Animal Identification

A Terminology

1. Annuli – darkened rings which indicate periods of slower horn


growth, can be counted to measure animals age

2. Antlers – bony structure that grow from short pedestals on the


skull of certain ungulates and are shed annually. Antlers grow from
the tips, unlike horns which grow from the base. As the season
progresses, the antlers become ossified or bony. Antlers grow
during the summer season and are fully developed by fall. By
December many animals start shedding their antlers

3. Bell or Dewlap – a pendant of hair covered skin that hangs from


under the throat of an animal

4. Bovids – hoofed animals that have horns, which are never shed
and are not branched. Horns are present on both sexes. Includes
Bighorn and thinhorn sheep and mountain goat, cattle, sheep and
goats

5. Browser – feeds on leaves, twigs or shoots

6. Carnivore, carnivorous – meat eating animal

7. Cervid – includes hoofed mammals that have antlers. They are


called ruminants. Include deer, elk, moose and caribou

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

8. Deer family – hoofed mammals that have antlers. They are


ruminants and have no upper incisors. Include deer, elk, moose
and caribou

9. Grazer – an animal that feeds on grasses or herbage

10. Habitat – region or environment where a plant or animal is


normally found

11. Herbivore, herbivorous – plant eating animal

12. Horn – solid, bony core which is part of the animals skull
covered by a sheath of hard fibrous horn. Horn sheath brows form
the base or skin at the skull. As new growth is formed the old
growth is forced away from the skull. Horns are never shed but
continue to grow throughout the animals life. Both males and
females have horns

13. Tarsal and metatarsal gland – tufted, discoloured hair patches


found between the hock and the hoof on the inside of each hind leg
in deer

14. Migratory – the act of moving from one place to another in


search of food, better climate or other environmental features

15. Omnivorous – eats both meat and plant food

16. Palmate – a shovel or flattened type of antler characterized by


broad up-reaching parallel palms – moose antlers

17. Predator – that that hunts other animals for food

18. Ruminant – animal that has a four chambered stomach.


Process that permits an animal to forage and ingest food rapidly,
then complete the chewing at a later time

19. Tine – a point or branch of an antler

20. Ungulate – split hoofed animals

B B.C. Ungulates

1. All are even-toed or split hoofed animals – large pair of hooves


that they walk on and a small pair that serve no apparent use

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

2. All are ruminants

3. They are split into two major groups – those with horns (bovids)
and those with antlers (cervids)

a) Bovids include bighorn and thinhorn sheep and the


mountain goats

b) Cervids include the deer, caribou, elk and moose

4. Sheep

a) Two of the five main types of sheep are found in B.C.

(1) Thinhorn sheep of the north

(2) Bighorn sheep of the south

b) Big horn sheep – rocky mountain and the Californian

(1) Colour – brown with white on the belly, insides of the leg
and the rump – part of the muzzle usually is white. Tail is small
and dark, contrasting strongly with the rump

(2) Horn – male – massive horns – curl up and back. Female


horns much less impressive

(3) Location – Rockies – from the U.S. boarder to Golden, and


in scattered bands north of Mount Robson

(4) Comments – sexes usually separate in the summer. Rams


join the ewes and lambs in the fall. Usually found in herds

c) Thinhorn Sheep – Dall and the Stone

(1) Dalls are the only white wild sheep in the world. Hooves
and horns are pale with a yellowish tinge

(2) Stone sheep tend to be very dark, except for white on the
face, abdomen, inside of the legs and rump patch

(3) Location – found in the northern part of the province

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

d) Mountain Goat – really a mountain dwelling antelope

(1) Colour – entirely white throughout the year – may appear


yellow or off-white as their hair becomes stained or soiled

(2) Antlers/horns – both males and females have slender, black


horns. Male horns might be slightly larger

(3) Location – steep slopes and benches along cliffs, usually at


or above the timberline

5. Deer family – cervidae are hoofed mammals that have antlers


and are ruminants. Include deer, elk, moose and caribou

a) Mule deer

(1) Colour – are brownish in colour – large white rump patch


and a slender white tail that is tipped with black hair. They have
a light face and muzzle with a dark forehead

(2) Bounce stiff legged when they run

(3) Fawns and does bleat – bucks have a guttural grunt,


especially during the rut. Both sexes snort when alarmed

(4) Antlers of the male mule deer grow in forked pairs

(5) Habitats – lives in coniferous forests, desert shrubs,


chaparrals, grassland with shrubs occupying several types of
habitat

(6) More curious that the white-tailed deer and are often seen in
open areas. When running for cover, they often pause to look
back

b) Black-tailed deer

(1) Colour – almost no rump patch – broad tail that is either


brown or black on top and always has a black tip with a white
underside. Body is warm brown to gray brown

(2) When running they bounce like a mule deer but usually hold
their tail straight out

(3) Antlers – male grow in forked pairs but lack the vast number
of possible tines that can grow on a mule deer

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(4) West of the coast range on Vancouver Island and associated


Gulf and Queen Charlotte Islands

c) White-tailed deer

(1) Colour – broad, long tail that is cinnamon colour on top and
white on the underside. When the tail is raised, the deer presents
a large, flashing white rump patch and under-tail

(2) Voice is rarely heard, low bleat by fawns, guttural grunts by


old bucks in rut, both sexes snort when alarmed

(3) Antlers – male has antler tines that grow upward from a
single forward-growing main branch

(4) Habitat – forest, swamps and the open brushy areas nearby

(5) Distribution – found only in the southeastern portion of the


province and the Peace River area

(6) Most often seen in early morning or later afternoon when


they move out on the edge of open areas to feed

d) Moose

(1) Colour – Dark brown with grayish legs, and at a distance


appear black

(2) Largest member of the deer family

(3) Bell hangs from under the throat – distinctive hump over the
shoulders of the moose. Hindquarters are slim and set lower
than the front quarters. Tail is short and not seen at a distance

(4) Antlers – massive, palmate, flat concave plates with small


prongs projecting from the borders

(5) Habitats – live in forests with lakes and swamps, singly or


by twos or threes.

(6) During the fall mating or rutting season, bull moose will
grunt and bellow.

e) Elk

(1) Colour – in summer, elk are a reddish-bay colour with darker


legs, head and neck. Large rump patch that is cream in colour

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

and contrasts with the rest of the body. Colour change by


August, their body colour is distinctly tawny and their head, neck
and legs are dark brown

(2) Smaller than moose, much larger than deer and only slightly
larger than caribou

(3) Characteristic ‘alertness’ of appearance that comes from


holding their head high as they move. After August, the hair on
the neck and throat grows longer to form a characteristic dark
mane

(4) Calf has a high pitched squeal when in danger. Cow has a
similar squeal, also a sharp bark when travelling with a herd.
Males have a high pitched bugling call that starts with a low note
and ends with a few low toned grunts.

(5) Usually seen in groups

(6) Antlers – mature males consist of a long, round beam that


sweeps up and back from the skull. The normal number of tines
is six, usually located as two long tines above the forehead, a
long tine on the lower half of the beam, and a long heavy tine
near the base of the antler

(7) Habitats – live in semi-open forest, mountain meadows in


summer, foothills, plains and valleys

f) Caribou

(1) Woodland caribou and the tundra caribou – in B.C., we have


only the Woodland caribou

(2) Colour – generally brown – limited white areas on the belly,


rump and lower legs, and larger white areas on the neck

(3) Large and have long legs

(4) Antlers – only ungulate of which the male and female carry
antlers. Different from other deer in that one or two heavy tines
called shovels extend outward from the animals brow. Caribou
antlers are flatter and wider than those of the mule and white-
tailed deer

(5) In the Woodlands Caribou, all the males and more than half
of the females have antlers

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(6) Closely resembles the elk- caribou’s distinctive brow tine,


large feet, light mane and habit of holding its head low when
moving are unmistakable features

6. Carnivores – meat eating mammals which have teeth along the


sides of their jaws for cutting or shearing their food. Bears have
different teeth – their teeth are flat-topped and are similar to those
of humans, they crush rather than shear food. Large carnivores are
cat-like, dog-like or bear-like

a) Cougar – mountain lion

(1) Widely spaced black spots on a buff-coloured body.


Disappear entirely when the animal matures. Belly and rump is
white. Chin and throat are white and the ears are black; there is
a black patch at the base of the whiskers and the tip of the tail

(2) Large cat with a slender form, long cylindrical tail, short ears
and prominent whiskers. Much larger than other cats in the
province

(3) Long powerful legs have five toes on the forepaws and four
on the hind paws; each toe has long claws – which are
retractable, sharp and are strongly curved to hold living prey or
for climbing trees

b) Lynx

(1) Colour – almost solid grey and has a short grayish tail with a
definite black tip on both top and bottom

(2) Large than the bobcat. Long tassel-like ear tufts. Nocturnal
and solitary

(3) Mixed deciduous and conifer trees

(4) Throughout BC east of the coast range

c) Bobcat

(1) Coat is short, buffy and much spotted. Short tail is black
spotted on top with a tip that is black on top only

(2) Ear tufts are short and inconspicuous

(3) Southern cat and prefers brush land or semi-wooded country

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(4) South of finlay forks in the Rocky Mountain Trench

d) Wolf

(1) Five toes on each front foot – the inside toe is high and four
toes on each back foot

(2) Usually grey in colour with a sprinkling of black. Hair of


the muzzle, forehead and back is always darker than the sides
and belly region which are yellow-white. Eyeshine is a greenish
orange

(3) Largest member of the dog family

(4) Light, muscular, deep chested body, long slender legs, a


bushy tail, a long slender muzzle and large erect ears. Wider
nose-pad and are larger and heavier than coyotes

(5) Carry their tails high while running (coyotes carry their tail
below the level of their backs)

(6) Forest areas, social animals – hunt together and can kill
animals as large as deer, elk, caribou or moose

(7) BC wide, exception is QCI and a large part of the Interior


Plateau and Kootenay regions

e) Coyote

(1) Grayish-fawn, white or almost so on the throat and belly,


with heavy dark-tipped hairs on the back and tail. Hackles above
the shoulder blades consist of longer, black tipped hair.
Eyeshine is a greenish gold

(2) Long and narrow muzzle, ears are long and pointed, tail is
bushy and carried low and close to the hind legs

(3) Evening, series of high pitched yaps

(4) Fraser delta and rest of B.C. east of the Coastal Mountains.
Not found on the coastal islands

f) Red Fox

(1) Pale yellowish red to deep reddish brown. Additionally,


silver or black colour phases may occur. Belly and chest are
white, the lower part of the legs are black and the bushy tail is
tipped with white or black

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

(2) Large pointed ears, sharp elongated muzzles and bushy tails
that are as long as their bodies

(3) Animals on the edge, inhabiting parklands, alplands, lake


and river shores, logged-off areas, and farm lands

(4) Omnivorous

(5) Throughout BC east of the Coast Mountains and on


Vancouver Island

g) Grizzly Bear

(1) Largest living land-dwelling carnivores. Walk on the entire


foot and have five toes on both the front and back feet. Short
tails, ears are small and rounded

(2) Blond through all shades of brown and blacks. Some have
darker under hair with long blond or white guard hair on the
shoulders and back

(3) Shoulder hump, concave or shi-faced profile, long curved


claws on their front feed

(4) Omnivorous

(5) Not found on the coast islands

h) Black Bears

(1) Various shades of black, brown and white occur regularly

(2) Flat footed, shuffling fait

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

IV. Bird Identification

A Wildlife act protects all birds found in BC

B Identification Techniques

1. Habitat

2. Action

a) Dabbling ducks have a characteristic slow wing beat


(flying mallards)

b) Diving ducks fly in shifting, waving lines and have a fast


beast (canvasback)

3. Protected species

a) All raptors

b) Not protected at all, crows, English sparrows, European


starlings, rock doves and magpies

C Terminology

1. Diving Duck – large, deeper marshes, lakes and rivers

a) Feed by diving – fish, shellfish and aquatic plants

b) Large flocks of no distinct formation & fly with a faster


wing beat than other waterfowl due to their stout bodies and
short wings

c) Launching into flight, run along the water

(1) Canvasback, Redhead, Bufflehead, Greater and lesser Scaup,


Ring-necked duck, Ruddy Duck, Barrows and Common
Goldeneye, Mergansers

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Study Notes – BC CORE Course

2. Gallinaceous – chicken-like birds

a) Grouse, Quail, Partridge, Ptarmigan, Pheasant and


Turkey

3. Puddle Ducks – shallow marshes and river edges. Dabble with


their bills on the surface – sometimes feed on croplands since they
are mostly vegetarian, can walk and run on land

a) Usually have a more graceful shape, longer wings and


neck, and fly with a slower beat. Take off and land more
directly from the surface than divers. Ride high on the water
and jump directly upward when taking off

b) Coloured wing patch, called the speculum, is generally


iridescent and bright

c) Occasionally will fly in formation much like geese

d) Mallard, pintail, widgeon or Baldpate, Shoveller, Gadwall,


Wood Duck, Green Winged Teal, Blue winged Teal and
Cinnamon Teal

4. Sea Ducks – Harlequin Duck, Old Squaw and the Common,


White-winged and surf scooters

5. Shore Birds – sandpipers, plovers, curlews, craves and snipe

D Game Birds

1. Geese –

a) Generally larger than ducks

(1) Usually mate for life

(2) Both sexes have a similar appearance

(3) Fly in a V – slower wing beat than ducks

(4) Snow geese are white birds with black wing tips – while
swans are all white

Created by Bill Gipps For Silvercore Training www.silvercore.ca


Study Notes – BC CORE Course

b) Canada Goose – all parts of BC

c) Snow Goose – breed on the Arctic Coast of North


America and Russia

(1) Migrate down the outside coast of Vancouver Island enroute


to California

(2) All white with black wing tips and a dark grinning patch on
the beak. Shrill Honk

d) White fronted Goose – Arctic nesting bird may stop in


Tofino, Cape Scott or Fraser Valley

(1) Brown in colour, with orange feet, a white face and a grey
white belly speckled with black patches

e) Black Brant or Sea Goose – black goose, white belly,


white outer tail and a small white neck band

(1) Usually seen on the south coast, Boundary Bay and along
south-east Vancouver Island from Sooke to Campbell River

2. Diving Ducks – most are black and white – speculums of diving


ducks lack the brilliance of puddle ducks

a) Drakes croak, peep and growl; hens have a mallard-like


quack. Drakes are more brightly coloured than hens

3. Puddle Ducks or Dabbling Ducks – speculums are iridescent


and bright – may fly in formation like geese

a) Drake is more brightly coloured, during eclipse plumage,


resemble hens

4. American Coot – known as the mudhen – grayish-black, duck


like bird. Black head and neck, the rest of the body is slaty black

5. Common Snipe – mottled brown and white – with a white belly –


only shore bird with an open season

6. Mourning Dove – Handsome streamlined bird, small head and a


long pointed tail

7. Band-Tailed Pigeon – larger than a domestic pigeon, and are a


consistent colour and pattern

Created by Bill Gipps For Silvercore Training www.silvercore.ca

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